Ranking Methodology
How we collect, score, and rank local contractors on GrowLocal Hub.
Last updated: March 2026
Ranking Process
Data Collection
We use automated crawlers to collect publicly available Google Maps listings for local service businesses in each city and industry category. Data points collected include business name, category, rating, review count, address, and business hours.
Normalization
Raw data is normalized to remove duplicates, standardize city names, convert numeric fields, and generate URL-safe slugs. Businesses that appear across multiple data pulls are deduplicated using a combination of name and address.
Ranking Score Calculation
Each business receives a composite ranking score based on weighted factors: review count (primary), average rating (secondary), and recency of reviews (tertiary). Businesses with higher review velocity are given a slight boost to reflect active operations.
Tier Assignment
Businesses are assigned a listing tier (Featured, Enhanced, or Free) based on their review count benchmark within their local market. Tier assignment is automatic and does not involve payment.
Competition Scoring
Each city+industry market receives a competition score from 0 to 100 based on the median review count of the top 10 businesses, the concentration of high-rated businesses, and the total number of active competitors.
Publication and Updates
Ranking pages are published and updated on a rolling basis. Each page displays a 'Last Updated' indicator. We aim to refresh ranking data every 30 days for active markets.
Ranking Factors
| Factor | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Review Count | 50% | Primary ranking signal. Higher review volume signals market trust. |
| Average Rating | 30% | Minimum 3.5 stars required for Featured tier consideration. |
| Review Recency | 20% | Businesses with recent review activity ranked higher than stagnant profiles. |
What We Do Not Measure
Our current methodology does not include:
- License verification (though we display license numbers when available)
- Insurance verification
- Background checks or criminal history
- Customer complaint history beyond Google reviews
We recommend homeowners independently verify license and insurance status before hiring any contractor. See our contractor hiring guide for tips on what to check.
Data Sources
See our dedicated Data Sources page for a complete list of data providers and collection methods.