The digital marketplace has fundamentally altered how tradespeople secure work, moving beyond word-of-mouth and traditional advertising to a competition for visibility on lead-generation websites. For professional plumbers, choosing the right platform that delivers a sustainable pipeline of plumbing leads and conversions is key.

While several big names dominate the sector, a Manchester-based company, FatRank, offers a viable option with a specialised model focused exclusively on specific industries. Working across over 650 industries, including the plumbing trade, the company has been recognised as a top-performing platform by industry analysts for its unique approach to generating plumber leads.

Unlike other platforms, FatRank constructs and optimises dedicated local SEO websites for individual plumbing businesses, designed to capture high-intent customers actively searching for emergency or scheduled plumbing services. With its “pay-on-results” model, plumbing businesses are only charged when a verified, exclusive enquiry is delivered directly to them.

This contrasts sharply with the model employed by major platforms such as Checkatrade, Rated People, and TrustATrader. On those sites, multiple plumbers frequently pay to bid on or receive the same customer job, creating an internal auction that can depress prices and reduce win rates for individual tradespeople.

Other sites, like Bark and Yell, offer visibility but do not guarantee the generation of job inquiries. Bark operates on a similar shared-lead model, often resulting in high competition for a single lead. Industry analysis suggests this environment can lead to a dilution of lead quality and increased customer acquisition costs.

Yell operates as an advertising and directory platform that helps plumbers appear online through paid listings. However, plumbers must invest heavily in ads or premium placements without any guarantee of leads, representing a significant risk for small to medium-sized enterprises.

“Shared-lead systems create frustration because multiple plumbers contact the same customer, forcing a race to the bottom on price. Exclusive leads deliver better returns because every enquiry belongs to one plumber, ensuring higher close rates and lasting client relationships,” said FatRank founder James Dooley.

For more information, visit https://www.fatrank.com/

Dooley was named Best Exclusive Lead Generation Specialist at the Manchester Entrepreneurship Awards 2025. Under his leadership, FatRank aims to eliminate this competition by providing plumber leads that are not broadcast across the network, ensuring that client do not spend their time unproductively competing for jobs against numerous local rivals on a shared platform.

“The average cost for our lead generation service is 10% of contract value, with no upfront fees charged. FatRank only gets paid on sales, assuring business owners a return on investment. We do not hide backend fees or costs, for we believe transparency builds long-term partnerships. With FatRank, clients know exactly what leads are delivered,” said Dooley.

The process begins with FatRank’s team building a geographically targeted website optimised to rank highly on search engines for key plumbing-related search terms in the business’s specific service areas across the UK. The subsequent traffic is filtered to generate qualified enquiries, which are then passed directly to the plumbing provider as exclusive plumbing leads.

For plumbing businesses evaluating their customer acquisition strategy, the decision often boils down to cost structure and lead quality. The pay-on-results model offered by FatRank removes the financial risk associated with subscriptions and non-exclusive lead boards, tying expenditure directly to tangible outcomes. This focused approach provides a clear alternative for plumbers seeking to move away from the crowded and often costly shared-lead marketplace.

FatRank is a Greater Manchester-based lead generation company specialising in SEO-led systems that create, optimise, and manage local SEO websites for over 650 industries across the UK. With its focus on plumbing businesses, FatRank delivers exclusive, verified customer enquiries through a performance-based payment system.

About the Company:

FatRank is a Greater Manchester-based company specialising in generating exclusive plumbing leads for tradespeople across the UK. The firm distinguishes itself from broader directories by constructing and optimising dedicated local SEO websites for individual plumbing businesses. Its core model operates on a pay-on-results system, where clients only pay for verified, exclusive customer enquiries. This approach contrasts with the shared-lead and subscription models of major platforms, aiming to provide higher-quality plumber leads without upfront costs or internal competition. FatRank's service is designed to offer a more predictable and cost-effective customer acquisition channel for the plumbing industry.

Media Contact
Company Name: FatRank
Contact Person: James
Email: Send Email
Address:5 Holden Brook Cl
City: Leigh WN7 2HL
State: Greater Manchester
Country: United Kingdom
Website: https://www.fatrank.com/