I have to say that tradesmen seem split about whether online listing sites are good for the industry or not. Nevertheless, they always seem to do well in search ratings so they must be worth a look.

They make their money by charging a monthly subscription fee and may also charge for any leads they generate for you.

Three of the most popular sites are:

• Checkatrade – www.checkatrade.com
• MyBuilder - www.mybuilder.com
• Rated People – www.ratedpeople.com

How you sign up for these sites varies but generally you will be asked to supply the following information:

• Credit check
• ID verification
• Proof of Public Liability Insurance
• Qualification or reference check

Each site works differently as I have said the views about their effectiveness varies. Your best bet is to talk to fellow tradesmen and check the trade forums.