These are the questions construction owners ask before they hire a marketer, answered as directly as we can. The short version: we are a Canadian marketing and business consulting service for builders, general contractors, renovators and developers, not a contractor; plans start at $1,999 a month on Trades.Agency terms; and you own everything we build.
Frequently asked questions
How much does construction marketing cost with you?
Our entry plan is $1,999 monthly, dropping to $1,499 monthly if you choose annual billing; Canadian firms add GST/HST for their province (GST and QST in Quebec). Elite and Enterprise plans cost more and include more. Ad spend and the exact mix for your firm are confirmed in your written proposal.
Do we have to sign a long contract?
No. Plans are month-to-month with 30 days' notice to cancel. Annual billing is available at a lower monthly rate if you want it, but it is not required.
How soon will we see results?
Ads can bring homeowner enquiries within a few weeks. SEO usually takes six to twelve months in competitive cities. B2B relationship work tends to show early signs, such as meetings and prequalifications, within three to six months, and awards later, because owners plan ahead.
We tried an agency before and it didn't work. Why would this be different?
Ask what was measured. Many agencies report clicks and impressions, which tell a builder almost nothing. We measure enquiries by type, site visits, invitations to bid and signed contracts, and we tell you early if the numbers don't support the plan.
Who owns the website, ad accounts and data?
You do. Your domain, website, Google Business Profile, ad accounts, analytics and contact records are held in your company's name. If you leave, you keep all of it.
Are you a contractor or builder?
No. We are a marketing and business consulting service. We never estimate, bid, build, renovate or supply trades, and we will never compete with you for a project.
Do you work with commercial GCs or only home builders?
Both. Commercial, industrial and institutional builders usually need the B2B pipeline track. Custom home builders, renovators and design-build firms usually need the homeowner track. Many firms run both.
Can you promise more tenders or leads?
No. No honest marketer can promise awards, rankings or lead counts. We promise clear measures, monthly reporting and a plan that changes when the numbers say it should.
What reporting do we get?
A monthly report in plain language: what we did, what it cost, enquiries by source and type, progress on agreed measures and what changes next. Higher plans include more frequent reporting, as set out in your proposal.
Can you help us get prequalified?
We prepare and maintain the marketing parts of a prequalification, such as the company profile, project sheets and capability statement. Safety records, financial statements, bonding and insurance details come from you and your advisers.
Do you advertise for developers selling new homes?
We can run advertising and build marketing sites for a project. Sales, disclosure documents and anything that counts as real-estate trading stay with your licensed sales team and lawyers.
Do you work in Quebec?
Yes. Quebec marketing must respect French-language requirements for advertising and websites, so we plan French-first content for Quebec firms. Our Quebec region page links the official guidance.
Can we reach you after hours?
Office hours run Mon–Fri 9–6 Pacific. We usually reply within one business day. You can call, text or email at any time and we will pick it up then.
Price and contracts
Our plans follow Trades.Agency's published prices, from $1,999 a month or $1,499 a month on annual billing, plus GST or HST at your province's rate. Plans are month-to-month with 30 days' notice. Anything specific to your firm, including how ad spend is handled, is written into your proposal. The pricing page shows all three plans and a worked example of when marketing pays for a builder.
Timelines and expectations
Construction marketing works on construction timelines. A homeowner who enquires in March may sign in September. An owner who meets you this year may invite you to price a project next year. That is why we agree on early measures, such as qualified enquiries, site visits and prequalifications, alongside the measures that matter most: invitations to bid and signed contracts.
If your backlog is under six months, we start with the faster channels. If you have more than a year booked, we invest in the slower ones that will matter when the market turns.
Ownership and accounts
You own your marketing assets. That includes your domain, website, Google Business Profile, ad accounts, analytics, call-tracking records and contact lists. We work inside accounts registered to your company with your permission. If you have an existing agency holding your accounts, we can help you request them back.
What we do and don't do
We plan and run marketing: websites and project pages, SEO, homeowner ads, B2B pipeline work and reputation routines, all described on the services page. We also advise owners on positioning and growth.
We don't estimate, bid, build, renovate, supervise sites, provide design or inspection services, or give legal, financing or real-estate trading advice. Regulators and builder bodies are linked on our region pages for reference only; confirm your obligations with them directly.
Questions to ask any construction marketer
Whether you hire us or someone else, these questions separate useful marketers from expensive ones:
- What will you measure in the first 90 days, and what will you measure at 12 months? If the answer is only traffic and clicks, keep looking.
- Who owns the accounts? The answer should be "you", in writing.
- Have you worked with firms that sell to owners as well as homeowners? B2B construction marketing is a different job from residential lead generation.
- What will you need from my team? Good construction marketing needs project details, photos and access to someone who knows the bid log.
- How do you handle it when something isn't working? Look for a specific process, not reassurance.
- What claims will you make about my firm? A good marketer won't invent reviews, inflate project counts or list scopes you aren't licensed for.
When marketing is the wrong fix
Sometimes the honest answer is that marketing isn't the problem. If your hit rate has fallen because of pricing, if enquiries go unanswered for days, or if crews are already overbooked, more marketing will make things worse. We would rather tell you that in the first conversation than take a fee for the wrong work. Our budget guide helps you check this for yourself.
Reporting you can take to your partners
Monthly reports are written so an owner can forward them to a business partner, a bank or a board without translating marketing jargon. Each one states spend, enquiries by type, progress on bids or site visits, and the next month's plan.
Still have a question?
Call, text or email and ask. Our contact page lists the details about backlog, bids and project types that help us answer well the first time.