How we make money
Where our income comes from
Readers pay nothing. Our income comes from businesses, in three ways, and none of them can buy a selection.
In detail
What money buys, and what it never buys
| Source | What it buys | What it never buys |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced profiles | A larger gallery, project stories and a team section on the business’s own profile. | Selection, a better position or different wording from our editors. |
| Sponsored placements | A clearly labelled panel, shown outside and below the three. | A place in the three, or a label that looks like ours. |
| Quote requests | When you choose to send a request, the business may pay us a small fee. Your price is the same. | Your details going to anyone you didn’t tick. |
Questions
Questions about money
- Can a business pay to be among the three?
- No. Money buys an enhanced profile or a labelled sponsored panel. It never buys a place among the three, a better position or kinder words from the editors.
- Why are sponsored panels kept below the three?
- So they can never be mistaken for a selection. A sponsored panel is marked as paid, sits outside the three and carries no numeral or label of ours.
- Does a quote request cost me anything?
- No. The business you choose may pay us a small fee when it answers, and your price stays the same. Your details go only to the businesses you tick.
For local businesses
Is your business on Local Three?
Claim your free profile to keep your details right. It takes five minutes and never affects our selection.