Checkatrade
Checkatrade operates a UK two-sided online marketplace connecting homeowners with 48,000+ vetted tradespeople, combining a 12-check vetting process, 6M+ verified reviews, and a £1,000 work guarantee, with complementary Express instant-booking and Shop retail extensions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersSelsey, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Checkatrade does
Checkatrade operates a two-sided online marketplace that connects UK homeowners with vetted tradespeople across more than 50 trade categories, including plumbing, electrical, building, decorating, gardening, and emergency repair. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Selsey, the company curates a directory of 48,000+ tradespeople who have each passed a 12-check vetting process covering identification, qualifications (Gas Safe, NICEIC), financial checks, CCJ screening, and ongoing monitoring. The platform is underpinned by 6M+ verified customer reviews and a £1,000 work-completion guarantee, directly targeting the trust deficit that has historically characterised consumer-to-tradesperson transactions.
The underlying technology combines the marketplace core with three applied AI capabilities: a Job Estimate Calculator that analyses millions of completed jobs to provide localised guide pricing, AI-driven rogue-trader detection that screens applicants, and AI-based fake review detection. The product surface has progressively expanded beyond discovery to include Checkatrade Express (fixed-price instant booking for common jobs such as boiler servicing, oven cleaning, TV mounting), a consumer mobile application with 300k+ downloads, and — as of June 2026 — Checkatrade Shop, a curated retail marketplace of 40,000+ home improvement products with exclusive trade pricing for members. Every completed job on the platform is backed by the £1,000 guarantee.
The business runs a dual revenue model. The primary stream is recurring subscription/membership fees paid by tradespeople for lead access and listing rights, while Checkatrade Express generates transaction-based take-rate revenue on instant bookings, and Checkatrade Shop creates an emerging commerce revenue line. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer via SEO, the Checkatrade advice blog, the mobile app, and consistent earned media coverage in major UK outlets. The customer base is bifurcated: 48,000+ tradespeople seeking customer acquisition on the supply side and millions of UK homeowners on the demand side across all major UK regions, with operating geography strictly limited to the United Kingdom.
Checkatrade firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Checkatrade
- Legal name
- Checkatrade
- Website
- https://checkatrade.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Checkatrade operates a UK two-sided online marketplace connecting homeowners with 48,000+ vetted tradespeople, combining a 12-check vetting process, 6M+ verified reviews, and a £1,000 work guarantee, with complementary Express instant-booking and Shop retail extensions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Checkatrade industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Home Services Marketplace
- akta.pro primary industry
- Price Comparison, Deals, Cashback & Loyalty Shopping Platforms (BPAMAGAH)
Keywords
Where Checkatrade is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Selsey
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Checkatrade business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Tradesperson Membership/Subscription: Tradespeople pay to join and maintain membership on the platform, gaining access to customer leads and the ability to list their services. The specific pricing structure for membership is not publicly disclosed.
- Checkatrade Express Service Fees: Platform charges transaction fees on instant booking services through Checkatrade Express, where customers book fixed-price jobs directly through the platform
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Checkatrade Express - Fixed Price Instant Booking |
| Subscription | Monthly | Tradesperson Membership |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | London Trades Service Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Checkatrade product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Checkatrade runs a two-sided online marketplace that connects UK homeowners with vetted, reviewed tradespeople across 50+ trade categories (plumbing, electrical, building, roofing, etc.). Tradespeople pay recurring membership fees to be listed, while homeowners use the platform (web, app, or Express instant booking) to search, request quotes, and book services. A £1,000 guarantee backs every job completed through the platform.
