Methodology · how FourBest works
How We Pick the Four
We start with every company we can find, drop the ones without a working phone or a solid review record, score the rest on the same published weights, then pick four that are each strongest at something different. Nobody pays to be in a four.
Must-pass checks
Fail one and a company can’t be in a four, whatever it pays.
- A working phone number
- At least 10 public reviews
- An average rating of 4.0 or higher
- Actively offering the job in the city
How “strongest” is scored
The same weights on every page.
- Rating 30%
- Review volume 20%
- Recent reviews 20%
- Years in business 15%
- Complete details 10%
- Checks confirmed 5%
Price isn’t scored: a budget company can be the best-value pick. Paid status never changes the score.
Choosing four that differ
Four near-identical companies don’t help you choose. Each of the four gets a “best for” ribbon for the trait it shows best: most reviewed, longest established, best value, premium choice or a highly rated newcomer.
The quick choice is the one we’d call if you could only call one: the best all-round score.
How often we update
- Ratings & reviews
- Every refresh
- License & identity checks
- Re-checked regularly
- Full re-pick of the four
- Every refresh
- Corrections
- Within 2 business days
What every grid row means
The same rows appear on every comparison, so you can trust what you’re reading across cities.
| Attribute | What it means and where it comes from |
|---|---|
| Rating | Average star rating from public review sites. |
| Reviews | Total public reviews. |
| Years operating | Years since the business was founded. |
| Services | What the business does, from its own details and, once claimed, confirmed by the owner. |
| Price | $ to $$$$ price level, where known. |
| Free estimate | Whether a first quote or visit is free. |
| Verified | How many record checks (state license, registration, insurance and more) we confirmed, with the date. Each profile lists the source of every check. |
| Best for | The trait the business shows best among the four. |
Bars in every grid compare the four businesses with each other, not with a fixed standard.
FAQ: the method
Why compare four side by side instead of ranking ten?
Four fit on one screen with the same rows: rating, reviews, years, price, records. Differences show in seconds. Past four, extra names add reading, not choice.
What do the $ to $$$$ price levels mean?
$ is budget-friendly, $$$$ is premium, relative to other companies for the same job in the same city. Price isn’t scored, so a $ company can make the four. Compare written quotes before you decide.
Which of the four suits a tight budget?
Check the Price row and the “Best value” ribbon first. Short on time? Call the quick choice. Budget first? Start with the lowest price level, then compare what each quote includes.
Do you compare warranties and guarantees?
Only when a business gives us its terms; they are not a scored row. Ask each of the four for the warranty in writing: what it covers, for how long, and who honours it.
Money and corrections
Businesses never pay to be in a four: how we make money. Wrong fact? Send a correction; we fix it within two business days.
Want your business considered?
You don’t need to pay or claim anything to be considered. Claiming your free profile helps us get your facts right. It takes about five minutes.