How FortisBC Trade Ally Members Can Offset Up to 50% of Eligible Direct-Mail Costs

Running a plumbing or HVAC company already means juggling technicians, emergency calls, equipment orders and customers who swear the leak “just started yesterday.”

Marketing often gets whatever time and budget are left over.

FortisBC Could Cover Up to Half of Your Next Direct-Mail Campaign

But if you’re a FortisBC Trade Ally Network member, FortisBC may reimburse up to 50% of eligible advertising expenses—subject to your annual allocation, available funding and final approval.

That could turn a $10,000 direct-mail campaign into approximately $5,000 in net marketing costs.

There is a catch: the campaign must follow FortisBC’s requirements and receive written approval before anything is printed or mailed.

That’s where PostNow comes in.

The FortisBC Rules You Need to Know

FortisBC ultimately decides whether a campaign and its expenses qualify. The major requirements include:

You must be an eligible Trade Ally Network member.
The campaign must receive written pre-approval before printing or distribution.
Advertising must include eligible FortisBC-approved messaging.
The correct Trade Ally branding must be used.
Applicable Technical Safety BC contractor information must be displayed.
Claims require invoices, proof of payment and campaign documentation.
Reimbursement requests must be submitted within FortisBC’s required timeline.
Funding is limited and is not guaranteed.

Multi-drop campaigns also require careful coordination between approval, invoicing, printing, distribution and reimbursement deadlines. PostNow will help structure the campaign, while your company remains responsible for obtaining FortisBC approval and submitting its reimbursement claim.

Postnow Knows Exactly How To Comply With Fortisbc's Marketing Guidelines To Get Up To $5,000 In Rebate For Our Clients

Why Direct Mail Works for Plumbing and HVAC

Homeowners don’t think much about their plumber or HVAC contractor until something leaks, plugs, breaks or stops heating.

Direct mail helps put your company in their head before that happens.

PostNow can target neighbourhoods based on location, housing characteristics and household demographics. Instead of advertising across your entire region, you can focus on areas that fit your services, technicians and growth plans.

One postcard creates awareness. A coordinated series builds recognition—and recognized companies are more likely to get the call when the basement starts making expensive noises.

What a $10,000 Campaign Could Look Like in 2026

Rather than spend the entire budget on one large mailing, we recommend a four-drop campaign sent over approximately eight to twelve weeks.

The campaign would repeatedly reach roughly 5,000 to 7,000 targeted households, producing approximately 20,000 to 28,000 total household impressions.

PostNow’s current all-inclusive pricing for 5,000-household Neighbourhood Mail campaigns starts at:

Format	Per drop	Four drops
5.5 × 8.5-inch postcard	$1,909	$7,636
6 × 12-inch postcard	$2,059	$8,236

Pricing includes template design edits, printing, targeting, mail preparation, transportation and Canada Post postage. A complete $10,000 strategy can add custom creative development, larger quantities, upgraded formats and response tracking.

Run the Numbers: Direct Mail Calculator for FortisBC Members

Want to map out the math before committing a single dollar? You can test different campaign scenarios using PostNow’s Direct Mail Campaign Calculator. Simply plug in your target neighborhood size, postcard format, and number of drops to see your total costs in real time.

It takes the guesswork out of budgeting, letting you align your mailings directly with your annual FortisBC allocation so you know your gross investment—and your estimated 50% net cost after reimbursement—before you ever submit a campaign for pre-approval

Multi-Drop Scenarios: Which Offers to Include in your Flyer with Each Drop

Drop 1: Get in the Door

Start with a simple, low-friction offer from the ones below:

Plumbing or heating inspection
Drain-cleaning promotion
Furnace or gas-appliance maintenance
Water-heater check
Seasonal tune-up

The first offer does not need to produce the biggest invoice. Its job is to create a new customer relationship and uncover additional service opportunities.

Drop 2: Focus on a Common Problem

The second postcard targets a recognizable homeowner frustration:

Slow or recurring drains
Aging water heaters
Uneven heating
Rising energy costs
Older gas appliances
Equipment that is becoming less reliable

A small problem today has a remarkable ability to become an emergency at 10:30 on a Sunday night.

Drop 3: Promote the Bigger Upgrade

The third postcard introduces higher-value services such as eligible high-efficiency equipment, dual-fuel systems, water-heating upgrades or other approved heating solutions.

This is where the campaign moves from maintenance calls toward larger replacement and installation opportunities.

Drop 4: Create Urgency

The final postcard gives homeowners a reason to act:

A seasonal deadline
Limited-time service credit
Priority scheduling
A bundled maintenance offer
An expiring promotion

By this point, the homeowner has seen your company several times. You are no longer another random contractor—you are the company they recognize when something finally needs attention.