Lead Smart Inc reports significant increase in median call payouts

Lead Smart Inc, a leading pay-per-call and lead-generation affiliate network for home services, has released its September 2026 payout file, revealing a significant increase in median call payouts. The company reported 296,513 live ZIP-code and service combinations across 41,259 United States ZIP codes, 28 verticals, and 53 state codes. The median qualified phone lead now pays $42.00, up from $32.50 in August, with a new ceiling of $507.00.

The rise in call costs is part of a broader trend highlighted by 99 Calls, which compared Google Local Services Ads costs across its managed campaigns over a year. The data showed a 11% to 69% increase in lead costs, depending on the service. For instance, appliance repair saw a 69% increase, from $20.33 to $34.35 per lead, while plumbing costs fell by 5.6% to $66.17.

These figures underscore the growing financial pressure on home service businesses. Seth Pikus, CEO of Lead Smart Inc, emphasized, "The number everyone quotes is the average cost of a lead. The number that really matters is what a lead is worth in one ZIP code, in one trade, this week."

Lead Smart's data also revealed that 66,053 records pay $100 or more per call, and 22,870 pay $200 or more. The company noted that while the median payout increased, some verticals saw significant adjustments. For example, the new vertical "solar cost-per-lead" opened in 496 ZIP codes at a $73.50 median, marking the first addition to the public file this year. Personal injury attorney coverage expanded to 963 ZIP codes, with the median rising to $99.00.

Matthew Zivkovic, founder of Lead Smart Inc, added, "Every year the platforms get more expensive and every year the same contractors let calls ring out. We have paid publishers more than fifty million dollars for phone calls, and the difference between the buyers who grow and the buyers who churn has almost never been the price of the call."

The rise in acquisition costs has shifted the focus to what happens after the call is made. According to Invoca's 2026 Home Services Lead Conversion Benchmarks Report, which analyzed over 70 million calls, 38% of home-service calls answered by a person are genuine leads, and 45% of those convert on the call. Calls driven by generative AI search, particularly those referred by ChatGPT, carried the highest phone-lead rate at 45%, about five points above paid search.

In conclusion, the increase in lead costs is a significant development for home service businesses, highlighting the need for more efficient call handling and lead conversion strategies.