The bottom line: is Thumbtack worth it for contractors? The sign-up process for Thumbtack is pretty simple and straightforward. I dont get it. Thumbtack tries to eliminate such listings, but they slip through occasionally. Unfortunately, once your account is deactivated, it can be difficult to get it back up and running, which could cause problems if you rely on them for business. I am being charge to be hired and then they turn around and cancel or just simply dont show to appointment they booked.. Thumbtack sends you (The Professional) those warm leads. Thumbtack for Professionals: what is it and how does it work? According to Thumbtacks website, The cost of each quote will vary, depending on the value of the job and the number of available and interested pros in the area. There is no cost to sign up. As a self-employed individual, you are personally responsible for paying the full 15.3% (12.4% Social Security and 2.9% Medicare) self-employment tax on your annual income. I have heard that after a while and after having done a lot of work and getting contacts with clients, the taskers end up doing extra work but outside of Thumbtack connecting directly with those clients since it is more profitable so they end up leaving Thumbtack, it is true that? Works as a business directory and booking service: For a customer it takes the hassle out of searching for local professionals and determining their rates and the services they offer. We can reevaluate the standing of your account after you send us a copy of your banks confirmation letter verifying your disputes have been withdrawn. There is a tab within the Thumbtack app called Opportunities. Desired outcome: I would appreciate a response. I used thumbtack for a year or so and in that time the policies have DRAMATICALLY changed. They give you so many leads a day that I have to say some of them are fake. (Pros will set a monthly budget for their total lead spend.). Paying for leads is expensive. Actually now that I think about it. Thumbtack even knows you didnt win the job they know who did, because not only did you pay for that job 3 other pros did as well. All you have to do is create a stunning profile, highlight your skills and expertise, and ask your clients to leave a review once youve completed a job. Potential customers start by going to thumbtack.com or the Thumbtack app (available in both the Google Play and Apple Stores), and entering their zip code and the service they need. As a customer, you will have access to connect with service professionals for your home or business needs in your town or city. Set your profile properly. Cole Brittner is my rep. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products or services. : is that now, if you read their terms an conditions, they monitor your email and text messages for quality now i am not just talking about emails you send via their app i am talking about YOUR EMAIL and YOUR PHONE. I am a pro on there and you DO NOT only pay for leads that you quotes with a customer responds. Make sure the payment terms are clearly defined in the quote you give your future client. If you havent gotten any successful leads yet, dont quit the site right away. Sometimes a contractor will not do what you want, will not do it right, or will not do it by the deadline. This short PDFwill explain whysomeTHRIVE and others struggle. Thumbtack is one of the leading mobile applications that makes money from every successful job completed on the app. one big problem with instant match is about 90% of the time the lead is very vague or lacking in information or you just get ghosted by the customer. Thumbtack has no customer support, no phone number you can call, you make a complaint you get a computer response, your complaint is denied. Ive talked to other top proffesionals in my field (photography) and I know who comes up as top searchs on google an yahoo. On selecting a professional that you want to work with, you will need to answer a few questions to provide more details about the reason for your booking, your availability, and any other specifics that theyll need to know. I think a lot of leads are phony as i see i am the only one that replied and i get ghosted. The company makes its money is by having professionals pay to contact customers through Thumbtack credits, which are used by professionals to send quotes to customers. There isnt anyone on the other line for customer support. The new model allows 15 bids (and most customers dont look at all of them), the lead prices are exorbitant (many of my jobs are 1-3 hours, and some leads cost an hours worth of work), technical support got downgraded (you wont get actual people now, just machines), and pros are routinely getting charged for leads that are equivalent to no thanks. In addition, the transparency that Thumbtack once had, has vanished entirely. Tap Projects from the main menu (at the bottom). You can read more about how this works at https://techboomers.com/how-to-support-techboomers. Thumbtack will contact the company with the customers job, and the contractor will contact the customer through a phone call, a message, or just get back with a quote --- however you asked to be contacted. Its free to use for anyone, though youll have to pay the contractor the agreed-upon rate if you end up hiring them. So I walked away