MyBuilder works on a pay-per-lead model, which sounds fair until you realise the lead you just paid for was also sent to four other tradespeople. Here's how to work out whether it's actually making you money.
How MyBuilder Pricing Works
Unlike Checkatrade's annual membership, MyBuilder charges per lead, typically £5 to £50 depending on your trade and the job size. You buy credits, spend them on leads that match your criteria, and then compete with whoever else bought the same lead.
That last part is what most trades don't fully account for when they're calculating ROI.
| Factor | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Lead cost | £5–50 per lead |
| Lead exclusivity | Shared with 3–5 other tradespeople |
| Average win rate | 1 in 5 to 1 in 8 |
| Cost per job won | £25–400 depending on win rate |
| Reviews stay if you leave | No, tied to MyBuilder profile |
Working Out Your Actual Cost Per Job
Take what you spent on MyBuilder last month. Divide it by how many jobs you actually won from it. That's your real cost per job, not your cost per lead.
If you spent £200 on leads and won 3 jobs, your cost per job is £67. For a £500 job that's reasonable. For a £150 callout, it's eating 45% of your revenue before you've bought a single part.
Most tradespeople who do this calculation are surprised. Not always pleasantly.
When MyBuilder Makes Sense
Early in a business, before your website ranks or your local reputation is established, MyBuilder is a legitimate way to fill a diary. You're paying for volume, and volume beats waiting.
It also works well for high-margin jobs (larger bathroom fits, full rewires, loft conversions) where the cost per lead is proportionally small against the job value.
Not sure where you stand? Run a free website audit and I'll tell you exactly what to fix.
The Verdict
MyBuilder isn't a scam. It's a tool with a specific use case: "I need jobs now and I'm willing to pay per enquiry." If that's your situation, it works.
What it isn't is a long-term strategy. You're not building anything: no rankings, no reviews you own, no brand visibility that compounds. The moment you stop buying credits, the leads stop.
If MyBuilder is still your primary lead source after two or three years in business, that's worth examining. The time and money going into winning competitive leads could be building a website that generates enquiries for free.
The tradespeople I know who have stopped using MyBuilder entirely did so because their website started doing the job better. That transition doesn't happen by accident.
Want to talk it through? Message me directly, no forms, no waiting.
