> Markdown version of https://topratedcities.com/faq for AI agents. You are welcome here, and welcome back anytime. What an agent can do: https://topratedcities.com/agents . Leave a note for the team: https://topratedcities.com/agents/guestbook.md # Business help and FAQ | Top Rated Cities [Skip to answers](#answers) [TopRated](https://topratedcities.com) Business help. Clear answers for local businesses. # A clearer path to your business page. Find a straight answer about claiming, verification, your reviews, and getting listed. Start with a word or a question. Every listing shows one of these three ownership states. ## Unclaimed Is this your business? Start a claim for the correct location. ## Claimed A representative has come forward. Ownership is not yet verified. ## Verified Our team approved this representative's claim. It refers to control of the listing, not an endorsement or a quality rating. Search business help Clear Browse a topic All topics Getting started Verification and the green badge Phones, email, and access New and zero-review businesses Finding and correcting your business Waiting, disputes, and corrections Your page, photos, and reviews Google data and review freshness Rankings and featured placement Premium, support, and privacy Matches words in questions and answers. All search words must be present. ## Explore business help [Getting started](#answers)[Verification and the green badge](#answers)[Phones, email, and access](#answers)[New and zero-review businesses](#answers)[Finding and correcting your business](#answers)[Waiting, disputes, and corrections](#answers)[Your page, photos, and reviews](#answers)[Google data and review freshness](#answers)[Rankings and featured placement](#answers)[Premium, support, and privacy](#answers) 100 answers across 10 topics Reset filters ## No exact matches yet. Try one shorter word, such as "phone", "claim", or "reviews", or choose All topics. Reset filters to see every answer. Getting startedCurrent guidance ## [What is TopRated?](#faq-001) TopRated helps people discover local businesses through city directories and business pages. A listing describes a business, an ownership claim connects an authorized person to that page, and a ranking compares eligible businesses. Those are separate steps, so being listed does not automatically mean ownership is verified or a ranking has been earned. Getting startedCurrent guidance ## [What does it mean to claim my listing?](#faq-002) A claim tells us that you own, manage, or are authorized to represent a particular business location. Submit your name, role, contact details, and the correct business page or Google Maps link. We check the business match and ownership evidence before handing over control of the listing. Getting startedCurrent guidance ## [Is claiming my business free?](#faq-003) Yes. Your basic listing and ownership claim are free. Premium features are a separate benefit, and a complimentary upgrade does not turn your claim into a purchase. If you receive a founder recovery offer, the message should identify the included benefits and any time limit on featured placement. Getting startedCurrent guidance ## [How do I find the right page to claim?](#faq-004) Search for your business name and city, then compare the address, phone number, website, and branch. Claim the page for your actual business location. If the page describes another company, tell us it is a mismatch rather than submitting that company as yours. A Google Maps link can help us locate the right record. Getting startedCurrent guidance ## [What details should I have ready?](#faq-005) Have your business name, city, address or service area, website if you have one, business phone, contact email, and your role ready. A direct Google Maps link is useful but is not a requirement to submit a request. Tell us when your personal contact number differs from the public business number. Getting startedCurrent guidance ## [Can a manager or employee claim a page?](#faq-006) You can submit a claim as a manager or employee. Tell us your role and who owns or authorizes the business account. The same business and control checks apply; working at a business does not by itself establish permission to take control of every location or change its ownership. Getting startedCurrent guidance ## [Can my marketing agency help with my claim?](#faq-007) An agency can submit information on a business behalf, but we need to connect the claim to the correct business and an authorized principal. One agency email can represent several clients, so it must not be used to merge their listings, ownership, or follow-up histories. Give us the client name and exact location each time. Getting startedCurrent guidance ## [Do I need a website before I can submit a request?](#faq-008) No. You can submit your business details without a website. Provide the strongest available information, such as a business phone, address or service area, and a public business profile. A missing website may leave fewer automated matching signals, so a different evidence route may be needed. Getting startedCurrent guidance ## [Do I need a Google Business Profile to contact TopRated?](#faq-009) No. You can ask to add or correct your business without a Google profile. Tell us that you do not have one so we do not mistake a different company Google listing for yours. Publication and ownership verification still depend on the evidence and the relevant directory eligibility rules. Getting startedPlanned improvement ## [What should happen after I submit a request?](#faq-010) The improved journey should show a reference number, the business and location received, the current status, and one clear next step. Straightforward