Find clients for your agency in Vancouver
The Vancouver census metropolitan area counts 17,924 local businesses of the kinds agencies sell websites, SEO and ads to. The biggest groups: 6,358 restaurants and food service, 3,344 residential builders and 2,829 plumbing, heating and electrical contractors. 629 advertising, PR and media agencies compete for them.
The local businesses agencies sell to in Vancouver
Counts of businesses with employees by trade in the Vancouver 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 | 1,676 | 5.4 | +86% |
| Hair, beauty and personal care | 2,155 | 7.0 | +42% |
| Residential builders | 3,344 | 10.8 | +40% |
| Plumbing, heating and electrical contractors | 2,829 | 9.2 | +30% |
| Restaurants and food service | 6,358 | 20.6 | +19% |
| Auto repair shops | 1,562 | 5.1 | at the median |
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Business Counts, June 2026; population 3,088,036 (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 Vancouver stands out
- Real estate agents and brokers: 5.4 per 10,000 residents, 86% above the median of the 15 largest Canadian metro areas (rank 1 of 15).
- Hair, beauty and personal care: 7.0 per 10,000 residents, 42% above the median (rank 1).
- Competition: 629 advertising, PR and media agencies for 121,423 businesses of all kinds, one for every 193. The median across the 15 largest Canadian metro areas is one for every 205, so Vancouver ranks 11 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 Vancouver 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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%) |
| Québec City | 4,083 | 45 | 156 | Residential builders (+47%) |
| Hamilton | 4,036 | 46 | 185 | Hair, beauty and personal care (+14%) |
Your first three lists in Vancouver
- Restaurants and food service: 6,358 businesses, 19% more per resident than the median city, so owners compete hard for customers (rank 1 of 15).
- Residential builders: 3,344 businesses, 40% more per resident than the median city, so owners compete hard for customers (rank 2 of 15).
- Plumbing, heating and electrical contractors: 2,829 businesses, 30% more per resident than the median city, so owners compete hard for customers (rank 2 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 Vancouver?
Statistics Canada, Canadian Business Counts, June 2026 counts 17,924 businesses with employees in the trades on this page in the Vancouver census metropolitan area, including 6,358 restaurants and food service, 3,344 residential builders and 2,829 plumbing, heating and electrical contractors.
How many marketing agencies are there in Vancouver?
629 advertising, PR and media agencies in the Vancouver census metropolitan area (Statistics Canada, Canadian Business Counts, June 2026), one for every 193 businesses, against a median of one for every 205 across the 15 largest Canadian metro areas.
Which trade should an agency target first in Vancouver?
By volume, restaurants and food service (6,358). Relative to its size, Vancouver stands out most on real estate agents and brokers: 5.4 per 10,000 residents, rank 1 of 15.