Painting Business Software for Canadian Contractors
Surfacely is built for Canadian painting contractors — imperial measurement (ft² and gallons, with metric switchable), CAD pricing with GST/HST handled by province at checkout, site-specific safety plan generation that respects provincial OHS variation, and a complete quoting-to-payment workflow. CA-specific defaults reflect the local on-cost stack: CPP 5.95%, EI 2.32%, provincial WSIB averaging 5%.
What's built specifically for Canada
- Site-specific safety plan generation. The painter selects their province; the safe work plan references the applicable provincial OHS framework — Alberta OHS Act, BC OHSR, Ontario OHSA, Quebec LSST, Manitoba WSH Act, etc.
- Imperial measurement default. ft², gallons, ft²/gal, ft²/hr — the unit set used by most Canadian painters. Switchable to metric for Quebec or any painter who prefers it.
- CAD pricing. Starter C$69/mo, Professional C$139/mo. Per-seat Enterprise above 10 users.
- Provincial GST/HST handling. Stripe Tax adds the right rate at checkout — 5% GST in Alberta, 13% HST in Ontario, 15% HST in Atlantic provinces, 5% + provincial sales tax in BC and Saskatchewan, GST + QST in Quebec.
- CA rate benchmarks. Validated 2026 CA rates: cost rate C$30–45/hr, sell rate C$50–80/hr, margin range 35–50%. Vancouver and Toronto run well above the national average.
- Statutory on-cost defaults. 5.95% CPP, 2.32% EI (employer rate ~1.4× the employee 1.66%), 5% workers' comp (WSIB rate group 728 painting), 10 days ESA minimum leave (2 weeks), 9 federal holidays.
- Provincial variation in safety requirements. The auto-hazard engine works the same way; the regulatory framework cited in the document changes per the painter's province.
Pricing in CAD
Free
2 users, 5 free buildings, full feature access
Solo
1 user, unlimited buildings
Starter
3 users, unlimited buildings
Professional
10 users, unlimited buildings
Enterprise: Professional base + C$20 per seat above 10. Stripe Tax adds GST/HST per province at checkout.
Provincial OHS context for painters
Workplace safety is provincially regulated in Canada. The painter's safety plan must reflect their province's OHS Act and applicable regulations. The major frameworks:
| Province | Primary statute | Workers' comp body |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Occupational Health and Safety Act | WCB Alberta |
| British Columbia | Workers Compensation Act + OHS Regulation | WorkSafeBC |
| Ontario | Occupational Health and Safety Act | WSIB Ontario |
| Quebec | Loi sur la santé et la sécurité du travail (LSST) | CNESST |
| Manitoba | Workplace Safety and Health Act | WCB Manitoba |
| Saskatchewan | Saskatchewan Employment Act Part III | WCB Saskatchewan |
| Atlantic provinces | Provincial OHS Acts | WCB / WorkplaceNL |
Surfacely captures the painter's province during onboarding and references the right framework in safe work plan output.
Canadian features in the platform
- Simple measurement, real rates behind the scenes — painter taps dimensions; the system runs production rate × surface formula × prep × spread rate × cost-plus formula. Clean output, accurate math.
- Mobile-first design — measure and track on the phone in the field, refine the quote detail on desktop in the office.
- AI intelligence engine integrated throughout — photo analysis, voice transcription, auto-hazard derivation that catches what the painter might miss.
- Homeowner self-scope portal — branded link prospects fill in. Clever lead qualification — tire-kickers self-disqualify; serious leads arrive pre-qualified.
- Surface measurement with formulas for 18 painting surface types — display in ft² or m² per painter preference.
- Cost-plus quoting with CA on-costs included by default.
- Site-specific safety plan generation referencing provincial OHS framework.
- Client portal for online quote acceptance, variations, invoice payment.
- Stripe payment processing with provincial GST/HST handling.
- Offline-first PWA — works on remote sites.
- Bilingual support roadmap — Quebec French is on the localisation backlog.
FAQ
What is the best painting software for Canadian contractors?
Painting-specific with imperial (ft²) default, CAD with provincial GST/HST, provincial OHS-aware safety plans, Stripe payments. Surfacely starts free; paid tiers from C$45/month.
Does Surfacely generate safety plans for Canadian provincial OHS requirements?
Yes — references AB OHS, BC OHSR, ON OHSA, QC LSST, MB WSH or other provincial framework based on the painter's province.
How much does painting software cost in Canada?
C$0 Free, C$45 Solo, C$69 Starter, C$139 Professional. Stripe Tax adds provincial GST/HST.
Does the Canadian painting software work in feet or metres?
Imperial by default (ft², gallons). Switchable to metric for Quebec or painter preference.