Canada, with a GDP of approximately $2.51 trillion in 2024, ranks as the 9th largest economy in the world, making it one of the most sought-after destinations for businesses looking to expand.

As per the 2024 World Bank Ease of Doing Business Index, Canada is among the top 20 countries globally, known for its business-friendly policies, low corporate tax rates, and innovation-driven market. A high ease of doing business ranking for Canada suggests that the regulatory environment is more conducive. 

Attractive destinations like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, consistently ranked among the most livable cities worldwide, solidify Canada’s position as a hub for global talent and economic growth.

Home to a diverse population of nearly 40 million, Canada provides a skilled and multilingual workforce, with over 25% of its population being immigrants. This diversity strengthens industries across the board, particularly in the tech sector.

With approximately 55,000 tech business establishments, the industry contributes an estimated $113.4 billion CAD to the Canadian economy, accounting for 5.5% of the nation’s GDP. 

Tourism also remains an important contributor to the Canadian GDP, as this second-largest country is the top destination for American tourism. The country is also a hub for technology, natural resources, and finance, while the high influx of tourists creates more jobs in the hotels, restaurants, food services, and transportation sectors. 

Canada’s trade agreements with over 50 countries, including CUSMA and CETA, make it a prime location for businesses targeting North American and European markets.

Businesses looking to establish a foothold in Canada must become familiar with the local labor laws, tax regulations, and employment standards if they aspire to achieve economic success in the region. This is where Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) simplify operations and allow businesses to focus on their core activities. 

What Are PEOs in Canada?

A Professional Employer Organization or PEO in Canada provides HR and administrative services for businesses, companies, and entrepreneurs. PEOs act as co-employers, so businesses don’t have to set up a separate HR department.

This co-employer arrangement works well for those looking for someone to handle employees’ day-to-day tasks and other responsibilities such as payroll, compliance, and employee benefit administration while businesses focus on their functional operations.

In this arrangement, the company or business works primarily on strategic development, growth, and revenue generation, while the partner PEO manages the workforce.

Outsourcing HR tasks to the PEO works well for most businesses as they can leverage the resources and skills of the PEOs that are already operating in the region. This saves businesses from compliance issues and other legal penalties. 

PEOs in Canada handle the following, too.  

  • Payroll management
  • Compliance with the local labor laws
  • HR support
  • Employee onboarding and offboarding
  • Tax reporting
  • Employee benefit administration 

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Let us handle the complexities of hiring, compliance, and payroll in Canada while you focus on growing your team.

  • Hire employees in Canada with a Canada EOR
  • No local entity is needed
  • Pricing starts at USD 199 per employee
  • Remote People can also help you find the best talent in Canada
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Which Services Do PEOs Provide in Canada?

PEOs work as co-employers, which places the responsibility of employee management on them. Businesses can focus on functional operations, strategic decisions, and other matters while PEOs manage human resources.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is a federal government department that manages employment concerns. It oversees labor laws, occupational health and safety, and labor standards.

Here’s a breakdown of the services most PEOs provide in Canada.

Payroll Management

Managing payroll in Canada requires strict compliance with federal and provincial regulations, including Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions, Employment Insurance (EI) premiums, and income taxes.

Complying with the labor standards defined by each province or the Canadian Federal Labour Standards is also a must for every business expanding into the region. These standards cover minimum wage, overtime pay, and holiday pay.

Regulatory bodies like the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), Revenu Quebec (RQ), and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) enforce these rules.

A PEO in Canada looks after timely and accurate salary disbursements, tax deductions, and compliance with filing deadlines, simplifying the complex payroll process and minimizing risks for businesses operating in Canada.

Employee Benefits

You can also rely on a PEO to look after employee benefits while you invest your time into strategic planning, business growth, and overlook other operations. Employers in Canada are required to provide benefits such as health insurance, pensions, and paid leave.

Canada’s standard working hours are 40 hours per week, with overtime pay mandated for additional hours in most provinces. Employees are also entitled to two weeks of paid vacation per year, which increases with tenure, alongside 10 federal public holidays.

Health insurance in Canada is publicly funded, but employers often offer supplemental health benefits, including dental and vision care. As regulations vary across provinces, failure to comply results in legal issues and penalties.

PEOs in Canada can manage such tasks and help with legal compliance, keeping you from worrying about any and all sorts of administrative hurdles.

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Legal Compliance

Canada’s labor laws are regulated at both federal and provincial levels. This requires businesses to strictly stick to standards such as the Canada Labour Code and province-specific employment acts.

PEOs handle employment contracts, workplace safety compliance, and termination processes for you, saving you from hefty penalties.

Onboarding and Recruitment

Conducting background checks, drafting legally compliant contracts, and smoothing out the hiring process is a task PEOs can handle. From onboarding recruitment to offboarding, PEOs handle everything while complying with Canadian employment laws.

