Insights & Market – Bark.com Blog

We’re limiting how many responses a lead receives!

Calling all professionals…

We’ve got some exciting news to share!

We’ve introduced a new feature which lets you see just how many professionals have responded to a lead, making it even easier for you to pick the best customers for your business.

We’re also limiting the number of responses a lead receives, and you’ll see this change for all of your categories!

We’ll now display what the limit is and how many responses a lead has, making it even easier to choose your leads wisely.

Keep an eye out for this information on your leads dashboard and in the emails we send you about new leads.

We’ll keep it short and sweet, but if you’d like to know more about this new feature, and more importantly, how it can benefit your business, drop us a line on team@bark.com.

Or give us a bell! Our friendly Customer Success team work around the clock so call them at a time that suits you. Find your region-specific number on our website and get in touch today.

We’ll keep working hard to make Bark the best place to grow your business.

We made it to the Rocket List 2021 – Bark is one of the top 50 companies to accelerate your career in London!

We’re thrilled to announce our debut in the Otta.com Rocket List 2021, recognising the top 50 companies to accelerate your career in London – what a way to kick off the year!

Find out why Bark’s a great place to work – https://otta.com/rocketlist/Bark

Our growth has been nothing short of phenomenal. In 2020 alone we hit some huge milestones – launching in the APAC region, opening our first office in Melbourne, reaching 10 million customer requests, and increasing our team from 40 to 85, to name a few. When you look at it in the context of 2020, that’s some pretty impressive stuff.

This wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing team. From the customer success agents who support our professionals in everything and anything to the development team who strive to make our product the best it can be, each team and individual is committed to propelling us towards our ultimate goal: to be the Amazon of Services.

Bark’s growth is matched by the growth of its employees. We’re in a scale-up phase, so new roles and opportunities are always being created to solve emerging challenges. You don’t need to be the most experienced team member to progress – talent and determination alone are enough. This culture of inclusion is what makes Bark such an exciting place to work. But don’t just take our word for it – here’s what the team have to say:

“Not only has my career grown since I started at Bark, but so has my confidence in the work I produce, my willingness to continually be learning, and my sense of accomplishment. None of this could be achieved without dedicated management and the constant support from other team members.”
Molly, Email Marketing Executive

“I was hired as a temp on the customer success team where I worked for 5 months. I was then promoted to Partnerships Manager and I’ve been in this role for 6 months. It’s a complete career change for me – before I was working in prisons and tertiary education in New Zealand, but I really do love it here. Bark has made me aware of other opportunities within the business right from the start and has fully supported and encouraged my career growth.”
Olivia, Partnerships Manager

“I joined Bark as a Customer Success Agent and moved into a marketing secondee role after a month. 3 months later I was made permanent, and I’ve never looked back. Bark recognises your strengths and helps you to cultivate them. I’ve been in here for 7 months and I can’t believe how much I’ve grown when I look back and reflect. The amount I’ve learned in such a short time is just incredible, and I’m so grateful for that.”
Katie, Content Executive

“I joined Bark as a temporary employee in 2019 and since then I’ve been promoted twice! First to a Customer Success Team Leader and now to a Customer Success Manager. I don’t think any other company would have offered me the same opportunity for growth, and in such a short amount of time!”
Jamaal, Customer Success Manager

Achieving the unrivalled growth Bark has in such challenging times is a reflection of its outstanding team and the innovative culture it promotes.

We can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2021 as we continue on our journey!

We’ve reached our 10 millionth customer request!

We’re wrapping up the year hitting a huge milestone here at Bark – we’ve reached our 10 millionth customer request!

It’s a pretty mind-boggling number, and a great moment to reflect on how thankful we are to the customers and professionals who have brought the platform to life.

Since Bark’s creation in 2015, we’ve grown pretty fast. Today, we’re able to serve customers in over a thousand different industries, plotting ourselves in eight different countries in all corners of the globe! And that’s all thanks to the talented professionals and customers using our platform.

This year it’s been more important than ever to support local businesses, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of the effort, assisting businesses as they move their services online.

When Bark began our mission was simple: to make finding and hiring local service professionals as quickly and easy as buying something from eBay or Amazon. While that hasn’t changed, we now have a much better chance of reaching that goal, thanks to the continued support of our professionals and customers.

We’re looking forward to seeing what the future holds as we move forward into 2021, together.

