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Business Categories and Taxonomies

What are Business Categories and Taxonomies?​

Business categories and taxonomies are classification systems that help organize and identify different types of businesses in your account database. Categories define what type of business an account represents, while taxonomies provide more detailed subcategorizations and industry-specific classifications.

Why are Business Categories Important?​

Proper business categorization enables:

  • Product Feature Optimization: Many products offer category-specific features and functionality
  • Accurate Reporting: Category-based analytics and benchmarking against similar businesses
  • Competitive Analysis: Identification of relevant competitors within the same business category
  • Targeted Marketing: Category-specific campaigns and communications
  • Service Customization: Tailored service delivery based on industry requirements
  • Integration Success: Category-appropriate third-party integrations and data sources

What's Included with Business Categories?​

Category Classification System​

  • Primary business categories for main business focus
  • Secondary categories for additional business activities
  • Industry-specific subcategories and specializations
  • Service vs. retail business distinctions

Taxonomy Hierarchy​

  • Broad industry classifications (e.g., Healthcare, Retail, Professional Services)
  • Specific business types within industries (e.g., Restaurants, Auto Repair, Legal Services)
  • Specialized subcategories (e.g., Italian Restaurants, Brake Repair, Personal Injury Law)
  • Geographic and demographic modifiers when applicable

Complete Business Categories List​

📋 Download Complete Business Categories CSV

The complete list of all available business categories (over 4,000 categories) is available as a downloadable CSV file containing:

  • Category Name: Human-readable business category name
  • External ID: System identifier used for API integration and bulk imports
Using the Categories List
  • Use the Category Name when manually selecting categories in the interface
  • Use the External ID for bulk imports, API integration, or automated processes
  • Categories range from broad classifications (e.g., "Restaurant") to highly specific (e.g., "Korean Barbecue Restaurant")

How to Select Business Categories​

Understanding Category Structure​

Primary Categories (Most Important):

  • Professional Services: Legal, medical, consulting, accounting
  • Retail: Clothing, electronics, home goods, specialty retail
  • Food & Dining: Restaurants, cafes, catering, food trucks
  • Health & Medical: Doctors, dentists, clinics, wellness centers
  • Automotive: Dealerships, repair shops, parts suppliers
  • Home Services: Contractors, plumbers, electricians, landscaping
  • Beauty & Personal Care: Salons, spas, fitness centers
  • Real Estate: Agents, property management, mortgage services

Secondary Categories (Additional Services):

  • Complementary services offered by the business
  • Seasonal or occasional business activities
  • Emerging business lines or expansions
  • Historical services no longer primary focus

Category Selection Process​

For New Account Creation:

  1. Identify primary business focus - what the business is primarily known for
  2. Select most specific category available that matches the business
  3. Add secondary categories for significant additional services (up to 2-3 total)
  4. Consider customer perspective - how do customers typically find this business?
  5. Review category implications for product features and integrations

Category Selection Best Practices:

  • Choose specificity over generality - select "Italian Restaurant" over "Restaurant" when available
  • Prioritize customer viewpoint - how do customers search for and categorize this business?
  • Consider service delivery model - online, in-person, service area, or storefront
  • Account for primary revenue source - categorize based on main income generator
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If no suitable category exists for a business, select "Other" but note that some product features may be limited or unavailable.

How to Manage Category-Specific Features​

Category-Dependent Product Features​

Location-Based Features:

  • Retail/Restaurant: Local search optimization, hours management, location-based promotions
  • Service Area: Territory mapping, service radius optimization, mobile workforce management
  • Professional Services: Appointment scheduling, consultation booking, professional networking

Industry-Specific Integrations:

  • Healthcare: HIPAA compliance features, appointment systems, patient management
  • Automotive: Vehicle-specific services, parts catalogs, service scheduling
  • Real Estate: MLS integrations, property listings, market analysis tools
  • Food Service: Menu management, online ordering, delivery integrations

Optimizing Features by Category​

Review Available Features:

  1. Navigate to account product settings
  2. Review category-specific options available for the business type
  3. Enable relevant features that apply to the business model
  4. Configure industry-specific settings for optimal performance
  5. Test functionality to ensure proper operation

Common Category Optimizations:

