What is rank and rent? A contractor's guide

What is rank and rent?

Rank and rent is a lead generation model. Someone builds a website for a specific local service — like roofing in Boise or HVAC in Phoenix — and ranks it on Google using SEO. Once the site is generating traffic and leads, it gets rented to a local contractor who pays a flat monthly fee. Every phone call and form submission goes exclusively to that contractor.

Think of it like renting a billboard, except the billboard is on page one of Google and only shows to people actively searching for your service in your city.

How rank and rent works — step by step

• A website is built targeting a specific service in a specific city (e.g., "Phoenix HVAC repair")
• The site is ranked on Google through SEO — content, backlinks, technical optimization
• A contractor rents the site by subscribing for a flat monthly fee
• The site is branded with the contractor's business name, phone number, and email
• All leads go to that contractor — phone calls forwarded, form submissions emailed directly

Rank and rent vs. HomeAdvisor and Angi

HomeAdvisor and Angi are lead aggregators. They sell the same lead to 3-5 contractors, who all call the homeowner and compete for the job. Leads cost $15-$85 each depending on the trade, and you have no control over volume or quality.

Rank and rent is fundamentally different. You rent an entire website, not individual leads. Every lead from that site goes to you alone. There is no bidding, no competition, and no surprise charges. You pay one flat monthly fee regardless of lead volume.

Rank and rent vs. Google Ads

Google Ads puts you at the top of search results, but you pay per click — whether or not that click becomes a lead. For competitive trades, clicks cost $25-$80 each. With a typical 5-15% conversion rate, you might pay $200-$500 per actual lead.

Rank and rent leads come from organic search, which users tend to trust more than ads. You pay a flat fee and receive all leads. There is no per-click cost that spirals out of control during busy seasons.

What does rank and rent cost?

Pricing depends on the niche and market. At GetFound, sites range from $297/mo for lower-ticket trades to $497/mo for high-value niches like roofing and HVAC. Most providers charge between $200 and $2,000 per month. There are typically no long-term contracts.

What trades work best?

Any local service with strong Google search demand works. The highest-ROI niches tend to be high-ticket trades where one closed job covers months of rent:

• Roofing — $4,500-$8,500 average job value
• HVAC — $3,000-$6,000 average job value
• Foundation repair — $4,000-$10,000 average job value
• Water restoration — $2,500-$5,000 average job value
• Painting — $2,000-$5,000 average job value
• Fence repair — $1,500-$3,500 average job value

Is rank and rent legitimate?

Yes. Rank and rent is a standard lead generation model used by thousands of digital marketing agencies. The contractor rents a website that generates real leads from real Google searches. The leads are exclusive. The contractor controls their own phone, email, and customer relationships. It is simply a more efficient way to acquire customers than pay-per-lead platforms or expensive ad campaigns.