Product overview
Checkatrade operates as a unified home improvement platform offering multiple interconnected services. The core Checkatrade Platform connects consumers with 48,000+ vetted tradespeople who have passed up to 12 background checks and accumulated 6M+ reviews. This core platform is complemented by Checkatrade Express for fixed-price instant bookings on simpler jobs, the Checkatrade App for mobile access with 300k+ downloads, and the AI-powered Job Estimate Calculator for cost estimation. In June 2026, Checkatrade launched Checkatrade Shop as a curated retail marketplace with 40,000+ products, extending its vetting ecosystem to product sellers. All jobs on the platform are backed by the £1,000 Checkatrade Guarantee. The platform covers over 50 trade categories including plumbers, electricians, builders, painters, and heating engineers, primarily serving UK homeowners seeking trustworthy tradespeople.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Checkatrade Shop: A curated retail marketplace offering over 40,000 home improvement products, extending the company's trusted vetting ecosystem from tradespeople to product sellers. Launched at ChannelX World conference.
Products and services
- Checkatrade Platform
- Checkatrade Shop
- Checkatrade Express
- Checkatrade App
- Job Estimate Calculator
Quantifiable outcome
- 92% of trades reviewed scored 9.5/10 or above last year
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Checkatrade
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Checkatrade technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature4 records
Checkatrade partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Checkatrade competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Thumbtack: US-based services marketplace connecting consumers with local professionals, operating the same paid-lead model as Checkatrade Express and offering a comparable value proposition in home services.
- TrustATrader: UK-based vetted trade directory and marketplace connecting consumers with tradespeople, operating the same two-sided model with subscription-based tradesperson membership, directly competing for both supply and demand in the UK.
- Rated People: UK home services marketplace where homeowners post jobs and tradespeople pay to quote; operates a virtually identical proposition to Checkatrade in the same UK geographies and trade categories.
- MyBuilder: UK trade marketplace that lets tradespeople pay to connect with homeowner job postings, directly competing with Checkatrade on lead supply, subscription pricing, and trade coverage in the UK.
- Bark: Global services marketplace where customers request quotes from professionals; competes with Checkatrade on homeowner lead generation across home services and adjacent professional categories.
Broad incumbents
- Angi (Angie's List): Largest US home services marketplace with advertising, lead-gen, and matching services; serves an overlapping homeowner-trade use case with broader portfolio of services and direct lead products.
- Houzz: Home design platform with a built-in marketplace for connecting homeowners with trade professionals; competes with Checkatrade on the inspiration-to-hire journey and on connecting renovation demand with vetted tradespeople.
- Yelp: Local services platform with user reviews and a 'Request a Quote' feature for tradespeople; competes with Checkatrade for high-intent local service search demand across the UK and US.
Emerging players
- TaskRabbit: TaskRabbit operates a marketplace for handyman and home services; competes with Checkatrade Express on simpler fixed-price home tasks and on the homeowner convenience-led segment.
Regional players
- B&Q: UK's largest home improvement retailer, comparable to Checkatrade Shop (40,000+ home improvement products) for category and assortment, with overlapping demand from the same UK homeowner base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Checkatrade social profiles
Digital presenceCheckatrade financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Checkatrade leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Checkatrade funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Checkatrade M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Checkatrade
What does Checkatrade do?
Checkatrade runs a two-sided online marketplace that connects UK homeowners with vetted, reviewed tradespeople across 50+ trade categories (plumbing, electrical, building, roofing, etc.). Tradespeople pay recurring membership fees to be listed, while homeowners use the platform (web, app, or Express instant booking) to search, request quotes, and book services. A £1,000 guarantee backs every job completed through the platform.
Is Checkatrade a public or private company?
Checkatrade is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Checkatrade founded?
Checkatrade was founded in 1998. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Checkatrade based?
Checkatrade is headquartered in Selsey, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Checkatrade make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tradesperson Membership/Subscription is the primary driver. The others are checkatrade Express Service Fees.
Who are Checkatrade's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Thumbtack, TrustATrader, Rated People, MyBuilder and Bark. Broad incumbents are Angi (Angie's List), Houzz and Yelp. TaskRabbit is listed as an emerging player. B&Q is listed as a regional player.
Does Checkatrade have an API?
No public API is recorded for Checkatrade.
What industry is Checkatrade in?
Checkatrade's product category is Home Services Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAGAH, Price Comparison, Deals, Cashback & Loyalty Shopping Platforms.