Today Google has announced on their blog that the Google Assistant will now start helping you find local service providers.

In the U.S., this feature will start rolling out over the coming week, so help is just around the corner. In many cities the Google Assistant will suggest providers that have been prescreened by Google and companies like HomeAdvisor and Porch so you can feel confident they’re ready to take on the job. And if you’re in a city that doesn’t have any available guaranteed or screened providers, you’ll still get an answer from the Assistant with other nearby results.

But as Joy Hawkins of Sterling Sky  pointed out on Twitter, the example that Google is showing are not of HomeAdvisor or Porch but of the new Google Local Services ads.

If you wondered how Google was going to monetize Home, this provides a good framework for that with its ability to facet the search into discreet elements and provide a single answer if needed. It mirrors closely the conversation David Mihm and I had on Streetfight at the beginning of the week where we asked How Far Can Google Local Services Expand?

Now we know the first baby step.

According to Google it’ll be available for eight different categories at launch, including:

• Plumbers
• House cleaners
• Locksmiths
• Heating and air conditioning services
• Electricians
• Garage door repair services
• House painters
• Appliance repair services

For businesses within the above categories, local services on the Assistant is currently free for any business that can pass the Local Services by Google vetting process. Businesses that want to participate can fill out this interest form and someone from the Local Services team will reach out to help them onboard after validating their location and category. Businesses do not have to pay to go through the background check process.

Homewdvisor, in their pre-release about this feature noted:

The experience includes the option to instantly connect users with a HomeAdvisor pre-screened professional through HomeAdvisor’s Instant Connect technology. The experience is available via the Google Assistant on eligible Android phones, iPhones and on voice activated speakers like Google Home.

If anyone tries it, please update us!