Portelo Quality Score Overview

The Portelo Quality Score is our effort to evaluate the breadth of providers and work done in each local market based on the public information available within the industry. We create the Quality Score using a model that we developed in line with the Universal Principals of Design  which we consider the common baseline for all design.  In addition we leverage information the provider has included on their Portelo.com profile, public sources like Dunn & Bradstreet & Better Business Bureau, agency websites and other public sources. Any information that affects the Provider Quality Score can be explained by contact info@portelo.com.

Why the Portelo Quality Score can help you find the right provider:

  • There is no bias. The score is calculated using a mathematical model, and all providers in each category vertical are evaluated on the same set of standards.
  • The Portelo Quality Score cannot be bought. At Portelo, all providers are treated equally. We don’t play favorites, and providers can’t pay us to improve their Quality Scores.
  • It was developed by industry professionals and people looking for business services. The model used to calculate the Quality Score was developed with input from providers, consumers, and many other industry professionals who deeply understand the work all providers do. We created the Portelo Quality Score to reflect the type of information people have identified as important when looking to hire a provider.
  • It’s as simple as 1 to 10. Quality Scores fall on a scale of 1 (Extreme Caution) to 10 (Superb), helping you quickly assess a Provider’s background based on our Quality Score.

The Portelo Quality Score is based only on the information we have collected and that the provider has provided, so we don’t recommend the Portelo Quality Score as the only piece of information you use to evaluate whether a provider is right for you. The Quality Score is a tool that provides a snapshot assessment of a Provider’s background, and should be considered alongside other information such as client reviews and peer endorsements.

Frequently Asked Consumer Questions about the Portelo Quality Score

How does Portelo calculate the Portelo Quality Score?

We calculate the Quality Score based on public data we’ve collected on each provider and the information they have provided in their profile. Information not supplied by the provider comes from a variety of sources, including public records (Dunn & Bradstreet & Better Business Bureau) and published sources on the internet (including providers’ websites).

This information is then considered and weighted by our mathematical module to calculate a numerical Quality Score, ranging from 1 to 10. If we have limited information on a provider, we may give them a Quality Score of “Limited Information”. We take into account factors that consumers and industry professionals believe are relevant to a provider’s qualifications, including experience, professional achievements, and disciplinary sanctions.

Does Portelo publish the details of how the Quality Score is calculated?

The data that we take into account is all displayed on a provider’s profile. However, we do not disclose the weight we give to this information so that no one can game the system, boosting their Quality Score through unfair advantage. Much as Google doesn’t share its search engine secrets, we don’t share the inner-workings of the Portelo Quality Score so we can maintain the neutrality and integrity of the Quality Score.

What do the numerical Quality Scores mean?

  • 10.0 - 9.0 Superb
  • 8.9 - 8.0 Excellent
  • 7.9 - 7.0 Very Good
  • 6.9 - 6.0 Good
  • 5.9 - 5.0 Average
  • 4.9 - 4.0 Concern
  • 3.9 - 3.0 Caution
  • 2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution
  • 1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution

Keep in mind that these Quality Scores speak to a Provider’s background, but do not evaluate their knowledge of their industry, past performance on individual projects, personality, or communication skills. These are elements that the Portelo Quality Score cannot evaluate, but can be better described in the client reviews and public endorsements found on a provider’s profile.

What if a Provider doesn’t have a numerical Quality Score?

In a number of instances, we are only able to collect publicly-available information about a provider. In those cases, we display an Portelo Quality Score of “Limited Information”. “Limited Information” is given if there is not enough public information available for our Quality Score model.

What if a Provider doesn’t have a Quality Score at all?

Portelo does not provide any Quality Score in instances where it would not be useful, such as if the provider is no longer in business.

provider may request we remove the Quality Score from their profile, and we honor those requests for providers who have not been disciplined by organizations such as the Better Business Bureau or Dunn & Bradstreet and who are not looking for clients. These profiles will read “Portelo Quality Score Not Displayed”, and will not appear on category area search listings in Portelo’s directory.

Do Providers have to pay or sign-up to have an Portelo Quality Score?

Absolutely not. Portelo creates a profile for every provider we are able to locate, and calculates a Quality Score for Providers who appear to be working with clients. Profiles are free to providers, and the Portelo Quality Score cannot be influenced by advertising or other forms of payment.

Can Providers lie to increase their Quality Score?

Providers can lose the ability to list their company on Portelo.com for falsifying data, and we don’t believe they will take that risk on their Portelo profile. We also rely on our community of users to ensure data on Portelo is as accurate as possible. If you see information on an provider profile that you know to be incorrect, please contact us and we will investigate the issue. If a provider is found to have intentionally posted false information, it will impact their level of professional conduct and negatively impact their Portelo Quality Score.

Frequently Asked Provider Questions about the Portelo Quality Score

Can I remove the Portelo Quality Score from my profile?

Providers who have not been disciplined and who are not seeking legal clients may request that their numerical Portelo Quality Score not be displayed on their profile. If approved, you will not be included in category area search results, though licensing details and client reviews will remain visible on your individual profile.

Portelo’s goal is to make it easier for everyone to navigate the often-broad business services industry. We create profiles and collect publicly available data for thousands of US providers. Claiming your profile on Portelo allows you to add more information about you and your practice, allowing us to provide a more accurate Portelo Quality Score.

We do not “adjust” Quality Scores by request, nor do we remove provider profiles.

Do peer endorsements and client reviews affect my Quality Score?

Peer endorsements do affect your Portelo Quality Score. This is because peer endorsements--one Provider endorsing another’s skills and experience--are a way to assess industry recognition, which is a factor in how we calculate a provider’s Portelo Quality Score.

How can I change my Portelo Quality Score?

If you have an Portelo Quality Score of “Limited Information”, you can receive a numerical Quality Score by claiming your profile. When you claim your profile on Portelo, we will automatically calculate the numerical Quality Score and display it on your profile and in search results.

If you already have a numerical Portelo Quality Score, your score may change as you update and provide more information in your profile, especially work experience, practice areas you work in, and professional achievements. However, please make sure that the information you provide is accurate; inaccurate data could negatively impact your Portelo Quality Score. If you believe a public record contains inaccurate information about you that is affecting your Portelo Quality Score, you can contact the appropriate organization and ask to have the record changed. When we collect that data again, your Quality Score may change to reflect the new information we are able to assess.

We will not change numerical Quality Scores upon request. Because the Portelo Quality Score is based on a mathematical model that is applied in the same way to every provider, we are unable to change individual Quality Scores. When you update your profile with more information, your Quality Score may change: the more we know about you, the better we can determine your numerical Portelo Quality Score.

Additionally, it is the responsibility of providers to ensure that any information or advertisements they place on Portelo, and any communication they may have with prospective clients through the Portelo site, comply with the rules of professional conduct regulating the form, manner, and content of communications with clients, advertising, or other matter.

Does the Portelo Quality Score change over time?

Yes, a provider’s Portelo Quality Score may change over time, and there are a few ways this could happen. First, as we collect more information about a Provider, their Portelo Quality Score gets recalculated and the score may adjust based on the new information provided. Second, to the extent that we collect or receive data that cannot be immediately verified, we mark this data as “unknown” and update the score once we have reviewed it. Third, some information is given less weight as time passes. For example, the weighting the mathematical model gives to certain disciplinary actions and industry recognition items decreases as time passes, reflecting our opinion that, in these areas, the most recent information matters the most. Finally, we may periodically adjust the mathematical model used to calculate the Portelo Quality Score, which could result in a change to a Provider’s numerical Quality Score.