Construction subcontractor in Quebec: how to win more contracts

What a general contractor looks at first

A general contractor has obligations that depend on you. The RBQ (Régie du bâtiment du Québec) asks them to consult the registry to make sure their subcontractor holds the licence and the right subclasses; if they give work to an unlicensed subcontractor, the RBQ warns that proceedings will be brought against them. For covered contracts, Revenu Québec asks them to obtain a copy of your attestation and check that it is authentic. The more ready your file is, the less time you make them lose.

Beyond the paperwork, they compare quotes. The RBQ advises clients to look at the understanding of the need, the level of detail, the materials, the schedule, the price, the payment terms and the warranties: these criteria apply to you too. Summary of what weighs in a decision:

• A licence and subclasses that match the work package.
• A valid Revenu Québec attestation, when the contract is covered.
• A compliant CNESST file if you have workers.
• Credible availability dates.
• References from similar jobs.
• A quote that can be compared with others.

A profile people understand in a few seconds

Whether on your website, your Google listing or a directory, a general contractor must see right away whether you are the right person. Put the following in one place:

• Your trades and specialties, in precise words.
• Your RBQ licence subclasses and your number, in the format "RBQ licence: XXXX-XXXX-XX".
• The regions you serve, by city or RCM (regional county municipality).
• The size of your crew and how many jobs you can run at the same time.
• The types of jobs you take on: residential, commercial, institutional.
• Three completed projects with photos, with two sentences each.
• A simple way to reach you, with a phone that gets answered.

To build a listing that gets found, read our article on construction contractor directories in Quebec.

Paperwork ready before anyone asks for it

Revenu Québec's timeline works in your favour if you are ready: for a covered contract (from $25,000 with the same contractor, taxes not included), you must hold a valid attestation from the time you submit your bid and hand over a copy no later than the end of the seventh day after work starts. So request it before you bid, and subscribe to the automatic renewal service in My Account for businesses so it does not expire.

On the CNESST side, if you hire, the Compliance Validation service immediately provides proof that your insurance file is compliant before each contract, which you can use for a bid. How long each document is valid, how to get it and when to request it again are detailed in our article on a subcontractor's documents.

A quote that can be compared

A template helps: see our free quote template.

Availability and responsiveness: the underrated criteria

• Answer the same day, even to decline. A quick, clear no helps the contractor move on, and they will remember you.
• State your real capacity. A later date that you meet is better than a tight date that you miss.
• Confirm in writing: dates, scope, price, terms.
• Warn early about a delay. The general contractor coordinates other trades behind you.
• Send clear invoices, with the contract references, so you get paid without reminders.

If you work alone: the rules specific to construction

In the construction industry, the CCQ (Commission de la construction du Québec) uses the term "independent contractor" (entrepreneur autonome). According to its page, the business must have no employees, the work must be performed by the natural person (or the designated representative of a partnership or a company), and it must hold an RBQ licence in a specialty contractor subclass, report its hours as an independent contractor in the monthly report and perform only maintenance, repair and minor renovation work. This work must not be performed for a professional employer, and only one independent contractor at a time is allowed on this type of job site. The CCQ adds that with an RBQ excavation and earthwork licence, all types of job sites are allowed.

On the CNESST side, a self-employed worker can be considered a worker if they have no employees and carry on an activity similar or related to that of the client, with some exceptions. The CNESST looks in particular at pay, the relationship of subordination, ownership of tools, the risk of loss and integration into the business, and invites you to call 1 844 838-0808 to establish a status.

Where to find opportunities, and where SubmitX Network fits

Three habits open doors: send your profile and your paperwork file to the general contractors in your region before they need it, follow the public calls for tenders in your trade to know who bids and on what, and stay in touch with the contractors you have already worked for. For the second point, tender monitoring on SEAO and CanadaBuys is one of the features of the SubmitX software: see the SEAO page and our article on SEAO calls for tenders.

SubmitX Network, a construction network for Quebec, offers a subcontractor profile in a directory searchable by region, trade and radius. For now, it is a waiting list: none of the 17 administrative regions is open. Signing up and the profile are free, and no SubmitX account is needed. Your licence number is compared with the RBQ's public registry of active licences, and, when your region opens, a contractor who finds you will see whether your listing is "found in the registry" or "verified". Private messaging is planned: you write to a published listing in an open region, and the first message is a request that the listing accepts, declines or blocks, without exposing any email address.

You can join the subcontractor waiting list and prepare your profile now; you will be notified when your region opens.