Key Findings
- 11,101 contractors analyzed across 10+ cities
- Average AI Trust Score: 39/100 (median: 37)
- Only 6.3% of contractors score above 70 (excellent visibility)
- 6% have structured data (JSON-LD), meaning 94% are invisible to AI assistants
- 75% have a website listed
Score Distribution
The majority of contractors in Ontario fall in the lower score ranges. This reflects a market where most businesses haven't optimized their online presence for AI discovery.
Score Distribution: Ontario
Web Presence & AI Readability
75%
Have a Website
6%
Have JSON-LD
Top Performing Cities
These cities have the highest average AI Trust Scores in Ontario, indicating contractors in these markets are more likely to be found by AI assistants.
Top Cities by Avg Score: Ontario
| City | Businesses | Avg Score |
|---|---|---|
| Carp | 20 | 53.6 |
| Sutton | 5 | 52.8 |
| Ariss | 6 | 52.5 |
| St Catharines | 8 | 48.9 |
| Richmond | 9 | 48.4 |
| Limoges | 43 | 47.8 |
| St Jacobs | 14 | 47.8 |
| Breslau | 23 | 46.6 |
| Maryhill | 7 | 46.6 |
| Vanier | 11 | 46.5 |
Hiring in Ontario?
By Industry Vertical
Different contractor types show distinct patterns in AI visibility. Plumbers lead with an average score of 42. HVAC-R lag at 28.
| Vertical | Count | Avg Score | % Excellent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers | 977 | 42 | 11.5% |
| Electricians | 1,086 | 36.4 | 4.4% |
| HVAC | 1,020 | 40 | 7.5% |
| Roofers | 659 | 40.6 | 8.6% |
| Painters | 299 | 39.7 | 7.4% |
| Landscapers | 906 | 36.3 | 3.2% |
| General Contractors | 1,289 | 35.7 | 5% |
| Foundation | 179 | 38.5 | 6.7% |
| HVAC-R | 1 | 28 | 0% |
Performance Gap
The gap between top performers and the rest tells a clear story: the top 10% of contractors in Ontario score 77.7 on average, with 67 reviews. The bottom 50% average just 26.9 with 46 reviews. That's a 1.5x difference in reviews alone.
Methodology
This report analyzes 11,101 contractor business listings in Ontario. Each business is scored on three dimensions: Identity (business presence verification), Legitimacy (ratings, reviews, and credentials), and Readability (structured data for AI systems). Scores are capped at 100. Data is sourced from Google Maps and business websites, refreshed regularly.