local.ch
local.ch is a Swiss online directory and booking platform under parent company localsearch, enabling consumers to discover and reserve local services across 100+ categories and cities in Switzerland, while serving local SMBs with subscription listings, advertising, and featured placement.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersZürich, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What local.ch does
local.ch is a Swiss online directory and booking platform that operates as a brand under parent company localsearch, headquartered in Zurich. The platform enables consumers to search, discover, and book local services across categories including restaurants, hotels, hairdressers, doctors, electricians, plumbers, and garages. Coverage spans 100+ Swiss cities across all cantons, and the service is localized into four national languages (German, French, Italian, English).
The product stack comprises a web directory at local.ch, dedicated Android and iOS mobile applications, a self-serve business customer center at cc.localsearch.ch, and a telemarketing call-protection layer built on phonebook matching and a "starred listing" signal that mutes or warns against high-volume callers. The technology stack is conventional web plus mobile using cookies and Google Analytics for tracking and personalization; integrations extend to all four major Swiss telecom carriers (Swisscom, Sunrise, Salt, UPC). Under the localsearch group, local.ch is paired with affiliate platforms search.ch, renovero.ch, and localcities.ch, providing ecosystem synergies across general web search, home renovation matching, and city information.
The business model combines three monetization streams: subscription-based business listings (with a free basic tier), advertising placements, and featured/premium listing positioning. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer for end users (self-serve website and mobile apps) and self-serve/PLG for the long tail of local SMBs via the customer center. No published pricing tiers and no disclosed financials are available; Swiss Made Software certification supports a locally-rooted positioning. Leadership disclosure is limited to Ricco Griglio in the role of VP e-Media.
local.ch firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- local.ch
- Legal name
- local.ch
- Website
- https://local.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- local.ch is a Swiss online directory and booking platform under parent company localsearch, enabling consumers to discover and reserve local services across 100+ categories and cities in Switzerland, while serving local SMBs with subscription listings, advertising, and featured placement.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
local.ch industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Local Business Directory and Booking Platform
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Search & Business Directories (BPAMAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Local SEO (Maps, Citations, Reviews) (BPAFAJAD)
Keywords
Where local.ch is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zürich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
local.ch business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Business Listings: Local businesses pay to create, change, and manage their entries in the directory. A customer center for business customers suggests premium listing management services.
- Advertising: Revenue generated from advertising placements within the platform, including featured listings and promotional visibility.
- Featured Listings: Premium positioning and featured placement options for businesses seeking greater visibility in search results.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Basic listing - Free |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
local.ch product offering
Product offeringCore offering
local.ch operates a Swiss online directory and booking platform that lets consumers search for local businesses (restaurants, hotels, hairdressers, doctors, electricians, plumbers, garages, etc.) and make online reservations. Local businesses create and manage their entries via a dedicated customer center, paying for basic, featured, and premium listings. The service is delivered through a multilingual website and dedicated Android and iOS mobile applications that also provide automatic telemarketing call identification.
Product overview
local.ch is Switzerland's primary online booking platform operated by localsearch, offering a unified directory service that combines business listings search with online reservation capabilities. The core platform (local.ch) provides searchable directories across 100+ categories including restaurants, hotels, healthcare providers, and service professionals, accessible via web and dedicated mobile applications for Android and iOS. The product ecosystem includes telemarketing call protection features integrated into the mobile apps, with connectivity across related platforms search.ch, renovero.ch, and localcities.ch under the localsearch parent company.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- local.ch Platform
Companies that use local.ch
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
local.ch technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
local.ch partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- localsearchcorelocal.ch is a company of localsearch. localsearch is the parent company operating multiple Swiss online directory and search platforms including local.ch, search.ch, renovero.ch, and localcities.ch.
- search.chminorRelated search platform within the localsearch company group, offering general web search capabilities.
- renovero.chminorRelated platform within the localsearch company group, focused on renovation and home improvement services matching.
