Local Business: Reviews From People Who Actually Came
For a local business — a restaurant, clinic, salon, repair shop — reviews are often the single most important factor in attracting new customers. A BrightLocal study (2024) found that 87% of consumers use Google to evaluate local businesses. The quality and authenticity of those reviews directly impacts revenue.
The structural problem
Local businesses face a specific vulnerability: Google Reviews require no proof of visit. Any person with a Google account can review any business. This creates exposure to competitor sabotage, personal grudges, and random negative reviews from people who have never been customers. Google's moderation is automated and reactive — by the time a fraudulent review is flagged and potentially removed, the damage to reputation and foot traffic may already be done.
What the data shows
VeriBureau provides a simple mechanism for local businesses: a QR code at the point of sale, on receipts, or at the checkout counter. The QR code links to a Proof Token generated for that specific visit. Only customers who received the QR code can leave a review. The review is tied to a real visit. No ambiguity.
Sources: FTC enforcement actions, Trustpilot Transparency Reports, academic research on review platform economics.
The VeriBureau approach
The dashboard generates QR codes that can be printed and displayed without any technical setup. For businesses with POS integration, tokens can be generated automatically after each transaction. The Trust Score badge can be displayed in the store window, on the website, and in marketing materials. When a potential customer sees the Trust Score, they know: every review behind this number came from someone who was actually here.
Limitations and honest disclosure
This approach captures reviews only from customers who choose to scan the QR code. It does not replace Google Reviews or other platforms — it supplements them with a verifiable layer. Some customers may find the extra step inconvenient. We design the review flow to be as fast as possible (under 60 seconds) to minimize friction.
Frequently asked
Is VeriBureau free?
Yes. During the founding period, all features are free with no limits. Future pricing will be per-token, not subscription — announced with advance notice.
Is VeriBureau immune to fake reviews?
No system is immune. VeriBureau raises the cost of fake reviews significantly by requiring cryptographic proof of transaction, but a business could theoretically generate tokens for fictitious transactions. We mitigate this through pattern analysis and the public audit chain, and we are transparent about this limitation.
How long does integration take?
Dashboard registration takes 2 minutes. API integration depends on your stack — most developers complete it in under an hour. No-code options (email invitations, QR codes) work immediately.
See if it fits
Print a QR code. Start collecting verified reviews today.