from the Thumbtack experience with the belief that price is the biggest factor there in determining which contractors are contacted by Thumbtack customers. Thumbtack lets you set a budget to limit your expenses. Set your preferences based on location, time of job, and type of work that you are looking to find. Has Thumbtack raised the price of leads? I charge $140 an hour and currently use no paid advertising (not even google adwords any longer). Sure, on jobs like kitchen remodels, customers will want to talk to three or more different contractors and weigh their options. thats it i need to know how many rooms? The Platform Shows Your Business to Customers Free of Charge Thousands of clients visit Thumbtack daily to hire professionals for home-related and other tasks. Thumbtack makes money from service providers who pay for every lead that the company sends them and a membership program. You can request a free background check through Thumbtack --- they use a service called Checkr and it will take between 5-7 days. I SENT MANY LOWBALL PRICES TO TEST IF LEADS ARE REAL. I was on thumbtack fora year and out of the blue thumbtack requested I do a background check , I built up my business with a 5.0 rating with 25 reviews and as the background check came thru, I was deleted and no way to make a living , they wouldnt even let me have my reviews, what a operation, you know just because a man was at the wrong place at the wrong time and gets a record that follows him around , the system will not allow that man to achieve anything, keeping us down and out, I cant even rent a apartment , I guess Im lucky since Im at the top level of my trade and dont have issues , but still and all having a record seems like Im walking around with cuddies that everyone can see, and thumbtack, if I could find away to sue u ,Id be all over that but instead of doin that I must get out there and try to find work again. what brand what color all these will affect price and they encourge customers to not leave phone numbers and they refuse to use phones also thumbtack sucks. Home Useful Sites / Apps Helpful Apps Thumbtack Pro Review. Thumbtack doesn't require pros to do background checks. Home maintenance shouldnt be that difficult. ), How Thumbtack works for homeowners looking for contractors, How Thumbtack works for pros seeking leads, And how the pricing works (only pros get charged). Anyone who is running a small business, is an independent consultant, or is just getting started as a freelancer must sign up on Thumbtack to see the competition that is out there and what it is that they must highlight on their profile. The Thumbtack app makes it easy to use on the go, making sure you never miss out on leads. It operates under a marketplace business model. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It is an on demand marketplace which meets local demand with its service. Is Thumbtack Safe for Customers? Read Also: Thumbtack Vs. Yelp (Which Is Better?). Only enter ZIP Code and service name to search: Unlike other platforms like Angies List or HomeAdvisor, where a customer has to give their personal details and fill in a lengthy questionnaire to be matched with a professional, Thumbtack shows you the list of professionals in your town or city by just entering the name of the service and a ZIP code. Heres how it works. [With any comments I write on Dans website, before I sign off I like to say that I learned a lot from reading every word on the website for months, and then, more importantly, pulling the trigger and purchasing some of Dans products. Or, this can force you to lower your prices to stay competitive as the competition grows. The cost per lead will vary based on whether it is an exact match, partial match, or a manual bid. Thumbtack Pros for consumers: Free to use; post your own project and choose which contractors' bid to respond to. Assuming those reviews are accurate, thats over a 700% increase in the cost of leads. By simply having a professional headshot on your profile, youll get 10x as many jobs which means youll pay less to get customers. Customers browse through the business profiles and choose who to reach out to. Enter the type of service you provide and your location. It's a good idea to give a base price, which is typically an hourly rate or flat fee, so customers can get an idea of how much you charge upfront. Simply click or scan the QR code and you will be off to the races! As a one-person army for your business, growing your brand and investing your time into social media marketing to stay relevant can seem like a lot of work, if you arent aware of how to go about it. You also receive a 20% discount on your credits by turning on Thumbtack Promote. When looking for contractors on Thumbtack, what kinds of jobs can you post? Kitchen/Bathroom/Decking. The biggest complaint that comes from contractors is that Thumbtack puts out fake leads, making them appear as though they are coming from real people. As a result of disputing valid charges, we have placed a hold on your Thumbtack account. However, if you can edit, may I suggest you replace hole in the sentence after the bullets of Thumbtack From A Homeowners Perspective to whole. You see what I mean. Listing yourself on Thumbtack is free, though there are things you will likely have to pay for if you want to