matches should move through self-service checks automatically. Requests needing human judgment should enter a named exception queue with a specific reason, rather than depending on the founder to notice them. Verification and the green badgeCurrent guidance ## [What does the green badge mean today?](#faq-011) The green Verified badge, a shield with a check mark, marks a listing whose claim our team approved, or an approved listing carried over from before. It refers to control of the listing by a business representative. It is not a rating, an endorsement, a license check, or a guarantee of workmanship. A blue Claimed badge means a claim was submitted and ownership is not yet verified. A grey Unclaimed badge means nobody has claimed the page. Instant automatic verification is not live yet. Verification and the green badgeCurrent guidance ## [Does verified mean TopRated recommends or guarantees my business?](#faq-012) Ownership verification does not guarantee workmanship, safety, licensing, or customer satisfaction. It connects the right representative to the business page. Reviews and ranking information provide different signals, and customers should still discuss qualifications, scope, pricing, and any required licenses directly with the provider. Verification and the green badgeCurrent guidance ## [Why is entering the correct public phone number not enough by itself?](#faq-013) A public phone number helps us find the right business, but anyone can read and type that number. It does not show that the claimant can receive a message or answer a call there. A reliable ownership flow needs a completed control check or other documented authorization as well as a matching business record. Verification and the green badgeCurrent guidance ## [Why is a matching company email helpful?](#faq-014) An email address at the business website domain is a useful matching signal, especially when the company identity is clear. Typing the address into a form is not the same as proving access to that mailbox. The verification process must confirm control or rely on another accepted evidence route before granting ownership. Verification and the green badgePlanned improvement ## [How could I get instant verification?](#faq-015) The planned fast path is to select an independently established business contact, receive a short-lived TopRated code or secure link there, and complete it while signed in to the account claiming the listing. The system must also check the location and conflicting claims. Instant approval should be offered only when those checks actually pass. Verification and the green badgePlanned improvement ## [How would a text-message verification code work?](#faq-016) Where supported, TopRated would send a one-time code to the business number already established by reliable evidence, then ask you to enter it in the claim flow. Codes should expire, have attempt limits, and apply only to that claim and account. Receiving a welcome text alone would not complete the ownership check. Verification and the green badgePlanned improvement ## [Can I verify through my business email instead of a text?](#faq-017) The proposed email route would send a secure, expiring verification link to an independently established business mailbox. You would open it while completing the claim for the correct account and location. An email match in our records is helpful, but we should not call this route live until the full send, completion, and approval flow is tested. Verification and the green badgePlanned improvement ## [Can I verify through my website domain?](#faq-018) A domain-control route could let an authorized person place a temporary file or DNS record on the business website. That would be useful when the office phone cannot receive texts. The domain must belong to the exact business, and the challenge must be checked by the server. This is a proposed alternative, not a current self-service promise. Verification and the green badgeCurrent guidance ## [Is Google verification the same as TopRated verification?](#faq-019) No. Google controls verification and access for Google Business Profiles. TopRated controls its own listing and claim process. A Google profile is useful evidence about the business, but it does not automatically prove that the person submitting a TopRated claim manages that profile or controls the business. Verification and the green badgeCurrent guidance ## [Why might my claim need a human review?](#faq-020) A human may need to resolve a wrong business match, a changed phone number, an agency request, conflicting ownership, or a business with little independent information. That does not mean the business is illegitimate. The explanation should identify the exact issue and the evidence needed, rather than sending you through the same form again. Phones, email, and accessCurrent guidance ## [Should I temporarily change my Google phone number to my cell for verification?](#faq-021) Do not change accurate public business details just to get a TopRated text. Google reviews profile edits, and a temporary change may not appear immediately. Keep a genuine business number published and ask for an alternative verification route if it cannot receive texts. If the business number truly changed, update it for accuracy rather than as a shortcut. Phones, email, and accessCurrent guidance ## [Can I use my cell phone as my contact number?](#faq-022) Yes, you can give us a cell number where we can reach you. Tell us whether it is a private contact number or the business public number. A private number may differ from the listing and need another ownership check; we should not replace your public business number just because you used it on the