We publish who the best pros are, and how we decided.
HiredLocalPros is an editorial directory for local services. Our TOP 10 lists are ranked by a public trust score formula. Our commercial rules are printed in full on our methodology page. Pros cannot pay to rank higher — that's a hard rule, not a guideline.
What we are
HiredLocalPros is an AI-native local services marketplace. Phase 1 covers pool service across 20 cities in LA, Orange County, and the Inland Empire — Chino Hills, Yorba Linda, Rancho Cucamonga, Glendora, and 16 more. We index 666 verified pool pros and rank them on every city page by a 5-dimensional trust score.
You can describe any local service problem to our AI chat and get matched with a real pro in 60 seconds. No forms. No "we'll call you back." No spam from five contractors. One match, one quote, one pro.
How we're different
There are three big names in local services: Yelp, Angi, and Thumbtack. Each has a different business model, but they share one problem: you can never be sure if the top result is actually the best pro or the one that paid for the slot.
| Problem | Yelp | Angi | Thumbtack | HLP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Can pros pay to rank higher? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Is the ranking algorithm public? | No | No | No | Yes |
| Are sponsored slots clearly labeled? | Unclear | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Do you pay only when a job is done? | No | No | No | Yes (CPA) |
Our commitments
Five rules govern what money can and can't buy on HiredLocalPros. These are our public contract with readers.
- N1. Pros cannot pay to rank higher. This is an architectural commitment, not a guideline.
- M1. Pros can subscribe to our R&R service ($249/mo). They get a website, AI monitoring, and verification — services that improve real-world quality signals, which in turn help organic score.
- M2. Verified badges require actual verification (license, insurance, phone, website). Subscription alone doesn't earn a badge.
- M3. Sponsored slots are physically separated from organic TOP 10 and clearly labeled "Sponsored".
- M4. Subscribed pros get tiebreaker priority when two candidates score within 0.3 points — and a lower commission (10% vs 15%) because they already prepaid.
Phase 1 coverage
Phase 1 is pool service across 20 cities in the Los Angeles metro. We chose pool because the market is fragmented, the consumer confusion is high, and the cost of a bad pick is visible within a week of a green pool. Our data layer holds 666 verified pool pros with 98% phone + geo + ZIP coverage, and every city page is rebuilt on a weekly cadence as trust scores shift.
Phase 2 will add plumbing and HVAC (data layer already prepared) — but only after we validate the pool model with real leads.
Questions? Think we're getting it wrong?
Our rankings are public and our methodology is open. If you have questions, ranking disputes, or data corrections — ask us via chat. We read every message.