Question 1

What is I Found Local?

Accepted Answer

I Found Local is a free guide to the businesses in your own community. Instead of a giant national directory, each town gets its own section — starting with Lakeland, Florida — so you can browse the plumbers, bakeries, and landscapers your neighbors already trust.

Question 2

How much does it cost to use?

Accepted Answer

Nothing. Browsing the directory, searching by industry, and viewing any business listing is completely free for everyone.

Question 3

How do I find a business?

Accepted Answer

Open your town's page, use the search bar to look up a business name, industry, or keyword, or tap an industry button to see every business in that category. Listings are sorted alphabetically, with featured businesses shown first.

Question 4

Is every business on the site paying to be there?

Accepted Answer

No. Most listings are free. A business owner can claim their listing to keep details current, and a smaller number upgrade to a featured listing for top placement and extra tools. Free listings are just as real and just as welcome.

Question 5

My favorite business isn't listed. Can I add it?

Accepted Answer

You can send the business our way and ask them to add themselves, or reach out through our contact page and we'll look into adding them. The most accurate listings come from the owners themselves.

Question 6

How do I add my business?

Accepted Answer

Go to the Add Your Business page, fill out the short form with your business name, industry, contact details, and hours, and submit it. We review every submission and add it to your town's directory. It's free and your listing never expires.

Question 7

What does it cost to be listed?

Accepted Answer

A basic listing is free and always will be. Claiming your listing to edit your own details is also free. The only paid option is the featured listing upgrade, which is priced per year and completely optional.

Question 8

What does it mean to claim my listing?

Accepted Answer

Claiming confirms that you own or manage the business. Once your claim is verified, you can update your hours, phone number, website, address, and description yourself, so your listing always stays accurate.

Question 9

How do I claim my listing?

Accepted Answer

Find your listing on your town's page and use the claim option, or contact us and we'll walk you through it. We may ask for a quick bit of proof that you're authorized to manage the business.

Question 10

What is a featured listing?

Accepted Answer

A featured listing is an optional upgrade that gives your business a Featured badge and top placement on your town's home page, plus a custom AI assistant on your listing that answers customer questions and books appointments, a Google Business Profile tune-up, an online visibility report, a short promo video, and 30 days of social media posts. See the Get Featured page for full details and pricing.

Question 11

Do I have to be featured to get customers?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. A free, claimed listing with accurate hours and details works well on its own. Featured is for owners who want to stand out and get extra marketing help — it's an option, never a requirement.

Question 12

Can I edit or remove my listing later?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Once you've claimed your listing you can update it anytime. If you'd like your listing removed entirely, contact us and we'll take care of it.

Question 13

Which cities does I Found Local cover?

Accepted Answer

We're starting with Lakeland, Florida and adding new towns one at a time. Each city gets its own section of the site. If you'd like your town next, let us know through the contact page.

Question 14

Where do the listings come from?

Accepted Answer

Listings come from business owners who add themselves, and in some cases from publicly available business information so the directory is useful from day one. Owners can always claim their listing to correct or update anything.

Question 15

How are businesses sorted?

Accepted Answer

Listings are shown alphabetically by business name, ignoring capitalization and a leading "The." Within a category, featured businesses appear first, then the rest in alphabetical order.

Question 16

Does I Found Local endorse the businesses listed?

Accepted Answer

I Found Local is a directory, not an endorsement. We list businesses so neighbors can find them, but we don't own, operate, or guarantee any business. Your dealings with a business are between you and that business.

Question 17

Who runs I Found Local?

Accepted Answer

I Found Local is a local community service of Growth Tools Hub. You can read more about why we started it on the About page.

Frequently asked questions

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For business owners

About the directory

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