Indie Merit is a curated list, not an open directory. A business is here because it earned it, not because it paid. These are the standards we hold to.
We list independent businesses and the people who run them. No national chains and no franchises. The rare exception is an independently owned local operator working under a larger brand, such as some insurance agents or real estate agents, where the person you deal with is genuinely local and independent.
Before a business is listed we look at what is publicly known about it, including its reputation with real customers. A listing marked recommended has been manually reviewed: we confirm it is independently owned, and where the business has a website we check that it is a secure connection, then we screen for a solid customer reputation.
Listing copy is written to match reality. We do not invent details, awards, or claims a business cannot back up. What we publish traces to information the business or the public record actually supports. If something is wrong, we fix it.
Being listed is free, and being recommended cannot be bought. Placement and recommendations are not for sale. If we ever run a clearly paid promotion, it will be labeled as such so you always know the difference between curation and advertising.
Know somewhere that belongs here? Submit a spot. Every submission is reviewed by a person, and listing is always free. To correct or remove a listing, email hello@indiemerit.com.