verified_userData Transparency: all ownership badges reflect self-reported Google Business Profile attributes.
DiverseDirectoryDiverseDirectory

Methodology & Verification Standards

Where the data comes from

Every business on DiverseDirectory is sourced from its public Google Business Profile. We never infer ownership identity from a name, a photo, or any other signal — the only attributes we display are ones a business owner has explicitly selected on their own Google listing (the “Identifies as …” attributes Google exposes, such as “Identifies as women-owned”).

Ownership vs. clientele attributes

We keep two attribute sets strictly separate. Ownership attributes (e.g. “Black-owned”, “Veteran-owned”) are self-reported by the business owner. Clientele/crowd attributes (e.g. “LGBTQ+ friendly”) are separate, crowd-sourced signals from Google reviewers describing their experience — not a claim about who owns the business. The two are never merged or displayed interchangeably.

How a listing gets published

A business goes through a fixed pipeline before it appears on the site:

  1. Sourced from Google Business Profile data.
  2. Promoted into our directory only if it has at least one self-reported ownership attribute.
  3. Grouped into (city, category, ownership identity) combinations — a combination needs at least 5 qualifying businesses before we publish a dedicated directory page or article for it, so no page launches with a thin, unconvincing list.

Corrections

Attributes are reconciled on every data refresh. If you believe a listing is misattributed, or you are the owner and want to claim or update your profile, use the claim / report form.