Guides

Everyone

• How to check a contractor's license before you hire
  A five-minute license check can save you thousands. Where to look in your state, what the record tells you, and the warning signs that mean walk away.
• How to read online reviews without getting fooled
  Reviews help, but some are fake, bought or filtered. What the FTC says to watch for, what its 2024 fake-review rule bans, and how to weigh what you read.
• How to tell a real government office from an impostor
  Scammers pose as the IRS, Social Security, courts and even the FTC. How real agencies contact you, what they never ask for, and how .gov helps you check.
• Hiring help after a storm or disaster without getting scammed
  After a hurricane, flood or wildfire, storm chasers show up fast. The FTC's warning signs, how to pay safely, and where real help comes from.
• Written estimates and home repair contracts: what belongs on paper
  A clear estimate and contract prevent most home repair fights. What to ask for, what the FTC and state regulators say belongs in writing, and how to pay in stages.
• Google Business Profile basics for local service businesses
  Your Google Business Profile is often the first thing a customer sees. What Google's own guidelines say about your name, address, service area, categories and hours.
• How to ask customers for reviews the right way
  Reviews bring in work, but the FTC's 2024 rule sets hard lines. What you can ask for, what you can't pay for, and how to handle bad reviews legally.
• Directory listing scams: how to protect your business
  The 'just confirming your listing' call, the fake invoice, the overdue-bill threat. How the FTC says directory and advertising scams work and what to do.
• Truth in advertising: the basics every small business should know
  The FTC's core rules in plain English: claims must be true and backed by evidence, disclosures must be clear, 'free' has rules, and testimonials must be honest.
• Track where your customers come from with UTM links
  A small tag on the end of a link tells Google Analytics which listing, flyer or email sent a visitor. How UTM parameters work and a simple naming plan to use.
• Is a paid directory listing worth it? How to decide and measure
  Before you pay for any listing, check that real customers will see it, then measure what it brings in. A plain checklist and a simple cost-per-lead method.
• How to verify a local license fast
  A step-by-step habit for homeowners checking contractor or business licenses before hiring.
• Red flags in home service quotes
  Pressure tactics, vague scopes, and payment demands that should stop a hire.
• Using directories without getting scammed
  How to use online directories as a starting point — not proof of trust.
• What good local business profiles include
  Hours, license numbers, service area, and proof points that help customers choose.