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The blog

Running a staffing agency in Canada

The costs nobody itemizes, the rules nobody explains, and honest looks at the tools, written from inside a working Ontario staffing agency.

No-shows

What a no-show actually costs a staffing agency (the full math)

A worker no-show costs a staffing agency $200 to $500 per incident, covering unbilled hours, scramble time, overtime premiums, and lost client trust. Here's the full breakdown.

Updated July 11, 2026

How to reduce no-shows at your staffing agency: what actually works

Cut no-show rates by 60% with two-way confirmation texts, morning-of reminders, calling quiet workers, reliable crew incentives, and same-day backup planning.

Updated July 11, 2026

Payroll

The staffing agency payroll process, step by step (and where the hours go)

How temp staffing agencies process payroll each week: collecting client hour sheets, matching names to workers, splitting regular vs overtime, and remitting to CRA.

Updated July 11, 2026

How to reconcile client hour sheets with ADP without losing an evening

Match client hours to workers without manual re-entry: use stable IDs, drop subtotals, handle split OT rows, and verify counts before importing into ADP or any payroll system.

Updated July 11, 2026

Compliance

Credential tracking: why the spreadsheet fails at 30 workers

Spreadsheets fail at tracking worker credentials because they do not act on expiry dates. Instead, they record dates passively. A forklift card expires mid-assignment and dispatch does not know.

Updated July 11, 2026

Starting up

How to start a staffing agency in Ontario (2026): licence, WSIB, insurance, first client

Seven steps to start a temp staffing agency in Ontario in 2026: business registration, THA licence ($1,500), WSIB, CRA payroll, insurance, your first client, and building your operational systems.

Updated July 11, 2026

How to start a nursing or PSW agency in Ontario (2026)

How to start a private nursing or PSW staffing agency in Ontario: THA licence, WSIB, credentials for nurses and PSWs, Bill 11 reporting requirements (not yet in force), and private-pay vs facility staffing.

Updated July 11, 2026

Event staffing

Overbooking event staff: the hidden cost of the 10 to 15 percent buffer

Event staffing agencies overbook 10 to 15 percent to cover no-shows. Here's what the buffer costs in wages, goodwill, and coordination, and how tighter confirmation can shrink it.

Updated July 11, 2026

Comparisons

Bullhorn pricing for small agencies: what you actually pay (2026)

Bullhorn pricing in 2026: Starter $99/user/month, Core $165/user/month. See the real annual cost for a 5 to 12 person staffing agency, plus add-on modules and implementation fees.

Updated July 11, 2026

Instawork vs your own crew: the gig-app math for event agencies

Instawork costs 35% markup plus $2,500 per direct hire. On a $20/hour role, all-in is $27/hour. Compare the cost, worker ownership, and when a marketplace makes sense vs. building your own repeat team.

Updated July 11, 2026

Nowsta vs Ubeya vs Workstaff vs Kordis for event staffing (2026)

Compare Nowsta ($3 to $12/user/month), Workstaff ($99 to $139/user/month), Ubeya (custom pricing), and Kordis for Canadian event and temp staffing. Which fits your agency?

Updated July 11, 2026

The 6 best temp agency tools for agencies under 100 workers (2026)

Build a staffing agency tech stack for under 100 workers. Tools for dispatch, payroll, scheduling, accounting, and growth: Kordis, Wagepoint, Agendrix, QuickBooks, Workstaff, Bullhorn. See verified pricing and why each matters.

Updated July 11, 2026

The Kordis blog: running a Canadian staffing agency · Kordis