A tradie website has one job: help someone with a problem decide you're the right person, then get in touch without any fuss. It doesn't need to be clever. It needs to answer the questions people ask before they ring a stranger to come to their house.
Here's what I'd put on every trade website, and a few things I'd leave off.
What every tradie website needs
A quote request that asks the right questions
Most trade enquiries come in as a vague "can you give me a price?". A short form can do better. Ask for the suburb, the type of job, how soon they need it and a sentence or two about the problem. Give them a way to send photos, even if that's simply "reply to my email with a few pictures".
Keep it short. Five fields is plenty. Below the button, say what happens next, for example that you reply within a business day, but only if that's true.
Click-to-call with your own number
Many people will want to ring rather than type. Put a tap-to-call button at the top of every page and show the number as text too, so it can be copied or read out. Use the number you actually answer. If you're on the tools all day, say when you return calls, and make sure your voicemail sounds like a real business.
Service areas, written for people
List the suburbs or regions you genuinely cover, and say where you don't go. If travel or call-out costs change with distance, explain that plainly.
Your Google Business Profile should match. If you don't have a shopfront where customers visit, Google's guidelines for representing your business (opens in a new tab) say service-area businesses should hide their address and list the areas they serve instead. Google's sign-up help (opens in a new tab) suggests keeping the service area within about two hours' drive of your base for most businesses.
Licence and insurance details
This one matters more than most trades realise. The QBCC's advertising guidance (opens in a new tab) lists websites as advertising and asks licensees to show the name they're licensed under and their licence number. It also says a trading name on its own isn't enough. For electrical contractors, Queensland's Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (opens in a new tab) (section 188) sets out what an advertisement about the business must state, including the contractor licence number.
The simplest approach is to put your licensed name and number in the footer of every page. Customers can then check you on the QBCC's licensee register (opens in a new tab). If you hold public liability insurance and you're happy to share a certificate, say so. Only list memberships and qualifications you actually hold.
Photos of real work
Your own photos beat stock images every time. Customers can tell. Take photos of finished jobs in good light, with the area tidied up. Before-and-after pairs from the same spot work well. A photo of you, or your van with your name on it, helps people recognise who's turning up.
Phone photos are fine if they're sharp and well lit. Ask the homeowner before you take them, and leave out house numbers, street signs and anything personal inside the home.
Reviews from Google, shown honestly
If you have good Google reviews, link to them or show a few on your site with the reviewer's first name. Keep it honest. The ACCC's guidance on online reviews (opens in a new tab) says it's against the law to create fake or misleading reviews, that hiding or editing genuine negative reviews may mislead customers, and that a star rating should show how many reviews it's based on.
When you ask for reviews, Google's content policy (opens in a new tab) says you mustn't offer incentives for them, or selectively ask only the customers you expect to be positive. Ask everyone, with the review link from your profile, and put it on your invoice.
Fast pages that work on a phone
Google says it uses the mobile version of a site (opens in a new tab) for indexing and ranking. In practice, that means your site has to work well on a small screen. Text should be readable outside in daylight, buttons big enough for a thumb, and photos sized so the page loads quickly on a patchy signal.
Services in the words customers use
People search for "blocked drain" and "switchboard upgrade", not "drainage solutions" or "electrical services". Name your services the way customers describe their problem. For each one, give a sentence on what's involved and what to send you for a quote.
What to skip
Some things look busy but don't help anyone choose you:
- Sliders full of stock photos. Most people never see the second slide. One strong photo of your own work does more.
- "Welcome to our website". Start with what you do and where you do it.
- A long story before the services. Your background matters, but put it after the useful details.
- A blog you won't keep up. A news page last updated years ago can make the business look closed.
- Pop-ups asking for an email address. Someone with a leaking tap doesn't want a newsletter.
- Dozens of near-identical suburb pages. A clear list of areas and a well-kept Google profile are more useful.
- Old card surcharge notices. The ACCC's price display guidance (opens in a new tab) says businesses can no longer charge surcharges on Visa, Mastercard, American Express or eftpos card payments from 1 October 2026. If an old page mentions one, take it down.
How it fits with your Google Business Profile
Your profile is often where people find you first. Your website is where they decide. Use the same business name, phone number and service areas on both, and link the profile to your website. I've written a step-by-step Google Business Profile guide that covers setting one up and keeping it accurate.
Where to start
If you'd like to see the structure in practice, Rafter & Volt is a concept site I designed for a fictional electrician. Have a look at the trades concept: services first, a short process, service areas, common questions and an enquiry form. Because it's fictional, it has no licence number. A real site would show one.
For a sole trader with one main service, my Launch package (1 page, $999) is often enough. If you offer several services, Local gives you up to 5 pages for $1,999. AUD. GST is not charged. There's more trade-specific advice for electricians, plumbers, builders, landscapers and cleaners.
If you already have a site, run the free website check to see the basics. If you're ready to talk about a new one, start with the website brief.
Common questions
Do I need a website if I already have a Google Business Profile?
A profile helps people find you on Google Search and Maps. A website gives you room to explain your services, show your licence and your work, and take detailed quote requests. They work best together.
How many pages does a tradie website need?
Many trades do well with a homepage, a page for each main service, an about page and a contact page. A sole trader with one core service can start with one well-organised page.
Does my licence number need to be on my website?
In Queensland, licence holders have rules about showing licence details in advertising, and the QBCC lists websites as advertising. The exact details depend on your licence, so check with your regulator.
Should I put prices on my website?
If part of your work has a set price, such as a call-out fee, showing it can save time on both sides. If every job is quoted, explain how you quote and what affects the price.
How do I get more Google reviews?
Ask happy customers soon after the job, using the review link or QR code from your Google Business Profile. Don't offer discounts or gifts for reviews, and don't only ask the customers you expect to be positive.