The most transparent contractor evaluation methodology in Canada. Four pillars. 15+ verified data sources. Zero pay-to-play. Here is exactly how every score is calculated.
A plumber with 4.8 stars on Google might carry an F with the BBB and poor ratings on another platform. A roofer with no Google presence might have dozens of five-star reviews elsewhere. No single platform tells the whole story. Most do not even try.
ProScore is Verified Contractor Intelligence for Ontario. We aggregate ratings from 15+ verified data sources, cross-reference government license databases (ESA, TSSA, HCRA, WSIB, Skilled Trades Ontario), check the Consumer Beware List, verify Tarion Warranty coverage, and apply AI-powered sentiment analysis across 18,000+ contractors. The result is the ProScore: a single trust score from 0 to 100 that no single platform can replicate.
Every ProScore is built from four independent pillars. Each measures a different dimension of trustworthiness, combined using a proprietary weighting model that we continuously refine based on real-world customer outcomes.
Ratings from 15+ verified data sources are aggregated into a weighted composite. Platforms with more reviews carry proportionally more weight — a 4.5 from 300 reviews is more meaningful than a 5.0 from 3.
We analyze full star distributions, not just averages. A natural spread of reviews indicates authentic feedback. Statistically unusual patterns are flagged.
Cross-platform consistency is a key signal. A contractor rated highly across every source is a strong indicator. Significant divergence between platforms raises questions.
Providers who respond to customer reviews earn credit for accountability and engagement.
Every provider is cross-referenced against Ontario regulatory databases. ESA/ECRA for electricians, TSSA for gas fitters and HVAC technicians, HCRA for home builders. These are verified at the source — not self-reported.
WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) registration is verified. This protects homeowners from personal liability if a worker is injured on their property.
Consumer Beware List and Skilled Trades Ontario registrations are checked. BBB standing, Google verification status, and contact completeness contribute to the verification picture.
Tarion Warranty coverage is verified for new home builders, confirming warranty protection for homeowners.
Star ratings indicate satisfaction levels. They do not explain why. Our AI reads every verified review and evaluates providers across six dimensions of service quality — revealing insights star averages cannot.
Providers with more detailed reviews and higher confidence scores earn more credit. Weaknesses identified across multiple reviews reduce the score proportionally.
This is the layer that separates ProScore from every other platform. No one else reads reviews at this depth across this many sources.
Providers present on multiple independent review platforms are more accountable than those on one. Breadth of presence is rewarded.
Profile completeness — photos, contact information, business description, review history — indicates a provider who takes their public reputation seriously.
The more independently verifiable data points available, the higher the confidence in the final score.
Star ratings indicate satisfaction. They do not explain why. Our AI reads every verified review and evaluates each provider across six dimensions of service quality \u2014 revealing patterns that star averages conceal.
Example: A contractor might score highly on quality and expertise but lower on communication and value. This means excellent work, but potentially slow callbacks or premium pricing. This level of nuance is impossible to derive from a single star rating.
Based on their total ProScore, every provider is classified into one of five tiers. Tier thresholds are calibrated to reflect meaningful differences in trustworthiness.
Exceptional across all four pillars. Verified government credentials, outstanding customer sentiment, strong multi-platform presence. The standard for Ontario trade professionals.
Strong, consistent performance with verified credentials. A reliable choice backed by data across multiple sources. Minor gaps in one area at most.
Solid ratings with room for improvement in verification or multi-platform presence. Worth considering with standard due diligence.
Limited data available. May be newer to the industry or missing key credentials. Score improves as more verifiable data becomes available.
Significant concerns identified. Consumer complaints, missing required credentials, or red flags detected. Review the provider’s full profile before proceeding.
ProScore aggregates data from 15+ verified sources across three categories: review platforms, government regulatory databases, and AI analysis. Every data point is independently verifiable.
Star ratings, full review text, owner responses, reviewer signals, verification status
Letter grades, accreditation status, complaint history, dispute resolution records
Ratings, review counts, and review text from additional verified industry platforms
Electrical Safety Authority — mandatory licensing for all Ontario electricians
Technical Standards and Safety Authority — required for gas fitters and HVAC technicians
Home Construction Regulatory Authority — licensing for Ontario home builders
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board — workplace injury coverage protecting homeowners
Provincial trades registration and certification verification
Ontario government list of contractors with enforcement actions or consumer complaints
New home warranty coverage verification for builders
Proprietary NLP model evaluating review text across six dimensions of service quality
We cross-reference providers directly against official Ontario regulatory databases. These credentials cannot be faked, purchased, or self-reported. This is the verification layer that no review platform provides.
Beyond scoring, our system identifies risk factors that homeowners should know about. When something stands out, it is surfaced on the provider's profile.
Statistically unusual review distributions that may indicate fake, incentivized, or manipulated reviews. Providers corroborated across multiple independent platforms receive appropriate consideration.
When a provider’s rating on one platform is significantly different from another, it may indicate that reviews on one platform are not authentic.
Providers with persistently poor ratings across multiple platforms are flagged so homeowners can make informed decisions.
For trades that require specific licenses or insurance in Ontario, missing credentials are flagged as a material concern.
When very few reviews or data points exist, the score is flagged as lower confidence. The provider is not necessarily poor — there is not enough verifiable information yet.
No. The ProScore is calculated entirely from public data and government records. Advertising and scoring are completely separate systems. No amount of spend affects the score.
For the same reason credit scoring formulas are proprietary: if exact weights and thresholds were public, bad actors would engineer around them. Every factor that influences the score is described on this page. The methodology is transparent; the implementation is protected.
Scores are recomputed regularly as new reviews, ratings, and verification data become available. Algorithm updates are applied across all 18,000+ providers simultaneously to ensure consistency.
Providers can claim their profile and submit updated credentials through the ProScore portal. When government records, insurance documentation, or verifiable business information changes, the score updates accordingly.
A provider with a 4.5-star average could excel at craftsmanship but score poorly on communication. Star ratings compress everything into one number. Our AI decomposes review text to show where a provider excels and where they fall short across six quality dimensions.
Electricians require ESA/ECRA licensing. HVAC technicians and gas fitters require TSSA certification. Home builders require HCRA licensing. For trades without mandatory provincial licensing, we verify WSIB registration, Skilled Trades Ontario status, and BBB standing.
Other platforms show their own ratings. ProScore aggregates 15+ verified data sources, verifies government credentials directly, and applies AI sentiment analysis. No other platform in Canada combines all three.
Browse 18,000+ evaluated Ontario trade professionals. Every profile shows the ProScore, AI-analyzed sentiment, verified credentials, and ratings from multiple platforms.