Rank and rent still works—but not in the way most people first hear about it. The idea of renting a single site for a flat $1,000 per month sounds great on paper, but in practice it’s unreliable and creates friction. Where rank and rent really shines today is as a relationship starter that leads into performance-based deals and long-term retainers that are easier to maintain and scale.
Table of Contents
What rank and rent really is
Rank and rent means we build a website, get it to rank in search, and then lease it to a local business for a monthly fee. The business gets leads. We get steady income. That sounds simple, but real life is more mixed.
Why a straight $1,000/month rental is hard
Monthly rent sounds attractive. But it has problems.
- Income swings: Lead volume goes up and down. When leads spike, renters rarely tip or pay extra. When leads drop, they call and complain.
- Customer friction: It is harder to keep renters happy during slow months. That causes churn and headaches for us.
- Low perceived value: A renter might not see the need to pay a high flat fee when leads are uneven. They want pay-for-performance.
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Better options: pay-per-lead and revenue share
We prefer models that link payment to results. Two common ones are pay-per-lead and revenue share.
- Pay-per-lead: The renter pays for each lead we send. This makes costs predictable for them and ties our earnings to volume.
- Revenue share: We take a percentage of closed jobs. This aligns incentives. We only get paid when they win business.
For many trades, revenue share works well because the products or parts have low cost and the price is mostly labor. That makes splits simple to calculate.
How we price revenue share
Our typical split depends on the industry. With tree services we use a flat 10 percent of any job the contractor closes that came from our leads. That is easy to track because jobs are mostly labor and there are few material costs.
We have used other deals in different markets. For a remodeling client we received 5 percent of profit margin, not of gross. Remodeling had bigger material and subcontractor costs, so the split needed to match the actual profit.
Using rank and rent as a foot in the door
Instead of charging $1,000 a month to rent one site, we often list the site for a low fee like $99 per month. That fee gives the renter a cheap way to test the leads. It also opens a path to sell higher-value work.
- Low rent = easy yes: A small monthly fee reduces friction for the business to try the service.
- Upsell to retainer: Once the business sees lead potential, we sell brand-building and full-service SEO on a retainer. Our average retainer for tree contractors is around $1,000 a month.
- Better for long term: The retainer focuses on building the company’s own branded traffic so they rely less on third-party sources.
Why recommend a retainer alongside rentals
We tell business owners not to depend only on other people for leads. Buying leads helps early on. But a branded, owned presence keeps them safe long term. A rank and rent site can fill the gap while the retainer work grows organic leads.
“When the site sends a lot of leads, they do not contact you. When it sends fewer leads, they complain.”
How we set expectations and track payments
Clear contracts matter. For revenue share we agree on how to prove a lead came from our site. For pay-per-lead we set lead definitions so both sides know when a lead is billable. For low monthly rentals we include a clause that explains upsell options and the path to retainer work.
We also track leads with simple tools. Call tracking, form IDs, and job reports from the contractor help prove results. That keeps disputes low and relationships smooth.
When rank and rent still makes sense
Rank and rent is useful when:
- We need a quick way to show value to a local business.
- The market supports lead volume and a business wants a low-risk test.
- We plan to move the client into a retainer or revenue share model later.
It is less useful if we expect one site to reliably pay $1,000 per month without any additional services or performance-based incentives.
Roadmap to earn $1,000 per month from a rank and rent strategy
- Build and rank the site for a local niche.
- Offer a low monthly rental, for example $99, to get the client started.
- Track every lead and close. Use call tracking and simple forms.
- Move to a revenue share or pay-per-lead if the client prefers performance-based costs.
- Pitch a retainer for branded SEO, local listings, and ongoing growth. Aim for a $1,000 retainer as the long-term revenue goal.
Quick tips for contracts and client talk
- Set clear lead definitions and proof methods up front.
- Include a trial rental period at a low monthly cost.
- Be transparent about slow months and how you will handle them.
- Offer revenue share as a fair, aligned option when the industry supports it.
- Use the rental to upsell to retainer work that builds owned traffic.
FAQ
Is rank and rent still a good way to make $1,000 a month?
Yes, but usually not from one site's rental fee alone. We use rank and rent as a stepping stone. A low rental fee plus an upsell to a $1,000 retainer is an easier and more steady path.
How should we price a rank and rent site?
We often price rentals low, like $99 per month, to reduce signup friction. For performance-based work, use pay-per-lead or revenue share. The exact split depends on the trade and job margins.
What industries work best for revenue share?
Trades with low material costs and high labor, such as tree services, work well. Remodeling can work too but the split should account for material and subcontractor costs.
How do we handle slow months for clients?
Be upfront in contracts, track leads, and offer performance models. A retainer for brand building helps reduce reliance on third-party leads and evens out lead flow over time.
What proof do we need for revenue share?
Use call tracking, unique forms, and job reports. Agree on the proof method in the contract so both sides know when a lead counts and how payment will be calculated.