Approved Business

What Approved Business does

Approved Business is a UK-based business-to-business directory platform operating from three offices in Ticehurst (headquarters), Tunbridge Wells (sales), and Gravesend (accounts and support). The platform lists over 150,000 UK companies across more than 100,000 product and service categories and serves approximately 2,500 daily visitors, with 20,000+ opted-in buyers receiving monthly news e-bulletins. The core product is a searchable B2B directory enhanced by a proprietary 15-point assessment system and an 'Approved' badge for verified listings, location-based search filtering, and AI-generated FAQ content on result pages.

The company has expanded beyond directory listings into an integrated digital marketing services portfolio that includes Search Engine Optimisation (national and local), AdWords management, social media management across major platforms, website design and WordPress hosting, corporate video production, and email marketing. A flagship sub-product, Web Traffic Revealer (WTR), is positioned as a website visitor identification tool powered by Lead Forensics data, converting anonymous traffic into qualified B2B leads. AI tools are used to generate FAQ content on search results, though the implementation appears to be light feature-level augmentation rather than a core differentiator.

Revenue is generated through three streams: recurring subscription fees from featured supplier listings, professional services revenue from the digital marketing suite, and one-time fees such as a £100 + VAT cancellation charge where applicable. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market motion combines self-serve free company listings (with upsell to featured status) and direct sales for marketing service packages. The customer base is predominantly UK-based SMBs seeking online visibility, supplemented by selective enterprise relationships. The company has been operating for approximately 18 years, has no disclosed external funding, and is privately held as Approved Business Ltd.

Name

Approved Business

Legal name

Approved Business Ltd

Website

https://approvedbusiness.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Approved Business is a UK B2B directory platform listing 150,000+ companies across 100,000+ categories, serving business buyers and suppliers through searchable listings, featured subscriptions, and add-on digital marketing services including SEO, social media, and web traffic analytics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

B2B Business Directory

NAICS

Directory and Mailing List Publishers (51314), Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (51929)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

B2B Marketplaces & Wholesale Platforms (BPAMAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

B2B Demand Generation & Lead Nurture Agencies (BPAFAKAA), Marketing Database & Contact Data Providers (B2B/B2C Lists) (BPAFAKAF)

Keywords

• B2B business directory
• Digital marketing services
• SEO services
• Lead generation platform
• Business listings marketplace

Headquarters

HQ city

Ticehurst

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Company Listing Subscriptions: Companies can register free of charge or upgrade to a featured supplier listing. The subscription model provides enhanced visibility and features for paying subscribers.
2. Digital Marketing Services: Additional revenue streams from SEO, AdWords Management, Social Media Management, Website Design and Hosting, and Corporate Video production services.
3. Cancellation and Setup Fees: After booking a paid listing, customers have 14 days to cancel. If cancelled after 2 days and listing has been built, a £100 plus VAT charge applies to cover production time.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Approved Business operates a UK B2B online directory platform that lists over 150,000 companies across 100,000+ product and service categories, enabling buyers to search and connect with suppliers by location, reviews, and trade associations. The platform integrates a 15-point assessment verification system (Approved badge) and bundles ancillary digital marketing services including SEO, AdWords management, social media management, website design and hosting, corporate video production, and email marketing. A flagship add-on, Web Traffic Revealer, is powered by Lead Forensics data to identify anonymous business visitors and convert them into qualified leads.

Product overview

Approved Business is a B2B listing directory platform offering a comprehensive suite of online marketing services. The core product is the B2B Business Directory featuring over 150,000 UK companies and 100,000+ products/services, enhanced with a 15-point assessment verification system. The platform integrates additional services including Web Traffic Revealer (powered by Lead Forensics for anonymous visitor identification), SEO (national and local), AdWords Management, Social Media Management, Website Design/Hosting (WordPress), Corporate Video Production, and Email Marketing. AI tools are used to generate FAQs on search results. The company also provides location-specific SEO services for various UK towns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Web Traffic Revealer (WTR): The UK's number 1 leading website tracking tool that identifies anonymous businesses visiting a website, powered by Lead Forensics data.
• Approved Badge System

Products and services

• B2B Business Directory UK's leading B2B listing directory covering a wide range of industry sectors with over 150,000 companies listed and 100,000+ products and services. Features location-based search, 15-point assessment verification, Approved badge system, and a 'need a quote' form for buyers to request quotes from up to five companies.
• Web Traffic Revealer (WTR) UK's number 1 website tracking tool that identifies anonymous businesses visiting a customer's website, powered by Lead Forensics data, turning hidden traffic into qualified sales-ready leads and new customers.
• Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) National and local SEO services helping UK companies improve online visibility, achieve page one rankings on Google, and drive relevant website traffic and enquiries.
• Social Media Management Branding, designing, and managing weekly/daily posts across social platforms including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and X (Twitter), with monthly reporting.
• Website Design and Hosting Creation of modern WordPress websites and secure hosting services for businesses.
• Corporate Video Production Professional video production using a dedicated green screen studio, including script writing and professional editing.
• Email Marketing Email marketing campaign services for businesses, including newsletter distribution to Approved Business's 20,000+ opted-in buyer database.
• AdWords Management Management of sponsored search terms on Google and Bing to maximize visibility and budget efficiency for businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150,000+ companies listed on platform
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Lead ForensicscoreTechnology or IntegrationLead Forensics provides the underlying data technology powering the Web Traffic Revealer product, which is marketed as the UK's number 1 website tracking tool. This tool identifies anonymous businesses visiting a customer's website, turning them into qualified sales-ready leads.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hotfrog: Hotfrog is a global small-business directory with a strong UK presence, offering free and featured listings to local businesses. It is comparable to Approved Business in the SMB directory and local-search category.
• TrustATrader: TrustATrader is a UK directory focused on vetted and reviewed local trade and service providers. It is comparable to Approved Business in offering a B2B/trade directory with trust-verification mechanics for UK SMEs.
• Yell: Yell is the UK's largest directory business (formerly Yellow Pages) and the most direct competitor to Approved Business in the UK B2B listings and supplier-discovery space. Both operate as online B2B directories monetizing featured listings and lead generation for UK SMEs.
• Bark.com: Bark.com is a UK-headquartered B2B services marketplace that connects consumers and businesses with professional service providers. It is comparable to Approved Business in matching B2B buyers with suppliers, with a stronger lead-generation and quote-request orientation.
• Thomson Local: Thomson Local is a long-standing UK online business directory offering local search and B2B listings. It directly competes with Approved Business for the same UK SMB listing and lead-generation wallet.
• FreeIndex: FreeIndex is a UK business directory offering free company listings with optional paid upgrades for enhanced visibility. It competes directly with Approved Business in the same freemium directory model for UK SMEs.
• Scoot: Scoot is a UK online business directory that allows companies to list their businesses and buyers to search by category and location. It is a direct competitor to Approved Business in the UK SMB directory category.
• Cylex: Cylex operates a UK-local business directory with company listings, reviews, and category-based search. It directly competes with Approved Business for UK SMB listing visibility and category-driven buyer traffic.

Broad incumbents

• LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a dominant B2B lead-generation and professional networking platform competing for the same UK B2B marketing budgets that Approved Business targets with its directory and Web Traffic Revealer products. It is not a directory but exerts significant indirect competitive pressure on B2B discovery.
• Yelp: Yelp operates a major review-and-directory platform with significant UK presence. It overlaps with Approved Business in connecting buyers with B2B service providers, but serves a much broader international market and operates at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/approvedbusiness
• Facebookfacebook.com/approvedbusiness
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/approved-business

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Approved Business