Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — completely free. There are no subscription fees, no booking fees, and no commissions. You browse, compare, and contact tradespeople at no cost, ever.

No. You can search, browse listings, and view profiles without an account. Creating a free account lets you save favorite tradespeople, write reviews, and build shared lists with your network.

Every tradesperson's ranking is determined by verified customer reviews — not advertising spend. Look for high tier badges (Trusted Pro, Top Rated, Elite), a high review count, and a fully complete profile. You can also check if they list a license number and insurance status directly on their profile.

Yes. Every profile has a Share button that lets you send it via WhatsApp, SMS, email, or a copied link. If you have an account, you can also create shared lists of your favorite pros and share the whole list at once.

Leave an honest review on their profile — this is the most impactful thing you can do for the community. If you believe there was a safety issue or fraudulent behavior, contact us through our Support page and we'll investigate promptly.

phoneAtrade does not currently conduct background checks. We display any credentials the tradesperson provides (license number, insurance, etc.) and surface them through their profile, but verification of those credentials is the responsibility of the customer. We recommend asking for proof of license and insurance before work begins.

We currently support: Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC, Carpentry, Roofing, Painting, Landscaping, Flooring, Masonry, Cleaning, and General Contracting. We're expanding categories based on demand — contact us if you'd like to see a trade added.

phoneAtrade operates across the United States. Coverage density varies by region — larger metros will have more listings. If your area has few results, try broadening your search or check back as we grow. Tradespeople in underserved areas are especially encouraged to list.

Yes — listing your business is free, and that will never change. We do not charge commissions, listing fees, or lead fees. An optional Premium subscription ($9.99/month) is available for pros who want enhanced visibility tools and analytics, but your core listing and ranking are yours at no cost.

Two ways: collect more high-quality reviews, and complete your profile fully. New listers get a significant ranking boost from profile completeness — adding a photo, writing a detailed bio, listing your credentials, and defining your service area can immediately move you up in search results. See our Ranking System page for the full breakdown.

It's a 0–100 score based on how much information you've added to your profile. Each element (bio, phone, photo, license, insurance, etc.) adds points. A complete profile ranks higher — especially important for new listings before reviews accumulate.

Rising Star requires 8 reviews at a 4.5★ average or higher. For a quality tradesperson who actively asks customers to review them after each job, this is achievable within the first few months. Your dashboard shows you exactly how many more reviews you need.

Currently, each listing is associated with one primary trade category. If you offer multiple services (e.g., plumbing and general contracting), we recommend selecting your primary trade and listing the others in your services section and bio. Multi-category listings are on our roadmap.

One negative review in a sea of positive ones won't significantly hurt your ranking. Focus on consistency and continue collecting reviews. If a review is fraudulent or violates our guidelines, you can flag it for review through our support center.

Yes. You can reply to any review directly from your dashboard. Your reply appears publicly below the review, giving you a chance to thank customers and address feedback professionally.

After completing a job, send your customer your phoneAtrade profile link and ask them directly to leave a review. Your dashboard provides a one-click shareable link and WhatsApp/SMS buttons. Most customers are happy to help when asked politely right after a successful job.

Never. phoneAtrade does not and will not charge commissions on work completed through the platform. An optional Premium subscription ($9.99/month) already exists for tradespeople who want enhanced visibility tools — but core listing, tier ranking, and customer connections are always free.

Reviews can currently be submitted by any registered user. We use account-level signals to flag suspicious patterns (e.g., multiple reviews from the same IP, accounts created solely to review one business). Tradespeople can flag reviews they believe are fraudulent, and our team investigates each case.

No. Tradespeople cannot remove reviews. Only phoneAtrade staff can remove a review, and only if it violates our review guidelines (false statements of fact, personal attacks, conflicts of interest, etc.). A low rating alone is not grounds for removal.

No. phoneAtrade prohibits incentivized reviews. Asking customers to leave honest reviews is fine — paying or offering discounts in exchange for positive reviews is a violation of our terms and grounds for removal from the platform.

Tier and ranking scores are calculated by algorithm based entirely on verified reviews and profile completeness — these cannot be purchased. Tradespeople can subscribe to Premium for additional visibility within their earned tier, but the underlying ranking formula applies identically to everyone. Our algorithm is publicly documented on the Ranking System page.

We collect information you voluntarily provide (name, email, business details) and standard usage data (pages visited, search queries). We do not sell your personal data to third parties. See our Privacy Policy for the full breakdown.

phoneAtrade does not process payments or store any financial information. All contact and payment arrangements are made directly between customers and tradespeople.

You can request account deletion through our support center. We'll remove your personal information within 30 days in accordance with applicable law. Reviews you've received as a tradesperson may be anonymized rather than deleted, as they contribute to the integrity of the review record.

phoneAtrade is intended for adults (18+) seeking or offering home services. We do not knowingly collect data from anyone under 18.

On the login page, click "Send Magic Link" and enter your email address. We'll send you a secure, passwordless link to sign in instantly. You can also set a new password from your account settings once logged in.

Yes. phoneAtrade is fully responsive and works on all modern smartphones, tablets, and desktops. A dedicated mobile app is on our product roadmap.

Yes. Click the accessibility icon (bottom left of every page) and select Español to switch the interface language. Our AI assistant Pat also speaks Spanish — just write to it in Spanish and it will respond in kind.

We love feedback. Use our Contact & Support page to submit a ticket. Bug reports and feature suggestions go directly to the product team and are reviewed weekly.