Affiliate & Advertising Disclosure
Last Updated: December 11, 2025
Our Commitment: Rankings on PaintersNearMe.org are generated algorithmically based on public data. Paid advertising does NOT affect ranking positions. We clearly label all paid content.
How We Make Money
PaintersNearMe.org is a free resource for homeowners. To support the costs of research, data collection, and website operation, we generate revenue through:
- Featured Listings: Painting contractors can purchase "Featured" banner advertisements that appear separately from our rankings
- Sponsored Content: Clearly labeled promotional content from painting businesses
Rankings vs. Advertising - The Difference
Our Rankings (Not Paid)
Our contractor rankings are 100% algorithmic and based on:
- Average ratings across Google, Yelp, and Facebook
- Review volume and consistency
- Years in business
- License verification status
- BBB accreditation and local chamber membership
- Service breadth
A contractor cannot pay to improve their ranking position. The only way to improve a ranking is to improve the underlying factors (get more positive reviews, maintain licensing, stay in business longer, etc.).
Featured Listings (Paid)
Paid advertisements appear in designated "Featured" or "Sponsored" sections that are visually distinct from our rankings. These listings:
- Are clearly labeled as "Featured" or "Sponsored"
- Appear in separate banner areas, not within the ranking list
- Do not influence a contractor's score or position in our rankings
- Are subject to our content guidelines (no misleading claims)
Transparency About Our Algorithm
Unlike many contractor directories, we publish our ranking algorithm openly. You can see exactly how scores are calculated:
- Average Rating: 40% weight
- Review Volume: 30% weight
- Years in Business: 20% weight
- Website Quality: 10% weight
Eligibility Requirements: Only locally-owned contractors with 5+ years in business and reviews on multiple platforms (Google, Yelp, BBB) are included in our rankings. National franchises are excluded.
This formula is applied equally to all contractors regardless of whether they advertise with us.
Why This Matters
Many contractor directories operate on a "pay-to-play" model where the top results go to whoever pays the most. We believe this is bad for homeowners who deserve objective information.
Our approach separates editorial content (rankings) from advertising. You can trust that when you see a contractor ranked #1, it's because their public data supports that position, not because they paid for it.
Affiliate Links
Currently, PaintersNearMe.org does not use affiliate links. When we link to a contractor's website, we do not receive compensation for clicks or referrals.
If this changes in the future, we will:
- Update this disclosure
- Clearly identify affiliate links on our pages
- Never let affiliate relationships influence our rankings
Questions?
If you have questions about our advertising practices or want to understand how a specific contractor was ranked, please contact us through the information on our website.