METHODOLOGY · THE VERIFICATION PROTOCOL

The research is done by machine. Every finding is signed by a human.

We check the sources and have a named person review the findings before they reach your report. You can see the process below.

THE PROTOCOL

Four gates every claim passes before you see it.

GATE 01

Structured research

A large, systematic pass across your market, reviews, pricing, and competitors, captured with its sources rather than summarized away.

GATE 02

Source check

We trace each claim to a checkable source. If we can't trace it, we flag it instead of marking it “verified”.

GATE 03

Human sign-off

A named analyst reads the findings, resolves conflicts, and signs the report.

GATE 04

Tagged delivery

Every line in your report carries a tag so you always know its confidence: what you said, what we confirmed, what we inferred.

THE TAG SYSTEM

Three tags. Every claim gets exactly one.

Each claim has a tag showing where it came from and how much confidence to place in it.

◦ Client-stated

What you told us, recorded as your statement. We keep it separate from findings we verify independently.

e.g. "We close about 1 in 3 bids."

✓ Verified [S-04]

Confirmed against a named, checkable source. The source reference sits right next to the claim so you can open it yourself.

e.g. "4.2★ across 180 public reviews. [S-04]"

~ AI-inferred

A pattern the research suggests but we couldn't fully confirm. Flagged as inference so you weigh it as a lead, not a fact.

e.g. "Likely under-charging vs. regional peers."

WHAT BACKS IT

The parts you can check before you spend a dollar.

Named human sign-off

A named analyst signs each Excavation and stands behind the findings.

E&O policy

Errors-and-omissions coverage in place, the same standard you’d expect from any firm handing you advice.

Data-security one-pager

How your documents are handled, stored, and destroyed, written in plain language and available on request.

Note: the Index and the Excavation are brand and demand diagnostics. They are not a valuation, appraisal, quality-of-earnings analysis, or legal, tax, or investment advice, and produce no estimate of what your business is worth.

Check the method. Then take the score.

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