1. Overview

All businesses on LocalMarket must go through an approval process before being listed publicly. This ensures quality, authenticity, and trust for our community.

2. Approval Process

Step 1: Application Submission

Business owners submit an application with:

• Business name and description
• Contact information (phone, email, address)
• Category selection
• Product or service listings
• Images (logo, cover, gallery)

Step 2: Identity Verification

We confirm owner contact details where available and may request additional proof before awarding a verified badge.

Step 3: Business Verification

Our team confirms the business exists and the information provided is accurate.

Step 4: Manual Review

Each application is reviewed by our team within 24-48 hours. We check for compliance with our policies and quality standards.

Step 5: Approval Notification

Approved businesses receive notification and can then manage their listings. Businesses may be approved, pending, or rejected.

3. Verification Levels

• Approved: Business reviewed and allowed to appear publicly
• Verified: Identity or business details additionally confirmed by our team
• Featured: High-quality businesses selected for promotion

4. Approval Criteria

Businesses must meet the following criteria:

• Legitimate, operating business
• Valid contact information
• Accurate business description
• No prohibited content or listings
• Compliance with local laws
• Professional demeanor in communications

5. Reasons for Rejection

Applications may be rejected if:

• Business doesn't exist or information is false
• Business is illegal or prohibited
• Inappropriate or misleading content
• Cannot verify business or owner identity
• Previous policy violations
• Incomplete application

6. Rejection Appeals

If your business is rejected, you can:

• Contact us to understand the reason
• Fix the issues and resubmit
• Appeal the decision with additional information

7. Ongoing Monitoring

Approved businesses are subject to ongoing monitoring:

• Regular content reviews
• Customer feedback monitoring
• Report investigation
• Quality score tracking
• Periodic re-verification

8. Loss of Approval

Businesses may lose approved status if:

• Multiple policy violations
• Customer complaints
• Suspicious activity detected
• Business closes or changes significantly
• Failure to maintain accurate information

9. Premium Benefits

Premium businesses receive:

• Priority in search results
• No advertisements shown
• Enhanced analytics
• Featured placement
• Additional marketing tools

10. Contact Us

For questions about the approval process, email support@soulnet.co.za or use the support form.