Checkatrade alternatives: other ways to get work as a trade

Looking for Checkatrade alternatives usually starts with a simple question: “Is this worth what I’m paying?” Directory and lead sites like Checkatrade, Angi, Thumbtack and hipages can bring in good work, especially when you’re starting out. But fees, contracts and leads shared with other trades mean it’s worth knowing your options, and building ways of getting work that you own.

This guide compares the main types of lead source fairly. The sites named below are well-known ones in each country, and their prices and terms change often, so check each company’s current pricing before signing up.

The main types of lead sites

Membership directories

Such as: Checkatrade and TrustATrader in the UK, HomeStars in Canada.

You pay a regular membership fee to appear in the directory, usually after vetting checks. Customers search for a trade in their area and contact you directly. Their main value is trust: customers like seeing that a trade has been checked. Some directories now also charge for leads or extra visibility on top of membership.

Things to check: the total yearly cost, the minimum contract length, how cancellation works, and whether you need a higher plan to appear in search results.

Pay-per-lead marketplaces

Such as: MyBuilder and Rated People in the UK, Angi and Thumbtack in the US, hipages and Oneflare in Australia, Builderscrack in New Zealand, and Bark in several countries.

Customers post a job and trades pay to contact them or to be shortlisted. Some charge a subscription as well. You often compete with several other trades for the same job.

Things to check: the cost per lead, how many other trades see each lead, and how many leads you’d need to win to cover the cost.

How to compare lead sources fairly

Don’t compare by cost per lead. Compare by cost per won job:

1. Add up everything you paid the site in a month.
2. Count how many of its leads you actually won.
3. Divide the cost by the jobs won.

A $20 lead sounds cheap until you realise you win one in six. Keep a simple record of where every enquiry came from and whether you won it.

Alternatives you own

Lead sites rent you customers. The longer-term alternative is building sources you control:

• Your Google Business Profile. Free, shows in local searches, and your reviews stay with you. Follow our Google Business Profile checklist.
• Your own website. It works for you every day once it’s set up. See what a tradesman’s website needs.
• An instant price on your website. Customers who would have posted their job on a lead site can get a rough price from you directly instead. See instant quote calculators.
• Reviews and referrals. Happy customers recommending you costs nothing.
• Your van and local presence. Lettering, leaflets near jobs and a QR code.
• Past customers. Repeat work from people who already trust you.

Should you leave lead sites altogether?

Not necessarily. Many trades use a mix: a directory listing for trust, plus their own website and Google profile for direct enquiries. The aim is not to depend on one source. If a lead site doubled its prices tomorrow, would your diary still be full?

Our marketing ideas for tradesmen post covers more low-cost ways to bring in work.

Questions

Are lead sites like Checkatrade worth it?

It depends on your trade, area and how many jobs you win from it. Work out your cost per won job for a few months and compare it with your other sources.

What’s the cheapest way to get leads as a tradesman?

A well-kept Google Business Profile, steady reviews and a website that answers customers’ questions cost very little apart from your time, and keep working.

Can I cancel a lead site contract early?

It depends on the contract. Many directories have minimum terms and notice periods, so read the terms before you sign and note the renewal date.