Business owners can apply for account status provided they understand and meet all the conditions regarding their responsibilities.
See all subscription types.
As a business owner, you need to be able to use our platform to market and manage your business. The following links and video tutorials will assist you.
How to access your account and change your password?
When we set up your account, we use the email address that you provided to the Site on Sign-Up. The password you used on signup remains the same. If you forgot what you used then you need to reset the password.
If you signed up in PDF format or through other contact means, the Site admin will use your email address and automatically generate a secure password known only to Site Admin to approve your account access.
Several people can be involved in managing a business profile. The enables one person to manage several business profiles for restaurants, hotels, or other businesses with several locations under one envelope.
In order to access your account, the business needs to reset the password so that only the business owner knows the password. Reset your password and a link will be sent to your email address.
You will use the same email address and your new password has to have eight characters with one capital letter, one small letter and one number. The owner of the business has to authorize additional account managers
Our Video Tutorials will assist you with this and other areas. See Video Tutorials.
If you have difficulty, check your spam folder or call the Site Admin at 888-979-6490.
You may also use our live chat button, or email us at office@safeandtrusted.com
Once you have access you can make changes to your profile at any time.
The Site automatically reduces the subscription to an Information Only profile should the subscription be cancelled. The business may also be archived. See When We Archive a Business.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE PLACE THE FOLLOWING CONTENT INTO EVERY PROFILE
Although it is a primary credential, there is no guarantee that any business will be here next year.
A business that has been in business for ten years is probably going to be around next year. The business just starting out today is a higher risk for failure.
A trades person who may have worked for years for someone else may know everything about the trade, but little about business. A business owner needs to have the attributes of managing staff, dealing with government and city laws, as well as suppliers.
Our Site does not tell the consumer who they choose or what credentials a business should have. The Site just allows the user to make choices using our credentials search system.
The Site automatically reduces the subscription to an Information Only profile should the subscription be cancelled. The business may also be archived. See When We Archive a Business.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE PLACE THE FOLLOWING CONTENT INTO EVERY PROFILE
An educated consumer can do the following.
They can make comparisons and weigh options based on research.
They want a choice. They do not want someone suggesting who they should choose by eliminating choice.
They rely on word of mouth from their close family and friends, but also have the ability to make their decisions.
They are internet savvy. They can look at reviews and understand that not all reviews are accurate or real.
They only believe what they can verify for themselves. They can shortlist selections but want verification by more than just a website. They want information from several sources.
Trust to them in today’s world means more than a business being on a website. They want to know that when they are spending potentially thousands of dollars, they need to have more than just one source of information.
They have the ability to ask questions and get answers. If the business owner cannot answer their questions or thinks that their questions are stupid, then they move forward with someone else.
They want things in writing for complex transactions. Contractors working on a renovation are one of those things that should be in writing.
They want quotes from several sources in complex transactions, and if needed will consult a lawyer to review contracts. The educated consumer avoids a deal that is too good to be true.
They never make a decision under pressure. A deal that has limited numbers, or only this week, or a special promotion lasting 24 hours is avoided immediately.
What happens if things go wrong in major transactions should always be discussed and covered in writing. Delays, Poor Performance, Third Party Intervention.
Lastly, they will appreciate good service, quality, and fair pricing, and they have the potential to leave reviews indicating positive experiences with businesses that they have dealt with and can recommend to others.
Please Note That We Place the Following Content Into Every Profile.
The Smart and Educated consumer understands that they need to protect their interests fully at all times, and will never rely on just a website telling them who to select when they may be shelling out thousands of dollars. The Smart and Educated consumer knows that there are no Sites that can guarantee any business and that they should use this Site as one avenue of research in their selection process. You should seek legal assistance in situations involving large sums of money. Any business can claim bankruptcy without warning.
Selecting Your Next Contractor
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE PLACE THE FOLLOWING CONTENT INTO EVERY PROFILE
Safe and Trusted Canada uses credentials as a key component to separate one business versus another.
There is no obligation for a business to list their credentials but they will not be seen if the customer is looking for credentials first.
This is important especially for contractors. No credentials could mean no value for your business for being part of this Site.
The system used allows any business with an account to place their business credentials into their profile.
The business may place only the credentials they have and is reminded that placing credentials they do not have results in an alert on the business profile.
Credentials are divided into two areas. The first part is for all businesses, and the second part is additional data for contractors.
Let us go the different components and make sure you understand exactly what is implied. We have prepared an easy way for you to check our what requirements are mandated by province as well as links to a tool that allows you to check the licensing requirements for your area.
What are the requirements for my province?
Business Credentials
Required Licensing for our trade and category is currently in place. This means that the business has a city license if required, and any specific licenses related to their business category. Eg. A gas fitter requires special licensing.
