Listed vs Approved Tradesman: what is the difference?

At Approved Tradesman, we provide a comprehensive directory for all tradespeople. This creates two distinct ways for a business to appear in our search results: a standard listing and Approved Tradesman. For customers, understanding the difference provides peace of mind and helps them make informed choices. For businesses, it's about choosing the level of transparency that best suits them. You can learn more about why Approved Tradesman exists and how we differ.

What is a free business listing?

A free business listing is the foundation of our directory. It ensures that customers can find contact information for nearly any trade business, whether they are an Approved Tradesman or not. This listing includes your business name, trade, location, and a contact number, providing a basic but essential presence. It costs nothing to be listed, and there are no hidden fees or charges to have your details available in a public search.

Your business might already be in our directory, as we compile information from publicly available sources. If you find your business is already listed, you can confirm ownership to manage the details yourself. If not, you can add it in a few minutes. A free listing requires no paperwork and is a straightforward way to establish your presence. For more details, visit our how it works page.

What does it mean to be an Approved Tradesman?

Approved Tradesman is an optional membership for businesses that want to show a higher level of transparency. Once ownership is confirmed and membership is active, our independent team checks the paperwork you send to confirm key details. For example, we check for a valid public liability insurance policy, confirm company details against the official register where one exists, and check other credentials relevant to the trade.

The membership pays for our team's time to carry out these checks, publish the results and keep them monitored. It never buys the facts: the record only shows what the paperwork and official sources actually confirm, and more checks make a stronger record. Our process is explained in detail in our verification standard.

What are the benefits of Approved Tradesman?

Becoming an Approved Tradesman provides a range of benefits designed to build customer confidence and help your business stand out. See a full side-by-side comparison of a listing vs Approved Tradesman.

• A transparent published record: a dedicated public page for your business that shows all the checks completed. Each item has a date, giving customers a clear, time-stamped view of your credentials.
• Clearer directory presence: in search results, your business is clearly marked as an Approved Tradesman, helping it stand out from standard listings. Membership never buys a higher position in results.
• A live certificate: you receive a certificate and a unique QR code. When a customer scans this code from your van, a business card or an invoice, it opens your live record so they can see your current credentials.
• Promotional artwork: ready-made artwork featuring your QR code for your van, website, email signatures and quotes, turning everyday materials into a live link to your record.
• Monitoring and reminders: our service includes ongoing monitoring of key credentials, such as insurance policies, with reminders before anything is due to expire. This is a core part of our ongoing monitoring process.

What happens if my membership ends?

The free listing is permanent and independent of Approved Tradesman. If you choose not to renew, or your membership lapses for any reason, your business simply returns to its standard free listing. Your business name, trade and contact details remain visible in the directory. The record of your checks is no longer displayed as current, because we are no longer monitoring it. There is no penalty, and your listing is never removed. You can find more answers in our FAQs or become an Approved Tradesman again at any time.