Do tradespeople need a website? Not always. If your diary is full from word of mouth and repeat customers, you can wait. You need one when you want new customers who have never heard of you, when you rent your reputation from Checkatrade or Facebook, or when a quiet month hurts. A website costs from £45 a month, £0 upfront, on a 12-month minimum term.
The honest answer
Plenty of UK tradespeople run a good business with no website. If every job comes from a recommendation and you turn work away, a website is not your problem today.
But recommendations only reach people who already know someone who knows you. Everyone else, including the person who just moved into your area, searches Google and picks from what they find.
When you can get by without one
- Your diary is full for months ahead and you refuse work most weeks.
- You work for one or two main contractors who send you everything.
- You are winding down, or planning to move into another line of work.
Even then, a customer who gets your number from a friend will often look you up before they call. If there is nothing to find, some of them move on to the next name.
When Checkatrade, Facebook and word of mouth stop being enough
| What you rely on | What it does well | Where it stops |
|---|---|---|
| Word of mouth | Warm leads who already trust you | Only reaches people one step from your last customer |
| Checkatrade or a similar platform | A recognised tick and, on some plans, enquiries | The profile sits on their site and goes if you stop paying |
| A Facebook page | Free, and good for showing recent jobs | Poor at ranking for "electrician near me" and not something you own |
| Your own website | Ranks on Google for your trade and area, and stays yours | Takes a few weeks to start working, and costs a monthly fee |
A plain comparison of what each channel does. No figures: how well each one works depends on your trade, area and how much of it you set up.
We compare the first two with a site in more detail in Checkatrade vs your own website and why a Facebook page is not a website.
Signs it is time
- You have gaps in the diary that referrals do not fill.
- You pay a platform for leads and want to depend on it less.
- Customers ask for "your website" and you send them a Facebook link.
- You want bigger jobs, such as extensions, rewires or full refurbs, where customers check you out first.
- You work in an area where several trades compete for the same search.
What a website costs
With Scalesites, Scale Start is £45 a month and Scale Up is £79 a month. Nothing is due upfront and there is no VAT to add. Both run on a 12-month minimum term, then month to month, so the first year on Scale Start is £540. You see a free preview before you pay anything, and you own the site. The full cost guide compares that with DIY builders, freelancers and lead platforms.
A simple test
Search for your trade and your town on your phone. If you would not call the first three results over you, a website is a gap, not a luxury.
In summary
You do not need a website if referrals keep your diary full. You do when you want customers who have never heard of you, when Checkatrade or Facebook is your only presence, or when quiet weeks cost you. Scale Start is £45 a month, £0 upfront, on a 12-month minimum term, and you own the site.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a website if I already use Checkatrade?
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Not to get started, but your Checkatrade profile sits on their site and goes if you stop paying. A website is the part you own, and it can rank on Google for your trade and area.
Is a Facebook page enough for a tradesperson?
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It is a good start for showing recent jobs, but it rarely ranks for local searches and you do not own it. A website adds the search traffic and the control a page cannot give you.
How much does a tradesperson's website cost?
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Scale Start is £45 a month and Scale Up is £79 a month, with nothing upfront and no VAT. Both have a 12-month minimum term, so the first year on Scale Start is £540.
How long does it take to get a website?
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You get a free preview within 48 hours, and the finished site goes live within 2 weeks. You approve the preview before you pay anything.
Is there a contract?
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Yes. Scale Start and Scale Up run on a 12-month minimum term, then month to month. That term is how we build the site with nothing upfront.
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