Exclusive vs. shared leads: the math that actually matters
Cost per lead is the wrong number. Cost per booked job is the only number — and exclusivity is the biggest variable in it.
A $40 shared lead sold to five companies is usually more expensive than an $80 exclusive call — because your close rate on shared leads is divided by the number of competitors dialing the same homeowner.
How shared leads actually play out
When a lead is sold to 3–8 companies, the homeowner's phone starts ringing within seconds — and keeps ringing for two days. The pro who calls within the first minute wins disproportionately. Everyone else paid full price for a race they lost. That's not a knock on any specific platform; it's just how the shared model works structurally.
What exclusivity changes
- Close rate: you're the only company the homeowner is connected to through us. No speed-to-lead race.
- Customer experience: the homeowner asked a question and got one call back — not a phone blitz. They pick up in a better mood.
- Real math: a higher per-call price with a 2–4× better close rate is cheaper per job. Run your own numbers — that's the whole pitch.
When shared leads still make sense
Honestly: if you have idle capacity, a fast dialing process, and thin local competition on the platform, cheap shared leads can pencil out. Many pros run both models side by side and compare cost per booked job quarterly. We think that comparison is the best sales pitch we have, so we encourage it.
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