Quick Answer
Live transfer leads connect you directly with homeowners on the phone right now (30-50% conversion, $45-85/lead = $150-225 cost per job) compared to shared leads sold to 5-10 contractors (8-12% conversion, $20-40/lead = $208-333/job). Live transfers cost more upfront but deliver 2-3x better ROI through exclusive connections, eliminating competition and homeowner fatigue. Best for contractors prioritizing conversion rate over volume.
Live Transfer vs Shared Leads: Complete Comparison for Contractors
Understand the critical differences between live transfer and shared leads, conversion rates, cost per job, and which lead type delivers the best ROI for your contracting business.
Table of Contents
What Is a Live Transfer Lead vs a Shared Lead?
Live Transfer Lead
A live transfer lead connects you directly with a homeowner on the phone right now. Our team pre-qualifies the homeowner, verifies their need and service area, then transfers the call to you. You speak with a warm, ready-to-hire customer immediately.
Shared Lead
A shared lead is a web form submission (name, phone, address, service needed) sold to 5-10 contractors simultaneously. You receive the homeowner's contact info and must cold-call them, competing with 5-10 other contractors trying to reach the same person.
How Live Transfer vs Shared Leads Work
Live Transfer Process
Homeowner Contacts Us
Homeowner calls our phone number or fills out form requesting service (e.g., "need AC repair").
Pre-Qualification
Our team verifies genuine need, confirms service area, assesses urgency, and qualifies budget/timeline.
Instant Transfer
We connect homeowner directly to your phone. You answer and speak with a warm, ready-to-hire customer immediately.
Close the Deal
No competition. No cold calling. Just you and a qualified homeowner. Schedule the job, provide quote, close the sale.
Shared Lead Process
Homeowner Fills Form
Homeowner submits web form with name, phone, address, service needed. Often generic, minimal qualification.
Sold to 5-10 Contractors
Lead platform sells the same contact info to 5-10 contractors in the area simultaneously. Everyone gets the same name/phone.
Race to Respond
All 10 contractors receive lead notification. Homeowner gets bombarded with 30+ calls/texts in first hour. Most stop answering after 3-5 calls.
Cold Call Competition
You must call immediately (sub-5 minutes) or lose. Homeowner is confused, annoyed, comparing quotes from 10 contractors. Low close rate.
Side-by-Side Feature Comparison
| Feature | Live Transfer | Shared Lead |
|---|---|---|
| Exclusivity | 100% Exclusive | Sold to 5-10 contractors |
| Connection Speed | Immediate (on phone now) | Must call back (cold) |
| Pre-Qualification | Yes (verified need) | Minimal or none |
| Competition | Zero | 5-10 other contractors |
| Lead Cost | $45-$85 | $20-$40 |
| Conversion Rate | 30-50% | 8-12% |
| Cost Per Job | $150-$225 | $208-$333 |
| Response Time Required | None (already connected) | <5 minutes or lose |
| Homeowner Experience | Warm, expecting call | Annoyed, bombarded |
| Follow-Up Required | Minimal | Aggressive (multiple attempts) |
Cost Per Job Analysis by Industry
| Industry | Live Transfer Cost/Job | Shared Lead Cost/Job | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | $187-$214 | $250-$333 | $63-$119 |
| Roofing | $178-$225 | $300-$417 | $122-$192 |
| Plumbing | $138-$194 | $250-$333 | $112-$139 |
| Electrical | $125-$181 | $208-$292 | $83-$111 |
| Remodeling | $167-$250 | $375-$625 | $208-$375 |
Key Insight: Despite higher per-lead costs, live transfers deliver $83-$375 lower cost per job across all industries due to 3-5x better conversion rates.
When to Use Live Transfers vs Shared Leads
Use Live Transfers When:
- You prioritize conversion rate over lead volume
- You want predictable, consistent quality leads
- You don't have time to chase cold leads all day
- You focus on service quality over aggressive sales
- You want lowest cost per job, not cheapest leads
- You serve high-value services (HVAC, roofing, remodeling)
Use Shared Leads When:
- You have dedicated inside sales team for instant callbacks
- You can respond within 2-5 minutes consistently
- You're in very low-competition market (rare)
- You prioritize lead volume over conversion rate
- You have aggressive follow-up processes and CRM
- You want to supplement live transfers during slow periods
Recommendation: 90% of contractors see better ROI with live transfers. The 3-5x higher conversion rate more than offsets the higher per-lead cost, resulting in lower cost per job and better customer experience.
