ELOCAL REVIEW
eLocal leads review: how the calls are billed and what contractors say
eLocal sells phone calls and leads to local service businesses and charges per call or lead from a prepaid deposit. It does not publish prices: an account executive sets the call price for your market. Its help center says there is no contract and you can cancel any time. Its BBB reviews averaged 3.96/5 from 105 reviews when we checked on .
Disclosure: Sourci publishes this page and sells a competing service: marketing for painting, roofing and coatings contractors. We stick to what each company publishes and what its reviewers say, with links, quotes and the date we checked.
THE VERDICT
eLocal in five lines
- What it is. A pay-per-call and pay-per-lead network. “eLocal connects people searching for local services with the businesses ready to help them.”
- What it costs. Not published. You prepay a deposit, and each billable call or lead is drawn from it; the per-call price is set by your account executive.
- Contract terms. No contract, per its FAQ: “None! We believe in providing the best possible product which means you can cancel at any time.” Credit requests must be made within 4 days (96 hours).
- What reviewers report. BBB reviews: 3.96/5 from 105 reviews. BBB complaints: 9 in last 3 years, 7 in last 12 months. Grade A+.
- Who it suits. Contractors who want inbound phone calls, can answer fast during business hours, and will check every billed call within four days.
WHAT IT IS
What is eLocal?
eLocal runs a lead network for home services, legal, medical and other local businesses. Its About page says: “Since 2008, we've built one of the largest phone-based lead generation networks in home services, legal, medical, and more.” Its help center gives a different start year: “eLocal has been a lead provider for small, regional, and national businesses since 2007.”
Ownership, per the same About page: “2019 HomeServe acquires eLocal, joining the world's largest home services company.” Then: “2023 Brookfield Asset Management acquires eLocal and HomeServe.”
You can buy phone calls, shared leads or exclusive leads. eLocal’s FAQ says “Shared leads are by far our most popular choice and leads that will be sent to a maximum of 4 businesses in a given service area.” For calls, it says “if you sign up for phone calls, those are always exclusive.”
It is one of the pay-per-call sellers on our comparison of roofing lead sellers; this page covers its terms and reviews in more detail.
PRICE AND TERMS
How much do eLocal leads cost?
eLocal does not publish a call or lead price. Its FAQ says “When you speak with your eLocal Account Executive, they will set you up with the call price that makes the most sense based on your business needs and the competition in your area.” Billing runs from a prepaid deposit: “When you set up your program you'll make an initial deposit into your account which will sit untouched unless we send you a call or lead.”
| Term | What the company publishes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Price per call or lead | Not published; set by your account executive by market | eLocal program FAQ; checked |
| Deposit | Initial deposit required; amount not published | eLocal program FAQ; checked |
| Shared leads | Maximum of 4 businesses per shared lead | eLocal program FAQ; checked |
| Phone calls | Phone calls always exclusive | eLocal program FAQ; checked |
| Contract | None; cancel any time | eLocal program FAQ; checked |
| Guarantee | “An effective partnership with no commitments , and a money-back guarantee.” The guarantee’s terms are not published. | eLocal advertising page; checked |
| Unanswered calls | “A call is deemed billable if it rang for 10 or more seconds” | eLocal help center, valid calls; checked |
| Credit deadline | “It is important to note that you must request a credit within 4 days (96 hours) of the lead or call coming to you.” | eLocal help center, credits; checked |
Two rules matter most for a busy crew. A call that rings for ten seconds can be billed even if nobody picks up, so missed calls cost money. And a bad call has to be disputed within four days, so someone has to review the call log several times a week.
REVIEWS
What do eLocal reviews say?
eLocal’s BBB profile is the platform where we could read business advertisers’ reviews with a count. Ratings below are as shown on . Prices in reviews are the reviewer’s own, not eLocal’s published prices.
| Platform | What it showed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| BBB customer reviews | 3.96/5 from 105 reviews | BBB reviews; checked |
| BBB grade | A+ | BBB profile; checked |
| BBB accreditation | BBB Accredited since | BBB profile; checked |
| BBB complaints | 9 in last 3 years, 7 in last 12 months | BBB profile; checked |
Zohar H., business advertiser, 5 stars on BBB:
“Theyve been reliable, easy to work with, and have genuinely helped my business.”
