- Register as a sole proprietor or incorporate with BC Registries (~$40–$380)
- File your Surrey business licence (~$85/yr)
- Get general liability insurance
- Set your rates ($95–$150/hr, with service-call minimums of $150–$250)
- Build a brand, website, and online booking
- Set up card payments and simple bookkeeping
- Launch a Google Business Profile focused on Surrey
The hvac business that wins in Surrey is built around the city itself. Here's the local picture. Surrey's new-build volume means builder relationships, warranty service, and thousands of systems entering their first maintenance cycles — plus acreage properties running serious equipment. It's the region's volume HVAC market.
Why Surrey specifically
Where the work is: Offer maintenance plan bundles for landlords with multiple Surrey properties. Neighbourhoods like Fleetwood, Cloverdale, South Surrey each have their own client base — your Google Business Profile and local pages should name them.
The Surrey startup budget
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| BC business registration (sole prop) | ~$40 |
| Name request fee | ~$30 |
| Surrey business licence | ~$85/yr |
| General liability insurance | $500–$1,200/yr |
| Equipment & supplies | $3,000–$8,000 (gauges, recovery unit, vacuum pump, van stock) |
| Branding, website & booking setup | $0 DIY – $3,000+ agency |
Government fees change — confirm current amounts with BC Registries and the City of Surrey. Surrey's business licence is among the region's cheapest (~$85/yr) and is filed through the city's online services portal.
What the money looks like
HVAC rates in Metro Vancouver commonly run $95–$150/hr, with service-call minimums of $150–$250. A solo operator with a steady calendar can realistically build toward $8,000–$15,000+ per month solo with red seal or gasfitter credentials — results vary with your niche, your area, and how established you look. Refrigeration work requires certification and gas work requires a Technical Safety BC gasfitter licence — the business wrapper is what turns your ticket into a company.
Let's name it
The thing that stops most Surrey starters isn't cost — it's this. “What if a callback or a gas issue puts my ticket at risk?” Documented scopes, permits pulled properly, insurance, and clean paperwork protect the licence you worked years for — every Prontco launch includes the agreements written right.
Talk it through on a free callTrue Cost of Launching Calculator
Before you quote your first job in Surrey, work out what launching actually costs you — then price so the work covers it. Real 2026 Canadian rates, every source listed.
Run the numbers →Your first clients in Surrey — the hvac playbook
- Introduce yourself to mid-size builders for install and warranty-service subcontracts.
- Target subdivisions at the 3–5 year mark for first servicing — direct mail by build year works.
- Offer maintenance plan bundles for landlords with multiple Surrey properties.
The shortcut
None of this requires Prontco — it just requires weeks you may not have. We compress it into about 10 business days: registration, the Surrey licence, a real brand, a booked-ready website, payments, and accounting — plus 30 days of hands-on support after launch. From $997. Every account is yours.
Related guides
How to start a hvac business in BC · How to start a business in Surrey · The complete BC startup guide · Free calculators & checklists