UK home improvement trends in Lockdown 1 vs. Lockdown 2

After the first UK lockdown in March 2020, we teamed up with https://homeownercosts.co.uk/ to see what kept Brits busy during the lockdown, by looking at the most in-demand home improvement trades on Bark during that period.

We learnt that most people made the most out of their time at home by getting well and truly stuck into home DIY projects, with demand skyrocketing for outdoor-themed services and home decorating projects.

UK Lockdown 1.0

After the second UK lockdown in November 2020, we decided to team up with https://homeownercosts.co.uk/ again to compare the increase in enquiries for the first 30 days starting from the first day of lockdown 1.0 vs. 2.0 (23rd March 2020 vs 5th November 2020). Here’s what we found:

UK Lockdown 1.0 vs. 2.0

Perhaps unsurprisingly, demand for draught-proofing soared in lockdown 2.0 compared to 1.0. Looks like the cold got the better of us!

Strangely, requests for bed bug extermination soared in lockdown 2.0 compared to lockdown 1.0 – your guess is as good as ours as to why!

And some good news, requests for solar panel installation increased massively in lockdown 2.0 compared to the first lockdown. Perhaps suggesting that we’re becoming more environmentally conscious as a nation – that was one good thing to come out of 2020 at least!

How much does a web designer cost in the UK? 2020

Updated: Read our latest 2021 Web Design Price Guide.

Average price of a web designer in the UK

£400 – £1,000

What can I expect to pay for a web designer?

Need your website revamped or built from scratch, but not sure of the cost? Find out how much your web design expert will charge depending on your location, website size, design complexity and more.

What is a web designer?

There’s far more to web design than meets the eye. Designing a professional website with clear, user friendly navigation is a work of art. On top of that, you need to factor in additional features like web compatibility, quality content, and search engine optimisation. If you’re trying to grow your business, getting your website off the ground is the last thing you need to worry about!

A web designer has the expert knowledge to ensure your website is search engine friendly and customised to your needs. They’ll remove the faff from the process and even save you money, as getting the job done right the first time around means you won’t have to worry about unexpected repair costs later down the line.

How much does a web designer cost in the UK?

It’s tricky to determine the price of web design as no two websites are the same. To make life easier, we’ve put together a rough breakdown of average web design costs based on local UK professionals:

Average Cost (in total)	£500 – £600
Minimum Cost (in total)	£250
Maximum Cost (in total)	£1,500 – £2,000+

However, web designers can charge anything up to £5,000 for larger and more complex projects. It’s always worth discussing your budget with your web designer up front so that you’re both on the same page.

What changes the price of hiring a web designer?

Location
Size
Design complexity

Location

Web designers set their prices to reflect the cost of living in their area. If you decide to hire a web designer in London, expect to pay more as the cost of living is higher than the rest of the UK.

If you live in the big smoke but you’re on a budget, don’t despair! Web design is a remote service, so it’s possible to hire someone based in another part of the country, or even the world to you. This gives you more flexibility when it comes to pricing.

If you do choose someone from the other size of the world, remember that time differences could make communication tricky, and could even slow your project down.

Size

When it comes to determining the cost of web design, size can’t be ignored. The larger the website, the more sophisticated capabilities it will require, increasing the time (and money!) it takes to design, build, and launch it.

Here’s a breakdown of average web design total costs based on website size:

Size of website	Type of website	Average Cost (in total)
Small	Basic	£200 – £500
Medium	Small business	£500 – £1,100
Large	Ecommerce Site	£1,000 – £2,500

When choosing the size of your website, it really depends on what you need the website to do. If you need a simple platform for posting blog content, a smaller sized website will do the trick. However, you might need a large website if you’re launching an e-commerce store, for example.

Design complexity

The complexity of design can also impact project costs. If you want to build a website for an e-commerce store, it will require far more pages, responsiveness, and animations than a simple blogger’s website.

The more complex the design, the more time it’ll take to complete, and time is money!

Is hiring a web designer worth the cost?

If the thought of web design costs is getting you in a wobble, read on for our top money saving tips:

Keep web pages to a minimum – The more pages you want your website to have, the more time it will take your designer to complete, which means higher costs! Keep charges to a minimum by cutting out any pages that aren’t absolutely necessary.
Get creative with your own photos – When choosing images for your website, avoid using costly stock photography. Why not tap into your creative side and take your own photos? This minimises costs as well as giving your website a personal touch.
Keep it simple – When it comes to website design, simple is often much more effective. Don’t go overboard with reams of content, images or videos. This will keep costs down, and users often prefer a simple interface anyway – so it’s a win win!

