Find clients for your agency in Montréal
The Montréal census metropolitan area counts 22,869 local businesses of the kinds agencies sell websites, SEO and ads to. The biggest groups: 8,326 restaurants and food service, 4,859 residential builders and 3,239 plumbing, heating and electrical contractors. 1,139 advertising, PR and media agencies compete for them.
The local businesses agencies sell to in Montréal
Counts of businesses with employees by trade in the Montréal census metropolitan area, per 10,000 residents, against the median of the 15 largest Canadian metro areas.
| Trade | Businesses | Per 10,000 residents | vs median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential builders | 4,859 | 10.6 | +36% |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 1,530 | 3.3 | +14% |
| Auto repair shops | 2,582 | 5.6 | +8% |
| Restaurants and food service | 8,326 | 18.1 | +5% |
| Hair, beauty and personal care | 2,333 | 5.1 | +3% |
| Plumbing, heating and electrical contractors | 3,239 | 7.0 | at the median |
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Business Counts, June 2026; population 4,597,837 (Statistics Canada estimate, July 2025). Statistics Canada publishes metro counts by 4-digit industry, so some trades are grouped. Counts change as businesses open and close.
Where Montréal stands out
- Residential builders: 10.6 per 10,000 residents, 36% above the median of the 15 largest Canadian metro areas (rank 3 of 15).
- Real estate agents and brokers: 3.3 per 10,000 residents, 14% above the median (rank 4).
- Competition: 1,139 advertising, PR and media agencies for 139,898 businesses of all kinds, one for every 123. The median across the 15 largest Canadian metro areas is one for every 205, so Montréal ranks 15 of 15 on businesses per agency (1 is the least crowded): a crowded agency market, where niching on one trade and leading with proof wins.
How Montréal compares with nearby and similar cities
Of these 7 cities, Vancouver has the most of these businesses per resident and Winnipeg the most businesses per agency.
| City | Local businesses | Per 10,000 residents | Businesses per agency | Strongest trade, vs median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montréal | 22,869 | 50 | 123 | Residential builders (+36%) |
| Québec City | 4,083 | 45 | 156 | Residential builders (+47%) |
| Vancouver | 17,924 | 58 | 193 | Real estate agents and brokers (+86%) |
| Calgary | 9,375 | 51 | 239 | Hair, beauty and personal care (+33%) |
| Ottawa | 7,067 | 42 | 200 | Real estate agents and brokers (+9%) |
| Edmonton | 8,353 | 49 | 286 | Hair, beauty and personal care (+33%) |
| Winnipeg | 3,873 | 41 | 289 | Hair, beauty and personal care (+6%) |
Your first three lists in Montréal
- Restaurants and food service: 8,326 businesses, close to the median per resident, so the volume is the reason to start here (rank 5 of 15).
- Residential builders: 4,859 businesses, 36% more per resident than the median city, so owners compete hard for customers (rank 3 of 15).
- Plumbing, heating and electrical contractors: 3,239 businesses, close to the median per resident, so the volume is the reason to start here (rank 8 of 15).
How to work a list, from the "No website" filter to the first call: LeadsIt for agencies.
Frequently asked questions
How many local businesses can an agency prospect in Montréal?
Statistics Canada, Canadian Business Counts, June 2026 counts 22,869 businesses with employees in the trades on this page in the Montréal census metropolitan area, including 8,326 restaurants and food service, 4,859 residential builders and 3,239 plumbing, heating and electrical contractors.
How many marketing agencies are there in Montréal?
1,139 advertising, PR and media agencies in the Montréal census metropolitan area (Statistics Canada, Canadian Business Counts, June 2026), one for every 123 businesses, against a median of one for every 205 across the 15 largest Canadian metro areas.
Which trade should an agency target first in Montréal?
By volume, restaurants and food service (8,326). Relative to its size, Montréal stands out most on residential builders: 10.6 per 10,000 residents, rank 3 of 15.