The best lead generation companies for contractors can help you connect with new customers and grow your business. But using a lead generation service is only effective if you choose a platform that works for your services, location, industry, and clients.
To help you make the right choice, we’re comparing the best lead services for contractors.
From Thumbtack and TaskRabbit to Porch and Yelp, see which platform will help you generate leads and take your service business to the next level. And, if those aren’t for you, we’ll share some lead generation strategies you can try on your own.
Choose the best lead generation website:
Google Business Profile
Setting up your Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business) helps people in your area find your business faster on Google Search and Google Maps. Simply claim your free Google Business Profile listing to get started.
Why contractors love Google Business Profile:
- It’s free to use
- It helps to increase your business’s local SEO (search engine optimization)
- It highlights your business in Google’s search results
- It features your business information, services, and photos
- It lets you book jobs right from your Business Profile
- It helps you to collect reviews to improve your online reputation
What contractors think Google Business Profile could do better:
- There’s very little customer support
- Because it’s free for everyone to use, it can come with more spam reviews than other platforms
- You can’t customize the business information customers see
Who does Google Business Profile work best for?
Contractors in any industry, like a general contractor, HVAC professional, house cleaner, and plumber.
READ MORE: Tips to set up your service business with Google Local Services Ads
Angi/Angi Ads
Using Angi (now Angi Ads), you can create a profile to match with customers in your area searching for your services. While creating a profile is free, Angi Ads charges a fee for every new lead you receive, whether or not you win the job. To increase your visibility and stand out from competitors you’ll need to pay to advertise your listing as well.
What contractors love about Angi:
- It helps your boost your business’s visibility in Google’s search results
- Asking for reviews on Angi Ads helps build and improve your online reputation
- It’s easy to use and offers both a website and mobile app
What contractors think Angi could do better:
You could end up paying for fake or low-quality contractor leads that never turn into jobs
Although Angi Ads’ pricing isn’t publicly available, most users say it’s expensive because they have to pay for leads, advertising costs, and an annual subscription
Who does Angi Ads work best for?
Contractors who can help clients with lower-cost projects and one-off jobs, like plumbers, pest control specialists, HVAC specialists, lawn care businesses, residential cleaners, or painters.
HomeAdvisor/Angi Leads
HomeAdvisor (now Angi Leads) is similar to Angi, but you can’t pay for additional advertising on the platform. To join, you’ll have to create a profile and pay an annual membership fee as well as a fee for each lead sent your way.
What contractors love about Angi Leads:
- Good ROI on leads that turn into repeat business
- It’s easy to manage leads using the website and app
- You can pause leads during busy periods
What contractors think Angi Leads could do better:
- Leads can be very expensive and you pay for them whether they turn into jobs or not
- Users have reported fake and low-quality leads
Who does Angi Leads work best for?
Contractors who can help clients with bigger, more costly jobs like general contractors, landscapers, roofers, and arborists.
Porch
Unlike Angi Ads and Angi Leads, contractors on Porch can decide how they want to structure their budget. They can pay per lead, set a monthly budget, or combine both options.
They can also opt to pay for access to Porch’s Vetted Pro network at $360 a year, which comes with additional features, such as a profile badge, lead credits, and more.
What contractors love about Porch:
- You can save money by choosing which leads you want to pay for
- It offers transparent pricing so you can budget accordingly
What contractors think Porch could do better:
- Like other lead generation platforms, users have concerns about lead quality
- Overall, users find there are fewer high quality leads available compared to larger lead generation services
Who does Porch work best for?
Contractors who can help clients with home improvement projects, general contracting jobs, and moving.
TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit is geared towards one-off jobs and niche services that contractors can use to fill up their schedules. Create a Tasker profile specific to your services, work area, rates, and availability to start receiving invitations to complete tasks for clients when they choose you for a job.
Rather than paying per lead, Taskers pay a one-time $25 registration fee.
What contractors love about TaskRabbit:
- You can set your own rates and keep all of your earnings
- Clients pay lead fees associated with jobs, making it very affordable
- You can send invoices and receive payments directly through the platform
What contractors think TaskRabbit could do better:
- You have to pass a screening process before you can start working as a Tasker
- It can be hard to get in touch with customer support
Who does TaskRabbit work best for?
Contractors who can help clients with quick tasks like hanging a painting or assembling furniture.
READ MORE: TaskRabbit: competitors, alternatives, and other tactics for lead gen
Thumbtack
With Thumbtack, you can list your business for free but you pay for each lead you receive, whether they turn into a job or not. Fees per lead vary based on your location, the size of the job, and your competition.
