CD Onboarding and Due Diligence
The right contractors start with the right checks
Choosing a contractor means trusting a business with your property, your budget and your plans. You deserve to know who you are working with and why they have been recommended.
3+ years
Evidence of operating history
5
Client references required
12 months
Bank statements reviewed by CMS
Every project
Reviewed after onboarding
Our process
How we assess contractors before they join our network
At Contractors Direct, we carry out a structured due diligence and onboarding process before a contractor joins our network. We assess their business background, documentation, project experience, quality of work, pricing approach and financial standing.
Here is what that process involves.
Stage 1 · Steps 01–02
Business background
Who they are, how long they have operated and what they are licensed to do.
01
Reviewing their business background
We review the contractor’s business information to establish their background, the services they offer and evidence that they have been operating for more than three years.
We look for a track record relevant to our clients’ needs, including residential renovations, commercial fit-outs or both.
Why this matters
An established business with relevant experience provides a stronger starting point for assessing suitability.
02
Checking their trade licence and company profile
We review the contractor’s trade licence and company profile to understand the business, its licensed activities and its stated capabilities.
We assess whether these align with the services they offer and the projects we introduce.
Why this matters
A contractor’s business credentials should support the work they are being considered for.
Stage 2 · Steps 03–05
People and projects
Meeting the team, seeing their work on site and reviewing how they price.
03
Meeting the people behind the business
We hold an initial meeting, online or in person, to understand how the contractor operates and which projects they are equipped to deliver.
We discuss:
- The cities and areas they cover.
- Their residential and commercial experience.
- Their services and specialist capabilities.
- The project sizes they typically undertake.
- Their team structure and key contacts.
Why this matters
Understanding a contractor’s strengths helps us make introductions that are relevant to your project.
GateContractors who are unsuitable, or whose services are not currently required, do not progress to the next stage.04
Visiting live and completed projects
We visit active sites to see how contractors work today. While a project is underway, we can observe how the team organises the site, coordinates trades and maintains workmanship before the final finishes go in. We also visit completed projects to assess the quality of the finish.
OngoingSite visits continue after onboarding, giving us a current view of how contractors are working across our network.05
Reviewing their pricing approach
We request a sample Bill of Quantities, commonly known as a BOQ, to understand how the contractor structures and presents their pricing.
We review how they describe the proposed work and its associated costs.
Why this matters
Clear, structured pricing helps clients understand what they are paying for and provides a better basis for comparing proposals.
Stage 3 · Steps 06–09
Assessment and evidence
A documented recommendation, backed by references, records and independent financial checks.
06
Completing a formal onboarding assessment
We record our findings in an Onboarding Assessment Report and prepare a recommendation on whether the contractor should proceed.
This brings the business review, meetings, site visits and pricing review into one documented assessment.
Why this matters
Joining our network requires an assessment and an endorsement to proceed.
GateContractors assessed as unsuitable do not move forward with registration.07
Requesting client references and project evidence
Contractors endorsed to continue must provide:
- Five client references for customer reviews.
- Five high-resolution photographs of completed projects for each relevant service category, residential, commercial or both.
These materials support our assessment of their experience and help us present their work to prospective clients.
Why this matters
Client references and completed project examples add context to the contractor’s own description of their services.
08
Collecting supporting business documents
As part of onboarding, we request copies of the contractor’s:
- VAT certificate.
- Insurance documentation.
- Organisation chart.
These sit alongside their trade licence, company profile and signed Service Agreement in our contractor records.
Why this matters
Supporting documents help us build a fuller picture of the business, its structure and its arrangements.
Step 09 · With CMS Credit Management Services
Independent financial due diligence
Our onboarding includes third-party credit checks through CMS Credit Management Services, alongside supplier interviews, to assess financial standing and payment behaviour.
With the contractor’s consent, CMS reviews 12 months of bank statements across their operating accounts. The assessment examines:
Supplier payments
Payment regularity, delays and returned transactions.
Client receipts
Consistency of incoming funds and reliance on a small number of clients.
Financial resilience
Cash reserves, overdraft reliance, cashflow trends and payroll coverage.
The credit report
The findings inform a credit report covering the contractor’s risk profile, potential concerns and recommended project size and financial exposure limit.
Why this matters
Financial pressure can affect materials, supplier relationships and continuity on site. These checks help identify warning signs beyond workmanship and experience.
Stage 4 · Steps 10–12
Agreement and registration
Formalising the relationship and preparing the contractor to receive your enquiry.
10
Formalising the relationship
Contractors who pass our assessment receive formal confirmation, a Service Agreement and a registration fee invoice.
They must sign and return the agreement and pay the registration fee before onboarding can be completed.
Why this matters
A formal agreement establishes the basis of the contractor’s relationship with Contractors Direct.
GateAcceptance depends on passing our assessment.11
Preparing the contractor to receive enquiries
We identify the person responsible for coordinating project enquiries and arrange online training on our leads process.
The contractor also receives a written training guide for future reference.
Why this matters
Clear ownership and an understanding of the process help contractors handle client introductions consistently.
12
Completing registration and tracking key renewals
Before activating the contractor’s profile, we organise their company information, project photographs and required documents in our systems.
We set reminders for trade licence and Service Agreement expiry dates to support renewal follow-up. Once registration is complete, the contractor receives a welcome email and their process guide.
Why this matters
Thorough onboarding includes organised records and tracking key dates after the initial assessment.
Stage 5 · Step 13
Ongoing review
Checks continue for as long as a contractor is in our network.
13
Reviewing performance on every project
We review contractor performance on every project undertaken through Contractors Direct. Our team carries out an internal assessment, and after completion we ask the client or project owner for feedback on their experience.
We use these reviews alongside ongoing site visits to track performance over time. When concerns arise, we follow up with the contractor.
OngoingTheir performance informs both future project introductions and whether they remain on the platform.
The result
Greater confidence in your contractor choice
Our process brings together business checks, personal meetings, site visits, pricing reviews, client references and financial assessments to support more informed contractor introductions.
- Business checks
- Personal meetings
- Site visits
- Pricing reviews
- Client references
- Financial assessments
No vetting process can guarantee future financial performance or project completion. It can give you a stronger basis for choosing who to trust with your fit-out or renovation.