Free. Actually free.
TryHardly connects you with local workers. You settle up with them directly — and they keep every dollar of it.
How it works
- 1Post the job free. Describe what you need and roughly what you want to pay.
- 2Local workers respond. You see their record, ratings, and past work, and pick who you want.
- 3You pay them directly when the work is done. Cash, Venmo, Zelle, check — whatever suits you both. TryHardly is not involved in the payment and takes no cut of it.
- 4Confirm it here afterward. That is what builds the worker's record and helps the next person hire well.
If you need work done
to post, browse, and hire
- ✓No posting fee and no booking fee
- ✓No markup — you pay the worker exactly what you agreed
- ✓No card on file, because we never charge one
If you do the work
of what you charge is yours
- ✓Free to join and free to bid on jobs
- ✓No marketplace fee taken out of your pay
- ✓No paying for leads that go nowhere
What we do and don't do
TryHardly introduces you to local workers and keeps the record of what happened — who did the job, what was agreed, how it went. That record is the product.
We do not process the payment. That means we cannot refund it, reverse it, or guarantee it, and we would rather say so here than let you find out during a disagreement. What we can do is make sure a worker's history follows them, so someone who does good work keeps getting hired and someone who doesn't, doesn't.
- ✓Agree the price and payment method before work starts
- ✓Keep messages on TryHardly so there is a record
- ✓Confirm the job here when it is finished
- ✓Leave an honest rating — it is what makes this work
See our Terms of Service and Refund & Dispute Policy for the full detail.
Frequently asked questions
So how does TryHardly make money?
Right now, it doesn't. We are getting the first jobs done in Redding and would rather do that with nothing in the way. If we charge for anything later it will be a flat monthly fee for workers who want lead access — never a cut of your job, and never a charge for leads that go nowhere. Anyone already on the platform will hear about it from us well before it happens.
Why don't you handle the payment?
Handling payments for a marketplace means holding a payment processor relationship, verifying every worker's identity for payouts, and managing disputes over work we did not see. That is a real system, and it is worth building properly once there is enough work moving through to justify it. Doing it badly and early is worse than not doing it. For now, you pay your worker the way you would pay anyone else you hired locally.
What if something goes wrong?
Tell us. We cannot move money back, but we do read every report, and a worker's record here reflects how they actually behaved. Persistent problems get accounts removed. Keep your messages and agreement on the platform so there is something to look at.
Do highly rated workers get better treatment?
Yes — better placement, more visibility, and access to more skilled work. Ratings, skill badges, and verified credentials are how you stand out. There is no fee to discount, so reputation is the whole currency here.