"Free registration" is the most-abused phrase in the Indian services platform space. Most apps will let you sign up for free — and then charge you per job, per lead, or per month. Here's a clear breakdown of how Indian services platforms actually charge plumbers, electricians, carpenters and other home-services workers in 2026, organised by platform type rather than by brand.
The 5 ways platforms charge workers
- Joining fee (one-time, sometimes disguised as a "training fee" or "KYC fee")
- Monthly subscription (premium listing tier, "Plus" plans, gold/platinum levels)
- Per-lead fee (you pay every time a customer's contact is shared with you)
- Per-job commission (15–30% deducted automatically before you receive payment)
- Penalty deductions (refund-share, late-arrival fines, low-rating cuts)
How each type of platform makes money — typical pattern
| Platform type | Joining | Monthly | Per-lead | Per-job | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No-commission directory (e.g. Solve24) | Free | Free | Free | 0% | No deductions |
| Managed marketplace | Training / KYC fee | Optional premium | — | 15–30% | Penalty deductions, branded gear required |
| Lead-selling classified | ₹15–30k/year (premium) | Included | Yes | 0% | Same lead sold to 4–5 workers |
| Pay-per-contact directory | Free basic | ₹500–2,000/month | Yes | 0% | Pay every time a customer requests your details |
| B2B catalogue platform | Free basic | ₹40–70k/year (gold) | Premium-only | 0% | Heavy upsell calls, mostly bulk B2B traffic |
| Job board / professional network | Free | Free | — | — | Not optimised for one-off home services |
Why "free" often doesn't mean free
On most lead-selling classifieds you can list for free — but customer leads only flow to paid listings. Free listings sit at the bottom of search results and get almost no calls. The "free" tier is essentially a teaser to upsell you to a ₹15k+/year premium subscription.
On managed marketplaces there's often no joining fee in name, but you pay through training fees, KYC verification charges, mandatory branded uniforms, and a 15–30% commission per job. Across a year, that adds up to ₹50,000–2 lakhs in deductions versus working independently — money that comes straight out of what you would otherwise take home.
On B2B catalogue platforms you can list for free, but inbound enquiries are routed to "verified" (paying) members first. Free members get stale leads, if any.
How a no-commission platform stays free
A no-commission platform like Solve24 makes money on the customer side. When a customer wants to unlock a worker's phone number, they pay a small subscription (₹11–99 in our case). The worker is never charged — not at registration, not per lead, not per job, not via penalty deductions. The business model is deliberately built to never touch the worker's earnings.
This works because the cost of acquiring a customer who needs a plumber today is much lower than the cost of acquiring the plumber in the first place. Workers are scarce; customers searching are abundant. Charging the abundant side instead of the scarce side flips the standard marketplace economics on its head.
What to ask before signing up anywhere
- What is the joining / training / KYC fee, in total?
- What is the monthly fee on the cheapest plan that actually receives customer leads?
- What is the commission per job?
- Is the commission deducted from the gross amount or only from a "net after platform fees" base?
- Are there penalty deductions for refunds, late arrivals, or low ratings?
- Can I see another worker's actual monthly payout statement (not the marketing-page average)?
The honest verdict
For plumbers, electricians, carpenters and similar trades just starting out, a no-commission directory like Solve24 is the cheapest way to get listed and start receiving direct customer calls. Once you have 50+ regular customers, premium classified or B2B listings can supplement — they're expensive but bring different kinds of traffic. Managed marketplaces make sense as a side-channel only if you're fully booked and want fill-in jobs at a discount; rarely as a primary income source.
Register on Solve24 free in 2 minutes. WhatsApp signup, profile live the same day, no commission ever.