Free Local Business Research for Journalists

Reporting on small businesses, local economies, or digital adoption? ProspectGrid can help you explore Google Maps business listings and uncover city- or industry-level patterns worth investigating.

Tell us what you're researching. We'll assess whether we can produce a custom analysis, at no cost and with no obligation to publish.

Request Free Research

What can we investigate?

Research can be tailored to a location, business category, or editorial question, subject to data availability and feasible coverage.

Website-listing gaps

What share of restaurants, repair shops, or tradespeople have no website listed in their Google Maps business records?

City and regional comparisons

How do observable business-listing patterns differ across cities, metro areas, or selected neighborhoods?

Industry comparisons

Which local business categories show the largest differences in website listings, ratings, or review activity?

Custom editorial questions

Have a story angle in mind? Send us your hypothesis and we'll discuss what the available data can—and cannot—show.

Research we've already published

Our October 2026 study, The Local Business Website Gap: 42,985 Businesses Across Five U.S. Cities, analyzed business listings across five U.S. cities and five service industries.

The research covered Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, and Phoenix, examining auto repair, electrical, plumbing, roofing, and HVAC businesses. It includes category comparisons, city-level breakdowns, and a documented methodology.

A missing website field does not establish that a business has no website anywhere online. The figures describe records returned by the study's collection method, not a complete census of all local businesses.

Read the full study →

How it works

1. Send your story idea. Share your publication (if applicable), research question, target locations or industries, and any editorial deadline.
2. We check feasibility. We'll clarify the scope, data limitations, and expected deliverables before beginning an analysis.
3. Use the findings in your reporting. For accepted requests, we provide a summary, relevant aggregated figures, and methodology notes that help you assess and cite the results accurately.

Good to know

• Free, with no obligation to publish. Accepted research requests are completed at no cost. Journalists retain full editorial independence.
• Attribution appreciated. If you use our findings, please credit ProspectGrid Research as the data source and, where appropriate, link to the relevant study or ProspectGrid website. There's no obligation to publish or link to our website.
• Transparent methodology. We provide relevant information about data sources, collection methods, coverage, and limitations — including the difference between a business with no website listed on Google Maps and a business with no website at all.
• Requests reviewed individually. Research availability depends on the requested topic, location, scope, and deadline.