Checkatrade vs Your Own Website: Do UK Tradespeople Need Both?
MarketStreet Websites Editorial Team • October 24, 2026
Many UK tradespeople ask whether a Checkatrade listing is enough, or whether they also need their own website. We've covered whether Checkatrade is worth it and the alternatives. This guide looks at how a listing and your own site compare, and how to use both.
Quick answer
- Price: flat £250 for UK trades (domain and month 1 SEO included)
- Turnaround: live in 4–8 hours
- Not sure yet? Get a free audit of your current site or listing.
Live sites we build and run: HowJamaica, Jamaica Online Shop, Knightly Report, IAmSurveyors. You own your domain, content and files.
What a directory listing gives you
- A trusted brand some homeowners already search on.
- Reviews collected in one place.
- Leads without having to build your own traffic.
What it doesn't
- You don't own it. Stop paying and the profile, and often the visibility, goes.
- You sit next to competitors on the same page.
- Limited control over how your services, photos and areas are presented.
What your own website gives you
- An asset you keep, on a domain in your name.
- Pages for each service and the areas you really cover, which help you show up in Google for local searches.
- A place to send people from your van, cards, Google Business Profile and social posts.
- No competitors on the page.
Using both together
Treat a directory as one lead source and your website as home base. Link your website from your listing where allowed, keep your name, address and phone the same everywhere, and set up a free Google Business Profile that points to your site. Over time, more of your work can come from search and referrals you don't pay per lead for.
What a trade website needs
- Tap-to-call and a short quote form on every page.
- Real photos of your work and van.
- Accreditations you genuinely hold, such as Gas Safe or NICEIC, with registration numbers.
- Fast loading on a phone.
What our own sites look like
Rather than show you made-up testimonials, here are live sites we build and run: IAmSurveyors (a UK surveying firm with service and area pages and a quote button on every page), Jamaica Online Shop (an online store tuned for fast mobile loading), HowJamaica (a news and guides site) and The Knightly Report (a lightweight publishing site). Different industries, same approach: lean code, fast pages and a clear way to contact the business.
Questions to ask any web designer
- Is the price fixed and in writing, and what exactly does it include?
- Will I own the domain, the content and the site files?
- What are the monthly costs for hosting, updates and support, and can I leave?
- Can I see a live site you built and test it with Google PageSpeed Insights?
- Do you set up my Google Business Profile, or is that extra?
- Who do I call when something breaks?
Tired of Paying for Every Lead?
We work remotely with small businesses. Ask for a free review of your current site and a fixed written quote.
Get Your Free Website AuditFrequently asked questions
Is a Checkatrade listing enough on its own?
It can bring leads, but you don't own it. Most trades benefit from also having their own website and a free Google Business Profile.
Can I link my own website from my directory listing?
Check the directory's current rules; where allowed, linking helps customers find more about you.
Do I need a big website?
No. A fast site with a page per main service, real photos and an easy way to call is enough for most trades.
Sources
- Google Business Profile Help, improve local ranking: support.google.com