Why Checkatrade Is Costing You More Than You Think

One of our clients — a Venetian plasterer based in London — was paying £1,500 a month to Checkatrade before he came to us.

Not £150. Not £500. £1,500 every single month. For leads that were shared with four or five other plasterers at the same time. For enquiries that went cold before he could even pick up the phone. For a listing he didn't own and couldn't control.

Sound familiar?

If you're on Checkatrade, MyBuilder, Rated People or any other lead platform, there's a good chance you're spending money every month and getting less back than you should. This post explains exactly why — and what the alternative looks like.

The Lead Site Model Is Built Against You

Lead sites like Checkatrade aren't on your side. They're marketplaces. Their job is to connect customers with as many tradespeople as possible — which means the same customer enquiry gets sent to you and three of your competitors at exactly the same time.

You're not getting a lead. You're entering a race.

And the fees reflect none of that reality. You pay whether the job converts or not. You pay whether the customer was ever serious or not. You pay whether your competitors undercut you or not.

Every month. Without fail.

What You're Actually Paying For

Let's break down what a typical Checkatrade subscription actually gets you:

• Shared leads — the same enquiry goes to multiple tradespeople simultaneously

• A listing you don't own — if you stop paying, you disappear completely

• Low-intent customers — people browsing a marketplace, not actively searching for you

• Price-driven comparison — customers see you next to cheaper alternatives

• No brand building — your business name gets lost in a directory

Now compare that to what happens when a customer finds you directly on Google.

Google Leads Are Different

When someone searches 'plasterer Mayfair' or 'emergency plumber near me' on Google, they're not browsing. They need someone right now. They're not comparing five listings side by side. They're clicking the first result that looks trustworthy and picking up the phone.

That enquiry comes directly to you. No competition. No shared lead. No platform taking a cut.

Our London plasterer got his first direct Google enquiry within three weeks of his site going live. The first job that came through paid for the cost of the website twice over.

He's still on Checkatrade as a safety net. But his relationship with it has completely changed. It's no longer his main source of work — Google is.

The Real Cost Comparison

Here's what the numbers actually look like side by side:

Checkatrade:

• £300–£1,500/month depending on trade and area

• Shared leads with competitors

• Stop paying = stop existing on the platform

• No asset built — you own nothing

TradeSite AI:

• £199 one-time setup + £99/month

• Direct enquiries — every lead goes straight to you

• Your website and domain — you own it permanently

• Ranks on Google 24/7 — working while you sleep

Should You Cancel Checkatrade?

Not necessarily — at least not straight away.

The smarter move is to get your Google presence working first. Once you're ranking and getting direct enquiries consistently, you'll naturally stop relying on Checkatrade. Most of our clients find they reduce or cancel their subscription within 3–6 months simply because they don't need it anymore.

The goal isn't to cancel a subscription. The goal is to own your pipeline — to build something that generates customers for your business indefinitely, without a monthly fee going to someone else.

Ready to Stop Renting Leads?

We'll take a look at your current online presence for free — no obligation, no sales pitch. Just an honest review of where you stand on Google and what it would take to start getting direct enquiries.

Message us on WhatsApp or visit tradesiteai.com to get started.

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