Loacally opens its founding cohort: 100 places for London tradespeople
Loacally has opened its founding cohort: 100 places for London tradespeople across our first 10 boroughs. Free through the pilot, a £19 per month founder rate locked from public launch, no per-lead fees, and every application reviewed by hand.
Last updated: June 2026
Loacally has opened its founding cohort: 100 places for London tradespeople across our first 10 boroughs. Founding trades pay nothing during the pilot, then £19 per month from public launch, and they keep that rate for as long as the founder programme runs. The standard rate from public launch will be £29 per month flat, and that figure is indicative. There is no pay-per-lead, no pay-for-visibility and no commission. The cohort opened in spring 2026, and at the time of writing 23 of the 100 places have been taken.
What the founding cohort is
Loacally is a local services platform, starting in London. It is free for customers, and it works on a simple basis: a customer finds a nearby tradesperson, the two agree the work between them, and the customer pays the tradesperson directly, off platform.
The founding cohort is the first group of tradespeople to join. It is capped at 100 trades across our first 10 boroughs, ahead of a public launch planned for late 2026. Ten trades are eligible: plumbers, electricians, handypeople, decorators, tilers, general builders, bricklayers, plasterers, roofers, and carpenters and joiners. Loacally is starting in London and will cover all 33 boroughs, with the founding programme concentrated in the first 10. London is where we are beginning, not the limit of where Loacally will go: tradespeople elsewhere in the UK can apply now, and listings go live as each new city opens.
The pricing commitment
| Stage | Monthly price |
|---|---|
| Pilot, before public launch | £0 |
| Founder rate from public launch | £19, kept for as long as the founder programme runs |
| Standard rate from public launch | £29 flat (indicative) |
Behind those numbers sit commitments we consider just as important as the headline rate:
- No pay-per-lead, no pay-for-visibility, no commission. You do not pay to be visible, and you do not pay per lead. Customers pay you directly, off platform.
- 90 days' written notice on any pricing change, and no retroactive charges.
- Cancel any time. There is no 12-month tie-in and no exit fee.
- Holiday mode pauses your listing at £0 while you are away.
Every application is reviewed by hand
We review every application by hand. That means your identity is checked, we speak to you on a phone call, and your insurance and certifications are confirmed. Electricians need NICEIC, NAPIT or equivalent. We aim to come back within 48 hours of application.
What founders get, and what they shape
The founder rate is only part of the programme. The first 100 trades also help shape the platform as it is built:
- A founder badge on your profile.
- Monthly check-ins with the Loacally team.
- Early access to new features.
- The first three months free on any new paid add-ons.
And what is yours stays yours. Your customers, your reviews and your reputation stay yours: reviews and ranking history stay with the tradesperson.
How work reaches you
Customers find trades by postcode proximity, and enquiries are matched to your postcode, your trade and your stated working hours. Each enquiry goes to one tradesperson: one customer, one trade, per enquiry. We do not auction the same job to five trades and let the cheapest win. The customer side of the journey is set out on our how it works page.
How to apply
The application is a 5-minute form: your name, trade, mobile number, postcode area, public liability insurer and certifications. Every application is reviewed by hand, and we aim to come back within 48 hours.
The full programme details, including the commitments above, are on our For Tradespeople page, and you can apply for a founding place today. If you are a customer rather than a tradesperson, Loacally is free to use, and you can search for a local tradesperson now.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Loacally cost for tradespeople? Nothing during the pilot: every founding trade is free through public launch. From launch, founders pay £19 per month and keep that rate for as long as the founder programme runs. The standard rate from public launch is £29 per month flat, published as indicative. There are no per-lead fees, no pay-for-visibility charges and no commission.
Which trades can join the Loacally founding cohort? Ten trades are eligible: plumbers, electricians, handypeople, decorators, tilers, general builders, bricklayers, plasterers, roofers, and carpenters and joiners. The founding cohort is concentrated in London to begin with, though Loacally is a UK platform and is not limited to London: trades elsewhere can apply now and go live as their city opens.
Is there a contract or minimum term? No. You can cancel at any time, there is no 12-month tie-in and there is no exit fee. Any pricing change comes with 90 days' written notice and is never applied retroactively, and holiday mode pauses your listing at £0 while you are away.
How does Loacally vet tradespeople? Every application is reviewed by hand. Identity is checked, there is a phone call, and insurance and certifications are confirmed. Electricians need NICEIC, NAPIT or equivalent. We aim to come back within 48 hours of application.
Does Loacally sell leads? No. Each enquiry is matched to one tradesperson by postcode, trade and stated working hours, so the same job is never auctioned to several trades. Customers pay you directly, off platform, and Loacally takes no commission.
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