Like with other popular lead generation platforms, homeowners search for your services and review your profile before deciding whether to reach out to you with their request for work.
What contractors love about Thumbtack:
- You only pay for leads when a customer reaches out to you directly
- You can earn profile badges like “Responds Quickly” or “In High Demand” to help you stand out from your competition
What contractors think Thumbtack could do better:
- Depending on what you offer and where you’re located, competition can be high
- Low-quality leads can cost more than they’re worth
READ MORE: Thumbtack for Contractors
Who does Thumbtack work best for?
Contractors who can help clients with any type of home service job, like cleaners, painters, dog walkers, plumbers, etc.
Yelp
Consumers use Yelp to search for local businesses and read reviews from past customers. Similar to Google Business Profiles, you can claim your free Yelp business profile to build your reputation and improve your visibility online.
What contractors love about Yelp:
- It’s free to claim your Yelp business profile
- You can share your business information as well as photos and details about your services
- If you have an enhanced business profile, leads can contact you through features like call-to-action buttons
What contractors think Yelp could do better:
- If you want to advertise through Yelp, you have to commit to a one-year contract
- To run ads, you’ll also have to pay for an enhanced Yelp listing
Who should use Yelp?
Contractors who offer any type of home services.
Facebook Business
Creating a business page on Facebook is free, but you can also advertise your services and share discounts using Facebook Ads. There are a variety of different advertising options to choose from that can fit just about any budget.
What contractors love about Facebook:
- Sharing images, videos, and company updates on Facebook are free
- Ads are easy to set up and affordable
- Targeting options help you market your services to the right customers
What contractors think Facebook could do better:
- Leads aren’t always serious customers who are ready to invest
- While your ads may be visible to a lot of Facebook users, it doesn’t mean they’ll convert into leads
Who does Facebook work best for?
Contractors who offer any type of home services.
Houzz
Designers, remodelers, and contractors can use Houzz to showcase their work, services, and creative vision. When homeowners are looking to complete projects, they can browse your profile, past work, and reviews before deciding whether to request a quote.
What contractors love about Houzz:
- It’s free to create a business listing and share images of completed projects
- Contractors can answer questions in the Q&A thread to improve visibility
What contractors think Houzz could do better:
- Larger cities are very competitive, increasing the cost per lead
- Houzz prioritizes contractors who pay for its highest subscription level
- It’s expensive, starting at $685/month for their advertising package
Who does Houzz work best for?
Contractors who can help clients with home improvement or landscaping projects.
BuildZoom
As with most other lead generation websites, once your business is on BuildZoom, you’ll be connected with client projects in your area based on their project needs, your contractor license, and your customer reviews. However, to win the lead, you’ll be invited to submit a bid for the project online or in person.
What contractors love about BuildZoom:
- Contractors only pay BuildZoom if they’re hired for a job
- It’s a good option for general contractors, builders, and architects
What contractors think BuildZoom could do better:
- It charges a 2.5% referral fee on the agreed upon price of a project
- It’s a very competitive platform, making it hard for new or smaller contracting businesses to win jobs
Who does BuildZoom work best for?
Contractors who are looking specifically for construction leads.
Bing Places
Similar to Google Business Profile, creating a Bing Places Business Listing will help your business appear on Bing Maps and local Bing search results, helping you generate more leads.
What contractors love about Bing Places:
- It’s free to claim your business listing and to create your Bing Business Profile
- Creating a listing helps you to appear higher in Bing’s search results
- You can build an online reputation by encouraging customers to leave reviews
What contractors think Bing Places could do better:
- Fewer people use Bing compared to Google
Who does Bing Places work best for?
Contractors who offer any type of home services.
Nextdoor
While Nextdoor wasn’t initially intended to be a lead generation site, it’s slowly growing its business platform with a directory, ads, and business accounts.
Contractors can use Nextdoor to run ads, share offers, and engage with their local community.
It’s free to create a Nextdoor profile and share updates with your neighborhood—or you can run ads to promote your services.
What contractors love about Nextdoor:
- It gives you a chance to connect with local homeowners within your service area
- It can turn word-of-mouth referrals into new business leads through Nextdoor recommendations
What contractors think Nextdoor could do better:
- Businesses on Nextdoor only get two free posts a month
- Advertising fees can be high after you pass your free post limit
Who does Nextdoor work best for?
Contractors who offer residential services for homeowners.
READ MORE: How to advertise your services on Nextdoor
Pro Referral
Powered by Home Depot, Pro Referral connects contractors to homeowners looking for their services. Pro Referral contractors pay for leads with points earned from shopping at Home Depot.
