Am I insured through Helpi?

You’re responsible for your own liability and business insurance.

Can I be removed from the platform?

Yes. Repeated complaints, no-shows, or breaches of our Terms of Service will result in suspension or removal.

How do the ratings impact me?

Your Hero Rating is visible on your profile which the customer can see – we find highly rated Heroes get more jobs and more earnings so it always pays to make a good impression with every job you do.

Will the customers be able to rate Heroes?

Yes- after every job, the customer will rate the Hero who completed it, and that rating will appear on their Helpi profile.

What if there’s a dispute?

If the dispute happens whilst you are with the customer try and settle the issue there and then. If you cannot come to an agreement contact Helpi support. We’ll review all messages, job notes, and evidence (like photos) to help resolve disputes fairly.

The job is different to the one the customer booked?

Please explain this to the customer whilst you are there and get agreement for any additional charges you may need to make – for example if the customer booked one hour but you need two hours. You will then have the ability to update the price in the app, however, note the customer also needs to confirm the price change too.

What happens if a customer cancels?

If the job is cancelled last minute, you may still be eligible for partial payment. Each case is reviewed based on our cancellation policy.

Can the customer reschedule?

Life happens – so sometimes the customer may need to reschedule. Helpi tries to minimize this by reminding customers of booked and upcoming jobs so Hero’s have less movement in their calendars.

So what does Helpi do?

The Helpi platform connects qualified trades and service professionals with thousands of customers in an easy and accessible app and offers a secure method of payment allowing you to earn when you want.

Am I employed by Helpi?

No. You’re an independent contractor, not an employee. You control your schedule, accept the jobs you want and are responsible for the work you carry out for the customer.

Can I choose which jobs to take?

Yes! You’ll be notified when new jobs are available. Accept the ones you want- there’s no obligation.

After completing a job, Helpi releases your payment (minus platform fees) to your registered bank account, typically within 3–5 working days.

What are the requirements?

You must be at least 18, have the right to work in your area, own your tools (where applicable), and hold relevant licenses or certifications.

Register on the Helpi Team app, upload your ID, any qualifications, and complete your profile. Once approved, you can start accepting jobs.

What is a Helpi Hero?

Heroes are independent professionals who use the Helpi platform to find customers and earn money by providing home services.

Handymen UK

Helpi Team vs MyBuilder/Rated People/Checkatrade for Handymen

Written by

Helpi Team

Published on

28 Nov 2025

Choosing where to find work isn’t just about “more leads.” It’s about predictable costs, fair competition, and conversion. Below, I break down how the big three charge trades—and how Helpi differs.

Helpi (handymen)

Fees: £0 to join. £0 to receive the job.
No joining fee, no monthly subscription, no pay-per-lead, and no shortlist fee. You keep the full job value. (That’s the point of Helpi’s model for supply growth.)

MyBuilder

How it charges: You pay only when the homeowner shortlists you (i.e., when contact details are released). No joining or membership fee. The exact shortlist fee varies by job size and is shown before you accept.
Typical amounts: Recent round-ups suggest shortlist fees commonly fall in the ~£10–£50+ range per lead, depending on category and job value (not an official tariff; real price varies).

Implication: You can spend £0 some weeks, then have a larger bill if you’re shortlisted multiple times—costs can be spiky. Good if you want to avoid a monthly subscription, but you still pay even if a shortlisted lead doesn’t convert.

Rated People

How it is charged (traditional model): Historically, a monthly subscription (common references around £35 + VAT/month) plus paying per lead using credits; average per-lead costs are often cited around ~£15 + VAT, though this varies by job and area. (These prices are commonly reported by third-party reviews/guides rather than a public official tariff.)

What’s new (2025): Rated People introduced “Unlimited”—a flat monthly fee that lets you quote on unlimited leads under a stated budget cap (recent pages state the cap at £4,000), replacing per-lead charges for those jobs. Exact monthly pricing for Unlimited isn’t publicly listed on the signup pages.

Implication: Traditional plan = predictable base fee plus variable per-lead spend; Unlimited = predictable monthly, but only covers projects up to the platform’s stated budget cap.

Checkatrade

How it charges: Checkatrade is a subscription-based membership (fixed term). Official materials say plans start from £30 + VAT/month, with plans giving a set volume of leads across the year; pricing varies by trade, location, and package.
Real-world ranges: Independent comparisons and reporting place typical memberships ~£80–£300+ per month (more for premium placements), and a Times profile cited ~£149/month as a standard example for a sole-trader painter (illustrative). Your quote will differ.

Implication: Predictable monthly spend, but you pay whether or not you win the work. In competitive postcodes, you may need higher tiers or featured slots to stay visible

Quick fees snapshot (for handymen)

Platform	Join fee	Monthly fee	Per-lead / shortlist fee	Notes
Helpi	£0	£0	£0	No join, no subs, no lead fees.
MyBuilder	£0	£0	Varies (shown upfront); often cited ~£10–£50+	Pay only if shortlisted. No subscription.
Rated People	£0	Yes (plans vary; refs ~£35+VAT)**	Yes (credit/lead cost; refs ~£15+VAT/lead)**	New Unlimited: one flat fee for unlimited leads ≤£4k budget.
Checkatrade	£0	Yes (from £30+VAT; widely varies)	£0	Fixed-term membership; lead quota style. Real-world examples ~£80–£300+, Times cited ~£149/m.

So, which is best for a handyman?

Want zero marketing risk? Helpi’s £0/£0 model removes join and lead fees entirely—ideal if you hate paying for “maybes.”
Prefer pay-as-you-go? MyBuilder can work when you’re selective and confident in converting shortlists—but budget for non-converting shortlist costs.
Like steady volume with predictable spend? Checkatrade membership offers always-on exposure and lead quotas, but you’re paying regardless of wins; expect pricing to vary by postcode/trade.
Quote on lots of small jobs? Rated People “Unlimited” (unlimited leads under the cap) can be efficient if the monthly fee suits—just confirm the cap and actual price for your trade/area.

Why many handymen will prefer Helpi

Keep your margin: No join, no monthly, no pay-per-lead shock.
Less admin, more work: No credits, no bidding wars, no “three pros bought the same lead” dynamics.

Fairness by design: You’re not asked to pay for unresponsive shortlists or for the chance to quote.

Bottom line: If you’re tired of juggling subscriptions, credit packs, and shortlist fees, Helpi’s £0/£0 model is the simplest way to protect your time and earnings. Use MyBuilder/Rated People/Checkatrade tactically if their economics in your postcode stack up—otherwise, keep your pipeline full on Helpi without the fee drag.

Download Helpi Team now

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

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