Trades Selection

Your trades define what type of work you do and directly determine which job opportunities you receive. When you select your trades on Trusted Bench, the platform uses this information to match you with relevant referrals—ensuring you only see jobs that fit your expertise.

Getting your trades right is essential. Select too few, and you'll miss out on jobs you're qualified for. Select trades you don't actually perform, and you'll receive irrelevant offers that waste your time.

Key Concepts

Trade Categories

Trusted Bench organizes trades into 10 main categories:

Each category represents a broad area of expertise. Most pros select between 1-3 main trade categories based on their business focus.

Specializations

Within each trade category, there may be specializations—more specific types of work within that trade. For example, an Electrical trade might include specializations like:

• Residential Electrical
• Commercial Electrical
• High Voltage Electrical
• Low Voltage / Data

Specializations let you refine exactly what services you offer, giving you more control over the jobs you receive.

Parent-Child Hierarchy

Trades use a parent-child structure:

• Parent trade = The main category (e.g., "Electrical")
• Child trades = Specializations within that category (e.g., "High Voltage Electrical")

When you select a parent trade, all its specializations are automatically included. You can then deselect specific specializations that don't apply to your business.

How Trade Selection Works

The trade selection interface uses an accordion-style layout that makes it easy to browse and select your trades.

Selecting Trades

1. Click a trade category to select it and all its specializations
2. The category expands to show available specializations
3. A badge shows how many are selected (e.g., "4/4")
4. The card highlights with a checkmark to indicate selection

Refining Your Selection

After selecting a trade category, you can refine your selection:

1. Expand the category by clicking the chevron arrow
2. Deselect individual specializations that don't apply to your work
3. The badge updates to show your refined count (e.g., "2/4")

This approach lets you quickly select broad categories while still having precise control over your expertise.

Search Functionality

Use the search bar to quickly find specific trades:

• Type a trade name or keyword
• Matching categories automatically expand
• Results filter in real-time

This is especially helpful when you know exactly what you're looking for.

Selection Summary

As you select trades, a badge at the top shows your total selection count (e.g., "7 trades selected"). You can click "Clear all" to start over if needed.

Selecting Trades During Onboarding

Trade selection is Step 2 of the onboarding process, right after entering your company information.

What You'll See

The onboarding screen displays:

• Search bar — Filter trades by name
• Selection count — Shows how many trades you've selected
• Trade categories — Expandable cards for each main trade
• Specializations — Detailed options within each category
• Insurance attestation — Required checkbox at the bottom

Validation Requirements

To proceed to the next step, you must:

1. Select at least one trade — You can't continue without selecting your expertise
2. Confirm insurance attestation — Check the box confirming you're licensed and insured in Ohio

Insurance Attestation

Before saving your trades, you must attest that you're properly licensed and insured:

Note

"I attest that I am licensed and insured in the state of Ohio to perform this work."

This attestation is required because:

• Client protection — Ensures referrals go to qualified professionals
• Legal compliance — Many trades require state licensing in Ohio
• Network integrity — Maintains trust between pros on the platform

If you're unsure about licensing requirements for your trades, see Licensing Requirements for detailed information.

Updating Trades After Onboarding

You can update your trades anytime after completing onboarding.

How to Update

1. Go to Settings in the dashboard sidebar
2. Select the Trades tab
3. Use the same accordion interface to add or remove trades
4. Changes are saved automatically

When to Update

Update your trades when:

• You expand your services to new trade categories
• You specialize further within existing categories
• You stop offering certain services
• You obtain new licenses or certifications

Keep your trades current to ensure you receive relevant job opportunities.

How Trades Affect the Platform

Your trade selections impact several areas of Trusted Bench:

Job Matching

When a job comes in through job routing, the system checks if your trades match the job requirements. You'll only receive offers for jobs that align with your selected trades.

Profile Visibility

Your trades appear as badges on your pro card and detail page. Other pros can see your expertise when browsing the Find Pros directory.

Pro Discovery

When other pros search for professionals to add to their bench, they can filter by trade. Having accurate trades helps you get discovered by the right people.

Marketplace

When browsing Marketplace leads, you can filter by trade category to see jobs relevant to your expertise.

Best Practices

Select All Trades You're Qualified For

Don't limit yourself unnecessarily. If you're licensed and experienced in multiple trades, select them all to maximize your job opportunities.

Use Specializations Strategically

If you only do certain types of work within a trade category, use specializations to refine your selection. For example, if you're an electrician who only does residential work, deselect commercial and industrial specializations.

Keep Trades Current

As your business evolves, update your trades to reflect your current capabilities. Added a new service? Select it. Stopped offering something? Remove it.

Ensure Proper Licensing

Only select trades for which you're properly licensed and insured in Ohio. Misrepresenting your qualifications violates platform terms and puts your reputation at risk.

Related Documentation

• Licensing Requirements — Ohio licensing requirements for each trade
• Job Routing — How jobs are matched and distributed to pros
• Profile Visibility — What information is visible on your profile
• Pro Discovery — How other pros find and connect with you

FAQ

Can I change my trades after onboarding?

Yes. Go to Settings > Trades to update your selections anytime. Changes take effect immediately for new job routing.

How many trades can I select?

There's no limit. Select as many trade categories and specializations as accurately reflect your business. Most pros select 1-5 main categories.

Do I need to be licensed for every trade I select?

Yes. By selecting a trade and completing the attestation, you're confirming you're licensed and insured to perform that work in Ohio. Only select trades you're actually qualified for.

How do specializations work?

Specializations are sub-categories within a main trade. Selecting a parent trade includes all specializations by default. You can then deselect specific ones that don't apply to refine your selection.

What if my trade isn't listed?

Trusted Bench currently supports 10 main trade categories covering most construction and home service trades. If your specific trade isn't listed, select the closest matching category. As the platform grows, additional trades may be added.

Do my trades affect my referral fees?

Trades themselves don't directly affect referral fees. However, different trades may have different average job values, which can impact your earnings when percentage-based fees apply.

Can other pros see what trades I've selected?

Yes. Your trades are displayed as badges on your profile card and detail page. This helps other pros understand your expertise when considering adding you to their bench.

What happens if I select a trade and then let my license expire?

You're responsible for maintaining proper licensing. If your license expires, you should update your trades to remove that category until you're properly licensed again. Performing unlicensed work violates platform terms.