Oneflare

Oneflare was an Australian online marketplace for finding local professional and household services. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Sydney, the platform connected consumers seeking work with businesses that could respond to those requests. Its categories included trades such as plumbing and electrical work as well as cleaning, accounting, interior design, renovation and other professional services. The platform used a lead-generation model rather than directly employing service providers. A customer submitted information about a job, and Oneflare distributed the request to up to three relevant providers. Businesses could pay for the opportunity to access a prospective customer's contact details and then call or email to discuss the work and provide a quotation. Consumers could compare responses and select a provider, with the chosen business contracting directly to perform the service. Oneflare supported the process through website-based requests, mobile applications for iOS and Android, and SMS and email notifications for businesses. The company stated that it checked provider information such as licences, Australian Business Numbers and insurance or indemnity details. This verification and quotation process positioned the service as a way to make fragmented local-service markets easier to search and compare, while giving small businesses a source of potential customers. The business expanded beyond its original marketplace through acquisitions. In July 2014 it acquired Renovate Forum, an Australian online renovation community. In February 2015 it acquired Word of Mouth Online, a Melbourne-based consumer reviews website. The company also reported very rapid growth and was included in Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 for the Asia-Pacific region in 2014. Oneflare raised venture funding during its independent period. It initially received an A$50,000 Skills and Knowledge grant from Commercialisation Australia to obtain external advice on capital raising, website architecture and legal matters. In 2016, Domain Group, then associated with Fairfax, announced a partnership and investment of approximately A$15 million for a 35% equity interest. That transaction implied a valuation of about A$43 million, although later acquisition consideration was substantially lower. Billy Tucker became Oneflare's chief executive in February 2017. In May 2022, Airtasker agreed to acquire Oneflare for A$2.25 million in cash plus Airtasker shares issued at A$0.43 per share, with the consideration subject to escrow arrangements. Following the acquisition, Oneflare became part of Airtasker's broader local-services ecosystem. Reference material states that the Oneflare brand and platform were retired in June 2026 and that former users were directed to Airtasker; accordingly, the standalone Oneflare service is treated here as defunct.

Oneflare was established in Australia in 2011 as an online marketplace linking customers with local service providers. Its central proposition was to simplify the process of finding a suitable business for a task by allowing a customer to describe the work once and receive responses from several relevant providers. Rather than charging consumers for a conventional booking service, Oneflare generated business leads and allowed providers to pay for the opportunity to access a prospective customer's contact information. The service covered a broad range of categories, including plumbers, electricians, cleaners, accountants, interior designers and other trade and professional services. A customer submitted a request through the website, after which the request could be sent to as many as three providers. Those providers could receive alerts through the website, mobile applications, SMS or email and could then contact the customer to discuss the job and submit a quotation. The customer selected a preferred provider, while the provider and customer dealt directly with the performance of the work. Oneflare also described checks involving provider licences, Australian Business Numbers and insurance or indemnity information. The company pursued expansion through acquisitions and adjacent content and review assets. In July 2014 it acquired Renovate Forum, an Australian online renovation community. The acquisition broadened Oneflare's relationship with people researching or planning renovation projects. During the same year, the company reported growth of 1,635% and was included in Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 for the Asia-Pacific region. In February 2015, Oneflare acquired Word of Mouth Online, also known as WOMO, a Melbourne-based reviews website. This transaction added a consumer-review dimension to the marketplace and complemented the company's focus on helping customers evaluate service providers. Oneflare was venture backed in its independent phase. Its early support included a A$50,000 Skills and Knowledge grant from Commercialisation Australia. The grant was intended to help the company engage professional advisers for investment fundraising, website architecture and legal work. In May 2016, Domain Group, associated at the time with Fairfax, announced a partnership with Oneflare involving approximately A$15 million for a 35% equity stake. The transaction placed the business at an implied value of roughly A$43 million, although later reporting compared the consideration in its eventual sale with a much higher earlier valuation of close to A$50 million. Billy Tucker joined the company as chief executive in February 2017. Oneflare continued operating as a local-services marketplace until Airtasker acquired it in 2022. The announced consideration was A$2.25 million in cash together with Airtasker shares issued at A$0.43 per share. Half of the shares were placed in escrow for 12 months from issue and the remainder for 24 months. The acquisition brought Oneflare into Airtasker's group and gave the buyer access to an established Australian services brand, provider relationships and marketplace assets. Reference material states that the Oneflare brand and platform were retired in June 2026, with previous users directed to Airtasker. On that basis, Oneflare's independent consumer-facing operation is classified as defunct, while its historical marketplace model and acquired assets form part of the brand's business history.

