Charles Edward Goad established Charles E Goad Ltd, a cartographic publishing business, in Canada in 1875. Goad graduated from the University of Oxford in 1869 and moved to Canada shortly afterwards, working as an engineer for railway companies before setting up his cartographic publishing company.

Charles E Goad Ltd flourished as a business, thanks to the attention to detail included in the plans. Fire Insurance companies became the main customers of the company, which worked closely with local fire brigades to secure the most up to date information on the buildings covered by the plans. In 1885 the company opened a branch in London.

The company leased the plan volumes to its clients, enabling them to periodically update the information in the plans.