Leaving Thumbtack in Illinois?
Your Thumbtack Pay-per-contact — you pay to message even if homeowner never replies. setup is probably costing you $8,040/year in lead fees and subscriptions for 48 closed jobs at Illinois's median project values. AskBaily's 12% take-rate on the same volume runs roughly $299,520/year — a $-291,480 annual delta. Here's how $IDFPR + Chicago BACP-licensed Illinois contractors are migrating.
Illinois licensing fit
AskBaily verifies your Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (roofers) + Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (GC) credentials live at match-time — not from a self-reported signup form from six months ago. Illinois has no state GC license — Chicago BACP runs its own GC system, and IDFPR licenses roofers separately. AskBaily handles both at match-time.Our matching engine understands this and won't surface a scope outside your license class.
Primary Illinois metro coverage: Chicago, Aurora, Naperville. Smaller metros have narrower partner pools but still route homeowners to 1 verified match per job.
The 5-step migration
1. Apply at /for-pros/recruit/illinois
3-minute application. We verify your IDFPR + Chicago BACP license class, bond, and insurance live against Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (roofers) + Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (GC). No credit check, no subscription fee at signup.
2. Export your Thumbtack lead history (last 90 days)
From your Thumbtack pro dashboard, export lead history including trade, project size, and close rate. We use this to calibrate match density and understand your service mix.
3. Run a 30-90 day pilot — both platforms active
Keep your Thumbtack subscription running. Start accepting AskBaily matches in parallel. Compare actual close rates, actual unit economics, and actual homeowner quality side-by-side.
4. Audit with /tools/lead-spend-audit
Paste your Thumbtack monthly spend into the tool. Get the true per-closed-customer CAC vs AskBaily's 12% take-rate on closes. Shareable URL you can send to your accountant.
5. File Thumbtack cancellation notice and migrate full-time
No long-term contract — but credits expire in 12 months.. File written notice per your contract, finish out any remaining paid-for leads, and migrate 100% to AskBaily. Most Illinois migrations close within 60 days.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Thumbtack actually cost Illinois contractors per year?
On a median Illinois kitchen remodel (~$52,000) a contractor closing 4 jobs per month from Thumbtack leads pays roughly $8,040 per year in lead fees + subscriptions. That's a true per-closed-customer CAC of $168. Our /tools/lead-spend-audit runs the math against your actual invoice.
Does AskBaily work with IDFPR + Chicago BACP-licensed Illinois contractors?
Yes — we verify Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (roofers) + Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (GC) license class live at the moment of match. Every Illinois partner in our network is IDFPR + Chicago BACP-active, bonded per state statute, and insurance-verified via ACORD 25 re-check. Illinois has no state GC license — Chicago BACP runs its own GC system, and IDFPR licenses roofers separately. AskBaily handles both at match-time.
What's the annual cost difference between Thumbtack and AskBaily in Illinois?
Apples-to-apples, 4 closes/month on median Illinois projects: Thumbtack = ~$8,040/year (lead fees + no subscription). AskBaily = ~$299,520/year (12% take-rate on closes only, no lead fees). Net delta: $-291,480/year. Your actual math varies by close rate and project mix.
Can I run AskBaily in parallel with Thumbtack before cancelling?
Yes. Recommended 30-90 day pilot. Keep your Thumbtack subscription active, apply to AskBaily at /for-pros/recruit/illinois, and compare unit economics. Most Illinois contractors decide within 60 days. AskBaily requires no subscription or lock-in — just 30 days notice in writing if you want to leave.
Which Illinois metros does AskBaily cover?
Primary match density in Chicago, Aurora, Naperville. We have active partners in every IL zip that passes IDFPR + Chicago BACP verification, but partner depth varies — the top metros have 5-15+ verified GCs per service category, smaller metros have 1-3. /for-pros/recruit/illinois lists the current Illinois partner count.
What happens to my Thumbtack reviews if I migrate?
Reviews left on Thumbtack stay on Thumbtack — we cannot export them. Contractors migrating typically ask past clients (the ones whose phone numbers they kept) to leave a review on AskBaily after a new project closes. This builds an AskBaily-owned review set rather than borrowing reputation from a platform you're leaving.
How is AskBaily different from just another Pay-per-contact — you pay to message even if homeowner never replies. platform?
AskBaily charges zero lead fees. Zero contact fees. Zero subscriptions. We earn a tiered take-rate (8-15%) only when you close a job — lower tier for higher volume. Read our full fee schedule on /transparency. Our /why-not-shared-leads page explains why the shared-lead model structurally can't align platform + contractor + homeowner incentives, and why exclusive-match is the only fix.
What's the Thumbtack, Inc. cancellation process?
No long-term contract — but credits expire in 12 months.. Check your Thumbtack agreement for the specific notice window and auto-renewal date. We recommend running AskBaily in parallel during notice to avoid a coverage gap on leads you're already paying for.