What TradePick Is
TradePick exists because most software review sites are generic, American, and secretly funded by the companies they review.
You've seen them. Some American blogger rates software for "small businesses," which means he tested it for a week and got paid by three SaaS companies to feature them. The reviews are vague enough to be useless. "Great for teams!" isn't helpful when you need to know if it works for your 3-person roofing company.
TradePick is the opposite.
We review software built for specific UK trades and industries. Not generic tools. Not American tools that don't understand UK VAT, payment methods, or business culture. Tools built for tradespeople, small business owners, and specialist industry operators in the UK.
We test them properly. We use them. We ask hard questions about cost, ease of use, and whether they actually solve the problem. We compare them side-by-side so you can make a decision without wasting 10 hours on research.
Every review is independent. No vendor pays us to feature them. We take affiliate commissions when you click through and sign up — we disclose this every time. We only recommend tools we'd actually use.
How We Review
Our process is simple and transparent.
1. We test the software ourselves.
We don't read the marketing copy and call it a review. We sign up, use the tool for 2-4 weeks, and actually perform the jobs the software promises. If we're reviewing booking software for tattoo studios, we book appointments, set reminders, create client records, and take payments.
2. We compare to competitors.
We don't review software in isolation. Every review includes a comparison table showing how it stacks up against the best alternatives. Cost, features, ease of use, the work.
3. We get real feedback from users.
We talk to the people actually using these tools. Real roofers. Real groomers. Real personal trainers. Not focus groups, not customer service teams — the people using the software in their business.
4. We disclose everything.
- Which tools we make money from (affiliate links)
- How long we tested them
- What we like and what we don't
- Who built the software (is it a UK team or a US company pretending to be local?)
- Any concerns we have
5. We update reviews when things change.
Software changes. Features get added, pricing shifts, companies get acquired. Our reviews are dated and marked "updated" when we've re-tested and updated information.
Who We Are
TradePick was built by a small UK team. We're not venture-backed, we're not trying to flip this for a 10x exit. We're building something that works for UK small businesses because that's what we care about.
We started because we were frustrated. One of us ran a roofing company and spent hours testing software that didn't work. One of us worked in tattoo studios and saw the booking system cost money every single day. We kept finding that most reviews were written by American bloggers who'd never been on a roof or inside a tattoo studio.
So we built this.
Our commitment to you:
- We review tools built for your industry, not generic American SaaS
- We test them properly and tell you what we actually think
- We disclose how we make money (affiliate links) every single time
- We update reviews when things change
- We only recommend tools we'd actually use
- We write in plain English. No jargon. No waffle.
How we make money:
When you click an affiliate link on this site and sign up for software, we get a small commission. It costs you nothing extra. Most software companies offer affiliate programs because customer acquisition is expensive for them.
We disclose this on every single review. You'll see "https://tradepick.co.uk/go/[platform-name]" — that's an affiliate link. We recommend tools we believe in, and we make money when you sign up. This keeps the site free and independent. We're not beholden to investors or publishers.
Why We Exist
Most software review sites are owned by ad networks or publishing companies. They make money from pageviews and affiliate commissions, which creates a bias toward recommending more stuff, not better stuff.
Medium-sized SaaS companies fund content marketing blogs that look like reviews but are basically marketing.
YouTube creators get paid sponsorships from software companies. You never know if they actually use the tool or if they're just reading a script.
All of this leaves UK small business owners with nowhere to turn for honest, independent reviews of tools built for their industry.
TradePick fills that gap.
We're funded by affiliate commissions and a small number of UK small business owners who believe in what we're doing. We're independent. We'll stay that way.
What We've Learned
After reviewing software across tattoo studios, dog grooming businesses, personal training, roofing, and other specialist industries, a few patterns emerge:
1. Specialization matters.
A roofing company doesn't need a generic "small business" tool. They need something built for field service work, with quoting, scheduling, and site documentation. Generic tools force you to use features you don't need and miss things you do.
2. Mobile is non-negotiable.
If your industry involves work outside an office, the mobile app is everything. Your crew won't carry a laptop to a rooftop. Your groomer won't consult a desktop app while cutting hair. The mobile experience makes or breaks the tool.
3. Price scales with value.
The most expensive tool isn't always the best, but the cheapest rarely is. A £30-50/month tool that saves you 5 hours of admin per week is a bargain. A free tool that takes 2 hours to use properly is expensive.
4. Setup time is real.
Factor in 2-4 weeks to properly implement software. Training your team, loading customer data, configuring templates — it's work. Vendors rarely mention this. We do.
5. The review sites are broken.
Most software review sites (Capterra, G2, etc.) rate tools by "number of features" or aggregate user ratings. This misses the point. A simpler tool is often better if it solves the specific problem you have. Don't use feature count as the metric.
What We're Building Next
We're expanding to more industries:
- Electricians (software for quoting, scheduling, and invoicing)
- Plumbers (similar to electricians but with specific service call needs)
- Fitness studios (group training, membership management)
- Coaching and consulting (how coaches actually manage clients)
- Yoga studios (class scheduling, membership, payments)
If you run a UK trade or specialist business and want to see a review, get in touch.
Get in Touch
Questions? Want us to review a tool for your industry? Found an error in a review?
Email us: hello@tradepick.co.uk
We read everything and respond personally. We're small enough that you'll probably get a reply from Adam within a day or two.
You can also find us on social media @tradepick.
One More Thing
TradePick exists because UK small business owners deserve better. You've built something real. You're out on the job site, managing clients, running a business, and trying to grow. Most software review sites were built for American startups by American marketers.
You need something different.
That's why we're here.
Thanks for being here.
—Adam, TradePick