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PricingService areasAll services →Accounting and Tax for Ontario Cleaning and Janitorial Companies
Subcontractor slips, worker status, HST, WSIB and contract changeovers handled by a CPA-led accounting firm that understands residential and commercial cleaning.
24/7 receptionist, a real person answers.
- Every return is reviewed by a CPA
- No surprise bills
- Reply within one business day
- 24/7 receptionist: a real person answers
- QuickBooks Online, Xero and Dext
- Rated 5.0 stars from 31 Google reviews (read our reviews)
T-Ledgers is a CPA-led accounting firm working with Ontario cleaning businesses, from owner-operators cleaning homes to janitorial companies with commercial contracts and crews across the GTA. Wajahat Ajmal, CPA, FCCA, has been practising since 2020. We handle bookkeeping, HST, payroll and corporate and personal tax, and every return is reviewed by a CPA.
Cleaning companies run on labour. Whether your cleaners are employees or subcontractors decides your payroll, your slips and your risk on a CRA review, and commercial contracts bring their own rules when you win or lose a building.
Cleaning business tax and bookkeeping issues we handle
Subcontractors and T4A slips
If you pay subcontractors for cleaning services, whether they’re self-employed individuals, partnerships or corporations, you generally report the total on a T4A slip in box 048 once payments to one of them pass $500 in the year. T5018 slips apply instead only if construction is your main business. We keep subcontractor names, addresses and totals ready so the slips and summary go in on time.
Law and source: CRA, Payments of fees for services (T4A box 048); Income Tax Regulations s.200(1) (T4A information returns); Income Tax Regulations s.238 (T5018 construction payments).
Employee or subcontractor?
Calling a cleaner a subcontractor doesn’t make them one. If the CRA decides the relationship is really employment, you can be assessed for the CPP, EI and income tax you didn’t withhold. We help you look at control, tools, and chance of profit and document the arrangement properly.
Law and source: CRA, Employee or self-employed? (RC4110); Income Tax Act s.153(1) (source deductions).
HST on cleaning services
Cleaning services are generally taxable, so once your revenue passes the small supplier threshold you register and charge HST. We claim input tax credits on supplies, equipment and vehicle costs, and check whether the Quick Method suits you.
Law: Excise Tax Act s.148 (small supplier); Excise Tax Act s.165 (GST/HST imposed); Excise Tax Act s.169(1) (input tax credits).
WSIB coverage
Janitorial and residential cleaning are in a mandatory WSIB class in Ontario, so once you have workers you generally must register with WSIB, and commercial clients often ask for a clearance certificate before you start. We record premiums correctly and reconcile WSIB to payroll.
Law and source: Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (Ontario); WSIB Employer classification manual, NAICS 561722.
Contract changeovers in commercial buildings
When a building’s cleaning contract changes hands, Ontario’s employment standards rules for building services providers can treat the new contractor as continuing the employment of cleaners it hires from the old one. That affects vacation, termination and severance liabilities, so we factor it into your bid costing.
Law: Employment Standards Act, 2000 (Ontario) s.10 (building services providers: continuity of employment); O. Reg. 287/01 under the ESA, Building Services Providers.
Vehicles, equipment and supplies
Vans, floor machines and carpet extractors go on your capital cost allowance schedule, and supplies are tracked by contract so you can see which accounts make money.
Payroll for cleaning crews
We run weekly or bi-weekly payroll for cleaners with the right source deductions, vacation pay and T4s, and track your Employer Health Tax position as the team grows.
Law and source: Income Tax Act s.153(1) (source deductions); Employer Health Tax Act (Ontario) s.2.1 (annual exemption for eligible employers); Ontario, EHT tax exemption.
Key rules at a glance
← Swipe to compare →
| Rule | What it means for you | Law and source |
|---|---|---|
| T4A for subcontractors | Report fees for services over $500 in box 048 | CRA, Payments of fees for services (T4A box 048) |
| Worker status | Employee or self-employed depends on the real relationship | CRA, Employee or self-employed? (RC4110) |
| HST on cleaning | Cleaning services are generally taxable | Excise Tax Act s.165 (GST/HST imposed) |
| Building services changeover | New contractor may inherit service of cleaners it hires | Employment Standards Act, 2000 (Ontario) s.10 (building services providers: continuity of employment) |
| WSIB | Mandatory coverage once you have workers | WSIB Employer classification manual, NAICS 561722 |
| Employer Health Tax | EHT on Ontario payroll above the exemption | Employer Health Tax Act (Ontario) s.2.1 (annual exemption for eligible employers); Ontario, EHT tax exemption |
Who we work with
- Residential cleaning companies
- Commercial and janitorial contractors
- Post-construction cleaning crews
- Carpet, window and specialty cleaners
- Franchise cleaning owners
- Owner-operators starting out
T-Ledgers services for cleaning companies
- T4A slips for subcontractors. Subcontractor records kept current and slips filed at year-end, quoted after a free call (see payroll services).
- Monthly bookkeeping. From $500/month (Scale), with books closed by the 10th; quarterly bookkeeping from $350/month (Growth). Your fixed fee is confirmed after a free call. On monthly plans your books are done by the 10th, and if we're late on our side, that month's fee is waived (see bookkeeping).
- Catch-up bookkeeping, from $1,800 per year. We rebuild past years and file what's overdue (see catch-up bookkeeping).
- Bookkeeping Review, $195/month or $295/quarter. For owners who keep their own books (see bookkeeping).
- GST/HST returns, $150 per return. Filed on your CRA schedule (see GST/HST services).
- Payroll. Quoted after a free call (see payroll services).
- Corporate (T2) and personal (T1) tax. Personal tax returns from $110 + HST/GST, with your final price confirmed after a free call. Corporate (T2) returns are quoted after a free call (see corporate tax and personal tax).