BBB, eLocal.com Customer Reviews (), checked .
Saqib M., business advertiser, 5 stars on BBB:
“The quality of leads, the response time on account issues is unmatched.”
BBB, eLocal.com Customer Reviews (), checked .
Tim D., business advertiser, 1 star on BBB:
“Leads are $750 and I didnt get one truly qualified call.”
BBB, eLocal.com Customer Reviews (), checked .
Steven M., contractor with 30+ years in business, 1 star on BBB:
“never have had a good profitable lead company experience, the odds are worse than a casino”
BBB, eLocal.com Customer Reviews (), checked .
FIT
Who are eLocal leads a fit for?
From eLocal’s published model:
- It may suit contractors who want phone calls rather than form leads, since calls are exclusive to one business.
- It may suit owners who want no contract: the FAQ says you can cancel at any time.
- It may not suit a crew that cannot answer the phone during the day, because a call that rings ten seconds can be billable.
- It may not suit you if you choose shared leads and need to be the only company calling the homeowner; shared leads go to up to four businesses.
- It may not suit you if you want to know the price before a sales call. The per-call price is set with an account executive.
BEFORE YOU SIGN
What should you ask before signing?
Get the answers in writing, attached to the order you sign.
- What is the price per call or lead for my trade and ZIP codes, and how often can it change?
- How large is the initial deposit, does it refill automatically, and is any unused balance refunded when I cancel?
- Which calls are billable: what counts as a valid call, and does the ten-second ring rule apply to my account?
- What does the money-back guarantee cover, in writing?
- If I pick shared leads, how many other businesses receive the same lead in my area?
- How do I request a credit, and who reviews it?
ALTERNATIVES
What are the alternatives?
Other ways to buy calls or leads, and the option of building your own.
| Option | How it charges | Contract | Source or review |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99 Calls | Monthly fee plus ad spend, or a flat price per organic lead (roofing: $54.99 per lead flat rate) | “At any tier — cancel anytime.” | 99 Calls roofing leads page; checked ; our 99 Calls review |
| Google Local Services Ads | “With Local Services Ads, you pay for valid leads.” You set a budget. 99 Calls reports $112.85 average; $106.79 median; $86.10 to $131.03 (10th-90th) across its clients. | You set the budget | Google Local Services help; checked ; 99 Calls LSA cost estimator; checked |
| Angi | “Lead fees apply when you receive a lead. How and when you're charged depends on your account .” | Monthly budget or annual subscription | Angi help center, ; checked ; our review of Angi leads |
| Networx | Per lead, shared or exclusive | “At Networx, we do not require a contract.” | Networx help center, ; checked ; our Networx review |
| Sourci (publishes this page) | Flat monthly fee. Inbound Foundation $1,950 a month plus $1,000 onboarding; Growth $3,450 a month plus $1,500 onboarding. No per-lead fees; your leads are never shared. | Month-to-month; cancel with 30 days’ notice | Sourci’s published prices on Inbound details |
More sellers, with their published prices, are on our comparison of roofing lead sellers.
MORE REVIEWS
Which other vendors have we reviewed?
The same checks, applied to other companies that sell marketing or leads to contractors:
- Hibu review (agency)
- Roofer Marketers review (roofing agency)
- HomeBuddy review (lead seller)
- Townsquare Interactive review (agency)
- Painter Marketing Pros review (painting agency)
- 99 Calls review (lead seller)
WHERE SOURCI FITS
Where Sourci fits
Sourci sells a different model: no per-call or per-lead fees, and the work builds leads that come to your own website and phone. Our prices are published:
- Inbound (website fixes, SEO and AI-search visibility; residential and commercial): Foundation $1,950 a month plus $1,000 onboarding, Growth $3,450 a month plus $1,500 onboarding. Inbound details.
Plans are month-to-month; cancel with 30 days’ notice. No per-lead fees, and your leads are never shared. Ad spend and paid directory placements are not part of either plan.
SOURCES
Where these facts come from.
