Jake’s List says nationwide launch nears 1 million searches

Jake’s List says its new platform for service businesses has drawn nearly 1 million customer searches and 300,000 reviews since its nationwide launch. The Akron-based company is pitching the tool as a way for contractors to review customers before taking on residential work.

Why it matters: - Jake’s List is trying to shift online reviews from a one-way consumer tool into a two-way marketplace for service work. - The platform is aimed at helping contractors and other residential service providers reduce risk before they spend time, labor and materials on a job. - The company says the approach could give good customers a public record too, not just difficult ones.

What happened: - Jake’s List said its nationwide platform is approaching 1 million customer searches and 300,000 customer reviews, based on internal platform data. - The Akron, Ohio-based company built the platform for service businesses across the U.S. after its nationwide launch. - Jake’s List lets service professionals search customer information and share experiences with customers before deciding whether to quote or accept work.

The details: - Service businesses can document both positive and negative customer experiences on the platform. - The platform is intended to help businesses recognize reliable customers and flag problematic ones. - Jake’s List says positive behavior can include clear communication, reasonable property access, payment on agreed terms and professional relationships with contractors. - The company says the goal is to create a fuller picture of the customer experience that includes both good and bad reviews. - The platform is built for residential service providers, including HVAC contractors, plumbers, electricians, roofers, general contractors, remodelers, concrete contractors, landscapers, painters, flooring contractors, cleaning companies, pest-control companies, restoration companies, tree-service companies, pool-service companies, fencing contractors, garage-door companies, handymen, pressure-washing companies, junk-removal companies and appliance-repair companies. - Customer reviews are free to leave on the platform. - Jake’s List says it plans to keep building tools and information resources for the service-business industry. - The company directs users to learn more on its website.

Between the lines: - The pitch taps into a common pain point for contractors: they often commit time and money before they know whether a customer is easy to work with. - By framing customers as review subjects, Jake’s List is trying to rebalance leverage between homeowners and service businesses. - The model also suggests the company wants to build network effects fast by making participation free.

What’s next: - Jake’s List plans to expand the amount of customer feedback and business-use information available on the platform as more service businesses join. - The company says its long-term vision goes beyond reviews into additional tools for the industry. - Growth in participation will determine whether the platform becomes a broad national database of customer experiences or stays a niche tool for contractors.