Originally published in September 2020. Last updated on January 21, 2025.
If you’d rather be at a job site than trying to generate new leads, you’re not alone. Bringing in new business is a necessary challenge for home service providers in every industry, which is why a lot of them use lead-generation platforms like Taskrabbit to get the ball rolling.
But lead generation sites can be pricey, so using the right tool is essential to your success. If you aren’t sure which platform is the right choice for you, take a look at these Taskrabbit alternatives to find one that aligns with your business goals, services, and budget.
Generate new leads with these Taskrabbit alternatives:
What is Taskrabbit?
Taskrabbit is a lead generation service that matches service providers with homeowners who are looking to complete one-off tasks and odd jobs.
For example a task like mounting a TV, painting a room, fixing a leaky faucet, or installing a light fixture. Taskrabbit is also partnered with IKEA to offer furniture assembly, which is a popular service on the platform.
To become a Tasker on Taskrabbit, you need to:
- Complete a background check
- Provide government-issued identification and banking information so you can receive payments
- Create a profile that includes your services, rate, and availability
Once you’ve completed the onboarding process, your profile will be visible to homeowners looking for your local services. When they reach out, you can respond with a quote for the work.
While Taskrabbit has no upfront fees for service providers, it does take a commission from the payment you receive at the end of the task—usually 15-30%.
1. Handy
Handy is a lead generation platform owned by Angi that offers similar services to Taskrabbit, like house cleaning, wall hangings, and furniture assembly.
Who should use it?
Handy works well for house cleaners, handymen, and service providers looking to take on small jobs like appliance installations, minor home repairs, or basic home maintenance tasks.
How much does it cost?
Handy’s pricing varies based on the gig, but they typically take about 20-30% of the total payment amount as well as a booking fee for each completed service.
How to sign up
To start using Handy, you will need to:
- Apply to become a Pro
- Create a profile that outlines your professional services, availability, and rates
- Pass a background check, (including a criminal record check)
- Provide banking information to receive payments
Note: Since Handy is part of Angi, Handy Pro is now called Angi Services.
2. HomeAdvisor
Like Handy, HomeAdvisor is also owned by Angi, but it focuses on larger home services projects like remodeling, landscaping, and renovations.
Who should use it?
HomeAdvisor is best suited to general contractors, electricians, plumbers, HVAC specialists, roofers, and skilled professionals in remodeling.
How much does it cost?
HomeAdvisor charges a fee per lead that varies based on your location, services, and the task. They also take a 10-30% referral fee for every booked job as well as optional subscription fees for enhanced visibility on the platform, starting at about $300/year.
How to sign up
To join HomeAdvisor’s Pro Network:
- Create a profile that includes your business information, service details, and qualifications
- Complete a criminal background check and license verification if required (like your business license or contractor’s license)
3. Angi
Angi (previously Angi’s List) is a lead-generation platform that connects service providers with homeowners looking for help with a variety of home-based tasks like cleaning, remodeling, plumbing, painting, pest control, and gutter services.
Who should use it?
Angi can be used by home service providers in just about any industry for both small- and large-scale jobs.
How much does it cost?
Similar to HomeAdvisor, a service provider on Angi pays a fee per lead that typically falls between $10-$50 as well as a referral fee of 10-30%.
You can also pay for a membership to increase your profile’s visibility which starts at $300/year.
How to sign up
To start generating leads on Angi:
- Sign up to become a Pro
- Create a profile with your business information (including rates and services) and any relevant credentials, like certifications or licenses
- Complete a criminal background check and any required licensing verification
- Choose between a pay-per-lead or membership model
4. Thumbtack
The Thumbtack app is a lead-generation platform that covers a wide range of home services and industries, from dog walking and personal shopping to cleaning, repairs, and remodeling.
Who should use it?
Service providers from many different industries can use Thumbtack to bring in new business, including:
- Electricians
- General contractors
- Plumbers
- Painters
- Cleaners
- Pressure washing professionals
- HVAC specialists
- Landscapers
- Lawn care specialists
- Pool cleaners
- Home inspectors
How much does it cost?
Thumbtack charges a fee per lead that varies based on your location, competition, services, and the gig. It usually costs between $10-$50 but you’ll have to pay it regardless of whether the lead turns into a job or not.
How to sign up
To start generating leads through the Thumbtack app:
- Register to become a pro
- Create a profile with your business hours, rates, and professional services
- Complete a background check and provide any required licensing verification, like your business or contractor license
Or, use Jobber’s Thumbtack integration to seamlessly add lead generation to your existing CRM and bring in new business, send quotes, and book jobs all from one place.
5. Porch
Porch connects homeowners in need of home improvement jobs, repairs, and maintenance with suitable contractors. It focuses on specific home-based services over personal or lifestyle everyday tasks like dog walking.
Who should use it?
Porch is a popular lead generation platform for service professionals, including plumbers, HVAC specialists, general contractors, movers, fencing companies, landscapers, drywall professionals, and other home improvement-, repair-, or maintenance-based services.
How much does it cost?
Porch charges a fee per lead that changes based on your location, competition, and the job.
How to sign up
To become a Vetted Pro on Porch
- Create an account
- Fill out a profile with your services and qualifications
- Provide any required license verification, like your journeyman electrician license
- Complete a criminal record check
6. Nextdoor
Nextdoor connects service professionals with local homeowners through its neighborhood-based platform. It’s mostly used for home-based services like lawn care or pressure washing, but it can also be used for things like pet sitting or furniture assembly.
