The standard

• Owner verified. The owner or an authorized representative confirmed ownership directly.
• Independently corroborated. Ownership was confirmed through the business's own official channels — its website, filings, or official social accounts — rather than a third-party list.
• Source reported. The business appeared on a reference list or article. This is logged as provenance only. It does not earn the label.
• Unclear. Ownership is partial, disputed, or unconfirmed. The listing says so instead of guessing.

Why the distinction is published

Directory labels are only worth something if the standard behind them is visible. A list that applies the same label to a verified owner and to a name someone saw in a roundup is telling readers nothing. Publishing the difference costs us listings and earns the label its meaning.

Verification expires

Businesses close, sell, and change hands. A verification carries a date, and the operating status is re-checked separately from ownership. A business can be Black-owned and closed; those are two facts, not one.