The five traits that get a business rejected from the directory

People ask us what gets a business off the directory. Easier question is what keeps them off in the first place.

Hidden contact info

If your phone number isn't on your homepage, it's not on the list. That's not a brand decision, it's a customer-service decision. People want to call. Make it easy.

Stale photos

We check. If the website still shows an old logo and your shop has been remodeled since, you're not running a tight operation. Same for staff photos of people who have long since left.

Vague pricing

"Call for quote" is fine on complex jobs. It's not fine for a haircut, an oil change, or a basic plumbing service call. The vagueness is doing work — usually for the business, not the customer.

"Family-owned for generations" with a trail of rebrands

Pick a story. The compliance trail of a real long-running family business is consistent. If the business keeps rebranding to shake off its reviews, the directory is not for you.

Owners who can't take a question

The site visit isn't a test. It's a conversation. But if we ask why a quote is what it is and the answer is annoyance, that's the answer.

The list is short on purpose.