Contractors earn two points for every dollar spent at Home Depot. Each lead costs 40 points (or $20 of materials purchased from the store).
What contractors love about Pro Referral:
- You get referral points any time you purchase tools or supplies for jobs at Home Depot
- It doesn’t take a cut from any of your earnings
- You set your own pricing and keep all profit
What contractors think Pro Referral could do better:
- You have to pay to complete a background check through Home Depot
- Points you spend on leads are deducted whether or not you win a contract
Who does Pro Referral work best for?
Contractors who offer any type of home services and who shop at Home Depot.
Handy/Angi Services
Where most platforms charge contractors for leads, Handy (now Angi Services) charges homeowners directly then pays contractors an hourly rate.
Like other contractor lead generation websites, Angi Services gives you access to local jobs so you can schedule work on your own time.
What contractors love about Angi Services:
- It’s free to join
- You don’t have to pay for leads
- Payments are deposited directly into your bank account once a job is finished
What contractors think Angi Services could do better:
- Leads don’t always turn into paying jobs
- You have to apply to use the platform
- Angi Services sets your pricing based on different factors
Who does Angi Services work best for?
Contractors who can help clients with house cleaning, handyman projects, furniture assembly, painting, electrical jobs, and moving.
How to choose the best lead generation site for your business
Since some platforms come with long-term commitments and upfront cash investments for background checks and better advertising opportunities, it’s important to make the right choice.
Before adding an app or platform to your lead generation strategy, consider the following factors:
1. Your budget
Some platforms, like Google Business Profile and Bing Places are free to use. Others, like Angi Ads and Angi Leads cost money. Which one you go with depends on how much money you have to invest in generating leads.
If you’re just starting out, or you have a small budget, free lead services are a great option. But if you’re an established business with money to invest, paid platforms may be worth it.
2. Your industry and the type of leads you want
Some lead generation sites work for almost any contractor and industry, like Thumbtack. Others, like Porch, target specific areas, such as home improvement and moving. Choosing the right one will impact the quality of the leads you get and how much success you see on the platform.
When researching different options, take a look at the other contractors who use the site to find out:
- Whether they look like direct competitors
- Which industry they’re in
- If you’ll be a fit in the search results
This will help you to determine if the lead generation tool is a match for you and your services.
3. How you compare to competitors
Even though competition on a lead generation website is a good indication that the platform works, it can also be a red flag. The more competitors there are on a lead generation platform, the harder it will be to stand out.
You need to think carefully about whether you can (or want) to compete for leads. On bigger platforms, leads will typically cost you more, but you’ll be exposed to larger jobs and budgets. On small platforms, you may not get as many leads, but less competition means the ones you do get will be more likely to turn into jobs.
Take a good look at the competitors on the platforms you’re interested in to see how you stack up before signing up. Remember, you can always start small to build your reputation before moving to a more expensive option.
4. Take a test drive
Since many lead generation websites are free or offer a free trial, there’s no reason you can’t try out a few to find the best match. While you’re testing the waters, keep track of the answers to these questions:
- Are the leads you receive relevant to your business?
- Are the leads in your service area?
- How much are you paying for a qualified lead?
- How much revenue are you earning for each lead?
- Does the lead generation platform offer additional support or resources?
READ MORE: Financial advice for home service business owners
Other lead generation strategies
You may find that a lead generation platform isn’t for you. Either because you don’t have a budget to work with, or you don’t have the time to make your profile shine. If that’s the case, you can try these lead generation strategies instead:
- Building a website that’s SEO-friendly (search engine optimization) to bring in web traffic
- Asking happy clients for referrals
- Upselling and cross-selling your services to existing customers
- Developing email marketing campaigns
- Creating flyers, door hangers, and postcards
- Pay-per-clicks ads on search engines
- Offering promotions and discounts for new customers
- Experimenting with your service pricing
If you choose to focus on these tactics instead of going with a dedicated lead generation platform, you should still consider claiming free business listings on Google and Bing. That way, when potential customers search for you or your services online, you’ll still take up space in the search results with no out of pocket costs.
READ MORE: Tom Reber shares his secrets to getting more contracting jobs.
Growing your business with the best contractor lead service
Generating leads and winning jobs is what grows your business, which is why lead generation websites are so popular. But with so many on the market, choosing the right one can be a challenge.
Focus on your budget, industry, business goals, and customers to help narrow down your options. And, once you do commit to a platform, put some elbow grease into making a good profile, engaging with potential leads, managing reviews, and adding new clients to your CRM to get the most out of your investment.
Originally published in June 2022. Last updated on August 13, 2024.