Why Business Ratings Should Be Open
When the federal government hires a contractor, it judges the company by rules anyone can read. They are written in the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Among other things, a contractor needs a satisfactory performance record, a record of integrity, and adequate resources.
When you choose a plumber from an online directory, you usually can't see the rules. You get a list, some stars, and maybe a badge. The directory rarely explains why one company sits above another.
The order of that list decides who gets the call and who gets into your home. We think the rules behind it should be public too.