How do I compare lead sites fairly?

Work out your cost per won job: total paid to the platform divided by jobs you won through it. Compare it with the profit on those jobs.

Is commission better than a monthly fee?

It depends. Commission costs nothing in a quiet month but grows with the size of the job, while a monthly fee is predictable but is payable whether or not you win work.

Does GlowUpp charge a monthly fee?

No. GlowUpp is free to join and charges commission only when you win a job. We are surveying tradespeople about whether they would like a flat monthly option as well.

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Pay per lead, monthly fee or commission? How to compare lead costs

By the GlowUpp team · 27 October 2026

A cracked, weedy driveway next to a new block-paved driveway

BeforeAfter‹›

An AI-generated example. Real results depend on your own space.

Lead sites and directories charge in different ways, and it is hard to compare them. The number that matters is not the price on the page but what you pay for each job you actually win.

The number to work out: cost per won job

Add up everything you pay a platform over a period, then divide by the number of jobs you won through it. That is your cost per won job. Compare it with the profit on those jobs. It is the only fair way to compare very different pricing.

Pay per lead

You pay for each enquiry or contact, whether or not you win the work.
Many sites share each lead with several tradespeople, so you are competing for it.
It can work if the leads are good and you win a high share of them. It can be expensive if you do not.

Monthly fee

A fixed amount each month, so your costs are predictable.
You pay in quiet months as well as busy ones.
It suits you best if the platform reliably brings enough work to cover it many times over.

Commission

You pay a percentage, only when you win a job.
There is no cost in a quiet month, but bigger jobs cost more, unless there is a cap.
It aligns the platform's income with your success.

Questions to ask any platform

How many tradespeople receive each lead?
What happens if a lead turns out to be fake, a duplicate or not a real project?
Is there a contract length, a cancellation fee or an automatic renewal?
Are there other fees, such as for reviews, profile features or extra areas?
Can I see how many jobs similar tradespeople win through it?

Where GlowUpp stands

GlowUpp uses commission only. A profile is free, and you pay 2% of the accepted quote (capped at £250) only when a client picks you. For clients you bring yourself through your own link, your first 3 jobs are free before the same percentage applies. There is no monthly fee today. We are asking tradespeople whether they would prefer a flat monthly fee as an alternative, and nothing changes unless that is what people want.

Tell us which you would pick

If you are a tradesperson, you can tell us which you would prefer in a 20-second anonymous survey at glowupp.co.uk/poll. It is a survey only, and nothing changes today.

Show clients the job before you quote

Free profile, your own link and QR code, and a redesign of the client's own space. You only pay when a job is won.

See how it works for tradespeople

Common questions

How do I compare lead sites fairly?: Work out your cost per won job: total paid to the platform divided by jobs you won through it. Compare it with the profit on those jobs.
Is commission better than a monthly fee?: It depends. Commission costs nothing in a quiet month but grows with the size of the job, while a monthly fee is predictable but is payable whether or not you win work.
Does GlowUpp charge a monthly fee?: No. GlowUpp is free to join and charges commission only when you win a job. We are surveying tradespeople about whether they would like a flat monthly option as well.