If you’re looking to update your blog, or take your business online, find a Web Designer on Bark.

How much does a house cleaner cost in the UK? 2020

Updated: Read our latest 2021 House Cleaner Price Guide.

Average price of a house cleaner in the UK

£10 – £20 per hour

What can I expect to pay for a house cleaner?

Want to hire a house cleaner but not sure of the cost? Read on to find out how much your cleaning expert will charge for regular visits, one-off cleaning services, deep cleans, and more. With the housework out of the way, you’ll have more time to focus on what matters in life.

Benefits of hiring a cleaning service

We all want a pristine home, but let’s be honest, scrubbing the floors or dusting for hours isn’t on the top of our list of priorities – especially when life is already so hectic! Whether you’re looking for a one-off clean or regular visits, hiring a house cleaner is a great way to keep your home in tip-top condition, giving you the time to focus on what’s important to you.

A house cleaner will be armed with the tools and knowledge to get rid of stubborn stains and keep your home germ-free. If you are looking for specialist services like oven or end of tenancy cleaning, Bark can help you find an expert for the job.

How much does a house cleaner cost in the UK?

There is no fixed rate for house cleaning, but to give you a general idea, we’ve put together a breakdown of the average cost based on the prices of local UK professionals:

Average cost (per hour)	£15
Minimum cost (per hour)	£10
Maximum cost (per hour)	£20

What changes the price of hiring a house cleaner?

The cost of domestic cleaning services can vary depending on a number of factors. These include:

Type of cleaning service
Number and size of rooms
Condition of your house – deep cleaning vs. regular cleaning
Location

Type of cleaning service

There are lots of different cleaning services available based on the requirements for your home. Some cleaning services need more time, effort, and specialist equipment than others, which makes them more expensive per hour. To get a better idea of how much different types of cleaning services cost on average, see our handy breakdown below:

Type of cleaning	Average price (per hour)
Window cleaning	£25
General cleaning	£15
Floor cleaning	£15
After building work cleaning	£14
Fridge cleaning	£12
Upholstery cleaning	£12

Some cleaning services are normally charged at a set price instead of per hour:

Type of cleaning	Average set price
Carpet cleaning (per room)	£25 – £35
Oven cleaning (per appliance)	£45 – £60

Number and size of rooms

It’s no surprise that the more rooms you have, the higher the price of a house cleaner will be. Some rooms take longer to clean than others. Bathrooms are notorious for being a pain to clean as they get dirty so quickly, so the more bathrooms you have, the more you will pay.

If you have bigger rooms, the cost per hour or set price will be higher. To give you an understanding of this, here’s how much a carpet cleaning service will cost on average depending on the size of the room:

Room size	Average cost (in total)
Small	£25
Medium	£30
Large	£35

Condition of your house

If you’ve neglected your home for too long, a house cleaner will charge more as they’ll need more time to whip it back into shape. If you feel like your home needs that extra little bit of TLC, you may want to hire someone for a deep clean, which is normally carried out every 3-6 months. A deep clean is more expensive than a regular clean, which is normally carried out every 1-2 weeks.

A regular clean involves:

Tidying the house
Cleaning the bathroom (toilet, shower, sink)
Cleaning the kitchen (wiping counters, cleaning hobs, removing rubbish)

A deep clean involves:

Removing limescale from shower heads
Oven cleaning
Window cleaning

Deep cleaning is more expensive as it requires a more thorough job.

Type of cleaning	Average price (per hour)
Regular cleaning	£10 – 15
Deep cleaning	£15 – £20

Location

Another factor to consider is your location. Like most services, expect to pay more if you live in bigger cities, like London. To give you a better idea, here is the average cost of a house cleaner in the big smoke compared to other parts of the UK. Find a house cleaner in London.

Location	Average price (per hour)
London	£15 – £20
Rest of UK	£10 – £15

How can I save money on house cleaning services?

Regular cleaning – If you hire a cleaner on a regular basis you will keep costs down as you won’t have to pay a hefty fee for a deep-cleaning service later down the line.
Keep labour time at a minimum – If you want to keep costs down, be picky when choosing which rooms need to be cleaned, as this will reduce the labour time needed and total price. Bedrooms are fairly low maintenance, so you could clean these yourself to minimise costs.
Price packages – Some cleaners will offer discounts for regular weekly or biweekly visits – so don’t be afraid to haggle!

