Guides for contractors
Short, sourced answers to the questions contractors ask us most: how to get more reviews, how to handle a bad one, and what lead platforms really cost.
Google Business Profile suspended: why it happens to contractors and how to appeal
Most contractor suspensions trace back to four guideline areas: address, business name, service area and phone. Fix the cause first, then appeal once with matching evidence.
Updated: September 30, 2026
Is Thumbtack (or Angi) worth it? Run the numbers per closed job
Whether Thumbtack or Angi is worth it depends on one number: what you pay per closed job. Here is how Thumbtack charges, what its refund policy covers and a worksheet to find out.
Updated: September 30, 2026
How to remove fake Google reviews, including ones from competitors
Google removes reviews that break its content policy, such as fake engagement, conflicts of interest and competitor attacks. Report them yourself, appeal once, and reply calmly meanwhile.
Updated: September 30, 2026
How contractors get more Google reviews (without breaking the rules)
Ask every customer at the right moment with a direct link, and stay inside Google's rules and the FTC's 2024 fake-review rule. With a 5-step routine for crews.
Updated: September 29, 2026
How to respond to a negative Google review: templates for trades
Reply calmly and briefly, move details offline, never retaliate, and flag only reviews that break Google's policies. With three ready-to-edit templates.
Updated: September 29, 2026
Thumbtack and Angi alternatives: shared leads vs. owned leads
How Thumbtack prices leads, what Angi publishes up front, and four lead sources you own — compared by time, cost and who owns the customer.
Updated: September 29, 2026