Quick takeaway: Review your real cost per won job, then compare other channels such as your Google Business Profile, your own website, referrals and well-measured advertising.
Start by measuring what the current platform delivers
Check your real agreement, renewal terms and current bills. Then count the enquiries received, suitable jobs, quotes sent and jobs actually won. Work out the cost per completed job, not just cost per lead. If you can, compare that with the profit remaining after materials, labour and other direct costs.
A lead platform may be worthwhile for one trade and poor value for another. Shared leads, service-area matching and customer readiness all affect the result. Keep records rather than relying on general online opinions.
Alternative 1: Google Business Profile
A legitimate, well-maintained Business Profile can help customers discover you on Maps and in local results. Accurate details, genuine reviews, photos and useful service information matter. Google does not charge for creating a Business Profile, and local ranking is not a position you can buy.
Visibility is not guaranteed and may take work. Start with our guide to businesses missing from Google Maps if you are unsure whether your profile is functioning correctly.
Worked example · hypothetical numbers, not platform pricing
Calculate what a paid lead source really costs
Suppose you spend £240 on a directory during a month and receive 12 enquiries. Four turn into accepted jobs. In this example:
That £60 does not include your quoting time, travel or any other costs. Compare it with your contribution profit after direct job costs. A lead source might suit a bathroom installer with large projects and be unviable for someone doing small repairs.
Record actual figures for at least a meaningful period before cancelling a channel; one good or bad week is not a fair comparison. Always check contract terms before making changes.
Alternative 2: Your own website
A website lets you explain the actual jobs you do, show your work and receive direct enquiries. Helpful service pages, real photographs, clear contact options and good local visibility can reduce dependence on third-party introductions over time. Search engine optimisation takes time, and no one can promise a fixed number of enquiries.
Your website should not be only a digital business card. Make it easy for someone to understand your service and request a quote. Our website enquiry checklist can help.
Alternative 3: Referrals and repeat customers
Past customers, landlords and complementary trades can be strong sources of work. Build a process for requesting honest reviews, sharing contact details and staying organised about repeat work. Be respectful of privacy and marketing preferences when contacting people again.
This channel is often inexpensive in advertising spend, but it can be unpredictable. Many businesses benefit from having two or three sources of enquiries.
Alternative 4: Search advertising
Google Search ads can reach customers actively looking for a service, but spending does not guarantee profitable jobs. You control budgets and targeting, yet irrelevant clicks and slow follow-up can waste money. Test a service-specific landing page and track calls, qualified enquiries, quotes and conversions.
Compare the economics in our advertising guide for tradesmen before assuming ads will be cheaper than a directory.
Alternative 5: Other trade platforms and local listings
There are other marketplaces and directories serving UK homeowners and tradespeople. Their pricing, availability, lead-sharing rules and cancellation terms change, so review current provider information directly before signing up. A free profile or directory entry can be useful if it is reputable and accurately represents your business; paying for another membership without tracking outcomes may simply repeat the same issue.
Do not create fake reviews or duplicate business identities to gain extra exposure.
Compare like with like
| Route | Main advantage | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Paid trade-lead platform | Access to potential customers | Costs and possible competition for leads |
| Google Business Profile | Local discovery and direct contact | No guaranteed ranking or volume |
| Own website and SEO | Builds a direct enquiry route | Requires time, useful content and upkeep |
| Search adverts | Fast testing and controllable targeting | Ongoing spend, not guaranteed conversions |
| Referrals and partners | Trust from introductions | Difficult to scale predictably |
Before cancelling any paid lead source
Keep the channel running if it is genuinely profitable while you build alternatives. Monitor the quality of enquiries from each new source for a realistic period. Your aim is not to replace one dependency with another; it is to make your business easier to find and more resilient when a platform, price or algorithm changes.