Thumbtack is a marketplace where homeowners describe a job and pros pay to be in front of them. Thumbtack's pro page says there is no charge to join, no annual fees and no membership fees. Thumbtack says you control your pricing and budget for leads, and that budget determines how many leads you get. It does not publish lead prices on that page.
- No charge to join and no membership fee, according to Thumbtack's pro page.
- You pay for leads, on a budget you control; your budget sets how many leads you get.
- Thumbtack's terms say fees are final and non-refundable except as its refund policy describes.
- Thumbtack may run credential, background and business credit checks on pros.
- Judge it by cost per job won, and keep the repeat work for yourself.
How Thumbtack charges
Thumbtack says you control your pricing and budget for leads, and that budget determines how many leads you get. It does not publish lead prices on that page. That makes it easier to start small than a contract, and easier to stop. The catch is the same as every lead marketplace: you pay to reach the customer, not for the job.
Thumbtack's terms say fees paid to Thumbtack are final and non-refundable, except as its refund policy describes. Read the refund policy before you set a large budget, and know what counts as a refundable lead.
Checks and trust
Thumbtack's terms say it may obtain credential, background and business credit checks on pros. Have your license and insurance ready if your trade needs them.
When Thumbtack tends to work
- You are new and have no reviews or site yet.
- Your jobs are mid-sized or larger, so one win covers several leads that went nowhere.
- You reply fast. Marketplace customers often contact several pros.
- You track it. Spend divided by jobs won, every month.
It tends to hurt on small tickets, when replies are slow and when it becomes the only source of work. See Thumbtack vs Angi for the two side by side.
Keep the second job
Thumbtack charges you to reach customers; what happens after the first job is up to you. Send the invoice, take payment at the door and ask for a Google review an hour later. Koira does all three from one tap (pay at the door, reviews), so the repeat work goes to your own listing.
Sources
- Thumbtack for pros, checked October 9, 2026
- Thumbtack Terms of Use, checked October 9, 2026
Last checked October 9, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and differ by state and city, so confirm with the agency named before you act.