Guides · 6 min read · Updated 2026-07-21

The best lead sources for UK builders & trades, compared

Not all leads are equal. A lead you compete for on price is worth a fraction of a lead you reach first. Here's an honest comparison of the main options for UK trades — with the trade-offs nobody selling them mentions.

Trade directories (Checkatrade, MyBuilder, Rated People)

Good for: steady domestic work, filling quiet weeks. Watch out for: shared leads, price competition, monthly fees regardless of results. You're bidding against several other trades for a client who's already decided to buy.

Tender portals (Contracts Finder, Find a Tender)

Good for: larger public-sector and framework work. Watch out for: heavy paperwork, long lead times, and the fact that by publication the opportunity is fully in the open market.

Referrals & repeat clients

Good for: the highest conversion and best margins you'll get. Watch out for: they don't scale on demand — you can't turn them up the month you need more work.

Planning data & qualified lead services

Good for: reaching real projects before they hit the open market, scoped to your trade and area. Watch out for: doing it yourself means hundreds of council portals and endless sifting — which is the problem a service like BestLeads exists to solve, by handing you a ranked, contactable shortlist instead of a raw feed.

So which should you use?

Use referrals for margin, a directory to fill gaps — and planning-led qualified leads to control your pipeline and get there first. That last one is the lever most trades are missing. Start free and see this week's qualified projects in your area.