How to read a pro's page
A pro here can be Listed, Checked or a Winner. Each word means something different. This page explains all three.
A real business from public license records
We build Listed pages from public state license records. The owner claims it with an email at their own website. Nobody has run the 10-Point Check yet. Listed is free, so it is not a recommendation.
A person ran our 10-Point Check
1. Registered with the state. 2. License active. 3. No open action on the license. 4. Phone and website work. 5. Owner proved it is theirs. 6. License looked up on the state board site. 7. License covers the work listed. 8. Liability insurance reviewed. 9. Insurance current, with the end date on file. 10. Re-checked every month, and the badge comes off the day the insurance on file ends.
Checked does not mean the work will be good. It does not mean the price is fair. It means the paperwork was in order when we checked.
Local homeowners voted for them
Homeowners vote once a year. A trade gets its own local race once enough pros compete. The badge names the year, the place and the trade. A 2027 winner stays a 2027 winner.
What we will not do
- We do not let money move anyone up the list. Every plan gets the same spot in search.
- We do not sell awards or votes, and a business that sponsors a category cannot win in it.
- We do not take a cut of your job or sell your details as a lead. You contact the business directly.
- We do not show you reviews we cannot stand behind. Where a profile is thin, it is thin for a reason.
Anything a business paid to place is labeled sponsored, every time.
How we make money, plainly
Pros can pay for a fuller page. Checked is $199 a year or $19 a month. Advanced is $490 a year or $49 a month. Paid plans add the Checked review, photos, answers and a Book button. Paying never buys a better spot in search, passes a check or buys an award.
Using it well
Start with Checked
Filter to Checked businesses for anything that needs a license or could go badly wrong: electrical, gas, roofing, structural, pools.
Read the answers, not the adjectives
Paid profiles include the business answering real questions in its own words. How they answer tells you more than any star rating.
Call three
Prices vary more than quality does. Get three written quotes for the same job.
Verify it yourself too
Each page shows the license number. Look it up on your state's website. It takes two minutes.
Know someone good?
Good pros make this site better. Nominate a pro you have hired, anywhere in the country. We will invite them.
Reading a listing: common questions
What is the difference between Listed, Checked and Winner?
Listed means a real business built from public license records. Checked means a person ran our 10-Point Check, including the license and insurance. Winner means local homeowners voted the pro the best in its trade.
Does the badge mean the work is guaranteed?
No. It means the license and insurance were in order when we checked. It does not promise good work. Always get written quotes and a written contract.
Can a business buy the badge or an award?
No. Paying starts the Checked review. Only passing earns the badge. Paying never changes a rating, review, vote or award. Paid spots are always labeled.
How do I check a license myself?
Ask for the license number and look it up on your state licensing board's website. Check that the name matches and the license is active for the type of work.
What should I do if a listing is wrong?
Email hello@topofthetrades.org with the business name and what is wrong. We review every report.
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