  • Restaurants: Enable menu management, online ordering, review management
  • Medical Practices: Configure appointment booking, patient communication tools
  • Retail Stores: Set up inventory management, e-commerce integrations
  • Service Businesses: Enable territory mapping, mobile workforce tools

How to Handle Special Business Types​

Multi-Category Businesses​

Businesses with Multiple Focus Areas:

  1. Identify primary revenue source for main category selection
  2. Add secondary categories for significant additional services
  3. Consider creating separate accounts for distinctly different business lines
  4. Document business model in account notes for future reference

Example Scenarios:

  • Restaurant with Catering: Primary = Restaurant, Secondary = Catering
  • Auto Dealer with Service: Primary = Auto Dealer, Secondary = Auto Repair
  • Medical Practice with Spa: Consider separate accounts or primary = Medical

Service Area vs. Storefront Businesses​

Service Area Businesses:

  • Focus on service delivery categories rather than location-based categories
  • Emphasize expertise and service type over geographic presence
  • Consider territory coverage in category selection
  • Examples: Plumbing, HVAC, Consulting, Home Cleaning

Storefront Businesses:

  • Emphasize location-based categories and customer attraction
  • Focus on product or service categories that customers physically visit for
  • Consider foot traffic and local search implications
  • Examples: Retail stores, restaurants, salons, medical offices

Franchise and Chain Businesses​

Franchise Locations:

  • Use specific business category rather than "Franchise" generic category
  • Include franchise brand characteristics in category selection
  • Consider local market variations in service offerings
  • Maintain consistency across franchise locations while allowing for local differences

Chain Store Locations:

  • Apply consistent categorization across all chain locations
  • Account for regional variations in product or service offerings
  • Use location-specific subcategories when available
  • Coordinate category changes across multiple locations

How to Update and Maintain Categories​

When to Review Business Categories​

Regular Review Triggers:

  • Annual account reviews: Verify categories still accurately represent the business
  • Business model changes: When businesses expand, pivot, or change focus
  • Product updates: When new category-specific features become available
  • Performance analysis: When category-based reporting seems inconsistent

Category Change Indicators:

  • Customer feedback about service categorization
  • Significant changes in business revenue sources
  • Addition of major new service lines
  • Competitive positioning shifts

Category Update Process​

Making Category Changes:

  1. Review current categories and their accuracy
  2. Assess impact of category changes on existing features and integrations
  3. Update primary and secondary categories as appropriate
  4. Test category-dependent features after changes
  5. Document reasons for category changes in account notes
  6. Communicate changes to relevant team members
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Category changes may affect available product features, integrations, and reporting. Test functionality after making changes to ensure continued proper operation.

Best Practices for Category Maintenance​

Documentation:

  • Record reasons for category selections in account notes
  • Track category changes and their business justifications
  • Maintain consistency across similar business types
  • Document any custom or unusual category selections

Team Coordination:

  • Establish category selection guidelines for your team
  • Create reference materials for common business types
  • Train team members on category implications
  • Regular team reviews of category accuracy and consistency

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)​

What happens if I select the wrong business category?

You can change business categories after account creation by editing the account. However, some product features are category-specific, so changes may affect available functionality or integrations.

Can a business have multiple primary categories?

Most systems allow one primary category and multiple secondary categories. The primary category should represent the main business focus, while secondary categories cover additional significant services.

How do I categorize a business that doesn't fit standard categories?

Select the closest available category or choose "Other" if no suitable option exists. Note that selecting "Other" may limit access to category-specific product features.

Do business categories affect search engine optimization?

Yes, proper categorization helps with local search optimization and ensures the business appears in relevant category-based searches and directories.

Should I create separate accounts for businesses with multiple locations offering different services?

If the locations offer significantly different services or target different markets, consider separate accounts. For similar services at different locations, use one account per location with consistent categorization.

How specific should I be when selecting business categories?

Choose the most specific category available that accurately represents the business. Specific categories often provide better product features and more relevant competitive analysis.

Can I change categories if the business model changes?

Yes, update categories when businesses significantly change their focus or service offerings. Review the impact on existing product features and integrations before making changes.

What's the difference between business categories and tags?

Categories are structured classifications that affect product features and integrations, while tags are flexible labels for organization and filtering. Categories are more permanent, while tags can be added or removed easily.