Money goes into a secure account before the work starts — and only releases when each stage is finished. The system is called escrow; it's how solicitors handle property deposits, applied to home improvements. Tradespeople get certainty. Homeowners get protection.
Every job is funded into escrow before you start. You begin work knowing the money is already there, ready to release as you finish each stage.
Hold funds securely in escrow. Release them stage-by-stage as you confirm the work is complete and to your satisfaction.
From quote to payment, every job follows the same protected path.
Client and tradesperson break the job into clear stages, with prices agreed for each one upfront — no surprises later.
The client pays the full agreed amount into escrow. Funds are held by our FCA-authorised payment partner — never by PayTrader directly.
The tradesperson finishes each stage and uploads photo proof. The client confirms in the app — usually within minutes.
Once confirmed, payment for that stage releases automatically. On to the next stage — or job done, fairly paid.
Most jobs go smoothly. PayTrader is designed for the ones that don't.
Funds are held by a regulated UK payment provider — never by PayTrader. We don't touch your money. We just make sure it moves at the right time.
Every tradesperson passes identity verification before they can take a job — photo ID, biometric match, sanctions checks. You always know who you're hiring.
If something goes wrong, our dispute team steps in. Multi-stage review, evidence-based outcomes, and an independent ombudsman as a final route — built into every job.
Join the waitlist and we'll let you know the moment PayTrader is live in the UK. No spam — just the launch email.
We'll only email you at launch. No spam.
Escrow is when a trusted third party holds money during a transaction so neither side has to take a leap of faith. The buyer's money is secure (it goes nowhere until they say so). The seller knows the money is there (no chasing, no excuses).
It's how solicitors handle house deposits, how big businesses pay each other on long projects, and how PayTrader handles every job. The concept is centuries old — applying it to home improvements is what's new.
We're in private development now and aiming for a UK launch in 2026. The waitlist is the fastest way to know the moment it's live — early access goes to people on the list first.
PayTrader takes a small percentage from each side when funds are released — split fairly between client and tradesperson. There are no monthly fees, no hidden charges, and nothing to pay until a stage releases.
Final pricing will be confirmed at launch. People on the waitlist will see it first.
Funds are held by a regulated UK payment provider — not by PayTrader. We coordinate the release of funds based on what both parties confirm in the app, but the money itself sits in a safeguarded account, ringfenced from PayTrader's own finances.
Either party can raise a dispute on a stage they're not happy with. The funds for that stage are paused while our dispute team reviews evidence from both sides — photos, messages, proof of work — and proposes a fair resolution.
If the dispute can't be resolved on-platform, it goes to an independent ombudsman scheme. Either way, no funds move until it's settled fairly.
Any trade where work is done in stages and paid in stages — plumbing, electrical, joinery, decorating, landscaping, kitchen and bathroom fitters, plasterers, builders. If you can break the job into stages, PayTrader works for you.
PayTrader is registered with the UK Information Commissioner's Office and complies with the UK GDPR. We collect only what we need to run the platform, never sell your data, and document every sub-processor we work with. Full details will be in our published Privacy Policy at launch.
Join the waitlist. When PayTrader launches, you'll get an invite to download the app, complete a quick identity check, and start accepting jobs. The whole signup takes about 10 minutes.
You're never forced to release funds for work you're not satisfied with. If you raise a concern, the stage is paused and our team helps mediate. You also have a 14-day cancellation right under UK consumer law — clearly explained at signup.