SHS
SHS (Student Homestay Services Inc.) is a Toronto-based private company, founded in 1998, that places international students, immigrants, and travelers with vetted local host families and offers RCIC immigration consulting, airport transfers, and settlement add-on services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
SHS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SHS
- Legal name
- Student Homestay Services Inc.
- Website
- https://homestayservices.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SHS (Student Homestay Services Inc.) is a Toronto-based private company, founded in 1998, that places international students, immigrants, and travelers with vetted local host families and offers RCIC immigration consulting, airport transfers, and settlement add-on services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SHS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Homestay Placement and Student Accommodation Services
- NAICS
- Other Traveler Accommodation (72119), All Other Traveler Accommodation (721199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Temporary Arrival Housing (Hotels/Hostels/Serviced Apartments for Students) (EDAIALAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Immigration Support Services (Translations, Certified Copies, Biometrics, Medicals) (THACAKAH), Destination Immigration Services (In-Country Registration, Residence Permits, Renewals) (THACAKAI), Residential Dining & Meal Plan Coordination (In-Hall/Adjacent) (EDAEAFAK), Dependent & Family Support Services (spouse/partner, children, family resources) (EDALANAH)
Keywords
Where SHS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SHS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Homestay Placement Services: SHS earns revenue by matching international students, travelers, and immigrants with host families. The service includes various package tiers (Full-Board, Half-Board, Bed & Breakfast, No Meals) with corresponding service fees.
- Add-on Services: Additional revenue streams from customized services including airport transfers, specialized dietary accommodations, SIM card setup, medical insurance, custodianship services for under-18 students, and activities programs.
- Immigration Consulting: SHS provides Canadian immigration consulting services through Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCIC), assisting clients with study permits, work permits, visitor visas, and permanent residency applications.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Full-Board Package - Complete homestay with all meals included |
| Subscription | Monthly | Half-Board Package - Homestay with breakfast and dinner |
| Subscription | Monthly | Bed & Breakfast Package - Basic homestay with breakfast only |
| Subscription | Monthly | No Meals Package - Basic homestay accommodation |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Add-ons - Specialized Diets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Add-ons - Activities Program |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Add-ons - Canadian SIM Card & Insurance |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Add-ons - Private Bathroom |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Add-ons - Custodianship Services |
| Unit Pricing | Transaction based/ take rate | 24/7 Airport Transfer Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels3 records
SHS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SHS matches international students, travelers, and immigrants with vetted host families in Toronto, providing accommodation packages with tiered meal plans (Full-Board, Half-Board, Bed & Breakfast, No Meals) and add-on services including airport transfers, specialized diets, SIM card/insurance, custodianship for minors, and activities programs. The company also delivers Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) services covering study permits, work permits, visitor visas, and permanent residence applications.
Product overview
SHS (Student Homestay Services Inc.) operates as a Toronto-based homestay platform connecting international students, immigrants, and travelers with host families. The core product is the Homestay Placement Services, which offers four meal-based package tiers: Full-Board (includes breakfast, packed lunch, and dinner), Half-Board (breakfast and dinner), Bed & Breakfast (breakfast only), and No Meals (room only). These are complemented by add-on services including Specialized Diets, Activities Program, Canadian SIM Card & Insurance, Private Bathroom, and Custodianship Services for under-18 students. The company also provides Immigration Services (study permits, work permits, visitor visas, permanent residence), Global Experiences for international guests, 24/7 Airport Transfer Services, and Student Counselling. The platform maintains a diverse Host Family Network spanning various household types across Toronto neighborhoods.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Homestay Placement Services Core matching and placement service that connects international students, immigrants, and travelers with host families across Toronto. Each placement includes a private fully furnished bedroom, Wi-Fi and utilities, laundry facilities, shared bathroom, student counselling, and a dedicated assigned counsellor for the duration of stay.
- Immigration Services Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) services covering study permit applications, work permit applications, visitor visa applications, and permanent residence applications for clients immigrating to or visiting Canada.
- 24/7 Airport Transfer Services Year-round 24/7 airport pickup and drop-off transportation services for homestay guests, available for groups of any size, with scheduling flexibility to accommodate flight changes.