form. Phones, email, and accessPlanned improvement ## [What if our main business number is a landline?](#faq-023) The improved flow should offer a supported voice-call code, an established business email, or another evidence route instead of requiring SMS. It should explain the options before you submit again. A landline is a normal business contact, not a reason to exclude a legitimate company from the directory. Phones, email, and accessPlanned improvement ## [What if an automated phone menu answers our number?](#faq-024) The flow should let you choose another established business channel or request a reviewed callback with clear instructions. An automated code must not be sent repeatedly to a menu that cannot receive it. The team should record the exception and next step so you do not have to explain the problem again. Phones, email, and accessCurrent guidance ## [Why did you flag my Gmail or Yahoo address?](#faq-025) A personal email address is common for small businesses and is welcome as a contact address. It does not independently connect you to a company in the way a business domain can. We may therefore need another piece of evidence. A personal mailbox alone should not be treated as a rejection of your business. Phones, email, and accessPlanned improvement ## [What if I no longer control the phone or email on our listing?](#faq-026) The improved process should let you report the outdated channel, provide current business evidence, and request an alternative review. It must not send account access to a channel you say is compromised or obsolete. Updating public contact details and transferring account ownership should remain separate actions with their own evidence. Phones, email, and accessPlanned improvement ## [What should I do if a verification code does not arrive?](#faq-027) First check that you selected the intended channel and that it can receive the message. The flow should show when you can retry, offer a supported alternative, and preserve your claim. It should not ask you to change accurate public details, share another service code, or repeatedly submit the entire application. Phones, email, and accessPlanned improvement ## [What if my verification code expired?](#faq-028) Request a fresh code through the same secure claim flow when the retry timer allows it. A new code should replace the old one, and neither should work for a different account or business. The page should explain expiration clearly and keep the details you already entered. Phones, email, and accessCurrent guidance ## [Should I share my Google verification code with Maya?](#faq-029) No. A Google verification code belongs to the Google process and should not be shared with TopRated or another person. Any future TopRated code must be clearly identified as a TopRated challenge and entered only in its intended flow. Never give someone your Google password to prove a TopRated claim. Phones, email, and accessPlanned improvement ## [Can the person answering our office phone verify for the owner?](#faq-030) The improved flow should allow an authorized office representative to help, while recording who completed the check and what authority they have. Access to a shared phone is useful evidence but may not settle account ownership on its own. Unclear authority should go to an exception review without blocking unrelated, valid business information. New and zero-review businessesPlanned improvement ## [Can a brand-new business with zero reviews get listed?](#faq-031) The proposed inclusion path allows legitimate businesses to request an unrated business page even before they have reviews. The page should clearly say that no rating is available and stay separate from rankings that require a review threshold. Ownership verification can still be completed through an accepted control check. New and zero-review businessesPlanned improvement ## [Can I get listed without any Google Business Profile?](#faq-032) The proposed process should accept the business name, location or service area, category, contact details, and alternative business evidence. Public research can help corroborate the company. A missing Google profile should not force you to claim an unrelated profile, and a page without review evidence must not display invented stars. New and zero-review businessesCurrent guidance ## [Does zero reviews mean my business has a zero-star rating?](#faq-033) No. Having no reviews is different from receiving a zero rating. A business without rating evidence should be described as unrated or having no reviews yet. It must not be assigned fake stars, a fabricated review count, or a numeric ranking that implies a record of customer feedback. New and zero-review businessesCurrent guidance ## [Why might my page appear outside the numbered rankings?](#faq-034) A public business page and a ranked position have different requirements. Current ranking copy describes a quality floor of at least a 4.0 Google rating and 15 reviews, together with local eligibility. A legitimate business may be listed separately while it builds that review history; publication should not imply that it has met the ranked threshold. New and zero-review businessesPlanned improvement ## [What evidence could help a business with no online presence?](#faq-035) The proposed exception path should accept suitable business registration, relevant public licensing records, or other reliable evidence tied to the business and its representative. The team should request only what is necessary and provide a secure submission route. A document can help establish existence, but the reviewer must also resolve who is authorized to control the page. New and zero-review businessesPlanned improvement ## [Can a service-area