How we rate, and what we refuse to do

1. Four dimensions

When we have sourced evidence, we assess a business on four things:

• Results. Did the work move a real metric: leads, sales, ranking, reach.
• Communication. Responsiveness, clarity, and how problems get handled.
• Value. What you get for the price, versus the realistic alternatives.
• Transparency. Honest reporting, no vanity metrics, no lock-in surprises.

2. Real ratings only

We attach a number to those dimensions, or an overall star score, only when it traces to a citable source. Today that means one business carries a rating, AlmostZero, and the figure shown is its own public Trustpilot aggregate, linked to the source. Every other profile shows an honest empty state. We never invent dimension scores.

3. Our recommendation is disclosed

AlmostZero is our recommended pick and our group also operates it. We say both in the same place: a "Recommended" label with a disclosure note, a disclosure line in the footer of every page, and a dedicated disclosure page. A recommendation you can see the stake behind is honest.

4. Alternatives are gated by real data

An alternatives page only lists genuine options in the same category, and we surface our recommended pick there only when it actually competes in that category. We do not inject it into unrelated industries. A comparison page is published only where we hold real, sourceable facts, which is why the comparison list is short.

5. No fabrication, ever

• no invented reviews, ratings, dimension scores or testimonials;
• no rating we cannot point to a source for;
• no presenting our recommended pick as an independent third-party verdict.