Most trades websites fail for the same reasons. They were built for a desktop, they never say which towns you cover, and there is no obvious way to call you. Fix those three things and everything else gets easier.
What a trades website actually needs
We have built sites for roofers, builders, electricians, plumbers and garden services. The pattern is always the same. Keep it short, keep it honest, and make the next step obvious.
- A homepage that says what you do and where you do it, above the fold.
- A page per main service, so Google has something specific to rank.
- Your service areas listed in plain English, not hidden in a footer.
- Photos of your own work. Stock images of someone else's kitchen fool nobody.
- Reviews from real customers, with a name and a town.
- Call, WhatsApp and enquiry buttons that are always within thumb reach.
Build for the phone first
Roughly three quarters of trades website traffic is mobile, often from someone standing in a leaking kitchen. If your site takes more than three seconds to load, about half of those people leave before they see anything. Big tap targets, no pinch zooming, no PDF brochures.
Getting found locally
For most trades, the money is in local search. That means your Google Business Profile and your website working together. Same business name, same phone number, same address format everywhere. Then a page for each service and each main town you cover.
- Claim and complete your Google Business Profile, then post to it monthly.
- Ask every happy customer for a review and reply to all of them.
- Write one page per service, one page per key area. Real content, not spun filler.
- Add your jobs as a gallery. Fresh photos are fresh content.
Answer fast or lose the job
Speed to reply beats almost everything else. Customers usually contact three trades and book the first one who answers properly. An automatic reply, a missed call text back and a simple enquiry form will win you jobs your competitors never even see.
What it costs
Our starter builds begin at £299 one-off, with ongoing extras like instant replies, posts and local visibility from £30 a month. Elsewhere in the UK a bespoke trades website typically runs £1,000 to £3,500. Anything much cheaper is usually a template with no SEO behind it.
Guides by trade
Every trade sells slightly differently. These guides cover what actually matters for each one.
Common questions
What should a tradesman's website actually include?+
Five things do most of the work: what you do, where you work, proof you have done it before, honest pricing guidance, and an obvious way to get in touch on a phone. Everything else is optional.
How much does web design for tradesmen cost in the UK?+
A focused, mobile-first site for a trades business usually lands between £1,000 and £3,500 one-off, or from £299 with us for a starter build. Ongoing hosting, support and local SEO are separate and should always be quoted clearly.
How long does it take to build?+
Most trades websites we build go live within 7 to 14 days. The slowest part is usually gathering photos of your recent jobs, so we help with that.
Will I own the website?+
Yes. You own the domain, the content and the site itself. If you ever want to move it elsewhere, you can. That is not true of every directory-style provider.
Do I need a website if I get work from Checkatrade or word of mouth?+
Referrals still check you online before they call. A simple site gives them somewhere to land, and it means you stop paying a directory to rent leads that could be coming straight to you.