These are the questions new founders ask most often before they hire anyone to help with a launch. The answers above are deliberately short; the sections below add context on the four topics that matter most: money, legal limits, ownership and results.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to get help launching a company?
Hourly consulting runs $175 to $350, defined projects run $3,500 to $25,000, and monthly retainers run $2,500 to $12,000. Prices are in Canadian dollars before tax, and the first 30-minute consultation is free.
Do I have to sign a long contract?
No. Hourly work is pay-as-you-go, projects have milestone payments, and retainers have no lock-in. Your written proposal sets out the notice period before you agree to anything.
How long does a full launch take?
Naming takes about two to three weeks, brand identity about two weeks, a launch website about four to six weeks and the launch plan runs for 90 days. Some stages overlap, so a full launch is often live within two to three months.
Can you register or incorporate my company?
No. That's done through the Ontario Business Registry, by you or by a legal professional acting for you. We help with everything customers see: the name, the brand, the website and the first marketing.
Will you tell me whether to incorporate or stay a sole proprietor?
No. That choice depends on liability, tax and ownership, and Ontario's own guidance suggests consulting a lawyer or professional advisor before incorporating. We'll help you plan the brand around whichever structure you choose.
Can you check whether my name is trademarked?
We'll screen names against the federal trademarks database and flag anything that looks close. That's a business filter, not a legal clearance; for a final opinion, speak with a lawyer or registered trademark agent.
Who owns the website, domain and accounts?
You do, from the start. Domains, hosting, your Google Business Profile and any ad accounts are set up in your name or your company's, and you keep the logins and content if we stop working together.
We tried an agency before and it didn't work. Why would this be different?
We can't promise a different result, but we can promise a different method: written numbers before spending, a stop rule for every channel, and work you own. Bring whatever data you have from the last attempt and we'll tell you honestly what we think went wrong.
Can you promise customers or rankings?
No. Nobody can honestly promise rankings or sales to a company that hasn't launched yet. We agree on measurable targets, report against them and recommend stopping anything that isn't working.
How will I know whether the launch is working?
Each plan tracks cost per enquiry, the share of enquiries that become customers and cost per first customer. You'll see those numbers at the week 2, 4, 8 and 12 checkpoints.
Do you only work with HVAC or trades companies?
No. Our published case studies are results from our HVAC work, but Ontario.Company helps founders in most customer-facing businesses, from home services and professional practices to retail and food.
Can I just book an hour to review my plans?
Yes. Hourly review is one of the most common ways founders use us. Send your name ideas, draft website or plan in advance so the hour is spent on decisions.
Do you work with founders outside the Toronto area?
Yes, across the whole province. We work by call, text, email and shared documents, so Ottawa, Waterloo Region, Durham or northern Ontario is no harder to serve than downtown Toronto.
Money: what you'll pay and what's separate
Our fees follow the consulting rates published by BusinessConsulting.ca, and the pricing page explains each option. What catches founders out is usually the costs that sit outside any consultant's fee:
- government filing fees, which Ontario lists on its registration page
- your domain and hosting
- ad spend, paid directly to the ad platform
- design, printing and signage
- professional fees from your lawyer and accountant
A realistic launch budget includes all of them. We'll help you list them before you commit to anything.
Legal limits: where our advice stops
We're business and marketing consultants. That means we don't advise on:
- choosing between a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation
- trademark registration or infringement
- tax registration, bookkeeping or tax planning
- contracts, leases or employment law
Trademarks in Canada are handled by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. When your question belongs with a lawyer, a registered trademark agent or an accountant, we'll say so plainly, and we'll make sure the brand and launch can adapt to their advice.
Ownership: why everything sits in your name
A surprising number of small businesses discover, years later, that a former web designer or relative owns their domain. We avoid that from the first day. Every account we help set up, from the domain to the Google Business Profile, is registered to you or your company, with you holding the main login. If you leave, you take everything with you.
Results: what to expect, honestly
New companies rarely see a flood of customers in the first month. What you should expect is clarity: a name people can find, a website that explains the offer, and weekly numbers that tell you whether each channel is worth continuing. Our launch marketing service is built around those numbers, and the results page shows what our HVAC work has achieved, with the caveats that come with a different industry.
Timing: when to bring us in
The cheapest moment to get help is before you've spent money you can't recover. In practice that means:
- Before registering a name, if you can. Changing a shortlist costs nothing; changing a registered name, a domain and printed material costs real money.
- Before commissioning a logo, so the designer works from a positioning sentence and a brief rather than a guess.
- Before opening an ad account, so you know what an enquiry is worth to you.
If you've already done some of these, that's fine. We'll start where you are and tell you honestly whether anything earlier needs revisiting, or whether it's good enough to build on.
Working style: what it's like day to day
Engagements run by phone, text, email, shared documents, video call or in person. You'll get written notes after each session, so decisions don't live only in someone's memory. Drafts come to you for comment before anything goes live, and nothing is published under your name without your approval. If you need to pause for a few weeks while you deal with a lease or a day job, we pause too.
The founders we work with
Most of the people we help are starting their first company, often while still working a job, or are established owners adding a second brand. They tend to want a straight answer more than a polished presentation, and they usually have more ideas than time. If that sounds like you, you'll probably find the way we work comfortable; our about page explains the background.
If your question isn't answered here, get in touch through the contact page.