• 2026

  Standalone platform retirement

  [1]Oneflareen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material states that the Oneflare brand and platform were retired in June 2026 and users were directed to Airtasker.

• 2022

  Airtasker acquisition

  [1]Oneflareen.wikipedia.org

  Airtasker acquired Oneflare for cash and share consideration subject to escrow arrangements.

• 2017

  Billy Tucker becomes chief executive

  [1]Oneflareen.wikipedia.org

  Billy Tucker joined Oneflare as CEO.

• 2016

  Domain Group investment

  [1]Oneflareen.wikipedia.org

  Domain Group announced an approximately A$15 million investment for a 35% interest in Oneflare.

• 2015

  Acquisition of Word of Mouth Online

  [1]Oneflareen.wikipedia.org

  Oneflare acquired WOMO, a Melbourne-based reviews platform.

• 2014

  Acquisition of Renovate Forum

  [1]Oneflareen.wikipedia.org

  Oneflare acquired Renovate Forum, an Australian online renovation community.

• 2014

  Deloitte Technology Fast 500 recognition

  [1]Oneflareen.wikipedia.org

  The company was included in Deloitte's Asia-Pacific Technology Fast 500 after reporting 1,635% growth.

• 2011

  Oneflare founded

  [1]Oneflareen.wikipedia.org

  Oneflare was established in Australia as an online marketplace connecting customers with service businesses.

A digital marketplace designed to help Australian consumers obtain competing responses from local tradespeople and professional service providers while giving businesses paid access to qualified customer leads.

• Online local-services marketplace · 2011

  Oneflare local services marketplace

  The core Oneflare service allowed a customer to describe a task online and have the request distributed to up to three potentially relevant service providers. Providers paid for the opportunity to access lead information and contact the customer. The model covered household trades, maintenance, cleaning and a range of professional services. Customers could compare provider responses and choose which business to engage directly.

• Service-provider discovery

  Provider verification and quotation service

  Oneflare supported consumer decision-making by presenting multiple provider responses and describing checks of business information, including licences, Australian Business Numbers and insurance or indemnity details. The platform did not itself perform the work; after a customer selected a provider, the provider and customer contracted directly.

• Renovation community

  Renovate Forum

  Renovate Forum was an Australian online renovation community acquired by Oneflare in 2014. It provided a content and community asset related to home improvement and renovation activity, complementing Oneflare's service-lead marketplace.

• Consumer reviews

  Word of Mouth Online

  Word of Mouth Online, commonly known as WOMO, was a Melbourne-based reviews website acquired by Oneflare in 2015. Its review-oriented functionality was adjacent to Oneflare's goal of helping consumers assess local service providers.

• 2022

  Sell Oneflare to AirtaskerM&A

  Background

  Airtasker pursued the acquisition of Oneflare as an addition to its Australian local-services marketplace operations.

  Action taken

  Airtasker agreed to acquire Oneflare for A$2.25 million in cash plus shares issued at A$0.43 per share. Fifty percent of the shares were subject to a 12-month escrow and the remainder to a 24-month escrow.

  Aftermath

  Oneflare became part of Airtasker's group. Reference material later states that the standalone Oneflare platform was retired and users were redirected to Airtasker.

  Acquisition consideration. A$2.25 million cash plus Airtasker shares issued at A$0.43 per share (May 2022)

  Source

• 2016

  Accept Domain Group strategic investmentStrategy

  Background

  Oneflare required capital and strategic support to continue scaling its marketplace and service-provider network.

  Action taken

  Domain Group announced an investment of approximately A$15 million in exchange for a 35% equity stake.

  Aftermath

  The transaction implied a valuation of approximately A$43 million and made Domain a substantial shareholder and strategic partner.

  Investment and equity stake. Approximately A$15 million for 35% equity (May 2016)

  Source

• 2015

  Acquire Word of Mouth OnlineM&A

  Background

  Consumer reviews were strategically relevant to a marketplace where customers had to choose among local providers.

  Action taken

  Oneflare acquired Melbourne-based reviews website Word of Mouth Online.

  Aftermath

  The deal expanded Oneflare's portfolio into service reviews and consumer reputation information.

  Source

• 2014

  Acquire Renovate ForumM&A

  Background

  Oneflare sought to extend its relevance in the renovation and home-improvement market beyond individual service enquiries.

  Action taken

  The company acquired Renovate Forum, an Australian online renovation community.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition added a renovation-focused community asset to Oneflare's marketplace activities.

  Source

1. 1Oneflareen.wikipedia.org