Helpi Team vs MyBuilder/Rated People/Checkatrade for Furniture Cleaners

Note: all fees can vary by trade, location, and promos; we used each platform’s current pages and reputable roundups. Always check the price shown to you at signup.

What those fees mean for upholstery cleaning ROI

Helpi: zero to join, zero to get the job

With no lead, shortlist, or membership cost, your acquisition cost is effectively £0. That’s rare. If your average sofa clean is £60–£110 (common UK pricing), your first booking is profit after materials and time.

MyBuilder: pay only when short-listed

MyBuilder doesn’t charge a monthly fee; you only pay if the customer shortlists you, unlocking their details. The fee is visible before you respond and starts from £7—it scales with job value and area. That’s cleaner than shared pay-per-lead because you aren’t charged just to apply, but you can still pay and not win the job. For furniture cleaners, where job values are modest, shortlist fees are usually at the lower end—but it adds up if several homeowners shortlist and then go quiet.

Rated People: “Unlimited” monthly model

Rated People has shifted to an Unlimited subscription—one flat monthly fee to quote on as many jobs (under £4,000) as you like in your trade/area. They don’t publish a universal price because it varies by trade and location at signup. Historically, trades quoted ~£30–£35 + VAT/mo subscriptions, with average lead contacts ~£15 + VAT under the old credit model. The takeaway: your cost is fixed monthly now, but your win rate still determines the true cost per booked clean.

Checkatrade: fixed membership

Checkatrade sells membership plans rather than per-lead fees. Their official guidance says plans start from £30 + VAT per month, but pricing varies by trade/region; trade press roundups commonly cite ~£70–£120+ VAT/mo. If you’re in a busy city, expect the higher band. As an upholstery cleaner, you’ll want to check the lead volume in your postcode—with a fixed fee, the math works only if enough local customers are active.

Let’s imagine an average £80 upholstery clean.

• Helpi — £0 marketing cost → your gross margin is untouched; one booking is profitable.
  
  

• MyBuilder — if a shortlist fee is £7–£12 and you convert 1 in 3 shortlists, your acquisition cost lands ~£21–£36 per won job. Still workable, but your profit compresses—and you carry the risk of no-shows.
  
  

• Rated People (Unlimited) — if your area’s monthly fee were, say, £35–£60 + VAT (historic benchmarks; actual shown at signup), you’d want at least 1–2 upholstery jobs per month to feel comfortable, more to be happy; otherwise, your effective cost per job balloons.
  
  

Checkatrade — at ~£70–£120 + VAT/mo typical ranges, you’d want 2–3 booked cleans/month minimum to feel ROI, more in higher tiers.

• Lead exclusivity & effort: Rated People sells each lead to up to 3 trades; MyBuilder charges on shortlist; Checkatrade is a directory where customers contact you. Each model affects how much chasing you’ll do.
  
  

• Customer intent: Upholstery jobs are often same-week rather than emergency; conversion hinges on fast replies, price clarity, and photos (stain type, fabric, seat count).
  
  

• Profile proof: Before/after photos of sofa cleans and fabric knowledge (e.g., velvet vs microfibre) win quotes without price-slashing.

Bottom line

• If you want maximum take-home per clean, Helpi’s £0/£0 structure is the clear winner—no hidden credit packs, no shortlist losses.
  
  

• MyBuilder can work if you maintain a high close rate on shortlists and keep an eye on fees shown before you respond.
  
  

• Rated People’s Unlimited can be fine if the monthly fee offered for upholstery in your area is low enough and you quote consistently; otherwise, your effective cost/job rises.
  
  

Checkatrade suits cleaners in high-demand postcodes who will easily cover a £70–£120+ VAT/mo type membership with multiple sofa jobs.

Download Helpi Team now 

For all your home needs, download the Helpi Team app on the iOS App Store and Android Play Store now.