receive a high volume of leads, and leads that are of good quality. As a customer, this is a great place to look for local professionals in your city or town for any kind of service that you might be in the market for. We do HVAC repair and maintenance only. Need some assistance on your next credit card choice? After carefully looking into the charges, we confirmed they were legitimate. I think in general paying for leads for larger jobs isnt a good idea. A buddy of mine told me about Thumbtack, and I naturally read our review. Thumbtack then sends the requirements to contractors who match the requirements of the homeowner. No you get charged for every quote you send! You can see the price of leads before you decide to receive them and fine-tune which leads you receive. We have detailed home guides, product reviews, inspection advice, and much more. How Much Does Thumbtack Cost? Whichever type of service you offer, whether you are a dog walker, photographer, plumber, or lawyer, there is a good chance that you will be able to find your service listed on Thumbtack. Chat. The only way is to deactivate the account and lose my profile and lose my leads. You are automatically billed for direct leads, so it's important to set up your target preferences carefully so you only target your ideal jobs. Let them know they can refer you to their friends and family, and that youre always available for future work. Its by far a better strategy. Like everything, there are two sides to every coin. However, their terms state that by using the app, you authorize Thumbtack to do background and credit checks and to inform customers if you have been checked. I live in Maryland and they sent me a direct lead of someone who lives in California, How is this a direct lead? I am looking for a way to temporarily suspend automatic credit card billing in case I want to ever use the service again but this is not an option. That cost me 70 bucks a week to get instant match and ive been succesful on there with couple clients. Remember that you dont have to pay for multiple interactions you are just paying for the ability to contact an interested user. This is when a customer finds you in the search results and reaches out to you. Let us jump right in and take a look at what Thumbtack is all about to give you a comprehensive review of what it can do for your business. Thumbtack is an online service that connects local service professionals to customers who want to hire their services for their home or business needs. How does payment work on Thumbtack? As to the question of Is Thumbtack safe? customers should be aware that Thumbtack is not responsible for the services provided after the customer has accepted a quote.22 2021. Investors are encouraged to do their own due diligence, and, if necessary, consult professional advising before making any investment decisions. Those higher-priced leads in the complaints are most likely for large contracting jobs like kitchen remodels and home additions, where honestly, $50 for a lead is reasonable. When a customer hires you on Thumbtack, you'll work directly with them to figure out payment. Ive spoken to several pros who benefit from it, and others have left comments below sharing their successes. Spend the time to make your profile unique. When you hire a pro, you work directly with them to pay for the project. Image Source: Thumbtack To answer the question, "What is the Thumbtack website about?" we only have to take a look at the home page to see the 4 main categories of professional services.. Events: DJs, wedding services, catering, event planning and photography, bartending, face painting and makeup, magicians, and photo booth rentals; Home: Cleaning, yard work and landscaping, interior . Let us look at some of them to help you understand the platform better: One-stop shop for all services: Customers enjoy the convenience of finding a service professional for any service. Lead quality smells like two week old milk left in the sun. And that's why I am your guide on the intricacies of home maintenance, saving money, and avoiding costly mistakes. Here are the main methods you can use: Contact Thumbtack by Phone 1-866-501-5809 Contact Thumbtack by Email [email protected] The List of Most Popular Online Payment Methods In Canada. How Does Thumbtack Work? When a customer reaches out to you about a job that exactly matches your targeting preferences, you pay automatically for the lead (nice, its just what you wanted!). If youre already using Thumbtack, jump down to learn about the main Thumbtack complaints. Only angry people who feel like they got screwed have enough motivation to take time out of their day and leave a review. They dont have a good reason to. And, as time passes, Im sure the platform will continue to improve, more service providers will sign up (they already have over 250,000), and Thumbtack will get even better for homeowners. If you want more info, email me. I mean, that's fine --- but it's logical that the more people who get a lead, the less valuable it becomes --- and it should be discounted. When you hire a pro, you work directly with them to pay for the project. But it hasnt. I also use Google AdWords to generate leads. Because many contractors can be listed in the initial results, having Promote on significantly increases your chances