Quick home services

Building a quick home-services platform is like running Urban Company + Zepto + Uber. The challenges multiply, not add up

Shivani Verma

Pranav Balakrishnan

August 11, 2025 | 17 Min Read

Snabbit, Pronto and Urban Company’s Insta Help are racing to send househelp in minutes. But speed alone won’t cut it, dense urban localities, repeat users, and consistent quality are just as important for these services to scale

Key Takeaways

Snabbit, Pronto, and Urban Company are part of a growing wave of platforms promising quick, on-demand household services, often within 10–15 minutes.
This model demands both highly trained service professionals and efficient mobility solutions to meet tight timelines.
Quick-service jobs differ from food delivery or quick commerce because the professional spends significant time at the customer’s home.
Industry veterans suggest that the early full-stack approach—where platforms hire and manage service partners—may evolve into a pure marketplace once network effects kick in.

Day: 2 July. Time: 4:45 PM. Location: Delhi NCR.

The doorbell rang exactly 15 minutes after booking. An Urban Company professional in the platform’s signature red uniform stood outside, ready to clean. This was the promise of Insta Help—Urban Company’s answer to quick commerce for domestic workers.

Day: 24 July. Time: 12:45 PM. Same location.

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