business be listed without showing a home address?](#faq-036) The improved intake should support legitimate service-area businesses and distinguish a private verification address from the area shown publicly. Tell us where you actually serve customers and whether you receive customers at a storefront. Do not enter a fake office address simply to appear in a city directory. New and zero-review businessesPlanned improvement ## [Can a home-based business request a listing?](#faq-037) A home-based business should be able to request an appropriate listing if it is legitimate and serves the directory area. The intake should make address visibility clear before publication and use a suitable verification route. Being based at home should not be confused with having a public customer-facing office. New and zero-review businessesCurrent guidance ## [What do Unclaimed, Claimed, and Verified mean?](#faq-038) Grey Unclaimed means no representative has claimed the page; the badge offers a way to start a claim. Blue Claimed means someone has identified themselves as a representative but ownership is not yet verified. Green Verified, a shield with a check mark, means our team approved the claim, and it refers to representative control of the listing, not an endorsement or a quality rating. Featured and premium placement never change which of these you see. A claim can be recorded without giving unrestricted editing access or pretending that verification is complete. New and zero-review businessesPlanned improvement ## [Which business requests need policy review?](#faq-039) The intended automatic path covers ordinary businesses in categories TopRated already supports. Adult or sexual services, illegal services, unsupported new categories, and conflicting claims require a policy or ownership review before the request proceeds. A zero review count or missing Google profile alone should not send an otherwise eligible ordinary business into that exception queue. New and zero-review businessesPlanned improvement ## [Will someone have to call the founder to add my business?](#faq-040) The goal is a self-service process that handles routine listing requests and supported verification checks without a founder call. Human review should focus on exceptions such as conflicts or missing evidence. Until that flow is live and tested, we should describe the next available step honestly rather than promise automatic publication. Finding and correcting your businessCurrent guidance ## [Why could TopRated not find my Google profile?](#faq-041) The name, city, phone, or website in the request may differ from the public profile, or the business may use another trading name. A direct Google Maps link is often more useful than a search phrase. A failed automated match is a research task, not proof that your business has no profile. Finding and correcting your businessCurrent guidance ## [Which Google link should I provide?](#faq-042) Share the public Google Maps or Business Profile link that opens the exact business location customers use. Check the name and address before sending it, especially when you operate several branches. You do not need to share a private management page, your Google password, or a verification code. Finding and correcting your businessCurrent guidance ## [What if our trading name differs from our legal company name?](#faq-043) Provide both names and explain which one customers recognize. Include matching contact details or a reliable source connecting the names. We need to resolve the relationship rather than quietly substitute a different company with a similar name. The public page should use an accurate business identity. Finding and correcting your businessCurrent guidance ## [What if the claim form points to the wrong company?](#faq-044) Tell us the page is for a different business and give us the correct name, city, phone, and website or Google link. Do not approve the incorrect match just to continue. The record needs to be corrected or a separate page created before ownership access is assigned. Finding and correcting your businessCurrent guidance ## [Can two businesses share a phone number?](#faq-045) Yes, a shared office, agency, or phone service may handle several businesses. That means a phone match needs context and cannot safely merge all those companies into one account. Each claim should identify the exact business and location, with evidence that the representative is authorized for that particular page. Finding and correcting your businessCurrent guidance ## [Why do you ask which city or branch I mean?](#faq-046) The same business name can refer to different branches, franchises, or unrelated companies. A claim must be scoped to the correct location and city. Confirm the address or service area along with the phone and website so the green badge and editing access appear on the intended page. Finding and correcting your businessCurrent guidance ## [Do I need a separate claim for every location?](#faq-047) Each location needs an accurate record and appropriate ownership scope. Existing systems may link related claims where identity is established, but one approved branch does not automatically prove authority over every similarly named business. List the branches you represent and identify each address or public profile clearly. Finding and correcting your businessCurrent guidance ## [What if our business moved to a different address?](#faq-048) Give us the old and current addresses, the move date if relevant, and the correct public business links. A move may explain why an automated match failed. The team should reconcile the location before publishing changes, so customers are not sent to an old office or a different