US Contractor Websites in 2026: What 564 Sites Say About Licenses, Speed and Getting Called
In short
We tested 564 US contractor websites across 7 trades and 12 metros in October 2026. 65% of independents show a tap-to-call button on the first phone screen, only 27% show a license number, and chains and franchises score higher than independents. Individual scores are private.
I tested 564 US contractor websites in October 2026: 6 independents for each of 7 trades in each of 12 metro areas, plus 60 franchises and multi-location chains. The full charts, method and the businesses doing it well are on the benchmark page. Here is the short version, and what was different from the NZ trades benchmark.
“Licensed and insured” is everywhere. License numbers are not.
Almost every site says it is licensed, bonded and insured. Only 27% of independents in licensed trades show an actual license number or state license reference that a customer could look up. Insurance or bond is mentioned by 42% and a trade association or BBB badge by 13%.
Chains and franchises do better than independents
The 60 franchises and multi-location chains scored a median of 66 against 60 for independents. They lead on phone access (80% have a tap-to-call button on the first phone screen against 65%), service area pages (80% against 57%) and Google reviews (a median of 142 against 84). They do not lead on speed.
The rest of the picture
- Speed. The median mobile score is 62 out of 100, and 24% of independents score under 50.
- Quotes, not bookings. 81% have a quote form, but only 11% offer online booking or scheduling, and only 8% say how fast they reply.
- By trade. Plumbing scored highest and landscaping lowest.
- No website at all. Among businesses Google Maps returned, 12% had no website of their own, and the share is higher for electricians.
How it was done, and the limits
Businesses came from Google Maps searches only, drawn at random in each trade and metro, so this is a stated sample, not a census, and it leans toward metro centers. Each homepage was loaded once on a phone-sized screen with one contact page, and speed came from Google PageSpeed Insights on mobile. I sell web design, SEO and lead-capture help and I run the Top5HomePros directory. Both are disclosed on the benchmark page, with the method, weights and limitations.
Check your own site
If you run a trade business, you can get a free private scorecard showing how your site compares and what to fix first, whether or not you were one of the 564 tested. Related: digital marketing for tradesmen and web design for tradesmen.
Frequently asked questions
What did the US trades benchmark test?
Speed and mobile experience, local SEO, lead capture, trust signals and Google reviews for 564 US contractors across plumbing, electrical, HVAC, roofing, general contractors, painting and landscaping in 12 metro areas. AI search visibility is reported separately.
Can I see how my own contractor website scored?
Yes. Any business can request a free private scorecard on the benchmark page, whether or not it was one of the 564 tested. It shows your score against the average and your top three fixes, within 5 working days.
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