Temp Agency Digital Timesheets and Invoicing Software: Montreal Cost (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

For a Montreal staffing network of 6 branches and 900 temporary workers a week, the bottleneck is almost never the payroll software itself, but collecting timesheets on paper or by photo, which ties up staff from Friday to Tuesday. A specialist vendor costs CAD 22,000 to 58,000 a year, and a custom layer at CAD 50,000 to 100,000 (worker app, client approval, e-signed assignment contracts) plugs into it in 4 to 6 months. The realistic target: 2 days of payroll close saved every week and client invoices issued on Monday instead of Thursday.

Where time is lost in a staffing agency

Every week, for each worker, an agency handles an assignment contract, a timesheet, possible premiums (meals, travel, night shifts) and a client billing line. At 900 assignments a week, any re-keying multiplies.

In total, the network can free 58 to 85 hours a week, the equivalent of 1.5 to 2 payroll clerks. Digital contracts also help comply with Quebec's rules for staffing agencies, licensed by the CNESST since 2020, which require written assignment terms and equal pay for equal work with client employees.

Vendor alone or vendor plus custom layer

E-signature weighs heavily: at 900 contracts a week, about 45,000 a year, the gap between CAD 2.20 and CAD 0.70 per contract represents CAD 67,500 a year. This line often funds the custom layer.

Legal and technical watch points

• keep timesheets and contracts for at least 6 years, with reliable timestamps;
• correct calculation of statutory holiday pay, vacation pay (4 % to 6 %) and source deductions for Revenu Québec and the CRA;
• data hosted in Canada and access restricted per branch, in line with Quebec's Law 25 on privacy;
• a connector to the existing payroll software, via API or a standard export of payroll inputs;
• a simple worker app, in French and English, usable on an entry-level smartphone.

Mini case study

Marie-Ève, director of a 6-branch staffing network focused on logistics and construction in Montreal, handles 900 assignments a week. Her 9 coordinators spend on average 70 hours a week collecting and re-keying. The custom layer is quoted at CAD 75,000, plus CAD 14,000 a year in maintenance.

Estimated gain: 60 hours a week over 47 weeks, i.e. 2,820 hours, valued at a CAD 45 loaded cost, so CAD 126,900 a year. Add CAD 60,000 in e-signature savings. The project pays back in about 5 months, and invoicing 3 days earlier improves cash flow by roughly CAD 260,000 of working capital (2026 order of magnitude).

FAQ

How much does staffing agency software cost?

A specialist vendor costs CAD 22,000 to 58,000 a year for a 6-branch network. A custom layer adds CAD 50,000 to 100,000 once, then CAD 10,000 to 17,000 a year.

Do temporary workers actually use an app?

Yes if it is simple: entry in under 2 minutes and a Friday reminder. Well-supported networks reach 80 to 90 % adoption within 8 weeks.

Are e-signed assignment contracts valid in Quebec?

Yes, electronic signatures are recognised under Quebec's Act to establish a legal framework for information technology. They make written terms available to the worker before the assignment starts.

Can we keep our current payroll software?

Yes, the layer exports payroll inputs in the expected format. The connector typically represents 10 to 15 % of the budget, i.e. CAD 7,000 to 15,000.

How long until we are operational?

Allow 4 to 6 months, with a 4-week pilot in one branch before extending to the other 5.

Let's scope your project. We scope your staffing platform (timesheets, contracts, invoicing), with an indicative budget of CAD 50,000 to 100,000 and a pilot within 3 months. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.