In 2025, the trades industry is more competitive than ever — and having a professional website isn’t just a “nice-to-have” anymore. It’s a necessity.
If you’re a tradesmen, plumber, electrician, builder or decorator and you don’t have a proper website, chances are you’re losing jobs without even realising it. More than 87% of people now check online before hiring a local service provider, according to BrightLocal’s Local Consumer Review Survey. And when they search, if they can’t find you (or worse — only find your Facebook page), they’re calling someone else.
But here’s the issue: most options out there for tradespeople to get a website are either expensive, full of hidden costs, or come with monthly payments that never end. So let’s break it all down — and show you how you can get a fully-built, lead-generating website without the usual headache, and for a fraction of what agencies charge.
Why Every Tradesperson Needs a Website (Even If You’re Busy)
A website acts as your digital shopfront. It builds trust, shows professionalism, and most importantly — makes it easier for customers to pick up the phone and call you.
Even if your diary is full right now, things change fast. One month of quiet spells can wipe out profits — and relying only on word of mouth or Facebook groups puts you at the mercy of chance.
With a proper website:
- You show up in Google when people search for things like “plumber in Leeds” or “bathroom fitter near me”
- You can control your image — with reviews, past projects, and a clean layout
- You own your digital presence, instead of relying on third-party platforms or directories
You also open the door to tools like Google Business Profile and Local Services Ads, which can help get you found faster in your area — but only if you’ve got a decent site to link back to.
What Are Your Options for Getting a Website Built?
Let’s walk through what’s out there. There are really three main paths most tradespeople take:
DIY Website Builders
Tools like Wix, Squarespace, and GoDaddy offer drag-and-drop sites that look easy. But the truth is, they can end up being a massive time drain. You’ll need to:
- Choose and customise a theme (which can be restrictive)
- Write your own copy (not easy if writing’s not your thing)
- Learn how to optimise for SEO
- Pay ongoing monthly or yearly hosting and builder fees — often £20–£40/month when all added up
Plus, they rarely look professional without custom design work — and in a competitive local market, a template won’t cut it.
Hire an Agency or Freelancer
This route gives you a more professional result — but often at a steep price. Many general web design agencies charge anywhere from £1,500 to £4,000+ for a custom site, and often tack on ongoing maintenance or hosting charges.
That might make sense for big companies. But for sole traders or small partnerships? It’s overkill. Worse still, many agencies don’t understand the trades. They might give you a beautiful site… that never gets found on Google or doesn’t convert visitors into calls.
Join a Trades Directory
Some tradespeople opt for platforms like Checkatrade, Rated People, or Bark. These give you a profile page and sometimes a bit of visibility.
But here’s what they don’t tell you:
- You don’t actually own the page
- Leads are often shared with multiple other trades, meaning it’s a race to the bottom
- You’re tied into ongoing monthly fees or credits
- If you stop paying? Your visibility is gone
You’re building their business, not yours.
What You Actually Need in a Trades Website
A high-performing website for trades should do three things really well:
- Show up when people search locally
- Build instant trust with potential customers
- Make it easy for them to call you
That means it needs:
- A mobile-optimised, fast-loading design
- Clear “click to call” buttons
- Strong local SEO built-in (think “boiler repair in Nottingham”)
- Customer reviews and job photos
- Integration with Google Business Profile
You can check how fast or mobile-friendly your site is using free tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or Mobile-Friendly Test.
How Trustmark Trades Does It Differently (And More Affordably)
At Trustmark Trades, we’re flipping the model on its head. We build websites specifically for tradespeople — no tech jargon, no bloated prices, and no monthly hosting fees.
Here’s what we offer:
- ✅ You pay just £100 upfront — the rest only when you’re site is live.
- ✅ One-time cost of £900 on completion
- ✅ No monthly or yearly charges for 2025 only.
- ✅ Fully mobile-optimised and fast-loading
- ✅ Domain, emails, Google tools — all handled
- ✅ Tailored to your trade and your area
You get a proper, hard-working website that’s yours to keep — not a rented page or shared listing.
🔗 Check out the website package offer here →
What About Getting Leads?
Once your site is live, we plug you into our Trustmark Trades Directory — a growing platform that helps local customers connect with real tradespeople via direct phone calls, not forms or emails.
Unlike other directories, we don’t play favourites or force you to pay for premium listings. Instead, we use a Pay-Per-Call model — meaning:
- You only pay when your phone rings
- Calls are tracked and recorded for full transparency
- You choose your service areas
- No leads are shared — it’s 100% exclusive to you
It’s flexible, cost-effective, and helps you grow your business without gambling on paid ads.
🔗 Learn more about our Pay-Per-Call model →
A Simple, Fair Way to Build Your Online Presence
Getting a great website used to mean spending thousands or wasting weekends on a DIY builder. Not anymore.
With Trustmark Trades, you can finally:
- Get a professional website tailored to your trade
- Pay just £100 upfront, and the rest only when you’re happy
- Own your website outright — with no hidden fees
- Start showing up in search and getting real local calls
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to upgrade from a Facebook page or old site, this is the easiest way to move your business forward online.
📞 Ready to speak to our team? Click here to book a free consultation →