- localcities.chminorRelated platform within the localsearch company group, providing local city information.
- Swiss Made SoftwareminorCertification program for Swiss software products. local.ch displays the Swiss Made Software badge on its website, indicating Swiss origin.
- SECO (State Secretariat for Economic Affairs)minorSwiss government body. local.ch's starred listing (★) feature serves as basis for complaints to SECO against telemarketing violations.
- CallNet.chminorSwiss call center industry association. Call centers affiliated with CallNet.ch have adhered to the starred listing for years, supporting telemarketing protection.
- SDV (Swiss Dialogue Marketing Association)minorSwiss Dialogue Marketing Association. Offers the Robinson list for individuals not listed in phone books to protect against telemarketing calls.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
local.ch competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Infobel: Belgian-rooted online directory and people/business lookup serving multiple European countries. Comparable classical directory + paid-listing model for European SMBs.
- Gelbe Seiten: Germany's flagship local business directory. Comparable business model (free + paid listings, advertising) for a German-speaking DACH neighboring market local.ch also serves.
Direct peers
- Yelp: Yelp is the canonical local business directory and reviews platform in the U.S., monetizing via featured listings and advertising sold to SMBs — directly comparable to local.ch's listings + featured-placement + advertising revenue model.
- OpenTable: OpenTable is a restaurant reservation platform monetized via seat-fee and diner marketing to restaurants. Comparable to local.ch's online-booking lane specifically within its restaurant category.
- PagesJaunes: France's long-standing print-and-digital business directory, monetizing via SMB listings and advertising. Closest European analog to local.ch's classical directory plus advertising model.
Broad incumbents
- Tripadvisor: Tripadvisor combines a local business discovery directory with reviews and booking flows for restaurants/hotels/activities. Comparable to local.ch's emphasis on restaurants and hotels with reservation capability.
- Google Business Profile / Google Maps: Google's local business discovery surface (Maps + Business Profile) that increasingly commoditizes local directory query share in Switzerland, exposing local.ch's core search volume to substitution risk.
- Booking.com: Global online accommodation booking platform. Overlaps with local.ch's hotel listings and reservation pathway for Swiss properties and competes for the same hotel-direct bookings.
- Apple Maps: Apple's mapping and local-search platform with built-in directory/business listings. Comparable as a default-discovery channel eating into local directory query share, particularly on iOS (where local.ch's app also lives).
Emerging players
- search.ch: Sister platform within the localsearch group offering general web search alongside local.ch. Shares Swiss-market focus and customer base; effectively a portfolio peer rather than external competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
local.ch social profiles
Digital presencelocal.ch financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
local.ch leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
local.ch funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
local.ch M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about local.ch
What does local.ch do?
local.ch operates a Swiss online directory and booking platform that lets consumers search for local businesses (restaurants, hotels, hairdressers, doctors, electricians, plumbers, garages, etc.) and make online reservations. Local businesses create and manage their entries via a dedicated customer center, paying for basic, featured, and premium listings. The service is delivered through a multilingual website and dedicated Android and iOS mobile applications that also provide automatic telemarketing call identification.
Is local.ch a public or private company?
local.ch is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was local.ch founded?
local.ch was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is local.ch based?
local.ch is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does local.ch make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Business Listings are the primary driver. The others are advertising and featured Listings.
Who are local.ch's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Infobel and Gelbe Seiten. Direct peers are Yelp, OpenTable and PagesJaunes. Broad incumbents are Tripadvisor, Google Business Profile / Google Maps, Booking.com and Apple Maps. search.ch is listed as an emerging player.
Does local.ch have an API?
No public API is recorded for local.ch.
What industry is local.ch in?
local.ch's product category is Local Business Directory and Booking Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAAAE, Local Search & Business Directories, with a secondary code of BPAFAJAD, Local SEO (Maps, Citations, Reviews).