- BBB, eLocal.com Customer Reviews. Checked . Quoted: “3.96/5 stars Average of 105 Customer Reviews” “Theyve been reliable, easy to work with, and have genuinely helped my business.” “The quality of leads, the response time on account issues is unmatched.” “Leads are $750 and I didnt get one truly qualified call.” “never have had a good profitable lead company experience, the odds are worse than a casino”
- eLocal, About Us. Checked . Quoted: “eLocal connects people searching for local services with the businesses ready to help them.” “Since 2008, we've built one of the largest phone-based lead generation networks in home services, legal, medical, and more.” “2019 HomeServe acquires eLocal, joining the world's largest home services company.” “2023 Brookfield Asset Management acquires eLocal and HomeServe.”
- eLocal Help Center, eLocal Program FAQ. Checked . Quoted: “None! We believe in providing the best possible product which means you can cancel at any time.” “eLocal has been a lead provider for small, regional, and national businesses since 2007.” “Shared leads are by far our most popular choice and leads that will be sent to a maximum of 4 businesses in a given service area.” “if you sign up for phone calls, those are always exclusive.” “When you speak with your eLocal Account Executive, they will set you up with the call price that makes the most sense based on your business needs and the competition in your area.” “When you set up your program you'll make an initial deposit into your account which will sit untouched unless we send you a call or lead.”
- eLocal Help Center, How to Request Credits. Checked . Quoted: “It is important to note that you must request a credit within 4 days (96 hours) of the lead or call coming to you.”
- BBB, eLocal.com Business Profile (Conshohocken, PA). Checked . Quoted: “eLocal.com has 9 complaints filed with BBB in the last 3 years, 7 of them in the last 12 months.” “eLocal.com has an A+ BBB rating.” “eLocal.com has been a BBB Accredited Business since ”
- eLocal, Premium Advertising. Checked . Quoted: “An effective partnership with no commitments , and a money-back guarantee.”
- eLocal Help Center, What is a Valid Call or Lead?. Checked . Quoted: “A call is deemed billable if it rang for 10 or more seconds”
- 99 Calls, Roofing Leads. Checked . Quoted: “$54.99 Organic SEO · per lead flat rate”
- 99 Calls, Pricing. Checked . Quoted: “At any tier — cancel anytime.”
- 99 Calls, Roofing Contractor Google LSA Cost Per Lead. Checked . Quoted: “the average Google Local Services Ads (LSA) cost per charged lead for Roofing Contractor businesses is $112.85 (median $106.79) with a typical range of $86.10 to $131.03”
- Google Local Services Help, How leads work. Checked . Quoted: “With Local Services Ads, you pay for valid leads.”
- Angi Help Center, Leads and Opportunities (). Checked . Quoted: “Lead fees apply when you receive a lead. How and when you're charged depends on your account .”
- Networx Help Center, Do you have a contract? (). Checked . Quoted: “At Networx, we do not require a contract.”
Every outside figure on this page links to the page it came from, checked on . Prices and terms change; confirm them with each company before you sign.
QUESTIONS
eLocal leads, answered.
Is eLocal legit?
eLocal is a lead network that, per its About page, was acquired by HomeServe in 2019 and by Brookfield Asset Management in 2023. Its BBB profile showed grade A+ and reviews averaging 3.96/5 from 105 reviews on .
How much does eLocal charge per call?
eLocal does not publish prices. Its FAQ says your account executive sets the call price based on your business needs and the competition in your area.
Does eLocal require a contract?
No. Its help center FAQ says there is no commitment and you can cancel at any time.
Are eLocal leads exclusive?
Phone calls are always exclusive. Shared leads go to a maximum of four businesses in a service area, and exclusive leads are an option you choose at sign-up.
How do I get credit for a bad eLocal call?
Request the credit in your account within 4 days (96 hours) of the call or lead, per eLocal’s help center.
FREE CHECK
Which contractors get recommended
in your city?
When a customer asks ChatGPT or Google AI who to hire, it names a few contractors. Tell us your trade and city. We send you which contractors get named, and whether you are one of them.
What you get
- We ask ChatGPT, Google AI and Perplexity the buyer questions from our 24-question method, set to your trade and city.
- We record which companies each assistant recommends or cites, and whether yours appears.
- We reply with what we found and the first gaps worth fixing.
How the free check works, with a sample result
Result: A Dallas commercial painter grew revenue 234% and website visitors 657% in six months of SEO and AI-search work with Sourci. The owner asked us to keep the company name private. Read the Dallas case study