How to Master the Search for a Sole Trader – Top UK Trade Directories & Questions to Ask a Tradesperson
Summary
- There are around 745,000 solo self‑employed tradespeople in construction—plumbers, builders, electricians, and more.
- UK homeowners spend an estimated £3.5 billion annually fixing damage left by ‘rogue traders’.
- The burden of checking qualifications, chasing references, and verifying insurance rests entirely on the homeowner—a process that is both time-consuming and prone to error.
- Knowing the correct questions to ask a tradesperson is crucial to protect yourself.
- This article gives you the essential questions to ask before you hire a tradesperson and provides an impartial, rated list of the UK’s best tradesperson directories to help you make a safe and informed choice.
Top Questions to ask a Tradesperson on a UK Trade Directory
Thinking of hiring a tradesperson for your home or business? You’ll find endless advice online—often telling you to grill every sole trader with a long list of questions:
- Are you insured?
- Can I see your qualifications?
- How long have you been trading?
- Who will be doing the work?
- What’s your guarantee policy?
- Can I speak to past customers?
- How do you handle complaints?
- Is everything included in your quote?
- Do you have a written contract?
- Are you registered with any trade bodies?
But with hundreds of thousands of sole traders operating in the UK, repeating this process for every tradesperson is tiring—and, for most people, simply not practical.
In fact, this is why we at ClickDo Ltd. set up some of the best business directories like the UK Business List and London Business Directory: to make the process of finding a tradesperson in the UK or in London simpler, safer, and much faster for everyone.
- We verify key credentials, so you don’t have to start from scratch.
- Verified customer reviews let you see genuine feedback before you commit.
- Our search tools help you filter by trade, region, and customer rating instantly.
- You can directly contact your tradesperson of choice via the contact form to get a quote instantly.
In this guide, we’ve carefully curated the top UK directories for finding a trusted tradesperson—leaving ourselves out of the analysis for transparency, equipping you with our expert advice, but do give us a try for free.
We believe the right directory should do most of the questioning for you, so you can hire with confidence and less hassle.
Want to see real customer feedback before you hire? Read our guide on how to check company reviews and ratings before making your choice.
How We Rated the Best UK Trade Directories – Our UKBL Trust Score
We’ve handpicked the best UK business directories of tradespeople using our proprietary UKBL Trust Score. To calculate this score, we rate each provider on five key factors, each with its own weight:
- Vetting & Verification (30%) – How thoroughly does the directory check a tradesperson’s credentials, qualifications, and insurance?
- Review Quality & Volume (25%) – How many customer reviews are there, and how reliable and job-verified is the feedback?
- Profile Transparency (20%) – How much detail is shown about each tradesperson (e.g., experience, accreditations, insurance, photos)?
- Consumer Protection (15%) – What support is available if something goes wrong—complaints, dispute resolution, or guarantees?
- Accessibility & Reach (10%) – How easy is it for users to find, compare, and contact sole traders across the UK (including app/web access)?
Each factor is scored out of 5, then weighted and converted to a final Trust Score out of 10. This approach gives you a fair, side-by-side comparison you can trust.
Top 5 UK Trade Directories
1. Checkatrade – UKBL Trust Score: 9.7
Checkatrade is the UK’s most widely recognised tradesperson directory, known for its strict entry checks and comprehensive review system. Every tradesperson undergoes a 12-step vetting process, and their membership is continuously monitored. Homeowners use Checkatrade to find and contact local, trusted tradespeople for nearly every type of job.
- Year Launched: 1998
- Vetting Process: 12-step checks (ID, insurance, qualifications), ongoing monitoring
- Reviews: 2 million+ verified customer reviews, job-matched
- Professions Covered: 30+ trades (e.g., plumbers, electricians, builders, decorators)
- Coverage: UK-wide, web and mobile app
- Consumer Protection: Offers dispute support and a work guarantee up to £1,000 in some cases.
2. Which? Trusted Traders – UKBL Trust Score: 9.3
Which? Trusted Traders is an endorsement directory run by the UK’s leading consumer group. Only businesses passing a strict, trading standards-style assessment (covering financial health, insurance, and customer references) are listed. All profiles are transparent, and the service provides strong complaint support through Which? Ombudsman.
- Year Launched: 2013
- Vetting Process: Trading standards assessment (DBS, references, insurance, checks)
- Reviews: 257,000+ verified customer reviews
- Professions Covered: Home improvement and repair trades
- Coverage: UK-wide, web only
- Consumer Protection: Ombudsman, complaint resolution, code of conduct
3. TrustATrader – UKBL Trust Score: 8.3
TrustATrader lists only those tradespeople who pass a thorough accreditation check, including proof of insurance and qualifications. Its profiles are detailed, and customers can leave honest, job-based reviews. The site offers a basic complaints process, making it a trusted middle ground for many users.
- Year Launched: 2005
- Vetting Process: Requires submission of documents and qualifications, and phone-verified references.
- Reviews: 563,000+ customer reviews, visible per profile
- Professions Covered: All main home trades (builders, electricians, etc.)
- Coverage: UK-wide, web and mobile app
- Consumer Protection: Internal complaints procedure
4. Rated People – UKBL Trust Score: 7.8
Rated People allows homeowners to post jobs and receive up to three quotes. Traders buy leads and build a reputation via reviews. Entry is easy, but visibility and success are built on ratings. Tech and apps are robust, with a large selection of trades available.
- Year Launched: 2005
- Vetting Process: Basic sign-up; relies on customer reviews for reputation
- Reviews: Job-by-job ratings (no published total, high usage)
- Professions Covered: 30+ trades (handyman, electrician, roofer, etc.)
- Coverage: UK-wide, web and mobile app
- Consumer Protection: Dispute and complaints process
5. MyBuilder – UKBL Trust Score: 7.3
MyB
uilder is a job-posting site where homeowners list projects, and only shortlisted tradespeople can contact them. Every completed job must be reviewed, and trades are rated on their work history. Entry checks exist, but are less strict than Checkatrade or Which? Trusted Traders.
- Year Launched: 2004
- Vetting Process: Basic entry checks plus adherence to platform “House Rules”. Less rigorous than Checkatrade or Which? Trusted Traders.
- Reviews: 6 million+ customer reviews (job-locked)
- Professions Covered: All building and home improvement trades
- Coverage: UK-wide, web and mobile app
- Consumer Protection: Review and complaints process
Whether you’re fixing a leaky tap or renovating your home, you deserve a trusted tradesperson without the stress. Use the UKBL Trust Score to compare your options, then contact the directory or tradesperson directly. With this guide, you’ll hire with confidence—and save time doing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I check if a sole trader is legitimate?
Since sole traders aren’t on a central public register, you can’t look them up on Companies House. Instead, ask for practical proof of their legitimacy: their business address, evidence of Public Liability Insurance, and their VAT number if they are registered. Professional tradespeople will have this information readily available for you to see. Business directories can also verify businesses by conducting thorough research before listing them, which is a practice we take very seriously.
Do sole traders have a Company Registration Number (CRN)?
No, they do not. A Company Registration Number is exclusively for limited companies registered with Companies House. Sole traders are registered for tax with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and are not issued a CRN. So, if a self-employed tradesperson can’t provide one, that is perfectly normal for their business structure.
What are the key questions to ask a tradesperson who is a sole trader?
Beyond the specifics of the job, crucial questions include asking for their Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number as proof of HMRC registration, sight of their insurance documents, and details of any trade memberships like the FMB. A trustworthy professional will expect these questions and be happy to provide the information for your peace of mind.
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