For U.S. trade business owners
Plain-language guides for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, landscaping, auto and other service businesses: Google Business Profile, websites, reviews, job software and IRS records, so you can pick a better tool, or confirm the one you have is already fine.
Start here
Setting up or fixing a Google Business Profile for a service business: the cost, hiding a home address, service areas, name and category rules, verification, and how ranking works.
How to ask for reviews the right way: the FTC’s 2024 rule on fake and paid reviews, Google’s stricter review policy, employee and family reviews, and handling bad reviews.
Questions to ask before you pay for scheduling, estimating, invoicing or job-management software: what you really need, data export, security, records and trials.
How we work
One trade owner, a quiet phone, and six fixes that are mostly free to check, each tied to the official Google, FTC or FCC source.
The 2026 IRS standard mileage rates, standard rate vs. actual expenses, what a mileage log must show, whether an app counts, and how long to keep the records.
The pages a service business website needs, what Google’s own SEO guide says matters and doesn’t, license numbers in ads, and basic account security.
Consent for automated and marketing texts, the 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. rule, the Do-Not-Call registry, and the federal opt-out rules (“stop,” “quit,” “cancel” and more, honored within ten business days), from the FCC’s rule text.
What the U.S. Department of Justice’s web accessibility guidance says about businesses open to the public, the common barriers it lists, and a practical check you can run on your own site.
Why the domain should be registered to your business, what ICANN rules say about renewal reminders, expiry and transfers, and the SPF, DKIM and DMARC basics Gmail requires from senders.
How Google Local Services Ads charge per lead, what counts as a valid lead (including the 20-second missed-call rule), lead credits, the Google Verified badge, and what screening involves in the U.S.
Software and website advice for trade businesses, with real sources. New videos on the True Trade Guide YouTube channel.
General information only, not professional, tax or legal advice. Platform policies, tax rules, licensing rules and software prices change and can vary by state: check the official source, and talk to a tax professional or attorney about your own situation.
