Questions & honest answers
The parts people actually ask.
No fine print, no hidden fees. Here's exactly how Yardstick works for contractors, homeowners, and the neighbors who scan the sign — in St. Louis & St. Charles County, MO.
Group 01
For contractors
What does it cost?+
Joining is free and there is no membership — ever. Signs are billed at our actual vendor cost with zero margin. Leads are free too. Our only charge is a success fee: 50% of the reward you set for the homeowner, with a $100 minimum, and it's billed only on a confirmed close.
When am I charged?+
Only when a lead becomes a paying job. We confirm the close, then charge 50% of the reward you set ($100 minimum). You never pay for leads that don't close, and you never pay a monthly fee.
Are leads exclusive?+
Yes. Every lead is yours alone, exclusive and perpetual. We never sell or share a lead with another contractor — not now, not later.
What happens if I don't close a lead?+
Nothing. You owe us nothing for leads that don't turn into jobs. The success fee exists only on a confirmed close, so an unclosed lead simply costs you $0.
Do I need a subscription?+
No. There is no subscription and no membership tier. Your account, your project pages, and your leads stay free for as long as you use Yardstick.
When do I add a card?+
Not at signup. We collect a card only when you place your first sign order — never before. It stays on file so we can charge the success fee if and when a lead closes.
Group 02
For homeowners
How do I earn a reward?+
Host a Yardstick sign for the contractor who did your project. When a neighbor scans it, requests a quote, and hires that contractor, you earn a reward — funded by the contractor and set by them.
Who pays it?+
Your contractor funds the reward. Rewards are funded by your contractor and paid to you the moment they clear — typically within days of a confirmed hire. We never pay you ourselves and nothing is guaranteed — the reward is paid once the contractor's payment for the job clears.
Can I remove the sign or page?+
Anytime. You hold an absolute kill switch: pull the sign or take down the project page whenever you want, no questions asked.
Do you show my name or address?+
Never. Your name and street address are never published — a page shows the general area only, so neighbors can place the project without exposing your home.
Do I control the photos and the cost shown?+
Completely. You approve every photo before it goes public, and you toggle whether cost appears at all. When it does, it's a range only (roughly ±15%) — we never publish the exact figure.
Group 03
For neighbors
Do I need an account to see a project?+
No account needed. Scan the sign or open the link and the project page loads — real photos and an honest cost range, no signup, no login.
Is the cost real?+
Yes. It comes from the homeowner's actual project, shown as a range (about ±15%) rather than an exact number. It's a real local job, not a national-average estimate.
Will my info be shared or sold?+
No. If you request a quote, your identity stays private and is never shown to the homeowner who hosts the sign. We don't sell or share your information — a lead goes to one contractor, exclusively, and no one else.
Still have a question?
The fastest way to see how it works is to start. Joining is free, and you won't add a card until your first sign order.
Free to join. Signs at cost. Free leads forever. We make money only when you do.