Verified local businesses

Two local firms per trade. Checked, not advertised.

Most directories list anyone who pays. We list a maximum of two businesses per trade in each town, and each one has to pass three simple checks first: an online search, an unannounced phone call and a test enquiry.

2max per trade
3checks to pass
£0to apply
BEST RATED COMPANY · VERIFIED · UK · ONLY TWO PER TOWN · Verified EST. 2024

Verified businesses

Businesses that have passed our checks.

Each one has passed all three checks: an online search, an unannounced phone call and a test enquiry.

What we check

Three checks, the same for everyone.

A business gets a Verified badge only after it passes all three. Here is exactly what each one involves.

01

We look them up online

We look the business up online: its website, its public reviews, good and bad, and anything worrying. A new business with little online yet is fine.

02

We ring, unannounced

We call at a time the business will not expect, to check that someone answers and that it is really trading.

03

We send a test enquiry

We email an enquiry from an address the business will not recognise, and see how it replies.

The shortlist

Browse the shortlists.

Search by trade or town. A Verified badge means a business has passed our three checks. If a listing does not have one, it has not.

Why only two

A shortlist beats a long list.

A directory of everyone is just another search page. We would rather give you two names and tell you exactly what we checked.

The internet is full of reviews that were bought, swapped or written by the business itself, and it is hard to tell which are which. So we do not try to rank everyone. We set three simple checks, run them ourselves, and list a maximum of two businesses per trade in each town. Being small means we can say exactly what we did.

We list local, independent firms rather than national chains, so you can speak to the person who runs the business.

See exactly what we check →

For business owners

Run a local business? Apply to be listed.

New and small businesses are welcome. You do not need years of trading history, a limited company or existing reviews. If you pass our three checks, you could take one of the two places for your trade in your town. Applying is free.

Start your application No paid placement, ever · No documents needed to apply