Need a break from cleaning? Let us do the legwork for you. Find a House Cleaner on Bark.com

We’re 6th in the Tech Track 100 awards!

We’re starting the week off with some good news!

Thanks to your continued support, we’re thrilled to announce that with your help, we’ve ranked 6th in the Tech Track 100 awards.

The annual Tech Track 100 is a prestigious league table, ranking 100 of the fastest-growing tech companies, and we’re so happy to make our debut in the top 10. We’re in great company too, appearing alongside some of the most disruptive and innovative leaders in the tech sector. You can check out the full list of all featured companies here.

To top it off, we’ve also been named in the Startups 100 awards, the renowned annual league table of new businesses to watch in 2020.

We truly appreciate having you as a partner and we’re looking forward to helping you grow your business even further in the future.

Thanks again,

Team Bark

Top Ten Home Improvement Jobs During Covid19 UK Lockdown 1.0

With so much time suddenly on our hands, the first UK lockdown during March 2020 was a time for many of us to spruce up our homes with creative DIY projects or to finally get around to those long-neglected household tasks.

If you’re wondering which DIY projects kept Brits busy during lockdown, we’ve teamed up with tradesmencosts.co.uk to rank the top 10 home improvement trades on Bark for the first month of lockdown in the UK. Click the image below to view the top home improvement trends!

What kept us busy during life in lockdown?

It looks like most of us discovered our inner gardener, with the demand for outdoor-themed projects soaring. We also got creative with DIY home decorating projects, with requests for things like picture framing and curtain design rising all over the UK. And we finally got our hands dirty with those big projects we’ve been putting off for a while, with lots of requests for big home improvement jobs like bathroom design and roof repair.

Looking for someone to help you get those home improvement tasks done and dusted? Search Bark.com for trusted professionals to help you with all of your home improvement needs, from tree surgery and removal to residential and interior design.

Place a job on Bark today and get free quotes in minutes!

How much does a personal trainer cost in the UK? 2022

Updated: Read our latest 2022 Personal Trainer price guide.

Average price of a personal trainer in the UK

£30 – £60 per hour

What can I expect to pay for a personal trainer?

Want to hire a personal trainer but not sure of the cost? Don’t sweat it! Read our handy guide to find out how much your fitness expert will charge for 1-2-1 sessions, group classes, Crossfit training, and more.

What is a Personal Trainer?

We all want to be the best versions of ourselves, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin. With so many workout plans and exercise classes out there, finding a fitness routine that works for you can be daunting.

Whether it’s reaching your fitness goals, training for a marathon, or improving your technique, Bark can help you to find a personal trainer to give you the push you need to get there. A PT can support you through the hard days and celebrate the good ones, so what’s not to love?

How much does a personal trainer cost in the UK?

Achieving your fitness goals doesn’t happen overnight, so it’s essential to know how much hiring a personal trainer will cost. To give you an idea of how much people pay for a personal trainer, we’ve put together a handy breakdown of average costs based on the prices of local UK professionals:

Average Cost (per session)	£50
Minimum Cost (per session)	£30
Maximum Cost (per session)	£60

What changes the price of hiring a personal trainer?

The cost of a personal trainer can vary depending on a number of factors. These include:

The professional’s education and experience
One-to-one vs. group training sessions
Price per session – hourly rates or package deals
Type of training
Location

The personal trainer’s education and experience

When choosing a personal trainer it’s important to consider the level of their education and experience. In the UK, the Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification equips a personal trainer to work one-to-one with clients. Beyond this, their experience can range anywhere from having a degree in human anatomy and wellness to being a professional athlete. In a nutshell, the more experience your pro has, the more you pay.

An experienced or specialised trainer could charge up to £80 per hour – this can increase if you’re in a big city like London, so be prepared to spend big bucks if you’re looking to hire the creme de la creme in the capital.

One-to-one vs. group training sessions

Most professional trainers offer group and one-to-one training sessions. One-to-one classes are tailored to your individual needs, which is why they are more expensive than group sessions. Most group sessions are small, so while you might not get as much one-on-one attention, your personal trainer will still have plenty of time to tend to your needs. Working out with friends also lowers the cost per person, so it’s a win-win.