- Activities Program Curated local experience program offering tours, festivals, events, music, sports, and cultural activities for homestay guests, including excursions to Niagara Falls, CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium, Casa Loma, Blue Mountain, and other Toronto-area destinations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 37,000 guests successfully placed
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SHS
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SHS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
SHS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UniversitiescoreAcademic partnerships with universities for international student homestay placement referrals. SHS provides vetted host families and student support services.
- CollegescoreAcademic partnerships with colleges for international student homestay placement referrals. Services include multi-step host vetting and student counselling.
- University of TorontocoreFeatured partner institution with SHS providing homestay services for international students attending the University of Toronto.
- Educational AgentsminorPartnerships with educational agents who refer international students to SHS homestay services as part of their study abroad offerings.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SHS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Homestay.com: Global online marketplace connecting students and travelers with host families. Direct competitor in homestay placement, with significantly larger inventory and stronger digital marketing, but less localized service and immigration bundling.
- GoHomestay: International homestay placement network serving students and language travelers in multiple countries. Comparable in matching model and student-focused offering, but operates across multiple source markets rather than as a single-city destination specialist.
- Canada Homestay Network (CHN): National Canadian homestay placement provider for international students, operating in multiple Canadian cities. Directly comparable to SHS in target customer, business model, and academic-partner channel strategy, but with broader geographic reach.
- HOST International: Long-established homestay provider for international students and au pairs, primarily in the UK and expanding internationally. Comparable in vetting-driven host network and academic partner channels.
Broad incumbents
- Booking.com: Global online travel reservation platform with massive accommodation inventory in Toronto. Indirect competitor for short-stay travelers and an alternative discovery channel that can divert demand away from homestay specialists like SHS.
- Airbnb: Global short-term accommodation platform with massive inventory and brand recognition. Competes for student and traveler accommodation budgets, and also competes for host supply (Toronto homeowners choosing Airbnb over homestay providers).
- Hostelling International: Global budget accommodation network offering dormitory-style lodging for travelers. Competes for the same short-stay, budget-conscious traveler demographic that SHS serves via its B&B and No-Meals packages.
Regional players
- Golden Homestay Services: Canadian homestay and settlement services provider focused on international students. Operates in similar Canadian geography and serves overlapping student demographics, though with a different brand footprint.
Others
- International Student Services (ISS) / various university housing offices: In-house university international student housing and settlement programs. Act as both competitor and channel partner to SHS, often co-existing via preferred-vendor arrangements for homestay overflow capacity.
Emerging players
- Educaswing (StudentRoomStay): International student housing and homestay platform with digital-first matching. Comparable target customer (international students) but a tech-driven, marketplace-style model rather than a local managed-service model like SHS.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SHS social profiles
Digital presenceSHS compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
SHS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SHS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
SHS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SHS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SHS
What does SHS do?
SHS matches international students, travelers, and immigrants with vetted host families in Toronto, providing accommodation packages with tiered meal plans (Full-Board, Half-Board, Bed & Breakfast, No Meals) and add-on services including airport transfers, specialized diets, SIM card/insurance, custodianship for minors, and activities programs. The company also delivers Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) services covering study permits, work permits, visitor visas, and permanent residence applications.
Is SHS a public or private company?
SHS is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SHS founded?
SHS was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SHS based?
SHS is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does SHS make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Homestay Placement Services are the primary driver. The others are add-on Services and immigration Consulting.
Who are SHS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Homestay.com, GoHomestay, Canada Homestay Network (CHN) and HOST International. Broad incumbents are Booking.com, Airbnb and Hostelling International. Golden Homestay Services is listed as a regional player. International Student Services (ISS) / various university housing offices is listed as an others. Educaswing (StudentRoomStay) is listed as an emerging player.
Does SHS have an API?
No public API is recorded for SHS.
What industry is SHS in?
SHS's product category is Homestay Placement and Student Accommodation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIALAG, Temporary Arrival Housing (Hotels/Hostels/Serviced Apartments for Students), with a secondary code of THACAKAH, Immigration Support Services (Translations, Certified Copies, Biometrics, Medicals). Its NAICS code is 72119.