AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
An Ontario cleaning company must register with WSIB within 10 calendar days of hiring its first employee; WSIB counts family members and subcontractors it treats as workers. A solo owner with no workers is not automatically covered outside construction and can choose optional insurance. Alongside WSIB you register the business name ($60) or incorporate ($300), get a CRA business number and check your city's licensing by-law.
The WSIB rule in one paragraph
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) runs Ontario's no-fault workplace insurance. Its page "Do you need to register with us?", updated 30 July 2026, says that "most Ontario businesses that have employees (including family members and sub-contractors) must register," and that you have 10 calendar days to register from the day you hire your first employee. WSIB lists sales and services among the industries that must register, and lets you check your own case by answering questions and selecting your business activity on its site. Cleaning businesses should run that check before the first hire, because the classification it gives also sets the premium rate.
Owners, helpers and subcontractors
Who counts is where cleaning businesses most often go wrong. The common set-ups look like this:
| Set-up | WSIB position (outside construction) |
|---|---|
| You clean alone, no helpers | Not automatically covered; you can request optional insurance |
| You pay a spouse or cousin to help on weekends | Family members are workers; register within 10 days of the first hire |
| You send "subcontractors" you schedule and pay per job | WSIB includes subcontractors in its description of employees; expect to register |
| A genuine independent operator with their own clients, tools and business | Independent operators outside construction do not need to register |
Calling someone a contractor does not settle it. If you set the schedule, supply the clients, the chemicals and the equipment, and pay by the hour, WSIB and the CRA are likely to look at the reality. Get a written decision from WSIB on independent operator status if you rely on it.
Why clients ask about it
Commercial clients, property managers and general contractors often ask a cleaning company for proof that it is in good standing with WSIB before paying invoices. If you work for construction firms, such as post-construction clean-up, check the construction rules separately: WSIB runs mandatory coverage for construction, and owners there are treated differently.
Registering the business itself
Ontario's government fees, updated 29 September 2026, are $60 to register or renew a sole proprietorship business name and $300 to incorporate a business corporation, both immediate online through the Ontario Business Registry. See registering a sole proprietorship in Ontario for the name filing and federal or provincial incorporation if you plan to grow beyond Ontario.
The other filings to plan for:
- a CRA business number with a payroll account before your first pay run (see getting a CRA business number);
- GST/HST registration once you pass the small supplier threshold, or earlier by choice; and
- a municipal business licence where your city's by-law covers cleaning or home services. Licensing is set city by city, so check your own municipality's page.
Budgeting for premiums
WSIB premiums are charged as a rate per $100 of insurable earnings, and the rate depends on the classification WSIB gives your business activity. Look up your own rate after classification rather than copying a competitor's figure. Illustrative example only: at a rate of $2.00 per $100, a cleaning company paying $60,000 a year in wages would budget $1,200 for premiums ($60,000 / 100 x $2.00). Build that into your hourly price before you quote a commercial contract, because contracts often run for a year or more at a fixed price.
Insurance and bonding
WSIB covers your workers' injuries; it does not cover damage you cause to a client's property. Most residential and commercial clients expect commercial general liability insurance, and many ask for a janitorial or fidelity bond that responds to theft by staff. Neither is set by statute; prices vary with turnover, staff numbers and the type of premises, so get two or three broker quotes.
Write down how you handle keys, alarm codes and access cards. Commercial clients often ask about this in tenders, and a clear key-control policy also helps your insurer assess the theft risk.
Steps for a new cleaning company
- Register the name or incorporate.
- Get a CRA business number and decide on GST/HST.
- Answer WSIB's questions on its site to confirm your classification before hiring.
- Register with WSIB within 10 calendar days of the first hire, including paid family members.
- Arrange liability insurance and any bond clients require.
- Check your city's licensing by-law.
- Keep timesheets and pay records; WSIB premiums are based on insurable earnings.
Worked example
Example: Ada registers "Ada's Spotless Homes" for $60 and cleans alone through the spring, with no WSIB obligation as a solo owner. On 2 June she pays her younger brother to help with three move-out cleans. That is a first hire of a family member, so her registration deadline is 12 June. If she later wants cover for herself, she asks WSIB for optional insurance.
Where Pryme fits
If you send part of your earnings home or pay a relative in Nigeria who handles bookings or social media, a Pryme Business Account, opened from Canada, holds naira and dollars alongside pounds and euros. Invoicing and bulk payouts help with clients and helpers paid in naira; your Canadian payroll and WSIB reporting stay with your Canadian bank.
Questions people ask
Do I need WSIB if I clean houses on my own?
Not automatically. Outside construction, sole proprietors are not automatically covered and can ask WSIB for optional insurance. Once you hire anyone, including family, you register within 10 calendar days.
Are my cleaning subcontractors covered by WSIB?
WSIB's description of employees includes subcontractors. Genuine independent operators outside construction do not need to register. Ask WSIB for a status decision if you rely on that.
What happens to the 10-day WSIB deadline if I hire on a weekend?
The count is in calendar days from the day you hire your first employee, so weekends count.
Does WSIB cover damage to a client's home?
No. WSIB covers workplace injuries to workers. Property damage needs commercial general liability insurance.
Sources
- WSIB: Do you need to register with us? (updated 30 Jul 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- WSIB: Register with us (updated 4 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Ontario: Cost and time required to register, change or search for a business name, corporation or not-for-profit (updated 29 Sep 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.