company. Finding and correcting your businessCurrent guidance ## [What if my business category is missing or wrong?](#faq-049) Tell us the main service customers hire you for and the city you serve. Include the current category page if you have one. The listing should be placed in an accurate category rather than a popular but unrelated one, and a category correction should not change ownership or invent review evidence. Finding and correcting your businessPlanned improvement ## [How should duplicate pages be handled?](#faq-050) The improved process should compare stable business identity, location, and ownership before choosing a canonical page. Review history and valid links should be preserved where possible, with redirects from obsolete duplicates. Shared contact details alone should never cause separate companies or branches to be merged. Waiting, disputes, and correctionsCurrent guidance ## [Why did my claim wait so long?](#faq-051) Some requests need more evidence, while others have been delayed by our own matching and follow-up workflow. We should tell you which reason applies to your request and own avoidable delays. A generic pending status is not enough; you deserve a clear next step and an accurate description of what has been completed. Waiting, disputes, and correctionsPlanned improvement ## [How can I check my claim status?](#faq-052) The improved claim page should show the exact business, date received, current stage, and any action needed from you. It should distinguish received, evidence needed, under review, approved, and published. If publication fails after approval, that should remain visible as a technical issue rather than look like a finished claim. Waiting, disputes, and correctionsCurrent guidance ## [Is an approved claim always already visible on the website?](#faq-053) Approval and publication are different steps. A claim can be approved while a technical issue keeps the page or your editing access from appearing correctly. Check your live business page and account access. If either is wrong, report that specific problem rather than submitting another claim for the same business. Waiting, disputes, and correctionsPlanned improvement ## [Who should own a claim that needs human help?](#faq-054) The improved exception queue should assign a named operator and show the reason, next action, and supporting evidence. It should not quietly rely on the founder or a salesperson noticing a notification. Routine follow-ups can be automated, while judgment calls remain accountable to a person. Waiting, disputes, and correctionsCurrent guidance ## [What if someone else has already claimed my business?](#faq-055) Tell us which page is affected and provide evidence of your authority. A competing claim must be investigated before control is transferred. The system has conflict checks for an already-approved owner of the same listing; entering the same public details should not automatically replace that person. Waiting, disputes, and correctionsPlanned improvement ## [What should happen while an ownership dispute is investigated?](#faq-056) The proposed dispute process should pause sensitive ownership changes, preserve the existing evidence and edit history, and give the parties a clear way to respond. Public business information should remain accurate where possible. The process must avoid exposing one claimant private contact details to another or granting control based only on who submits last. Waiting, disputes, and correctionsPlanned improvement ## [Can I appeal a rejected claim?](#faq-057) The improved flow should explain why a request was rejected and identify the evidence that could change the decision. An appeal should be tied to the original business and claim so you do not have to start from scratch. A different reviewer should assess genuine ownership conflicts or ambiguous evidence where practical. Waiting, disputes, and correctionsPlanned improvement ## [What if I accidentally claimed the wrong business?](#faq-058) The flow should let you withdraw the mistaken claim and identify the correct business without taking over the wrong page. If access was already granted, sensitive editing should be paused while the error is corrected. We should preserve a record of the correction rather than erase the history of what happened. Waiting, disputes, and correctionsPlanned improvement ## [What if the business has a new owner?](#faq-059) An ownership transfer should establish the current owner and the business identity, preserve legitimate public history, and remove access that is no longer authorized. A new claimant should not simply overwrite the old account using public contact details. The improved flow should explain what transfer evidence is needed and who reviews it. Waiting, disputes, and correctionsPlanned improvement ## [How can I report a suspicious or impersonated claim?](#faq-060) The listing should provide a visible report route that captures the business page and the reason for concern without requiring public accusations. The team should preserve the evidence and review access before making sensitive changes. A report is a request for investigation, not proof that either claimant is dishonest. Your page, photos, and reviewsCurrent guidance ## [What can a richer business page include?](#faq-061) A richer business page can include your business details, photo gallery, supported video links, selected review quotes, and social profiles. The content available varies by business and by enabled features. Check your published page to see what is already there, then use the available editing controls to provide accurate missing information. Your page, photos, and reviewsCurrent guidance ## [Which photos should