SubShield

Shield your construction projects from unreliable subcontractors with instant reliability scores.

Score: 8.0/10UKMedium BuildReady to Spawn
Brand Colors

The Opportunity

Problem

Independent construction operators suffer massive profitability losses and mental exhaustion from unreliable subcontractors and uncontrolled scope creep in freelance projects.

Solution

SubShield vets subcontractors through a community-driven rating system and provides real-time alerts for red flags like delays or no-shows. Operators can track sub performance across projects and blacklist unreliable ones instantly. This eliminates guesswork, reduces losses from bad hires, and restores peace of mind.

Target Audience

Independent freelance construction operators managing subcontractors on projects valued at $10K+

Differentiator

AI-powered reliability scoring based on verified project data, not just self-reported reviews.

Brand Voice

supportive

Features

Subcontractor Database

must-have12h

Searchable directory of subs with reliability scores, past project history, and contact info.

Performance Tracking

must-have10h

Log sub milestones, delays, and quality issues to auto-update scores.

Alert System

must-have8h

Real-time notifications for sub risks based on score thresholds.

Blacklist Sharing

must-have6h

Community-shared blacklist visible to verified operators.

Project Integration

must-have10h

Link subs to specific projects for consolidated views.

Custom Score Weights

nice-to-have6h

Adjust scoring factors like timeliness vs. quality.

Mobile Check-ins

nice-to-have8h

Quick mobile logging of sub performance on-site.

Reporting Dashboard

nice-to-have6h

Exportable reports for audits or client shares.

AI Predictions

future20h

Predict sub failure risk on future hires.

Total Build Time: 86 hours

Database Schema

users

ColumnTypeNullable
iduuidNo
emailtextNo
nametextNo
roletextNo
created_attimestampNo

projects

ColumnTypeNullable
iduuidNo
user_iduuidNo
nametextNo
valueintNo
statustextNo

Relationships:

  • user_id references users(id)

subcontractors

ColumnTypeNullable
iduuidNo
nametextNo
contacttextYes
scoreintNo
blacklistedboolNo

project_subs

ColumnTypeNullable
iduuidNo
project_iduuidNo
sub_iduuidNo
performance_logtextYes

Relationships:

  • project_id references projects(id)
  • sub_id references subcontractors(id)

API Endpoints

GET
/api/subcontractors

Search and list subcontractors with scores

🔒 Auth Required
POST
/api/subcontractors

Add new subcontractor

🔒 Auth Required
POST
/api/projects

Create new project

🔒 Auth Required
POST
/api/project_subs

Assign sub to project and log performance

🔒 Auth Required
GET
/api/alerts

Fetch user alerts

🔒 Auth Required

Tech Stack

Frontend
Next.js 14 + Tailwind CSS + shadcn/ui
Backend
Supabase Edge Functions
Database
Supabase Postgres
Auth
Supabase Auth
Payments
Stripe
Hosting
Vercel
Additional Tools
Replicate for AI scoringPusher for real-time alerts

Build Timeline

Week 1: Core setup and auth

20h
  • Project skeleton
  • User auth
  • Basic DB schema

Week 2: Sub database and search

25h
  • Subcontractor CRUD
  • Search UI
  • Scoring logic

Week 3: Project integration and tracking

20h
  • Project creation
  • Sub assignment
  • Performance logging

Week 4: Alerts and polish

15h
  • Alert system
  • Dashboard
  • Landing page
  • Payments
Total Timeline: 4 weeks • 80 hours

Pricing Tiers

Free

$0/mo

No alerts or logging

  • 1 project
  • Basic sub search
  • Score viewing

Pro

$8/mo

10 subs/month

  • Unlimited projects
  • Performance tracking
  • Alerts
  • Blacklist access

Enterprise

$29/mo

Unlimited

  • All Pro + Custom weights
  • Priority support
  • API access

Revenue Projections

MonthUsersConversionMRRARR
Month 11005%$40$480
Month 680012%$768$9,216

Unit Economics

$15
CAC
$300
LTV
5%
Churn
85%
Margin
LTV:CAC Ratio: 20.0xExcellent!

Landing Page Copy

Stop Losing Money to Unreliable Subs

SubShield's reliability scores and alerts protect your $10K+ projects from delays and no-shows.

Feature Highlights

Instant sub scores
Real-time risk alerts
Performance tracking
Shared blacklist
Easy project integration

Social Proof (Placeholders)

"'Saved my last project from a flaky plumber!' - Mike, Contractor"
"'Scores are spot-on, no more bad hires.' - Sarah, Operator"

First Three Customers

Post in construction Facebook groups like 'Freelance Construction Pros' offering free Pro access for feedback; DM 20 operators from Upwork construction jobs; attend local builder meetups with demo iPad.

Launch Channels

Product Huntr/constructionr/SaaSIndie HackersTwitter #constructiontech

SEO Keywords

construction subcontractor managementreliable subs for contractorssubcontractor reliability softwaretrack sub performanceconstruction sub ratings

Competitive Analysis

Buildertrend

buildertrend.com
$99/mo
Strength

Full project management

Weakness

Overkill for freelancers, no sub-specific scoring

Our Advantage

Laser-focused on sub reliability at 1/10th price

$375/mo
Strength

Enterprise scale

Weakness

Too complex/expensive for independents

Our Advantage

Simple, affordable sub vetting

🏰 Moat Strategy

Network effects from shared sub scores growing more accurate with users.

⏰ Why Now?

Rising freelance construction post-pandemic, with subs harder to vet amid labor shortages.

Risks & Mitigation

marketmedium severity

Low adoption by traditional contractors

Mitigation

Target digital-savvy freelancers via online communities

executionlow severity

Inaccurate scoring leading to disputes

Mitigation

Verified logs only, user moderation

legalmedium severity

Defamation claims from blacklists

Mitigation

Anonymized data, clear terms

Validation Roadmap

pre-build7 days

Interview 10 operators on sub pains

Success: 80% confirm reliability as top issue

mvp14 days

Beta with 5 users, track engagement

Success: 3/5 log data weekly

launch7 days

PH launch, aim 100 signups

Success: 5% conversion to paid

Pivot Options

  • Expand to supplier vetting
  • General freelance vetting tool
  • Insurance integration for subs

Quick Stats

Build Time
80h
Target MRR (6 mo)
$1,000
Market Size
$5000.0M
Features
9
Database Tables
4
API Endpoints
5