ProFix Verification System
Listing Health Score — published algorithm
Every Ohio contractor in our directory gets a 0–100 Listing Health Score. The scoring formula is published in full so contractors, homeowners, AI engines, and researchers can all see exactly how rankings are computed.
Algorithm version 1.0 · Last updated 2026-05-19 · Full methodology at /methodology
Factor weights (total = 100)
| Factor | Weight |
|---|---|
License status Active state license verified within the last 24 hours. 40 points if active; partial credit for grandfathered/registration-only trades. Source: Ohio eLicense Center | 40 |
Permit-pull history (last 12 months) Number of building permits pulled in the listed county. Capped scaling: 0 permits = 0 pts; 1–5 = 8 pts; 6–20 = 15 pts; 21+ = 20 pts. Source: County Building Department feeds | 20 |
Public reviews Google Places review count + average rating. Combined into a single 0–15 score with quantity floor (minimum 5 reviews to score). Source: Google Places API | 15 |
BBB rating BBB letter grade (A+ = 10, A = 9, B+ = 8, …). 0 if not BBB-listed. Source: Better Business Bureau | 10 |
Insurance verification Ohio COI lookup or contractor-submitted certificate. All-or-nothing for v1; partial weights coming. Source: Ohio Department of Insurance | 10 |
Business tenure Years in continuous operation per Secretary of State filings. 1 pt per year, capped at 5. Source: Ohio Secretary of State | 5 |
Three worked examples
Score 92 — established licensed plumber, active license, 47 permits, 4.8★ × 800 reviews, A+ BBB, insured, 12 years
| Factor | Got | Max | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| License status | 40 | 40 | Active OCILB plumbing license, verified 12 hours ago |
| Permit-pull history | 20 | 20 | 47 Lucas County permits in 2025 |
| Public reviews | 14 | 15 | 4.8★ × 800 reviews; minor deduction for one 1★ recent |
| BBB rating | 10 | 10 | A+ accredited |
| Insurance verification | 5 | 10 | Self-reported, not Ohio COI verified yet |
| Business tenure | 3 | 5 | 12 years per Secretary of State (capped at 5) |
| Total | 92 | 100 |
Score 64 — solid mid-size HVAC, license active, 6 permits, 4.5★ × 60 reviews, no BBB, no insurance verify, 5 years
| Factor | Got | Max | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| License status | 40 | 40 | Active OCILB HVAC license |
| Permit-pull history | 15 | 20 | 6 county permits in 2025 |
| Public reviews | 9 | 15 | 4.5★ × 60 reviews |
| BBB rating | 0 | 10 | Not BBB-listed |
| Insurance verification | 0 | 10 | Not verified |
| Business tenure | 0 | 5 | Tenure unknown — no Secretary of State match yet |
| Total | 64 | 100 |
Score 38 — directory listing with phone but minimal verification
| Factor | Got | Max | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| License status | 20 | 40 | Trade does not require state license; passes registration only |
| Permit-pull history | 0 | 20 | No permits found in last 12 months |
| Public reviews | 4 | 15 | 4.2★ × 8 reviews — meets quantity floor only |
| BBB rating | 0 | 10 | Not BBB-listed |
| Insurance verification | 10 | 10 | Submitted Ohio COI |
| Business tenure | 4 | 5 | 4 years registered |
| Total | 38 | 100 |
Score interpretation
- 80–100 — fully verified, high-confidence listing. Strong public record on every factor.
- 60–79 — solid listing with one or two missing fields. Usually means the contractor hasn't published insurance or hasn't been BBB-listed.
- 40–59 — partial verification. Worth contacting but confirm license, insurance, and reviews independently before hiring.
- Below 40 — directory listing with limited public verification. Use eLicense and BBB lookups yourself before hiring.
For contractors — how to raise your score
The fastest moves (no ProFix payment required):
- Confirm your Ohio license is current at elicense.ohio.gov and that your business name matches your listing exactly.
- Pull a permit when one is required. County permit feeds are public and we auto-detect.
- Ask happy customers to leave Google reviews — they're worth up to 15 points.
- Submit your Ohio Certificate of Insurance via contact to claim the insurance-verified points.
- If your business is more than 5 years old per Secretary of State filings, you already have the tenure points.
Algorithm changes are versioned
When we change the formula, every affected listing is re-scored and the old algorithm version stays on this page for reference. No silent changes.
Changelog
- 2026-05-17 — v1.0 published. Six-factor formula totalling 100 points.