Find clients for your agency in Toronto
The Toronto census metropolitan area counts 37,028 local businesses of the kinds agencies sell websites, SEO and ads to. The biggest groups: 13,987 restaurants and food service, 5,603 residential builders and 5,524 plumbing, heating and electrical contractors. 1,948 advertising, PR and media agencies compete for them.
The local businesses agencies sell to in Toronto
Counts of businesses with employees by trade in the Toronto 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real estate agents and brokers | 3,647 | 5.1 | +76% |
| Hair, beauty and personal care | 4,382 | 6.2 | +25% |
| Restaurants and food service | 13,987 | 19.7 | +14% |
| Plumbing, heating and electrical contractors | 5,524 | 7.8 | +10% |
| Auto repair shops | 3,885 | 5.5 | +5% |
| Residential builders | 5,603 | 7.9 | at the median |
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Business Counts, June 2026; population 7,108,874 (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 Toronto stands out
- Real estate agents and brokers: 5.1 per 10,000 residents, 76% above the median of the 15 largest Canadian metro areas (rank 2 of 15).
- Hair, beauty and personal care: 6.2 per 10,000 residents, 25% above the median (rank 4).
- Competition: 1,948 advertising, PR and media agencies for 262,535 businesses of all kinds, one for every 135. The median across the 15 largest Canadian metro areas is one for every 205, so Toronto ranks 14 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 Toronto compares with nearby and similar cities
Of these 7 cities, Vancouver has the most of these businesses per resident and Calgary the most businesses per agency.
| City | Local businesses | Per 10,000 residents | Businesses per agency | Strongest trade, vs median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | 37,028 | 52 | 135 | Real estate agents and brokers (+76%) |
| Hamilton | 4,036 | 46 | 185 | Hair, beauty and personal care (+14%) |
| Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo | 2,918 | 42 | 238 | Real estate agents and brokers (at the median) |
| London | 2,623 | 41 | 197 | Auto repair shops (at the median) |
| Montréal | 22,869 | 50 | 123 | Residential builders (+36%) |
| Vancouver | 17,924 | 58 | 193 | Real estate agents and brokers (+86%) |
| Calgary | 9,375 | 51 | 239 | Hair, beauty and personal care (+33%) |
Your first three lists in Toronto
- Restaurants and food service: 13,987 businesses, close to the median per resident, so the volume is the reason to start here (rank 2 of 15).
- Real estate agents and brokers: 3,647 businesses, 76% more per resident than the median city, so owners compete hard for customers (rank 2 of 15).
- Plumbing, heating and electrical contractors: 5,524 businesses, close to the median per resident, so the volume is the reason to start here (rank 5 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 Toronto?
Statistics Canada, Canadian Business Counts, June 2026 counts 37,028 businesses with employees in the trades on this page in the Toronto census metropolitan area, including 13,987 restaurants and food service, 5,603 residential builders and 5,524 plumbing, heating and electrical contractors.
How many marketing agencies are there in Toronto?
1,948 advertising, PR and media agencies in the Toronto census metropolitan area (Statistics Canada, Canadian Business Counts, June 2026), one for every 135 businesses, against a median of one for every 205 across the 15 largest Canadian metro areas.
Which trade should an agency target first in Toronto?
By volume, restaurants and food service (13,987). Relative to its size, Toronto stands out most on real estate agents and brokers: 5.1 per 10,000 residents, rank 2 of 15.