Legal Requirements for our trade area and the category is currently in place. Some contractors that take deposits are required to have separate licensing. Make sure that you understand the requirements of your business. Your business must be registered, or the name that you are presenting to the consumer is authorized such as a franchise.
Advertised Name of business is legally registered by the owner. This means that the name that the business uses belongs to that business owner. As the business, they have done a name search for their province, and the name is legally protected. We often see businesses using domain names as their advertised name or variations of a legal name that is not registered. The only name a business should place as their advertised name is the one that is legally registered. Having a numbered company doing business as something else is unwise. Seek a lawyer. In some provinces, the Advertised Name must be registered.
10 or more years in business. This relates to an actual business operation as a business and is not intended for people who have ten years of experience. Operating a business as the owner and being an employee is quite different as most owners will tell you quite quickly. As a rule, we recommend to consumers that the length of time in business is a primary credential.
5 or more years in business This relates to the same fashion at 10 or more years in business. If you have 10 or more years in business, you can select this credential as well.
3 or more years in business This relates in the same fashion as the other years in business designations. If you have 5 or more, or 10 or more, you can select this credential as well.
Our business guarantees all credentials listed in our profile is accurate. This serves as a check for the business owner and reminds the business that listing their credentials must be accurate.
We have a complaint process in place directly to the owner of the business. Many consumers lay complaints with review sites because there is no process to deal with the owner.
Contractor Credentials
Liability Insurance is currently in place If you are a contractor and do not have this in place then what happens is there is an accident, someone gets hurt, or there is property damage. A painter spilling a five-gallon pail of paint or a gas explosion for a faulty hookup place both the business and the consumer at risk. We recommend to consumers that this is a must-have and that they should check with their insurance provider as an added check.
Workers’ compensation requirements are met. If you hire workers as a contractor, ensure workers’ comp is in place. We recommend that consumers seek this credential in a profile
Will supply proof of credentials to clients if needed. The contractor industry has problems and if the consumers want evidence of what you are advertising, then do it. If you can’t or think it is not necessary, then it is likely the consumer will not select you as a contractor.
Will supply testimonials and customer references if needed. This is telling the consumer that you will provide references. We recommend references from the last ten jobs as one of the priorities consumers should seek in hiring any contractor.
Will supply images of workmanship of past projects. Many websites are built using stock images. We have also seen subcontractors use images of jobs that they did for another contractor. Use the images that you have taken as a contractor. You should be taking before and after pictures as a regular part of your business all the time.
Will supply free quotes in writing. Some contractors spend many hours quoting a project. Some charge mileage and time for the quote as well. If the quote is not free, do not select this credential.
Will give supplier references to protect consumers from liens. We have seen roofers place shingles on houses, collect the money, and not pay the supplier. The supplier placed liens on the houses where they delivered the shingles. We have seen sub-trades placing liens after the general did not pay the sub-trade. We ask consumers to think about this in their selection process.
We work primarily with our own employees. This is a factor to consider. Consider a roofer as an example that has one crew that is all employees versus contracted staff that come and go.
We primarily subcontract everything out to other contractors we trust. General Contractors will do this. Consumers need to know that this can be beneficial for lower costs, and detailed expertise. It can also give the project the lowest cost and lowest quality of workmanship. We advise consumers to ensure they know the names of the sub-trades that will be working on the project.
All our sub-trades are licensed, legal and insured. This is important if you are a consumer. You do not want unlicensed sub-trades that cannot get inspections completed or permits because they are not licensed. As a consumer, you sure don’t want someone connecting electrical circuits or installing gas lines that have no liability insurance.
Will work with written contracts to protect business and the consumer. This is a must if there are deposits. The contract should have a start date, finish date, price, and most important, what happens if things go wrong. Contact a lawyer to be safe. Seek legal assistance for complicated transactions.
Contracts detail deposits and progress payments. This is important for both the business and the consumer. There will be no surprises, and we also suggest progress reviews that both the contractor and customer sign off on to ensure that if there are problems, they are handled right away before the project goes to the next step. Remember to add a change of work orders as separate add-ins to the original contract when applicable.
Will provide a written warranty for the consumer on workmanship, This is great, but what happens if the contractor goes out of business. Is there provision for another contractor to provide warranty work? This should be part of your contract as a contractor can retire, move, or go bankrupt.
We are covered Under Home Warranty Program. A new home covered under a Home Warranty Program is a policy in some jurisdictions. Most contractors offer this as a fail-safe solution. Safe and Trusted Canada suggests you look at the Home Warranty Program in-depth, as well as some of the BBB reports connected to them They are not necessarily fail-safe solutions. You are better to pick the best contractor instead.