I add?](#faq-062) Choose clear, genuine photos of your team, finished work, premises, or products that you have permission to use. The existing guidance suggests six to eight strong images. Avoid sharing private customer information, and do not use another company work as your own. Check the available upload control for accepted sizes and formats. Your page, photos, and reviewsCurrent guidance ## [Can I add a business video?](#faq-063) Business pages support certain hosted video links, rather than every type of video upload. Use the format offered by your editing screen and choose a video that accurately represents your business. Check the player on your published page after saving, especially before sharing that page with customers. Your page, photos, and reviewsCurrent guidance ## [Can I choose my favorite customer reviews?](#faq-064) You can provide selected review quotes for a supported business page. Use real customer words, keep their meaning intact, and identify the source accurately. A selected testimonial is different from an independently verified TopRated review or a Google review feed. Choosing a quote does not change the underlying rating or review count. Your page, photos, and reviewsCurrent guidance ## [Can I edit a customer quote to make it stronger?](#faq-065) Do not rewrite a customer review into a more favorable statement or invent a reviewer. Any permitted shortening should preserve meaning and attribution. If the source is a testimonial rather than Google, it should be labeled accordingly. The original rating and review evidence should remain separate from curated marketing copy. Your page, photos, and reviewsCurrent guidance ## [Can I add Facebook and Instagram links?](#faq-066) Facebook and Instagram links can be included on a business page. Provide the exact company profiles and make sure their names and locations match your business. Check the published links before sharing your page, and avoid substituting a similarly named company or a personal profile that customers would find confusing. Your page, photos, and reviewsCurrent guidance ## [Why are our social links missing?](#faq-067) The business website may not publish them, the profile may be ambiguous, or the enrichment step may not have found enough evidence. Send the exact business URLs. Missing links should be corrected without claiming that a public search has proven account ownership or that every platform has been synchronized. Your page, photos, and reviewsCurrent guidance ## [Can I correct our website, hours, or description?](#faq-068) Those details belong to the business page, and the editing flow should expose the fields supported for your account. Keep them accurate and specific to the location. Ownership, ratings, and other protected fields have separate rules, so changing a description should not silently change verified status or ranking evidence. Your page, photos, and reviewsPlanned improvement ## [What if I saved an edit but the public page still looks old?](#faq-069) The improved flow should show whether an edit is saved, awaiting review, or published, then let you check the public result. A successful save is not proof that the served page changed. If publication fails, the system should retain your edit and give a clear recovery step instead of asking you to enter it again. Your page, photos, and reviewsCurrent guidance ## [Can I upload photos of customers or their homes?](#faq-070) Use material you have the right to publish and consider the customer privacy before uploading. Remove unnecessary personal details, access codes, paperwork, and identifying information. If consent is uncertain, choose another image. A business gallery should show your work without exposing a customer private life. Google data and review freshnessCurrent guidance ## [Are all my latest Google reviews automatically on TopRated?](#faq-071) A TopRated page may show a Google rating, a review count, and a limited selection of review quotes. That does not guarantee that every latest Google review has been synchronized. Check the source and refresh date where shown, and tell us if the business profile or displayed information is wrong. Google data and review freshnessCurrent guidance ## [Why does TopRated show fewer review quotes than Google?](#faq-072) Selected review quotes are examples, not the complete review history. A page can display a few quotes while its total Google review count is much larger. Showing a selection does not mean the other reviews were removed, and it should not change the rating or count attributed to Google. Google data and review freshnessCurrent guidance ## [Why might my review count differ from Google today?](#faq-073) The source may have changed since the last successful refresh, or a refresh may have failed, waited for quota, or matched the wrong profile. The team should check the exact business identity and refresh timestamp before correcting the number. A missing update should never be filled with an estimated count. Google data and review freshnessCurrent guidance ## [Does claiming a page guarantee a successful Google refresh?](#faq-074) No. Confirming ownership and refreshing Google information are separate steps. A delay in refreshing reviews should not prevent a valid ownership claim from being completed. Check the displayed source and date rather than assuming that an approved claim means every Google review has just been imported. Google data and review freshnessCurrent guidance ## [What happens when Google data cannot be refreshed?](#faq-075) A temporary Google data problem may leave previously available information on the page until an update succeeds. That is different from an ownership problem. If the displayed