This is one of the questions we get asked most often. Should you put your prices on your website or not?
The honest answer: it depends. But most tradespeople overthink it and default to hiding prices for the wrong reasons.
The Case for Showing Prices
It filters out tyre-kickers. Customers who would never pay what you charge will self-select out before they call you. That means less time wasted on enquiries that were never going to become jobs.
It builds trust. Hidden pricing feels evasive. When a potential customer can see what you charge upfront, it signals confidence and honesty. It says you have nothing to hide.
It helps you rank for price-related searches. A lot of people search “how much does it cost to paint a house Ireland” or “driveway prices Dundalk”. If you have a page or section that addresses pricing, you can appear for those searches.
Your competitors are probably hiding their prices too. If you show yours and they do not, you have an immediate differentiator. Some customers will choose you simply because you were the only one who was upfront.
The Case for Not Showing Prices
Every job is different. This is the most legitimate reason. A painting job could be €500 or €5,000 depending on the size, prep work, materials, and access. Showing a price that does not reflect reality leads to awkward conversations.
You might price yourself out before they experience your quality. A customer who sees €800 and leaves might have happily paid €900 if they had met you first and seen your previous work.
Your prices may need to flex. Commercial jobs, repeat customers, package deals, off-peak discounts. A fixed price on a website leaves less room to negotiate.
The Middle Ground: Price Ranges and Starting Prices
The most effective approach for most tradespeople is to give a sense of pricing without committing to an exact number.
“Interior painting starts from €X per room depending on size and preparation needed” is honest, useful, and gives a customer a reality check without locking you in.
“Contact us for a quote” with no indication of scale tells the customer nothing and is less likely to generate an enquiry than a page that at least gives a ballpark.
What to Put on Your Website Instead of a Price List
If you are not ready to display prices, here are things that help justify your rate without listing it:
- Testimonials from customers who felt they got good value
- Before and after photos that demonstrate quality
- A breakdown of what is included in your service
- Your qualifications, insurance, and trade registrations
- A clear explanation of your quoting process
All of these pre-qualify the customer and set expectations before they call.
The One Thing Not to Do
Do not put “call for a quote” as the only option on every page with no other pricing information. Some visitors will call. Most will not. They will go to the next tradesperson who at least gives them a sense of what they are dealing with.
Whatever approach you take, give your potential customers enough information to know whether contacting you is worth their time. That is good for them and good for your conversion rate.
Written by Maebh Collins
ACA qualified, Dundalk-based. I build websites and write SEO content for trade businesses across Ireland and the UK. If you have questions, get in touch.