Price per session (hourly rate or package deals)

Personal trainers usually offer discounts on packages of multiple sessions which reduces the hourly rate. As most people want to hire a personal trainer over a longer period of time instead of for a one-time session, it’s a no brainer that paying for multiple sessions is the better option. Here’s a breakdown of common discounts offered by personal trainers, but don’t be afraid to haggle if you want a better deal.

Block of 10 Personal Training Sessions – 10% discount (on average)
Block of 20 Personal Training Sessions – 20% discount (on average)

Type of personal training

The cost per session can vary depending on the type of training. If you’re opting for Boxing or Crossfit, expect to pay more as personal trainers need advanced skills to teach these classes. To give you a better idea, we’ve put together a summary of common personal training types and their average costs:

Type of workout (per session)	Average cost
Strength training	£35
Boxing lessons	£50
CrossFit	£50
Circuit training	£30
High Intensity Interval (HIIT)	£50
Body sculpting	£30

If you want a tailor-made nutrition plan alongside your workouts, be prepared to pay more.

Location of your personal trainer

It’s no surprise that big cities have big prices. If you live somewhere like London, you could spend nearly double what you would elsewhere for a professional trainer with the same qualifications and experience.

Remember, prices in London can jump to around £80 – £120 if you are looking to hire a super-specialised or experienced instructor.

Here’s a rough breakdown of costs per location:

Location	Maximum Cost (per session)	Minimum Cost (per session)	Average Cost (per session)
Outside London	£40	£20	£30
Inside London	£120	£30	£50

Is hiring a personal trainer worth the cost?

With a personal trainer, you can set realistic, achievable goals tailored to your fitness ability and training needs. While it comes at a cost, having a healthier body and mind will be well worth the investment. A personal trainer also means you don’t need to fork out for monthly gym membership fees!

Your body is a temple, so give it the love and attention it deserves by hiring a personal trainer with Bark.

Find a Personal Trainer on Bark.com

Leeds tops the list of best places to start a business in the UK

For millions of business owners around the world, deciding where to set up shop is a vital decision, and one that could shape the future of their business for years to come. However, when making this decision there are numerous factors to consider, and choosing the right place can be difficult.

At Bark.com we have access to hundreds of thousands of price points from numerous business services across the UK, so decided to put our data to good use to find out where in the UK is the best place to start a business.

We analysed location price data from the last three years across accounting, recruitment, IT support, website creation and management, marketing, SEO, internet and phone providers to find out the average start-up cost per city in the UK.

We also took into account talent pool size, broadband quality and rent costs because some cities are incredibly cheap but wouldn’t be a viable home for most businesses. For example, Wells is cheap in terms of rent and business services, however is poor in terms of talent and broadband service.

Here is the full list of the ten best places to start a business in the UK, as well as each city’s average annual business launch cost:

1) Leeds – £15,550

2) Cardiff – £15,725

3) Liverpool – £15,744

4) Bristol – £16,013

5) Swansea – £16,082

6) Newcastle – £16,150

7) Birmingham – £16,368

8) Manchester – £17,129

9) Edinburgh – £17,174

10) London – £75,990

And here is the full list of the ten ‘worst’ places to start a business in the UK, as well as each city’s average annual business launch cost:

1) Truro – £22,306

2) St.Davids – £8,511

3) Bangor – £8,930

4) Wells – £15,299

5) Stirling – £15,482

6) Ripon – £7,989

7) Lichfield – £11,083

8) Perth – £9,007

9) Preston – £20,162

10) Salisbury – £19,405

The above cities have made the top ten ‘worst’ list because of either a very poor talent pool size, high rent and service provider costs or poor broadband, or a combination of these factors.

These average annual costs consider office rental, the cost of hiring a marketing, IT support, recruitment, accountancy, website and SEO agency, as well as the cost of internet and phone providers. It does not consider employee wages or corporation tax.

Kai Feller, co-founder of Bark.com said,

“When it comes to starting a business, choosing where to set up shop is always one of your first decisions. For decades, London has been the obvious choice for new businesses, however, we’re seeing that more and more people are opting to start their enterprise outside of the capital.

“Like Manchester and Birmingham, Leeds is fast becoming recognised as a business hotspot, so it’s not a surprise that it tops our list. It’s great to see the North of England getting the business accolade it deserves.”