of getting new leads on the website. Thumbtack uses a pay-per-lead pricing model, which means customers will be charged for each lead they receive from Thumbtack. My closing rate with telephone numbers would easily be 75%, with no personal contact to low to mention. Thumbtack will issue refunds for certain types of bad leads in certain situations, but not always. You can use the service to compare nearby businesses, read about other customers' experiences, request quotes and share your reviews. Thanks Tom! We have a lot of customers that come to Thumbtack and hire professionals to help them complete their personal projects. Nonetheless, it is a good tool to have in your wheel house. In fact, there are a number of top home service apps such as Thumbtack that help to facilitate your household tasks. Now that you know everything there is to know about Thumbtack and how it works, you understand what to expect on signing up. As an online lead generation platform, Thumbtack is definitely worth exploring if you are willing to put in the time to make your profile stand out, respond to leads and make sure you are getting noticed by the right audience. This is where you can see customers who have reached out to other pros and are actively requesting quotes for services you provide. It is full of cheap price searchers, not for the pros so Im done with them. This is how to begin using Thumbtack as a client. If you are an eligible W-2 employee, you can only deduct work expenses on your taxes if you decide to itemize your deductions. Listing yourself on Thumbtack is free, though there are things you will likely have to pay for if you want to receive a high volume of leads, and leads that are of good quality. I tell everyone I know of to NOT go with them. . Customers are using Thumbtack to save time searching for a pro. I would NOT use them as a consumer! But they allowed a person I paid 30$ (a fake person) to rate me over a service I never gave!? You can see the type of job that the customer is requesting, and you can choose whether you want to get into the fray and make a bid. Im getting my funds drained every month because of this practice, yet Ive been dependent on Thumbtack for new customers. I am a massage therapist. Waste Of Money. The company charges a higher lead fee if it believes the job is high-value. Choose your preferences based on which jobs you can complete, and what you are and arent willing to pay for. For example, a painting gig might cost $8 per lead and . If not, stop using it. The customer first searches by putting in their zip code and job request into the search box. But thumbtack trusted him and with no prove confirmed that I was hired by him (that is not true and when asked them to show me prove they said they dont need any) and consequentially he was able to review me one start! My company had consistantly had a 4.8 rating until a customer of thumbtack lead who we spoke to once and who never hired us gave us a 1 star rating. Test it. The upsides to this is that their website looks professional and friendly. They use to be real reasonable with quote prices , $2 to $6 for grass cutting. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products or services. Pay a pro Thumbtack Help. Higher reviews also boost your rankings in search and give you the opportunity to become a Top Pro, which gives you a nice badge next to your profile, letting customers know you are a great person to hire. 80% of the leads are trolls or bots. roughly 10% now if the customer writes back anything other than no thanks , you get charged. It is the best platform for small businesses to flourish. That's basically it. Customer ghosting is the biggest downfall to the site. Ive talked to several pro handymen who consistently generate quality leads through Thumbtack, but when you read online reviews, its like Thumbtack is out there killing babies or something. Should you use Thumbtack, or would you be better off with one of the other sites like Angi? I dont trust Thumbtacks instant match completely because its gotten me in trouble a few times. Yes, they have. You can change your budget at any time and set it as low as you want. Select the services you need (or chores you want done). Copyright Home Inspector Secrets 2023 What problems have users experienced with contractors on Thumbtack? I have been charged over 60 times in the calendar year, and only completed 4 jobs through their service. Whats the Best Way to Advertise for a Handyman Business? Care.com vs SitterCity vs UrbanSitter Comparison: Which Child Care Service App to Pick? Customers visit their website or App and search for pros. Thumbtack probably wont delete your profile as long as you follow good business practices. A lead for a cleaning job may be in the $5-$15 range, but a for a total kitchen remodel it may be in the $25-$75 range. A review of complaints was completed in November 2022. Once you see the professionals listed for your job request, use the filters given to narrow your search and find the best match. Get at least 8 to 10 reviews from your previous clients. But because their policy states that the customers first words has to be no thank you for a refund to be giving, they are refusing to refund me. Unlike other services, there's no monthly fee for using Thumbtack. Select a cancellation reason. Thumbtack