Real-World ROI Scenarios
Scenario 1: HVAC Contractor with $100/week Lead Budget
Live Transfers
- Budget: $100/week
- Leads purchased: 1.5 leads at $70/lead
- Conversion rate: 40%
- Jobs closed: 0.6 jobs/week (2.4/month)
- Cost per job: $175
- Monthly: 2.4 jobs for $400 spend
Shared Leads
- Budget: $100/week
- Leads purchased: 3.3 leads at $30/lead
- Conversion rate: 10%
- Jobs closed: 0.33 jobs/week (1.3/month)
- Cost per job: $300
- Monthly: 1.3 jobs for $400 spend
Result: Live transfers deliver 85% more jobs (2.4 vs 1.3) for the same budget, with $125 lower cost per job.
Scenario 2: Roofing Contractor Targeting 10 Jobs/Month
Live Transfers
- Target: 10 jobs/month
- Conversion rate: 40%
- Leads needed: 25 leads
- Lead cost: $75/lead
- Total spend: $1,875
- Cost per job: $188
- Spend $1,875 for 10 jobs
Shared Leads
- Target: 10 jobs/month
- Conversion rate: 10%
- Leads needed: 100 leads
- Lead cost: $40/lead
- Total spend: $4,000
- Cost per job: $400
- Spend $4,000 for 10 jobs
Result: Live transfers save $2,125/month ($212/job savings × 10 jobs) to reach the same number of jobs.
Live Transfer vs Shared Leads FAQs
What is the main difference between live transfer and shared leads?
Live transfer leads connect you directly with a homeowner on the phone right now, exclusively to you. Shared leads are web form submissions sold to 5-10 contractors simultaneously, requiring you to cold-call and compete. Live transfers convert at 30-50% vs 8-12% for shared leads.
Why do live transfer leads cost more but have lower cost per job?
Live transfers cost $45-85 per lead vs $20-40 for shared leads. However, live transfers convert at 30-50% ($150-225/job) while shared convert at 8-12% ($208-333/job). Higher conversion more than offsets the higher upfront cost.
How quickly do I need to respond to each lead type?
Live transfers connect you immediately—no response time needed. Shared leads require <5 minute response or you lose to 5-10 other contractors calling the same homeowner. First to respond wins 60% of shared leads.
Can I use both live transfer and shared leads together?
Yes. Many contractors use live transfers for primary lead flow (consistent quality) and supplement with shared leads during slow periods. However, shared leads require aggressive follow-up that can distract from serving live transfer customers well.
Are shared leads ever better than live transfers?
Shared leads may work if: (1) you have dedicated inside sales team for instant callbacks, (2) your close rate is already high (20%+), or (3) you're in very low-competition market. For most contractors, live transfers deliver better ROI.
What is the biggest complaint about shared leads?
Homeowner fatigue. When the same lead is sold to 10 contractors, the homeowner gets bombarded with 30+ calls/texts in the first hour. By the time you call, they're annoyed and stop answering. Live transfers eliminate this entirely.
Do live transfer leads work for all industries?
Yes. Live transfers work across all home services: HVAC (35-45% conversion), Plumbing (30-40%), Roofing (35-45%), Electrical (30-40%), and more. Shared leads underperform in all industries due to competition.
How do contractors typically describe the difference?
Live transfers: "I talk to ready-to-hire homeowners immediately, no competition, close 40% of calls." Shared leads: "I chase cold leads competing with 10 other contractors, close maybe 10% if I'm lucky and respond instantly."
What happens if the live transfer lead doesn't answer or disconnects?
If technical issues prevent the transfer, you receive a callback lead (homeowner info) at no charge, or the lead is credited. We only charge for successful connections. Shared leads charge you even if the homeowner never answers anyone.
Can I get exclusive shared leads instead of live transfers?
Some platforms offer "exclusive" shared leads (sold to only you), but they're still cold web forms requiring callbacks. These typically cost 60-80% of live transfer prices with 15-25% conversion—worse ROI than live transfers.
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