Hire on Barota

Trade connects you with trusted local providers — plumbers, electricians, cleaners, tutors, caterers and more. It works two ways: find a provider, or post a job and get quotes.

If you need something done (clients)

Post a job

1. Go to Hire → Post a job.
2. Describe what you need, choose a category, add your location, budget and timeline.
3. Tap Post job & get quotes.

Providers in your area will send you quotes.

Compare quotes and hire

1. Open My requests and tap your job.
2. Each quote shows the provider's price, timeline and a message. Tap a provider's name to see their profile and reviews.
3. When you're happy, tap Accept & pay. You pay securely into escrow through our payment gateway.
4. The money is held safely and only released to the provider after the job is done.

During and after the job

• The provider marks the job started; you confirm completion when it's finished.
• Funds release to the provider 72 hours after you confirm completion.
• Leave a star review to help the community.

If you offer services (providers)

Set up your profile

Offering services requires a Business or Organisation account. If you have a personal account, you will be asked to upgrade in Settings → Account → Account Type first.

1. Go to Hire → Offer services (or Provider dashboard → Set up profile).
2. Complete the 5 steps: your trade & description, location & service radius, your rates, availability, and any Barota Checked / Barota Verified badge.
3. You must accept the service provider terms before your profile can go live.
4. Regulated trades (electrical, heating & gas, roofing, building & construction, legal, accounting) cannot self-assign a Verified badge and are reviewed before going live. Upload your professional credentials to safety@barota.co, and we will notify you once approved.

Win work

1. Open your Provider dashboard to see open job requests in your trade and area.
2. Tap Send a quote with your price, timeline and a short message.
3. If the client accepts, the job appears under My jobs.

Complete and get paid

• Tap Start job when you begin. The client confirms completion at the end.
• Your payout (the agreed price minus Barota's 5% fee) releases 72 hours after completion — track it in Earnings.
• Reviews from happy clients build your rating and win you more work.

Common questions

How much does Barota charge? Barota takes a 5% platform fee from the provider on completed jobs. Posting a job and sending quotes is free.

When do I get paid? 72 hours after the client confirms the job is complete. You withdraw from Earnings.

What if there's a problem? Because payment is held in escrow, funds aren't released until you confirm completion. Disputes can be raised for Barota to review.

What do the badges mean? Barota Checked means ID-verified; Barota Verified means credentials verified. Always check reviews too.

What if my provider's background check lapses? If the service involves children or other vulnerable people and the provider's background check lapses, your sessions with them pause and you're told. If it's renewed within 14 days, they carry on as booked; if not, the money held for work not yet done is refunded in full, and if work had already started, a person at Barota decides what's refunded and what's paid. Barota won't move you to another provider: choosing a new one is your decision.

Troubleshooting

• No quotes yet — give it a little time, or broaden your budget/description.
• Can't send a quote — make sure you've set up your provider profile first.
• Payment didn't go through — you can retry from the request; the job stays reserved for you.
• No open requests in my dashboard — requests are matched to your trade; check your profile's trade type is correct.