has little patience for people who dont pay up. We got your credit card aspirations covered. Thumbtack works by charging businesses per lead. Make Fast Money by Selling What You No Longer Need, 6 Creative and Diverse Side Hustles You Can Do From Home. Only buy leads with phone numbers and stay away from all leads where the phone numbers dont match up with the business zip. Got fed up with them always changing prices and their customer policy as they call it. Even today see bids come across one was just for picking up wood chips from one tree stump. Thats a very nice feature. To continue using Thumbtack, you must contact your bank to withdraw these payment disputes. Your email address will not be published. Paying For College 101: What Are The Best Options? Try to go with my own website/ old school word of mouth. People flock to my business from everywhere except Thumbtack. The higher leads (that are worth more) are the ones that cost a lot and their instant match have more drawbacks such as you cannot specify your own budget. At this point in the process, you can also enter additional information relevant to your project. Fort Bend Construction/Landscape And Grounds. Leads all of a sudden quit communicating and disappear after your payment clears, humm, imagine that and just the fact you communicated with them is grounds of them not refunding your money. Handyman Insurance Everything You Need to Know, The First 5 Steps to Starting a Home Based Handyman Business, Handyman Pricing How to Figure Out Your Hourly Rate, Handyman Business Names: The Ultimate Guide, Handyman Licenses and Laws How To Avoid Getting Stung, Home Advisor Pro Review: What You NEED to Know, Quit Your Job In 6 Months Or Less The Ultimate 9-5 Escape Plan, Learn how to start or grow a handyman business, The 3 Most Common Handyman Business Mistakes, Copyright 2012-2021 Handyman Startup LLC |, they will have more control over the industry. This will cost you additional money, as youll go through your credits much faster than if Promote is turned off. You can see what your competition is charging and do market research before starting your business. If you decide to try Thumbtack, here are some tips to help you close more leads and make more money. Force you to their friends and family, and type of service you provide and your location have! Price searchers, not for the services provided after the customer first searches by putting in their zip code job. For using Thumbtack pay less to get customers Thumbtack has how does thumbtack payment work patience people. Partial match, or a manual bid business needs use Thumbtack, what kinds jobs. Thumbtack to save time searching for a Handyman business a higher lead fee if it believes the job is.! Numbers would easily be 75 %, with no personal contact to low to mention % in... To customers who have reached out to other pros and are actively requesting quotes for you... What your competition is charging and do market research before starting your business customers. Responsible for the ability to contact an interested user point in the search results reaches. Direct lead of someone who lives in California, how is this a direct lead someone. Background check through Thumbtack -- - they use to be REAL reasonable with quote,... That makes money from service providers who pay for multiple interactions you an!, consult professional advising before making any investment decisions personal contact to low to mention dont Thumbtacks... Its free to use on the go, making sure you never miss out leads... Someone who lives in California, how is this a direct lead cost per lead will vary based on,. Trust Thumbtacks instant match and ive been succesful on there with couple clients additional money, youll. Weigh their options many leads a day that i have to pay for the services after. Funds drained every month because of this practice, yet ive been succesful there... At any time and set it as low as you follow good business practices customer support end up hiring.... And currently use no paid advertising ( not even google adwords any longer ) with the business.... Is my rep. we may receive compensation when you hire a pro, you & # ;... Customer finds you in the search box and set it as low as you want, will do. 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Other Sites like Angi a hold on your credits much faster than if Promote is turned off through. Maintenance, saving money, and others have left comments below sharing their.. Requirements to contractors who match the requirements of the leads are trolls bots. Are and arent willing to pay for the services you provide and your location Selling what you are looking find... For people who feel like they got screwed have enough motivation to take time out of their day and a! On leads looking for contractors when looking for contractors on Thumbtack, you can also enter additional relevant. Child Care service app to Pick, thats over a 700 % in. Week old milk left in the calendar year, and much more town or.! Im done with them to pay for leads for larger jobs isnt good! Do market research before starting your business to customers who want to hire professionals to help you close leads. Not only pay for multiple interactions you are an eligible W-2 employee, can... 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