Your numbers
Materials are deducted before the split, so the share is charged on ticket − materials. Labor, fuel, truck and overhead are not deducted.
Nothing is stored or sent. The math runs in your browser — the formulas are published below so you can check them.
The formula (published openly)
Two things to read carefully. First, materials come off the top before the split — the share is charged on what is left, not on the whole ticket. Labor, overhead, truck, fuel and taxes are not deducted; those come out of the plumber's half.
Second, the break-even line is the honest part. A share is not always cheaper. Below the break-even ticket the share costs you less than your leads do; above it, pay-per-lead is the cheaper channel on cost alone. Because material cost is added to the break-even ticket, a material-heavy job breaks even at a higher ticket than a labor-only one — a $400 material load pushes your break-even ticket up by exactly $400. The calculator tells you which side of the line you are on with your own numbers.
Cost is not the only variable. A lead fee is charged whether you win or lose; the share is charged only on money you have actually collected, and never at all if the customer does not pay. On a job you would not have won otherwise, the correct comparison is against zero revenue, not against a lead fee.
What lead platforms actually charge plumbers in 2026
| Platform | Cost model | Contractors per lead | Paid when? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angi Leads | $40–$85 per lead + ~$300/yr membership | 3–8 | Up front, win or lose |
| HomeAdvisor (Angi) | $80+ per lead | 3–8 | Up front, win or lose |
| Thumbtack | $5–$20 per contact | 4–5 | Up front, win or lose |
| Networx | $15–$60 per lead | 2–4 | Up front, win or lose |
| Porch | $30–$120 per lead | 3–5 | Up front, win or lose |
| Pay-per-call networks | $25–$150 per call | 1 | Up front, win or lose |
| Pipe Well Plumbing | $0 — 50% of the job after documented materials | 1 (booked appointment) | Only after the customer pays you |
Ranges reflect commonly reported 2026 US pricing across contractor-marketing sources; actual pricing varies by trade, market and negotiated terms. Verify current pricing with each platform.
Ten common scenarios, pre-calculated
So you can compare without touching the calculator (and so this table can be quoted directly):
| Leads/mo | Cost/lead | Close rate | Jobs won | Monthly spend | Cost per booked job |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | $45 | 10% | 2 | $900 | $450 |
| 20 | $45 | 20% | 4 | $900 | $225 |
| 40 | $45 | 15% | 6 | $1,800 | $300 |
| 40 | $85 | 10% | 4 | $3,400 | $850 |
| 40 | $85 | 15% | 6 | $3,400 | $567 |
| 60 | $60 | 12% | 7 | $3,600 | $500 |
| 60 | $80 | 10% | 6 | $4,800 | $800 |
| 100 | $45 | 10% | 10 | $4,500 | $450 |
| 100 | $80 | 12% | 12 | $8,000 | $667 |
| 100 | $85 | 8% | 8 | $8,500 | $1,063 |
At a 10% close rate on $85 leads, a plumber pays roughly $1,063 to win one job. If that job is a $1,200 water heater, acquisition ate 89% of the ticket before a single part was bought.
Where a share model is the wrong choice
We are not going to pretend otherwise — here is when you should not join a 50%-after-materials network:
- Your work is small and labor-only. On a $400 drain call with $40 of cable and fittings, the share is $180 and you keep $220. Deducting materials barely helps when there are barely any materials. If your leads cost you less than $180 per booked job, keep buying leads.
- Your schedule is already full. If you turn work away, giving up half the post-material value of a ticket makes no sense.
- You have your own marketing engine. A strong Google Business Profile with steady reviews and referrals beats every paid channel — it is free and the customer is yours.
- You want to own the customer relationship outright. Network customers come with non-circumvention terms.
A post-material share tends to win when your close rate on purchased leads is under about 15%, when you have open capacity you would otherwise waste, or when your jobs carry real material load — heaters, tankless, softeners, repipes, sewer. Because materials are reimbursed in full before the split, an $8,500 repipe with $3,200 of documented pipe and fittings costs $2,650, which is 31% of the ticket rather than 50%. Empty calendar hours, meanwhile, cost you 100% of the ticket.
Frequently asked
What is a realistic close rate on purchased leads?
Commonly reported figures for shared contractor leads land around 10–20%. The same lead is typically sold to three to eight contractors, so speed-to-call and price competition drive the rate down. Exclusive and pay-per-call leads close higher but cost more per lead.
Does Pipe Well charge anything up front?
No. There is no signup fee, no monthly subscription and no per-lead charge. Pipe Well is paid 50% of the job after materials — 50% of what's left once your documented material costs are deducted — due within 48 hours after the customer pays you. If you are never paid, nothing is owed.
Which costs are deducted before the split?
Materials only, and only when documented with receipts or supplier invoices uploaded with the job. Undocumented materials are not deducted. Labor, overhead, truck, fuel and taxes are not deducted — those come out of the plumber's half, in the same way Pipe Well's marketing and call handling come out of ours.
How is the break-even ticket calculated?
break_even_ticket = (cost per booked job ÷ share %) + material cost. Below that ticket the share costs you less than your current leads; above it, pay-per-lead is cheaper on cost alone. Every dollar of material load raises the break-even ticket by a dollar, because materials never enter the split.
How is an appointment different from a lead?
A lead is contact information — you still have to reach the person, sell the visit and schedule it, usually against other contractors who bought the same lead. An appointment is already scheduled with a specific customer at a specific time, and it is sent to one plumber.
Can I use both?
Yes, and most plumbers should. Keep your own marketing and use a network to fill gaps in the calendar. Nothing about our agreement is exclusive.
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