How to Get More 5-Star Reviews as a Tradesperson

When someone needs a plumber, electrician, or builder, the first thing they do is check reviews. Your reputation online is now your most valuable business asset — more powerful than any ad, any leaflet, any word-of-mouth referral. Here's exactly how to build it systematically, without it feeling awkward.

Why reviews matter more than ever for trades

Ten years ago, a tradesperson's reputation lived in the neighbourhood. People asked their neighbours, their friends, their family. Word of mouth was everything — and it still matters. But now that conversation happens online, in public, and it's permanent.

93%

Of customers read online reviews before hiring a tradesperson

4.5★

Minimum average rating customers expect before making contact

72%

Of customers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations

A tradesperson with 50 reviews averaging 4.8 stars will get the call over someone with 5 reviews averaging 5.0 — every single time. Volume and recency matter as much as the score itself.

Why most tradespeople don't get enough reviews

It's not that customers don't want to leave reviews. Most happy customers would genuinely be willing to spend 90 seconds writing one — they just don't think to do it unless they're prompted.

Unhappy customers, on the other hand, are highly motivated to leave reviews without any prompting. That's why businesses with no review strategy tend to accumulate a skewed picture — the few complaints, but none of the quiet satisfaction.

The fix is simple: ask every happy customer, every time, immediately after the job. Most tradespeople feel awkward doing this. But once you have a system and the right words, it becomes second nature.

The core principle: You don't need to beg for reviews. You just need to make it easy for happy customers to do something they already want to do. Remove the friction and most of them will.

Where should your reviews live?

Not all review platforms are equal. Here's where to focus your energy:

Google Business Profile (most important)

Google reviews appear directly in search results when someone searches for your trade in your area. A tradesperson with strong Google reviews gets more calls from people who were never referred — they just searched and chose you. This is the one platform to prioritise above all others.

Checkatrade / Rated People / MyBuilder

If you're listed on trade directories, reviews there matter too — especially for larger jobs where customers do more research. Keep these topped up but don't sacrifice Google for them.

Facebook

Worth having, especially in local community groups where your name might come up. Less critical than Google but still useful for social proof when customers look you up.

6 proven ways to get more 5-star reviews

1. Ask at the right moment

Timing is everything. The best moment to ask for a review is right after the job is finished, while the customer is standing there looking at your work and feeling pleased with it. Not a week later in an email they'll ignore.

A simple, confident ask works: "Really glad you're happy with it. Would you mind leaving us a Google review? It makes a big difference for a small business like ours." Most people will say yes on the spot.

2. Make it one tap away

The biggest barrier to leaving a review isn't willingness — it's friction. If a customer has to search for your business, find the reviews section, and figure out how to post, most won't bother.

Get your Google review link and shorten it. Print it on a small card to hand over after every job. Or send a text message with the direct link right after you leave.

How to get your Google review link: Search for your business on Google → click your listing → click "Get more reviews" in your Google Business Profile dashboard. Copy the link and shorten it with bit.ly.

3. Send a follow-up text the same day

After you leave a job, send a short text while the experience is still fresh. Keep it brief and personal — not a template-sounding email blast.

Example text message "Hi [Name], thanks for having me today — really enjoyed the job. If you're happy with the work, a Google review would mean the world. Here's the link: [your link]. Cheers, Dave"

The key word is "if you're happy" — it pre-qualifies. Anyone who isn't happy won't leave a review and might actually reach back out to resolve it, which is better than a bad review.

4. Respond to every review you get

When you respond to reviews — good and bad — it signals to future customers that you're attentive and professional. It also signals to Google that your profile is active, which helps your rankings.

For positive reviews: thank them by name, mention a specific detail from the job, and invite them back. Takes 30 seconds and makes a difference.

For negative reviews: stay calm, acknowledge their experience, offer to resolve it offline. Never get defensive in public — future customers are watching how you handle complaints, not just whether they exist.

5. Ask returning customers

If you've done work for someone before and they've never left a review, the next job is a perfect moment. "We've worked together a couple of times now — would you be happy to leave us a Google review? It really helps." Returning customers are your warmest advocates.

6. Build it into your process, not your memory

The biggest reason tradespeople don't get reviews consistently is that they forget to ask. You're thinking about the next job, the invoice, the parts you need to order. Asking for a review falls off the bottom of the list.

The solution is making it part of your checkout process — just like collecting payment. Every job ends the same way: work signed off, payment taken, review requested.

Pro tip: If you're already using a tool like The Toolbox to send appointment confirmations, you can use the same moment — right after the job — to send your review link. One message, two purposes: thank them for their time and give them the link.

What to do about a bad review

At some point, you'll get one. Every trade business does. Here's how to handle it:

Don't ignore it. An unanswered bad review looks worse than the review itself.
Respond within 24 hours. Be calm, professional, and brief.
Acknowledge without admitting fault. "I'm sorry to hear your experience didn't meet expectations" is different from "I'm sorry we got it wrong."
Take it offline. Include your phone number and invite them to call. Shows you take it seriously without turning it into a public argument.
Dilute it with good reviews. One 2-star review hurts a lot less when you have 40 five-star reviews around it. The best long-term defence is a consistent review strategy.

How many reviews do you actually need?

There's no magic number, but as a rough guide:

0–5 reviews: Most customers won't call. Not enough social proof.
10–20 reviews: You're in the game. Customers will consider you seriously.
30–50 reviews: Strong credibility. You'll win jobs on reputation alone.
50+ reviews: You're one of the most trusted trades in your area. The phone rings on its own.

If you do 5 jobs a week and ask every customer, you could have 50 reviews within 3 months. Most tradespeople never get there because they never build the habit.

First impressions start before you arrive.

A professional booking confirmation and reminder shows customers you're organised before they've even met you — making them more likely to leave a great review after.

Try The Toolbox free for 14 days

The bottom line

Reviews don't build themselves. But with a simple, consistent process — ask at the right moment, make it one tap, follow up by text — you can go from a handful of reviews to being the most trusted tradesperson in your area within a few months.

Start today. The next job you finish, ask. It takes five seconds and the upside compounds forever.