- Virtual CFO, from $2,500/month. Cash flow, margins and growth decisions (see Virtual CFO).
Prices are + HST/GST. Anything without a listed price is quoted after a free call, and you get the price in writing before any work starts.
How we work with cleaning companies
- Free call. We ask about your contracts, crew setup, subcontractors and how your records are kept.
- Written price. Scope and price in writing before any work starts.
- Setup. Contract-level tracking, HST codes, subcontractor list and payroll.
- Monthly rhythm. Books done by the 10th on monthly plans, payroll and remittances on time, HST filed.
- Year-end. T4s, T4As, WSIB reconciliation and your T2 or T2125, all reviewed by a CPA.
Why cleaning companies choose T-Ledgers
- We understand labour-heavy businesses. Subcontractor slips, worker status, WSIB and contract changeovers are part of our normal conversation.
- CPA-led, start to finish. T-Ledgers was founded by Wajahat Ajmal, CPA, FCCA, practising since 2020. Every return is reviewed by a CPA before it's filed.
- Proven track record. 202 clients served and $60 million in client revenue managed.
- No surprise bills. You get the scope and the price in writing before we start. If the work changes, we agree the new price with you first.
- Price matching, agreed up front. Have a comparable written quote? Bring it to us before you sign your proposal. We can only match a price when it's agreed before the proposal is signed.
- Fast, human answers. We reply within one business day, and our 24/7 receptionist means a real person answers when you call 866-254-5368.
- In person or online. Meet us in person, by appointment only, at our Etobicoke office (102-89 Skyway Ave, Etobicoke, ON M9W 6R4) or our Mississauga office (100 Matheson Blvd E #204, Mississauga, ON L4Z 3P8), or work with us entirely online.
- Your software, set up properly. We work in QuickBooks Online and Xero, and use Dext so receipts go in with a photo.
Meet your CPA
Wajahat Ajmal, CPA, FCCA, Founder, T-Ledgers Accounting. Verify my CPA Ontario membership.
I started my career as an audit associate at KPMG. Since then I’ve worked as an independent contractor for a tax filing company, preparing returns and handling client questions. I hold a BSc in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University and an MSc in Professional Accountancy from University College London. I’m a Chartered Professional Accountant in Ontario and a Fellow of the ACCA. I started taking on my own clients in 2020 and founded T-Ledgers in 2023.
Every return the firm files is reviewed by a CPA. You can read more about the firm on our About page.
What our clients say
Read more on our client reviews page.
DIY vs a generalist firm vs T-Ledgers
← Swipe to compare →
| DIY | Generalist firm | T-Ledgers BEST VALUE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subcontractor slips | Forgotten until CRA asks | Year-end scramble | ✓Records kept current all year |
| Worker status | Everyone called a subcontractor | Rarely reviewed | ✓Arrangement documented |
| Contract profit | One bank balance | Year-end totals | ✓Tracked by contract |
| Who checks the return before it's filed | You do | Depends on the firm and who's assigned | ✓Every return is reviewed by a CPA |
| How you're billed | Software fees plus your own time | Often hourly; the final bill can vary | ✓Scope and price in writing up front. No surprise bills |
| Getting an answer | Search online or wait on CRA phone lines | Varies by firm | ✓Reply within one business day; 24/7 receptionist, a real person answers |
| Software | Whatever you set up yourself | May ask you to switch to their system | ✓QuickBooks Online, Xero and Dext |
| Meeting face to face | Not applicable | Varies | ✓In person by appointment in Etobicoke or Mississauga, or fully online |
| Price matching | Not applicable | Rare | ✓Available if agreed before you sign your proposal |
Frequently asked questions: Cleaning business
Generally yes, in box 048, if you paid a subcontractor (an individual, partnership or corporation) more than $500 in the year for services.
It depends on how the work is actually done. We help you document the arrangement.
Yes, weekly or bi-weekly, with vacation pay, remittances and T4s.
Yes, once you’re registered. Cleaning services are generally taxable.
It can save time and sometimes money. We compare both methods with your numbers.
Generally yes, once you have workers. Janitorial and residential cleaning are mandatory WSIB industries in Ontario, and commercial clients often ask for a clearance certificate.
Ontario’s building services rules can treat cleaners you hire from the previous contractor as having continuous service. We factor that into your costing.
GST/HST returns are $150 per return, catch-up bookkeeping starts from $1,800 per year, the Bookkeeping Review is $195/month or $295/quarter (from $450 per review for complex books). Monthly bookkeeping is from $500/month (Scale) and quarterly bookkeeping from $350/month (Growth). Personal tax returns from $110 + HST/GST, with your final price confirmed after a free call. Payroll and corporate tax returns are quoted after a free call. Prices are + HST/GST. You get the price in writing before any work starts.
On monthly plans your books are done by the 10th, and if we’re late on our side, that month’s fee is waived.
Yes, if you have a comparable written quote and bring it to us before you sign your proposal. We can only match a price when it’s agreed before the proposal is signed.
Yes. Snap receipts with Dext, share documents through our client portal and talk by phone or video. You can also meet us in Etobicoke or Mississauga by appointment.
Book a free call through our contact page or call 866-254-5368. We’ll ask a few questions about your business and send you a written price before any work starts.
Running a cleaning or janitorial company in Ontario?
Talk to a CPA who understands subcontractors, HST and crew payroll. Book a free call. We reply within one business day, and a real person answers 24/7 at 866-254-5368.
Reviewed by Wajahat Ajmal, CPA, FCCA. Updated October 18, 2026.
Related services: Bookkeeping · Catch-up bookkeeping · Corporate taxes · Personal tax · Payroll · Virtual CFO · Contact us
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