Workplace Safety

PEOs assist in meeting safety standards, conducting audits, and creating a risk-free environment for employees to help your business comply with Canada’s strict Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations.

Who Can Benefit from PEOs in Canada?

As PEOs provide comprehensive HR compliance and employee management services, they make good co-employment arrangements for various businesses and industries. Any company, large or small, can make use of the services in any sector. 

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Representing 98% of all businesses in Canada, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) account for more than half of private sector jobs, generating one-third of the country’s economic output. This also drives up the local economy.

However, many SMEs lack the resources to manage HR tasks such as payroll, compliance, and benefits.

PEOs can provide comprehensive HR support to SMEs to focus on scaling their operations while remaining compliant with Canadian labor laws. This is particularly beneficial in provinces like Ontario and British Columbia, where labor laws and tax regulations are among the strictest in the country. 

Startups

A diverse talent pool, strong support networks, and, of course, innovation-friendly policies make Canada’s startup ecosystem one of the most vibrant in the world.

Expanding startups in Canada face numerous challenges regarding employment standards, payroll systems, and other issues.

PEOs can offer much help in this regard. Startups can leverage the resources and expertise of a PEO for compliance, benefits, and tax regulations to avoid establishing a local entity.

Multinational Corporations

Multinational corporations can partner with PEOs to benefit from the diverse Canadian workforce. PEOs can help MNCs enter a saturated market, handle the HR tasks, and quickly have your business comply with the rules and regulations while also getting you a talented local workforce, all while adhering to federal and legal labor standards. 

Remote Teams

Managing distributed teams is a challenge for many businesses. As of August 2024, the percentage of Canadian employees working remotely was estimated to be 18.7%.

PEOs can assist remote teams by managing payroll, taxes, and employee benefits across provinces. They also help your business comply with varying regional regulations, which allows businesses to tap into Canada’s skilled remote workforce seamlessly.

  • Flat Fee per Employee: Ideal for businesses with small, predictable teams, providing fixed monthly costs.
  • Percentage of Payroll: This model varies based on payroll size and is suitable for larger organizations with fluctuating workforce needs.

Analyze your workforce size, budget, and service requirements to determine the most cost-effective option.

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Canada’s strong economy, diverse and skilled workforce, and a prospering global market offer unparalleled opportunities for businesses looking to expand in the region. Being familiar with the ever-changing federal and provincial laws keeps you ahead of the competitive curve and helps you run your business operations smoothly.

With a PEO, you can simplify many complexities of labor laws, payroll regulations, and compliance requirements. With local expertise, you can expand your business to Canada, manage HR on a local level, and achieve business success, all without having to set up a separate HR office. 

Unsure which PEO to pick in Canada? Contact Remote People, your trusted PEO, to be the best solution for your business. We provide top-rated PEO services that help unlock your business potential in Canada. Reach out today to get started!

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Frequently Asked Questions

The cost of hiring a PEO in Canada depends on your business size and service needs. Typically, PEOs charge either a flat fee per employee ranging from $500 to $1,500 per year or a percentage of payroll ranging from 2% to 11%. Factors affecting the cost are the number of employees, services used, etc.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), startups, multinational corporations, and companies with remote teams can all partner with a PEO in Canada. It's ideal for businesses that wish to run their HR processes smoothly.

If you want to retain control over employee management and roles, a PEO is the right choice. However, if you prefer not to establish a legal entity or manage employee-related compliance directly, an EOR can act as the legal employer. 

Currency

$ Canadian Dollar (CAD)

Working hours

37.5 – 40 hours/week

Public/bank holidays

9 public holidays

Capital

Ottawa

Languages

English & French

Population

39.1 million

Minimum hourly salary

CAD $11-$16.75 depending on province/territory

Tax year

1st Jan – 31st Dec

Date format

DD/MM/YYYY

(YYYY/MM/DD in Quebec)

Misclassification penalties

Penalties for misclassification may include back-payment of minimum wage, overtime, paid vacation, pension and employment insurance contributions. Interest of 10% or 20% may be applied, as well as punitive damages in seriouss cases. 

Fun fact

Canada is ranked as the most educated country in the world—more than 50% of the population has a post-secondary education.

Taxes

Employer tax: 7% - 14%

Pension plan

5.95% (max earnings limit)

Employment insurance

1.58% (max earnings limit)

Gross Income

Up to $57,375

$57,375 – $114,750

$114,750 – $177,882

$177,882 – $253,414

More than $253,414

Progressive Tax Rate

15%

20.5%

26%

29%

33%

Total : $0

Total : $0

With Horizons, you save $18,300 per month or up to 37% in savings.

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