A tradesman's website has one job: turn someone with a leaking pipe, a dead boiler or a kitchen project into a phone call or a quote request. It doesn't need to be clever. It needs to load fast on a phone, show you're trustworthy and local, and make contacting you easy. Here's what a good trade website includes, what it costs, and the mistakes that cost tradespeople work.
1. Do tradesmen still need a website?
Word of mouth, Checkatrade, MyBuilder, Rated People and hipages all bring work, but most customers still check you out before they ring. They search your business name, look at your Google reviews, then open your website to see if you look legitimate and cover their area. A directory profile is rented space with competitors listed next to you. Your own site is the one place that is only about you, and it's what Google uses to decide whether to show you for "plumber near me" searches in your area.
2. What a tradesman website needs
- A phone number you can tap, at the top of every page on mobile. Most trade enquiries come from phones.
- A short quote form asking only what you need: name, number, postcode, job type and an optional photo upload.
- A page for each main service, such as boiler installation, rewiring or loft conversions, so you can rank for each one.
- Your service area, with the towns you cover named in plain text, not just shown on a map.
- Proof: Google reviews, photos of real jobs (before and after works well) and any accreditations you hold.
- Accreditations shown properly, such as Gas Safe, NICEIC, NAPIT or TrustMark in the UK, or your licence number in Australia. Only show schemes you're registered with, and include your registration number.
- Fast loading. A slow site on a weak mobile signal loses the customer to the next result.
3. Pages to include
| Page | What it does |
|---|---|
| Home | Says what you do and where in one line, with a call button, reviews and your main services |
| Service pages | One per main service, with what's included, typical jobs, photos and a quote button |
| Areas covered | Towns and postcodes you work in, which helps local search |
| Our work | Photos of recent jobs with a line about each |
| About | Who you are, how long you've traded, accreditations and insurance |
| Contact or get a quote | Phone, form, WhatsApp and opening hours |
A sole trader can start with a well-built single page and add service pages later. Five to eight pages is plenty for most trade businesses.
4. How much does a website for a tradesman cost?
- DIY builders such as Wix or Squarespace cost a monthly fee and your time. They work, but most tradespeople don't have evenings to spare.
- Trade directory websites are sometimes bundled with a listing. Check who owns the domain and what happens if you cancel.
- A freelancer or small agency usually charges a one-off fee for a custom site, plus optional monthly care for updates and hosting.
My prices are on the pricing page: a landing page from $299 and a business website from $799, with invoices in GBP or AUD on request. For a fuller breakdown, see how much a business website costs.
5. Getting found on Google
- Set up your Google Business Profile with the right category, service area, photos and opening hours. For local searches it often matters more than the website.
- Ask every happy customer for a review. Do it automatically after each paid job. See Google review automation.
- Give each service and main town its own content, written for people, not stuffed with keywords.
- Keep your name, address and phone number identical on your site, Google profile and directory listings.
- Make the site fast and mobile-friendly, with proper page titles and a sitemap.
6. Turning website visits into jobs
A website only gets the enquiry. What happens next decides whether you win the job. Customers often contact two or three trades and book whoever replies first, so the form and missed calls need an instant response even when you're on site:
- Instant text reply to every form and missed call. See missed-call text-back.
- Quote follow-up if the customer goes quiet after you price the job.
- Online booking for site visits or surveys.
I connect trade websites to GoHighLevel so this happens automatically. An HVAC and plumbing company recovered 89% of missed calls this way (case study). For the software side, see the CRM for tradies guide.
7. Rules to get right
In the UK, a contact form collects personal data, so you need a privacy notice, and non-essential cookies such as analytics or ad tracking need consent under UK GDPR and PECR. See GDPR for UK and EU businesses. In Australia, marketing texts and emails to past customers fall under the Spam Act; see the Spam Act and SMS in Australia.
8. Mistakes that cost tradespeople work
- No phone number visible on mobile without scrolling.
- Long quote forms that ask for everything before you've spoken.
- Stock photos instead of real jobs and real people.
- A site the web designer owns, on a domain in their name.
- Enquiries going to an inbox nobody checks until the evening.
- Showing accreditation logos you aren't registered for, which breaks the scheme's rules and misleads customers.
Want to be found on Google in your area? See SEO for tradies.
For the wider picture, see marketing for tradies.
In Australia? See websites for tradies for AUD costs and what to include.
Want a trade website that brings in calls?
I'm Arslan Mumtaz, a software engineer who builds fast, custom-coded websites for trade businesses in the UK and Australia, connected to a CRM so every enquiry gets an instant reply. You own the domain and the site. See web development, check pricing, or send me a message with what you need.
Frequently asked questions
Do tradesmen need a website if they're on Checkatrade or MyBuilder?
Yes. Directory listings bring leads, but customers still check your own site and Google reviews before calling, and your website is what Google uses to show you in local searches. A directory profile also lists competitors next to you.
How many pages does a tradesman website need?
Five to eight is plenty for most: home, one page per main service, areas covered, recent work, about and contact. A sole trader can start with a single well-built page and add service pages later.
What makes a trade website get more calls?
A tap-to-call number visible on mobile, a short quote form, real job photos, reviews and accreditations near the top, and an instant text reply to every form and missed call so you're the first trade to respond.