TradesConnection
Phone-friendly local tradesperson directory
The Problem
Homeowners can't find reliable local tradespeople. Tradespeople waste time on leads that don't convert.
Homeowners needing repairs/improvements, and local tradespeople wanting more work.
Ask neighbors, post on Facebook, use expensive lead generation sites, or just call random numbers.
Homeowners get bad work. Tradespeople pay £50+ per lead that often doesn't convert.
The Solution
Simple directory focused on phone calls, not forms. Click-to-call, verified local tradespeople, simple reviews.
Tradespeople want calls, not emails. Optimized for quick contact. Local SEO focused.
Key Features
| Feature | What it does | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| [object Object] | One tap to call tradesperson | Instant connection |
| [object Object] | Verified local tradespeople | Find someone nearby |
| [object Object] | Quick rating system | Trust at a glance |
| [object Object] | Alert tradespeople to new inquiries | Never miss a lead |
The AI Explained
For non-technical people
Minimal AI — focus is on directory functionality and local SEO.
Not an AI product — it's a smart directory that connects people efficiently.
The agents in this tool
| Agent Name | What it does | Human equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Match Agent | Suggests relevant tradespeople by location/trade | Receptionist routing calls |
Previously required expensive advertising for tradespeople to get found locally.
Employees this replaces (or augments)
| Role | Salary (UK avg) | What the AI does instead |
|---|---|---|
| Lead generation fees | £50-100 per lead elsewhere | Affordable listing fee instead |
Why I Built This
Connected to the Tudor Granite partnership from Stone & Silence. These local craftspeople and tradespeople get terrible deals from the big lead gen sites. Built something simple that focuses on getting them phone calls, not complex forms and fees.
Need someone who can do hyper-local sales — walking into businesses and signing them up.
The local Google for tradespeople. Every area has its TradesConnection directory.
The Business Model
How it makes money
| Revenue stream | Price point | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Basic listing | £0 | Free tier tradespeople |
| Featured listing | £19-49/month | Tradespeople wanting prominence |
| Verified badge | £9.99/month add-on | Tradespeople wanting trust |
Current status
[TOM: Current listings]
[TOM: Current MRR]
No
Yes
Revenue potential
Conservative: 200 tradespeople × £29/mo = £69,600 ARR
Medium: 1,000 tradespeople × £29/mo = £348,000 ARR
The Market
500,000+ tradespeople in UK. Every homeowner a potential user.
Checkatrade/MyBuilder charge too much. Local SEO opportunity. Mobile-first generation.
Competition
| Competitor | Their price | Our advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Checkatrade | £100+/month | 5x cheaper, simpler |
| MyBuilder | £50-100 per lead | Fixed monthly fee |
| Google Search | £0 | Curated, verified, reviewed |
What's Already Built
Tech stack (plain English)
| Component | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| React | Modern web app | Fast on mobile |
| Supabase | Database and auth | Secure listings |
| Google Places | Location services | Accurate local results |
What's live
- •Tradesperson directory
- •Click-to-call
- •Basic reviews
- •Local search
What's ready but not launched
- •SMS notifications
- •Featured listings
What's planned
- •Mobile app
- •Booking integration
- •Verified badges
Deployment status
The Roles Needed
E-Myth Hats
This business needs these hats
| Hat | What they do | Hours/week | Could be same person as... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | Sign up tradespeople locally | 20-25 | — |
| Ops | Onboarding, support, feedback | 5-10 | Sales |
1 person doing hyper-local sales in specific region
Local business relationships valuable for Herewood Hub, Pub Post Pro
The Partnership Terms
20-30%
18 months
30-day trial
Revenue milestones
Example milestone structure
| Milestone | Equity unlocked |
|---|---|
| 100 paying tradespeople | 10% |
| £2,000 MRR | +10% |
| Second region launched | +10% |
What Tom provides
- ✓Tech platform
- ✓SEO infrastructure
- ✓Multi-region capability
What you provide
- ✓Local sales
- ✓Tradesperson relationships
- ✓Region growth
- ✓20+ hours/week
Is This For You?
This is for you if...
- You're comfortable with face-to-face local sales
- You know tradespeople in your area
- You can work a specific region intensively
- You understand local business marketing
This is NOT for you if...
- You only want to work remotely
- You don't know any tradespeople
- You need immediate income
Someone with local connections who can walk into businesses and sign them up. Ideally knows tradespeople already.
Getting Started
If you apply and we agree:
Week 1-2
- •Platform training
- •Target region selection
- •Initial tradesperson list
Day 30
- •Review signups
- •Formalize agreement
Month 2-6
- •Region saturation
- •Review building
- •Second region prep
The Buzz
For non-technical people
This isn't a business idea. It's a working product. The hard part — building software that works — is done.
What you're actually getting:
- Local directory platform ready to launch
- Much cheaper than competitors for tradespeople
- Replicable model for multiple regions
A homeowner needs a plumber urgently. One Google search, one click, they're on the phone with a verified local plumber. Job done within 2 hours.
Tradespeople report 30% increase in calls. Homeowners find help 10x faster than asking around.