Business Approval & Verification Policy
Last updated: April 9, 2026
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, contact us at admin@localmarket.com