The Nail the Match Blog
Exclusive Territory: Own Your ZIP Code or Your County
Every pro on Nail the Match gets matched with real requests in their area. Exclusivity answers a different question: do you want to be one of the pros a homeowner hears about, or the only one? With the exclusivity add-on, you are the only company we recommend for your service in the ZIP codes or county you hold — on the website matcher, and in our social referrals on Facebook, Nextdoor, Reddit, and Craigslist. The details are on our pricing page; this post is about deciding.
What it costs
$100 a month per ZIP code, or $500 a month per county. It's an add-on to any keyword plan — Starter, Plus, or Pro — and it's month to month like the plans themselves. Exclusivity is tracked ZIP by ZIP on a first-come basis: if another company already holds part of the territory you want for your service, that part stays theirs and the rest is yours.
Why pros take it
Without exclusivity, a request may be matched with a small number of pros who offer that service nearby — a short list, never a crowd, but still a comparison. With exclusivity there is no comparison: every matching request and every referral for your service in your territory points to you. That plays to companies whose strength is trust and reputation — the conversation starts with you as the recommendation, not as one option among a few.
Questions that point to the answer
- Which areas are your best jobs in? If a handful of ZIP codes produce your most profitable work, owning them exclusively is usually worth more than being one of a few everywhere.
- How strong is your close rate? Great closers do fine on a short list. If you win work mainly on reputation, being the only recommendation plays to that strength.
- ZIP or county? Start with the ZIP codes that produce your best jobs. Take the county when your service area genuinely spans it and you want the whole map.
- How full is your schedule? Booked out for weeks? Exclusivity's focused territory fits a selective calendar.
Start where you're confident
You don't have to own everything on day one. Many pros start with the ZIP codes they're strongest in, watch which requests turn into their best jobs, and expand from there. The For Contractors page shows how territory selection works at application time.
Questions & Answers
How much does exclusivity cost?
$100 a month per ZIP code, or $500 a month per county, added to any keyword plan. It's month to month.
If I hold exclusivity, can another company still get recommended in my ZIP codes?
No. For your service inside your ZIP or county, you are the only company we recommend — on the website matcher and in social referrals. If part of an area was claimed before you applied, that part stays with the earlier company — first come, first served.
Does exclusivity change how many leads I get?
It changes who gets recommended, not how many people ask. Every matching request for your service in your territory points to you alone, instead of being shared among a small number of pros.
Can I add exclusivity later?
Yes. Add it when you apply or any time after — and drop it the same way. Territory is first-come, though, so ZIP codes that matter to you are worth claiming early.
Which is better for a brand-new company?
If you're building a schedule from scratch, a keyword plan alone usually comes first. If you already have strong reviews and a tight service area, exclusivity can pay off immediately because every request starts with you as the only recommendation.
Ready to put this to work?
Apply once, pick your services and your radius, and start receiving matching leads on a monthly keyword plan — no per-lead charges, no contracts.
Start Your ApplicationStephen George writes for Nail the Match.