Trust & Standards
Listing Policies &
Verification Standards
Our policies exist to protect the integrity of the directory and the trust of the community. Every listing is held to these standards.
Badge System
Three Levels of Trust
Every listing starts as basic and can earn higher verification levels over time. Badges are displayed prominently on all listings.
Listed
Basic listing submitted by the business owner. Information has not been independently verified.
Requirements
- Business name and category
- Valid contact information
- Agreement to Terms of Service
Community Verified
The business has received 5+ reviews from real customers and has been active in the directory for at least 30 days.
Requirements
- 5 or more customer reviews
- Active listing for 30+ days
- No unresolved reports or violations
- Consistent business information
Verified Black-Owned
Our team has independently confirmed Black ownership through documentation review. The highest level of trust on the platform.
Requirements
- Proof of Black ownership (e.g., business registration, ownership docs)
- Government-issued ID of owner(s)
- Business license or EIN documentation
- Manual review by our verification team
Who Can List
To be listed on The Black Business Directory, a business must meet all of the following criteria:
- The business must be at least 51% Black-owned and operated
- The business must be a legitimate, operating entity (not a concept or future business)
- The business must provide a real product or service to customers
- The business must have verifiable contact information (phone, email, or website)
- The business owner must agree to our Terms of Service and Community Standards
What's Not Allowed
The following types of listings are prohibited and will be removed:
- Businesses that are not Black-owned or misrepresent ownership
- Illegal businesses or businesses offering illegal products/services
- Hate speech, discriminatory content, or content that demeans any group
- Spam listings, duplicate entries, or fake businesses
- Misleading claims about products, services, or credentials
- Adult content or businesses of an explicitly sexual nature
- Multi-level marketing (MLM) or pyramid scheme businesses
Enforcement
How We Enforce These Policies
Community Reports
Any visitor can flag a listing using the "Report this Business" link on every listing page. Reports are anonymous and reviewed within 48 hours.
Internal Review
Our moderation team reviews all reports and may reach out to the business owner for clarification or documentation before taking action.
Corrective Action
Depending on the severity, we may issue a warning, require corrections, temporarily suspend, or permanently remove a listing. Repeat violations result in permanent bans.
Appeals
Business owners who believe a removal was made in error may appeal by contacting our team. We review all appeals within 5 business days.
Ready to Get Listed?
If your business meets our criteria, we'd love to have you. Start your free listing today.