Thumbtack, a marketplace which connects customers to local service professionals, and Neighborly, a franchisor of over 3,700 service brands, have announced a plan to work together, allowing homeowners the option of choosing Neighborly franchisees through the Thumbtack platform. These contractors were not previously available through Thumbtack and will be an additional choice for homeowners seeking contractors with the service.

This decision was partially based on two trends brought to you by COVID-19: first the proliferation of homeowners using digital platforms to find contractors, and second that those customers are investing more in home improvement as they spend more time at home.

 “Thumbtack will drive new business opportunities to small business owners within Neighborly, ranging from plumbing and HVAC to painting and home inspections,” the company reported.

Contractor Concerns?

Thumbtack stated that its current users will see no change as a result of adding these additional contractors. “The Thumbtack app intelligently matches customers to electricians, painters, landscapers, and more with the right expertise, availability, and pricing. Neighborly’s network of franchises will give customers additional choices when looking to get a project done,” said a company spokesperson, who added that the platform has been a big help in bringing business to smaller contractors.

“According to our 2020 Small Business Friendliness survey, 65 percent of professionals on Thumbtack’s platform are sole proprietor businesses, and fewer than 10 percent have more than six employees,” the company reported.

New Program for Neighborly

Neighborly added that Thumbtack has given its franchisees some special consideration. “We joined forces with Thumbtack because we were looking for a way to align more leads for our franchise owners, which became a critical decision in 2020,” said Luke Stanton, president of ProTradeNet®, Neighborly’s preferred vendor division. “What we’ve received is so much more. Thumbtack has poured resources into the development of a program specifically for Neighborly, which has added immense value for our brands and franchise owners.” 

This includes:

• Specialized team to share insights with local franchise owners to help businesses grow more profitably.    
• Hands-on experience to tailor profile pages, set job preferences and provide visibility needed to maximize growth.
• The Thumbtack team will create a customized job pipeline based on business needs, size and capabilities.

Does this mean that Neighborly contractors on the platform have an advantage? Thumbtack says no. “Thumbtack partners with local service professionals across industries, geographies, and company size. Our support is tailored based on each professional’s needs and their level of engagement on Thumbtack,” said a company spokesperson.