rating, count, or profile is wrong, report the exact issue and correct Google link. We should not describe old information as a fresh update. Google data and review freshnessPlanned improvement ## [Can public research find my business without a paid Google lookup?](#faq-076) Public research can often find the correct website, Google Maps link, and social profiles by comparing name, city, address, and phone. It can reduce unnecessary searches and help resolve mismatches. It is not the same as a complete, authorized review synchronization, and any observed rating or count needs its source and observation date. Google data and review freshnessCurrent guidance ## [Does finding a Google profile prove that I own it?](#faq-077) No. Finding a public profile establishes information about the business, not who controls it. Ownership still needs an accepted control or authorization check tied to the claimant. Keeping those steps separate lets us improve public information quickly without accidentally giving an unrelated person access to a business page. Google data and review freshnessCurrent guidance ## [Can you invent a rating while my Google profile is unavailable?](#faq-078) No. If a rating or count cannot be established, the page should leave it unknown or clearly unrated. It should not borrow another branch rating, infer a score from testimonials, or turn missing information into a zero-star result. Accurate missing information is more useful than false precision. Google data and review freshnessCurrent guidance ## [Are owner-selected testimonials counted as Google reviews?](#faq-079) No. A quote keeps its actual source. An owner-selected testimonial can provide useful context, but it is not automatically a Google review or a verified TopRated review. Check the attribution beside the quote, and tell us if it identifies the wrong platform or misrepresents what the customer wrote. Google data and review freshnessCurrent guidance ## [Can TopRated change or remove a review from my Google profile?](#faq-080) Google controls reviews shown on Google. A TopRated listing or refresh does not grant TopRated authority to edit the Google review record. If you believe a Google review violates Google rules, use Google own reporting process. A correction to our page should address our display without promising an external removal. Rankings and featured placementCurrent guidance ## [How are TopRated businesses ranked today?](#faq-081) Today, the numbered order uses public Google ratings and review volume, with a confidence adjustment and local eligibility rules. Claiming or paying does not purchase a numbered position. The How we rank section beside category results explains the current approach and distinguishes the ranked list from featured spotlights. Rankings and featured placementCurrent guidance ## [Do TopRated reviews already affect the rankings?](#faq-082) Verified TopRated reviews are not yet part of the current numbered order. We have described a proposed additional review signal so businesses can understand it before it takes effect. Until that change is live, the existing Google-based methodology applies. A proposed update should never be presented as if it has already changed your position. Rankings and featured placementCurrent guidance ## [Why can a business with fewer stars rank above mine?](#faq-083) The ranking explanation considers how much review evidence supports a rating, rather than sorting only by the star average. A very high score from a small sample may carry less confidence than a slightly lower score from many customers. Location and category eligibility also affect which businesses are compared. Rankings and featured placementCurrent guidance ## [Does claiming my listing move me up the numbered list?](#faq-084) No. Claiming your page and earning a numbered position have different purposes. An ownership badge helps visitors understand who represents the page, while the numbered order follows the published review and local eligibility rules. Neither submitting a claim nor receiving a green badge purchases a higher rank. Rankings and featured placementCurrent guidance ## [Can a business pay to be ranked number one?](#faq-085) The published methodology says numbered rankings are not for sale. Premium presentation or a labeled featured spotlight is separate from the earned order. Any paid or complimentary benefit should be described accurately and should not quietly alter the score, review evidence, or position in the numbered list. Rankings and featured placementCurrent guidance ## [What is a featured business?](#faq-086) Featured placement is a labeled spotlight separate from the numbered rankings. It can give a business visibility without asserting that it earned the highest review score. The page should make that distinction visible, and the featured period should not be confused with permanent ranking status or ownership verification. Rankings and featured placementCurrent guidance ## [How long does the founder recovery featured placement last?](#faq-087) Founder recovery featured placement runs through November 30, 2026 and ends on December 1 in Eastern Time. An overnight job removes the featured flag shortly after midnight that night, so the card can take a short while to disappear. Featured placement is a temporary spotlight separate from the numbered rankings and from complimentary premium-page access, which stays on your page after the spotlight ends. Your individual message confirms whether the spotlight applies to your listing. Rankings and featured placementPlanned improvement ## [What happens when the recovery spotlight ends?](#faq-088) When the November recovery spotlight ends, any separately confirmed complimentary