Built by Tradespeople, for Tradespeople
This isn't some Silicon Valley startup story. This is a real solution to a real problem we faced every single day on site.
The Problem
Picture this: You're running a painting and decorating contracting business. Not just one site – you've got multiple new build developments scattered across the region, some of them 50+ miles apart.
Multiple Sites
Many new build developments, miles apart
30+ Subcontractors
Each with different skills and schedules
Hundreds of Plots
Multiple units per site to track
You've got 30-odd subcontractors to coordinate. Plot 47 needs a second coat. Plot 12's snagging list is overdue. The site manager at the development in Bedford is asking where your lad is, while you're stuck on site in Northampton trying to sort out a materials issue.
The admin? Absolute nightmare.
WhatsApp groups with hundreds of unread messages. Spreadsheets that are out of date before you've even saved them. Bits of paper with plot numbers scribbled on them scattered across the van. Photos of completed work buried somewhere in your camera roll from three weeks ago.
What We Tried
So we looked at what was out there. Surely someone's solved this, right?
The "Enterprise" Solutions
£200+ per month before you've even figured out if it works for your business. Locked into 12-month contracts. Sales calls that wouldn't stop ringing.
The "Feature-Rich" Platforms
Needed a degree in software engineering just to set up. Inventory management, HR modules, CRM systems – mate, we just need to know which plots are done!
The "Free" Options
Free for about five minutes, then hit you with paywalls for basic features. Or built for offices, not building sites – good luck using that on a muddy site in February with your phone at 5% battery.
None of it made sense. These tools weren't built by people who'd ever stood in a half-finished house at 7am trying to coordinate three different trades while the site manager's breathing down your neck.
So We Built Our Own
Not because we fancied being software developers. Because we were desperate. We needed something that:
- •Actually worked on site – not just in an air-conditioned office
- •Was simple to use – no three-day training courses required
- •Didn't cost the earth – we're tradespeople, not investment bankers
- •Let us try before committing – no sales pressure, no lock-ins
- •Had only what we needed – no bells and whistles we'd never use
We built it for ourselves. Started using it. Our efficiency went through the roof. We could finally keep track of everything without the constant chaos.
Then other contractors on our sites started asking questions. "What's that you're using?" "Can we get that?" "Seriously, where can I sign up?"
And that's how Grafter was born.
Our Promise to You
We're not here to sell you a dream with fancy marketing jargon. We're not going to lock you into some contract you can't get out of. We're not going to bombard you with sales calls.
Built by Trades, for Trades
We've been where you are. We know the problems because we lived them.
Honest Pricing
No hidden fees. No surprise charges. What you see is what you pay.
No Lock-Ins
Try it free. Stay because it works, not because you're trapped in a contract.
Simple & Flexible
Hide what you don't use. Works on your phone on site, or on your laptop at home.
This is a tool built by people who understand what it's like to manage multiple sites, coordinate subcontractors, and try to keep on top of everything while actually getting the work done.
No fluff. No nonsense. Just a proper tool that helps you run your business more efficiently.
That's Grafter. Simple as that.
Ready to Give It a Go?
Start for free. No credit card. No sales calls. No commitment. Just see if it works for you.