The Site automatically reduces the subscription to an Information Only profile should the subscription be cancelled. The business may also be archived. See When We Archive a Business.
Please Note That We Place the Following Content Into Every Profile.
Find Information you need as a consumer about businesses in Canada.
Our Site is expanding and new areas will have less content.
See links to review sites and use our credentials filters to sort and select businesses based on what is important to you as a consumer.
See other Videos regarding our services.
Remember the business can list their business as a Basic Subscription at no charge.
We look for businesses that are licensed, legal and have good reviews for account access. The following list contains trade areas and categories for Canada.
Please understand that this is a new site. It allows the business to
advertise their business in one category at no cost.
The following details all listings in Canada according to the business category.
All profiles are listed according to our Business Order of Display.
Click on the primary category to see the subcategories. Subcategories in blue have content.
Learn more before selecting any of the above links
The Site automatically reduces the subscription to an Information Only profile should the subscription be cancelled. The business may also be archived. See When We Archive a Business.
See YouTube Video Protect Your Interests as a Consumer
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE PLACE THE FOLLOWING CONTENT INTO EVERY PROFILE
A business that registers one name and advertises as another confuses the consumer and can be in violation of provincial laws.
A good test for clarification is that if you as a business could not become accredited with Better Business Bureau because of your name, that usually means something is wrong.
There is no sense in building websites and advertising a name that can never belong to you as a business owner.
As a business, your advertised name is not pointing people to a domain and using that domain as your advertised name. It does not meet policy and can lead to lawsuits from other companies who have legally registered the name.
As a business owner, the very last thing you want to do is advertise as a name that you cannot legally use. Why would you want to spend money on websites, and other advertising only to have to shut down and restart the whole process all over again?
There are cases where the business owner has bought the rights to a franchise. The franchise is registered or trademarked, and the business owner cannot register the name. Their advertised name is already in place.
A person may display their personal name but cannot have any other words associated with it according to registration branches. Some professional designations are allowed. Contact the corporation’s registry for your province.
Registration of your business name is important. Get it done as soon as possible. Sometimes as a new business, you may have delays or may have thought it was registered because you have a Business number with Canada Revenue. It is one of the key components that consumers may look at to ensure that you plan to stay in business.
The Site automatically reduces the subscription to an Information Only profile should the subscription be cancelled. The company may also be archived. See When We Archive a Business.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE PLACE THE FOLLOWING CONTENT INTO EVERY PROFILE
Our mechanism for listing Restaurants as Information Only profiles does not follow our normal format for other business types.
Information Only profiles give the business only one category and one trade area.
Presentation for Restaurants would have to list cuisines and that would mean that some restaurants may have up to 20 subcategories just to give that restaurant an accurate presentation of that restaurant. Unfortunately, because there are thousands of restaurants in Canada we will not be able to list all of them unless they apply for account status.
Restaurants in one city may be in close proximity to restaurants in other cities and the consumer should be able to view all their options. As a result, some restaurants may be listed in several other trade areas as an Information Only profile. Restaurants with account status will be listed according to the trade areas allowed or their subscription type.
The restaurant may be listed in our database according to the composite review of all their review sites. Not all restaurants will have a composite review unless they have account status. See our Business Order of Display.
Each account type gives the Restaurant more presentation options just like other business types. Trade areas and Categories will not be one of them as the restaurant will automatically retain what is listed as an Information Only profile
The Site automatically reduces the subscription to an Information Only profile should the subscription be cancelled. The business may also be archived. See When We Archive a Business.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE PLACE THE FOLLOWING CONTENT INTO EVERY PROFILE
A Category is any subcategory in any primary category.
If you contract a service out to another company, you cannot use that category in your listing.
Some of these examples clarify our position.
A General Contractor subcontracts to plumbers, electricians, roofers, carpenters, and others. They would not be able to state they offer any of those services. Even though you may have staff that oversees the operation of a subcontractor, you technically do not provide those services. Your proper categories may be General Contractors, Renovation Contractors, Builders, and Home Builders.
An exception to the rule is where a General Contractor has employees that directly do the work, then they would be allowed to be in all of the designated categories.
Another example where they may be numerous approved categories is a clinic operating and offering the services of several disciplines including physio, chiropractic, massage, etc. All of the staff work under the umbrella of that clinic under contract. The clinic would be able to be in all categories as the delivery of those services are under one roof.
Some trades will be in multiple categories. An example may be the plumbing category; which may also cover air conditioning, heating, furnaces, fireplaces, and renovations.
The Site automatically reduces the subscription to an Information Only profile should the subscription be cancelled. The business may also be archived. See When We Archive a Business.
Please Note That We Place the Following Content Into Every Profile.