Which Checkatrade Membership is Right for My Trade?
Choosing the right Checkatrade membership is crucial for ensuring you get the best value and most relevant leads for your trade. With several membership tiers available, each offering different benefits, it can be challenging to know which one fits your business needs. In this guide, we’ll break down each Checkatrade membership tier and help you figure out which one is best suited for your trade. Plus, we’ll show you how Buildela, a free alternative, could be a better fit for your business, offering flexibility and transparency without the hidden costs.
Understanding Checkatrade Membership Options
Checkatrade offers several membership tiers, each designed to suit different types of trades and business sizes. Let’s go over each membership tier to see which is the best match for your trade.
Checkatrade Membership Tiers: Which One Is Right for You?
Approved Affiliate
£36/month or £432/year
- What You Get: No leads are provided; however, you get promotional materials like business cards and van vinyl prints to advertise your services.
- Best For: This option is ideal if you're just starting out and don’t need leads from Checkatrade. It’s also good if you’re confident in generating your own leads but want to promote your brand with Checkatrade’s official affiliation.
- Limitations: Limited to one trade and a set number of postcodes. If you need more flexibility in terms of location or additional services, this may not be enough.
Lite
£85.20/month or £1,022/year
- What You Get: 84 leads per year (7 leads per month). This plan is designed to help smaller businesses or solo tradespeople.
- Best For: Ideal for small businesses that want a steady stream of leads without paying for the premium plans. This membership is good for businesses just starting to expand and gain exposure.
- Limitations: Limited to one trade and specific postcodes. The lead flow is somewhat restricted, so if you need more, you might have to pay extra or upgrade.
Standard
£126/month or £1,512/year
- What You Get: 168 leads per year (14 leads per month). This plan offers more visibility and exposure for businesses that want to scale up their lead generation.
- Best For: This plan is great for businesses that are growing and need more leads but don’t want to commit to the higher-tier plan. Ideal if you're looking to expand your reach and increase your workload.
- Limitations: Still limited to one trade and specific postcodes, and you may need to pay extra for more leads or to expand to more locations.
Pro
£216/month or £2,592/year
- What You Get: 336 leads per year (28 leads per month), maximum exposure, and priority placement on the platform.
- Best For: Perfect for larger businesses or high-demand trades where a constant flow of leads is necessary. This plan offers the most visibility and is great if you’re targeting a larger market and need frequent, reliable leads.
- Limitations: Still limited to one trade and postcodes, and you’ll incur additional fees if you need more leads or want to cover a larger service area.
Choosing the Right Checkatrade Membership for Your Trade
Choosing the right membership plan comes down to your business size, the number of leads you need, and your growth goals. Here’s a breakdown of which plan is right for different trades:
- Small Trades or Solo Professionals: If you’re just starting out or operate on a smaller scale, the Approved Affiliate or Lite plans may be right for you. These plans offer a low-cost entry point to get started with Checkatrade without a large investment.
- Growing Businesses: If your business is expanding and you need more leads, the Standard plan offers a balance of cost and lead generation. It’s perfect for trades that are scaling up and need increased visibility.
- High-Demand Trades: For businesses that need a steady and high volume of leads, the Pro plan is the best choice. This plan gives you the highest number of leads and the most exposure, which is essential for high-demand trades like electricians, plumbers, and contractors.
Buildela: A Free Alternative to Checkatrade
While Checkatrade offers multiple membership tiers, Buildela provides a completely free platform for tradespeople. Unlike Checkatrade, there are no membership fees for tradespeople, and you can start generating leads without any upfront costs. Here's why Buildela could be a better fit for your business:
- Zero Membership Fees: Buildela is free for tradespeople with no hidden costs. You get access to leads and start booking jobs without paying a subscription fee.
- No Long-Term Contracts: With Buildela, you can cancel anytime with no penalties. There are no 12-month commitments to worry about.
- Target Multiple Trades and Locations: Buildela allows you to cover multiple trades and service areas with a single account, unlike Checkatrade, where you’d need separate memberships for each trade or location.
- Lead Flow Transparency: Buildela offers transparent and predictable lead flow, allowing you to see exactly what you’re getting with no extra hidden fees for additional leads or locations.
Get answers here
Which Checkatrade Membership Is Right for My Trade?
The right membership depends on your business size, lead generation needs, and budget. For small businesses, the Approved Affiliate or Lite plans might be ideal, while growing or high-demand businesses could benefit from the Standard or Pro plans for more leads and exposure.
Yes, Checkatrade allows you to upgrade your membership if you feel you need more leads or extra features. This flexibility ensures that you can adjust as your business grows.
The main differences are the number of leads you get per month and the level of exposure on the platform. The Pro plan gives you the most leads and priority placement, while the Lite and Standard plans provide a more moderate amount of leads at a lower cost.
Yes, Checkatrade charges additional fees for extra leads, additional trades, and extra locations. It’s important to review the pricing structure thoroughly to understand the full cost.
Why Choose Buildela Instead of Checkatrade?
If you’re looking for a free, flexible and transparent alternative to Checkatrade, Buildela is the perfect choice. You can access leads without worrying about membership fees, long-term contracts, or hidden charges. Whether you’re a solo tradesperson or a growing business, Buildela offers the freedom to target multiple trades and locations under a single, free membership.
Start growing your business with Buildela today—completely free—and experience a simpler, more transparent way to get more leads and expand your trade.
