Lead sources
Are Checkatrade, Bark or Compare My Move worth it for removals?
These aren't three versions of the same thing. One is mainly a directory, one lets you pay to contact customers, and one focuses on removals quotes. Treat each accordingly.
By James Green · · 6 min read
In this guide
What each service does
Checkatrade
- The basic model
- A trade profile and reviews customers can find
- What to check
- Membership terms, local visibility and whether enquiries match your service area
Bark
- The basic model
- A marketplace where businesses can pay to contact potential customers
- What to check
- Credit costs, lead competition and the policy for unsuitable leads
Compare My Move
- The basic model
- A removals-focused quote comparison service
- What to check
- How leads are distributed, qualification fields and the cost of each lead
A directory profile can help someone check you're credible even if they found you elsewhere. A quote-comparison request may be nearer to booking, but you may face other firms for that job. Neither tells you whether it pays without your own booking records.
Six questions before you commit
- What exactly am I paying for: a listing, a contact, or an enquiry sent to me?
- How many other removals firms might see or buy the same request?
- Can I choose postcodes, move sizes and services such as packing or storage?
- What information do I receive before I pay or call? Move date, size and both locations matter.
- What is the policy for fake, duplicate or out-of-area enquiries?
- Is there a minimum term? How do I cancel, and what happens to my profile and reviews?
Run a fair test, not a gut check
Put a source against every new enquiry in a sheet. Add the date, from/to locations, bedroom count, first call, survey, quote, booked date and job value. At the end of each month, calculate spend divided by moves booked from that source. Keep pending quotes separate so a future move isn't counted as a loss today.
Compare the size of jobs as well. Five small local moves may be less useful to you than two larger family moves. What matters is the work left after the cost of doing the job and acquiring it, not a screenshot of cheap leads.
When each is worth another month
- Keep a directory if customers actually find and contact you there, or its reviews help convert enquiries from other sources — but be honest about the fee.
- Keep a lead marketplace if enough suitable requests turn into booked moves after credit costs and follow-up time.
- Keep a quote comparison service if its booked work matches your crews and area, not merely because enquiry volume looks healthy.
- If none pays its way, don't buy more of the same. Fix targeting or follow-up and test another source.