Who should use it?
Local handymen, cleaners, movers, pet sitters, dog walkers, lawn care professionals, landscapers, and other service providers who are open to small-scale jobs can use Nextdoor for lead generation.
How much does it cost?
It’s free to create a business profile on Nextdoor, but it will cost you between $200-$500/month to advertise your professional services, depending on where you live.
How to sign up
To generate leads through Nextdoor:
- Sign up for a business account
- Create a business profile with details about your business and the local services you offer
- Post ads or pay to advertise your profile
7. Pro Referral
Home Depot’s Pro Referral matches contractors with potential customers looking for home improvement, repair, or maintenance services.
Who should use it?
Contractors looking to take on large-scale home projects like remodels, renovations, repairs, or new builds.
How much does it cost?
Pro Referral charges a fee per lead which varies based on location, scope, and the size of the job. However, the points you collect through Home Depot purchases can be redeemed to purchase leads.
How to sign up
To join Home Depot’s Pro Referral network:
- Sign up to become a Pro
- Complete a profile that includes your business information, such as your rates, services, and availability
- Pass a background check
- Select your lead pricing model
- Wait until your account has been verified to start generating leads
8. Houzz
Houzz is a lead generation platform geared towards skilled professionals in home building, remodeling, and renovations like painting, architecture, and interior design.
Who should use it?
Home service providers who specialize in high-end or custom design like architects, general contractors, landscapers, painters, and interior designers.
How much does it cost?
It’s free to create a basic profile, but you can pay to increase your profile’s visibility, starting at $50/month. You can also pay an additional fee to advertise your services on the platform.
How to sign up
To start generating leads on Houzz:
- Sign up to become a Pro
- Create a profile with your business information, like rates, hours, and services
- Add a portfolio of your past work
- Upload images of completed projects
- Provide any required licenses or certifications
9. Bark
Bark is similar to Taskrabbit in that it covers a variety of different services and industries. For example, it serves homeowners looking for everything from fence installations and gardening to business coaching and web graphic design.
Who should use it?
Service providers from any industry looking to take on both small and large jobs.
How much does it cost?
Bark’s fees range are charged on a cost-per-lead basis and range from $20-$100+ depending on your location and the job.
How to sign up
To generate leads on Bark:
- Create a profile outlining your services and area
- Choose your service categories and rates
- Wait for Bark to start sending you leads
10. LawnStarter
LawnStarter is like Uber but for lawn care. Homeowners use the platform to request lawn services like mowing, trimming, and weeding, and LawnStarter sends an available lawn care specialist their way.
Who should use it?
LawnStarter is specific to lawn care and doesn’t serve any other industries.
How much does it cost?
There are no upfront fees to use or join LawnStarter, but it does take a cut of every completed job, which can vary but usually costs about $5-$10.
How to sign up
To start getting leads through LawnStarter:
- Create a profile with your business details such as your rate, services, and location
- Complete a background check
- Wait for LawnStarter to send you jobs
It should be noted that, unlike other lead generation platforms, LawnStarted has some specific requirements for service providers. If you want to generate leads through them, you’ll need to:
- Own a lawn mower, trimmer, and leaf blower
- Have access to a truck or SUV to drive to job sites
Bonus lead generation tactics
Lead generation platforms aren’t the only way to attract potential customers. If you aren’t sure whether using one is the right choice for you, consider:
1. Building a website
A website is an effective way to develop an online presence and generate new leads—especially if you use search engine optimization (SEO).
An optimized website helps you to show up in search engines, so when local homeowners search for things like “plumber near me”, your business appears in the search results.
Plus, with Jobber’s website building software you can create a site that supports estimates, quotes, and online bookings, making it easy for potential customers to become clients in just a few clicks.
2. Leveraging local SEO
A website isn’t the only way to boost your presence on search engines like Google. Claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile and using Google Local Service Ads are all part of a healthy local SEO strategy that helps increase your visibility to local homeowners looking for the services you offer.
Make sure to claim your business on Google and update your profile to include photos, reviews, and your location, hours, and services to bring in new leads in your area.
3. Starting a referral program
Referral programs are an easy an effective way to use existing customers to generate new bookings. Referral software like Jobber makes it easy to plan, implement, and run a successful referral program.
Simply decide how you want to reward customers who send work your way then use
Jobber to start asking for referrals.
4. Trying new campaigns
There are a ton of different options out there when it comes to using marketing strategies to generate leads. Based on your budget, services, business, and customers, try:
- Using postcards, flyers, or door hangers to create brand awareness and offer neighborhood-specific discounts
- Promoting your services through social media and online ads
- Getting a branded vehicle wrap
- Leaving signs at job sites with your contact information
- Creating an email list and using email marketing software to communicate with customers about promotions, discounts, new services, and updates
5. Using marketing software
Managing your marketing in the same place you manage your business makes generating leads easier, streamlining your workflow and keeping you organized.
Using Jobber’s Marketing Suite, you can:
- Automate review collection to grow your online reputation
- Generate referrals to bring in new leads from happy customers
- Turn past clients into present contracts with email campaigns
Then, you can use Jobber Copilot to generate reports about your tactics, get insights into how to improve, and see where your efforts are having the biggest impact.