Helpi Team vs MyBuilder/Rated People/Checkatrade for Painters

• Helpi: keep more of every job

• Helpi’s model is simple for painters & decorators: no join fee and no fee to receive the job. That means your margin isn’t nibbled by per-lead costs or monthly subs, and you’re not paying just for the chance to quote. You focus on doing great work; we focus on sending you booked jobs.

• MyBuilder: “pay when shortlisted”

• MyBuilder says there are no joining or membership fees; instead, you pay only when the homeowner shortlists you—that’s the moment you’re charged to access contact details and quote. The fee varies (by job type/size/trade/area), and multiple trades can be shortlisted on the same job. Practically, you’re paying per opportunity, not per win—so your effective cost per job depends on your quote-to-win rate. support.mybuilder.com+1

• Rated People: membership + credit-based leads

• Rated People prices lead using a credit system—lead cost changes by trade, location, and the homeowner’s intent to start. Your membership plan includes credits, and you can top up to buy more leads. Because several pros can buy the same lead, your true cost per completed job hinges on both the lead price and competition. For painters & decorators, that can be fine when diaries are quiet, but you’ll want to track lead-to-booking conversion tightly so spend doesn’t drift. Rated People+1

• Checkatrade: fixed subscription for a lead allowance

Checkatrade frames its offers as fixed-term membership plans that deliver a set volume of leads over the year. Official pages emphasise the plan structure rather than a public fee card; pricing varies by location, trade, and package (you’ll see “view our prices” after sharing details). Independent comparisons suggest starter tiers around ~£80–£140+VAT/month, with higher-visibility packages ranging ~£160–£300+ (and premium placements higher) in competitive areas. Again, confirm your exact quote directly with Checkatrade.

Lead platforms effectively shift risk onto the tradesperson: you pay upfront (per shortlist/lead or per month), then hope you win enough jobs at a healthy day rate to cover that spend. If your win rate dips (seasonality, price-shoppers, poor lead intent), your effective acquisition cost climbs.

Helpi flips that equation: with £0 to join and £0 to receive the job, the only “cost” is your time to quote and complete. That increases take-home on every booking and makes your pipeline easier to forecast—especially useful for decorators who balance day-rate interior work with fixed-price rooms/exteriors.

• Quote fast, quote clearly. Same-day responses and tidy, line-item quotes lift win rate—crucial on pay-per-lead systems.
  
  

• Show proof. Before/after photos, insurance details and recent London reviews move painter & decorator jobs quickly.
  
  

• Pick your battles. Avoid low-intent “spray & pray” jobs; favour detailed briefs with photos and dates.
  
  

Track win rate by source. If a platform costs £200 this month and yields one £1,000 interior repaint, fine; if it yields zero, pause it.

The bottom line

If you’re tired of paying just to chase work, Helpi’s £0/£0 approach gives painters & decorators a cleaner path to profit: you keep the full value of the job, build local reputation, and avoid the roulette of per-lead fees or rising subscriptions. MyBuilder, Rated People, and Checkatrade can still play a role in a mixed pipeline—but go in eyes open on how and when they charge, and keep a tight handle on your win rates so your marketing spend doesn’t silently eat your margin. Checkatrade+3support.mybuilder.com+3MyBuilder+3

Pricing structures and ranges above are based on each platform’s own disclosures (fee mechanics) plus current third-party comparisons where official price cards aren’t publicly listed; always check the latest direct before you commit

Download Helpi Team now 

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