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About Rankin

We're building a trusted resource for finding the best local services through independent, data-driven rankings that put helpful information ahead of marketing.

Our Mission

The internet is flooded with "best of" lists that are either paid placements, aggregated reviews without verification, or clickbait content farms. We believe people deserve better—rankings based on actual research, transparent criteria, and editorial independence.

Rankin exists to answer a simple question: "What's actually the best option for my specific need?" We do the research, apply consistent evaluation frameworks, and publish rankings that help you make confident decisions.

What Makes Us Different

1. Editorial Independence & Commercial Transparency

Rankings are never for sale. Our scores (1-10) are based strictly on our published criteria. However, to keep our research free for readers, we offer clearly labeled "Featured" or "Sponsored" placements to select partners. These paid slots are separate from our editorial rankings and do not influence the organic score a business receives.

2. Transparent Methodology

We publish exactly how we evaluate and score every category. You can read our global methodology and category-specific processes (e.g., design studios, dentists). If you disagree with our criteria, you can at least understand why we ranked something the way we did.

3. Real Research, Not Aggregation

We don't just scrape Yelp reviews or aggregate other lists. Our editors evaluate portfolios, verify credentials, analyze outcomes, and when possible, conduct site visits. Rankings take weeks of research, not hours of compilation.

4. Context Over Simple Lists

We explain why something ranks where it does and who it's best for. The #1 dentist may not be right for you if they don't take your insurance or specialize in pediatric care when you need implants. We provide decision frameworks, not just ordered lists.

5. Continuous Updates

Rankings aren't "set and forget." We review categories quarterly, update for major changes within 30 days, and track all revisions in a public changelog. You'll always know when rankings were last verified.

How We Make Money

Currently, Rankin is self-funded. Our planned revenue model includes:

  • Display advertising - Clearly labeled ads that never influence rankings
  • Premium research reports - Deep-dive category analysis for businesses
  • Data licensing - Anonymized ranking data for market research

We will never accept money from ranked businesses for placement, affiliate commissions from referrals, or "native advertising" that disguises ads as rankings.

Our Team

Rankin is built by a small team of researchers, editors, and developers who believe the internet needs more trustworthy information resources.

Editorial Team: Our editors have backgrounds in journalism, research, and subject-matter expertise across the categories we cover. We hire specialists (e.g., a dentist reviews dental rankings) to ensure evaluations are informed by actual domain knowledge.

Research Standards: Every editor signs an editorial ethics agreement prohibiting conflicts of interest, acceptance of gifts from ranked businesses, and manipulation of rankings for any reason beyond published criteria.

Editorial Principles

  1. Independence: Rankings are never influenced by business relationships, advertising, or pressure.
  2. Transparency: We publish our methods, criteria weights, and data sources.
  3. Accuracy: We verify facts, correct errors promptly, and acknowledge mistakes publicly.
  4. Helpfulness: Our goal is useful information, not SEO content farms or engagement bait.
  5. Accountability: We provide contact information and respond to corrections within 5 business days.

Read our complete Editorial Policy for detailed standards.

Coverage Roadmap

We're starting with three categories (design studios, dentists, gyms) across five major U.S. cities. Our expansion plan:

  • Q1 2026: Add 10 more cities, 2 more categories
  • Q2 2026: Launch international rankings (London, Toronto, Berlin)
  • Q3 2026: Add 5 more categories based on user requests
  • Q4 2026: Regional coverage (suburbs, secondary cities)

Category and location priorities are based on user demand and our ability to execute high-quality research. We'd rather cover fewer things well than many things poorly.

Get Involved

Suggest a Business for Review

Know an exceptional service provider we haven't ranked? Submit a suggestion. We review all submissions, though inclusion isn't guaranteed—businesses must meet our criteria and score competitively.

Report Errors or Outdated Information

Found incorrect information? Submit a correction with supporting evidence. We investigate within 5 business days and publish updates with acknowledgment.

Request a Category

Want us to rank a category we don't cover yet? Let us know via contact form. We prioritize categories with strong demand and where we can execute meaningful differentiation in rankings.

Contact Us

Questions, feedback, or press inquiries:

We aim to respond within 3 business days.