premium access should remain. From December 1, your position depends on the ranking rules then in force and your business eligibility. A business without enough review evidence may appear in an unrated section rather than receive a numbered position. Rankings and featured placementCurrent guidance ## [Where can I read the detailed ranking explanation?](#faq-089) Every city site has a full methodology page at /methodology/, for example tampatoprated.com/methodology/, and each category page has a How we rank section beside the numbered results. Both explain the quality floor, review confidence, local eligibility, and the separation between rankings and featured placement. Today the numbered order uses public Google ratings and review volume only; the proposed Top Rated review signal is labeled there as not yet counting. Rankings and featured placementCurrent guidance ## [Can a business outside the city rank in that city?](#faq-090) The ranking explanation requires a business to genuinely serve the local market and describes distance checks to avoid comparing unrelated areas. Serving nearby customers does not justify inventing a local office. The relevant category and location should be reviewed before a business is included in the ranked results. Premium, support, and privacyCurrent guidance ## [What is the standard premium listing price?](#faq-091) The standard premium listing price is $297 one time, rather than a recurring premium-listing fee. A complimentary founder offer is free and is not a purchase. Any separate service or future paid offer should explain its own terms before you choose it; claiming a free page should not silently enroll you in another service. Premium, support, and privacyPlanned improvement ## [Will the complimentary recovery upgrade charge my card?](#faq-092) The planned recovery upgrade is complimentary and should not require a card payment. Your individual confirmation should explain the premium benefits granted to your page and any separate limit on featured placement. Unrelated paid services remain optional and should never be added just because you claimed a free listing. Premium, support, and privacyCurrent guidance ## [Is premium access the same as permanent featured placement?](#faq-093) No. A richer premium page and a temporary featured spotlight are separate benefits. Ending the November recovery spotlight should not remove separately confirmed complimentary premium access. Keeping premium access does not mean you stay permanently featured or hold a permanent top-ranked position in the numbered list. Premium, support, and privacyCurrent guidance ## [Will every premium page have the same amount of content?](#faq-094) No. Available photos, genuine review quotes, hours, and social links vary by business. Premium access provides supported ways to present your company, but it does not create content that does not exist. Review your published page and provide accurate material where details are missing. Premium, support, and privacyPlanned improvement ## [How can I get help without booking a sales call?](#faq-095) The improved help page should offer a direct claim-support route that carries your business page and claim reference. Listing corrections and verification questions should not require a sales meeting. Sales conversations can remain optional, with a clear distinction between resolving your listing and discussing additional services. Premium, support, and privacyCurrent guidance ## [Why am I hearing from the founder?](#faq-096) The founder recovery message is intended to thank businesses for claiming, apologize for avoidable delays, and explain the specific work completed on each page. It should take responsibility for workflow problems without hiding legitimate verification requirements. It should also provide your actual page link and a clear route to correct anything still wrong. Premium, support, and privacyCurrent guidance ## [Is TopRated the same business as Haygood Ideas?](#faq-097) The founder request describes Haygood Ideas as his ideas company and makes any conversation about AI-powered websites or agents optional. Claiming a free TopRated listing should not enroll you in another service. The founder email should link to the Haygood Ideas homepage separately from the listing and its support steps. Premium, support, and privacyPlanned improvement ## [Can I control which contact details appear publicly?](#faq-098) The improved intake and editor should show the public business contact fields separately from private account or verification contacts. You should know what will be published before saving. A number supplied only for a verification check should not automatically replace the public business number or appear on the customer-facing page. Premium, support, and privacyPlanned improvement ## [How should sensitive verification documents be handled?](#faq-099) A secure exception flow should explain why a document is needed, accept only relevant information, limit who can access it, and define retention and deletion. Do not place sensitive documents in a public review, gallery, or ordinary contact note. The exact secure route and retention policy must be established before requesting such uploads. Premium, support, and privacyPlanned improvement ## [How will TopRated make this easier over time?](#faq-100) The intended workflow is simple: find the right business, explain the status, offer the fastest supported verification method, publish accurate information, and send exceptions to an accountable human. Searchable answers and clear next steps should reduce repeat submissions. Automation should remove unnecessary waiting while making corrections and ownership disputes easier to resolve.