Trusted Bench vs. Angi: The Truth About Leads
There are two ways to grow a construction business.
- The Hunter Model: You go out into the wild (Google, Angi, Thumbtack), pay for "leads" (maps to buried treasure), and hope you find gold before you run out of money.
- The Farmer Model: You cultivate relationships with other contractors, and when they have a surplus, they feed you.
For the last decade, the industry has been obsessed with Hunting. But the forest is getting crowded, and the leads are getting expensive.
The Angi / HomeAdvisor Trap
We've all been there. You sign up for Angi. You pay $50 for a "Lead."
- Your phone rings.
- You call the homeowner.
- "Oh, I already hired someone."
- "I was just looking for prices."
- "Who are you again?"
You just paid $50 for a dead end. Why? Because Angi sells that same lead to 4 other contractors. It's a race to the bottom. You are competing on speed and price against strangers.
This is "Cold Lead" aggregation. It relies on volume, not trust.
The Trusted Bench Difference: Warm Handoffs
Trusted Bench is not a lead generation platform. We don't sell leads.
Trusted Bench is a Network Operating System. We help you monetize the relationships you already have.
When you get a lead on Trusted Bench, it's not from a random internet search. It's from Big Mike the Roofer or Sarah the Designer.
- They know the client.
- They vetted the job.
- They told the client, "Call my guy, he's the best."
This is a "Warm Handoff."
- Close Rate: 60-80% (vs. 5-10% on Angi).
- Price Sensitivity: Low. The client trusts the referrer, so they trust you.
- Competition: Zero. You are the only one getting the call.
The Economics
| Feature | Angi / Thumbtack | Trusted Bench |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Model | Pay Per Lead (Upfront) | Pay Per Success (Backend) |
| Risk | You pay even if you don't get the job | You pay ONLY if you get paid |
| Lead Quality | Cold / Shared with 4 others | Warm / Exclusive |
| Source | SEO / Google Ads | Trusted Peers |
| Relationship | Transactional | Relational |
Stop Gambling. Start Networking.
If you want to gamble, go to Vegas. If you want to build a business, build your network.
- If you are a Seller: Stop giving away your referrals for free. Use Trusted Bench to track them and get paid.
- If you are a Buyer: Stop burning cash on cold leads. Get on the bench of a busy General Contractor and pay them a referral fee instead.
The future of construction isn't about algorithms. It's about who you know.
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