How vendors get listed
Vendors apply to the Marketplace and pay a monthly subscription fee. That's it. There's no editorial selection committee, no vetting board, and no hand-picked "best of" curation.
The process works like this:
- Apply: Vendors complete a registration form — name, services offered, industries, tech platforms, pricing range, credentials, case studies.
- Pay: They choose a tier (Basic, Premium, or Spotlight) and complete payment via Stripe.
- Go live: Their profile is activated and appears in search results.
We do not have a waiting list, approval process, or editorial review before a vendor goes live. Any vendor that pays the subscription fee and completes the registration flow is listed.
What we verify vs. what's self-reported
We're going to be direct about this because it matters for how you use the directory.
| Information | Source | Verified by us? |
|---|---|---|
| Services offered | Vendor-submitted | No |
| Credentials & certifications (CPA, CFA, etc.) | Vendor-submitted | No |
| Years in business | Vendor-submitted | No |
| Number of clients served | Vendor-submitted | No |
| Pricing ranges | Vendor-submitted | No |
| Case studies & client outcomes | Vendor-submitted | No |
| Payment & active subscription | Stripe billing | Yes |
| Review star ratings & written reviews | User-submitted | Not editorially curated |
What does this mean for you? Treat the directory as a starting point for research, not a curated shortlist of pre-vetted vendors. Always verify credentials independently before engaging a vendor. For regulated services (audit, securities work, investment advice), check the vendor's license status with the relevant regulator (PCAOB, SEC IAPD, your state CPA board, etc.).
Where to independently verify credentials
CPA licenses: Your state's CPA licensing board or NASBA's Accountancy Licensing Database
Investment Advisers: SEC IAPD (adviserinfo.sec.gov)
Broker-Dealers: FINRA BrokerCheck (brokercheck.finra.org)
Auditors (public companies): PCAOB (pcaobus.org)
How match scores work
When you use the AI Match feature, you describe your company and what you're looking for. Our algorithm compares your inputs against vendor profile data and returns a compatibility score (0–100).
The score is calculated based on:
- Category alignment — does the vendor offer what you're looking for?
- Industry overlap — does the vendor have experience in your sector?
- Company size fit — does the vendor work with companies at your stage?
- Technology platform compatibility — do they support your existing stack?
- Semantic similarity between your stated needs and their service descriptions
Match scores are algorithmic estimates, not endorsements. A score of 92% does not mean we recommend that vendor. It means the algorithm found strong compatibility between your self-described inputs and the vendor's self-reported profile data. Both sides are self-reported — so treat match scores as a filter to narrow your research, not a final verdict.
Spotlight-tier vendors appear at the top of results within their matching tier group. This is a paid placement feature — it does not mean they match you better than a Premium or Basic vendor with a higher computed score. Sort by "Match Score" or "Rating" to see results ordered purely by those factors.
How reviews work
Reviews are submitted by self-identified users who claim to be current or former clients of the vendor, or to have evaluated the vendor professionally. We do not require proof of engagement before accepting a review.
We do not editorially moderate reviews before publication. A review goes live when submitted. We do not remove negative reviews because a vendor disagrees with them.
Reviews are removed only if they contain prohibited content — false factual claims, defamatory statements, personal identifying information, hate speech, or content submitted by the vendor themselves. See Marketplace Terms §8 for the full policy.
Vendors can respond to reviews through their dashboard. Vendor responses appear alongside the original review.
Spot a suspicious review? Email cfotechstack@polsia.app and we'll look into it.
How we make money (and how we don't)
What we charge: Flat monthly subscription fees from vendors — $399/month (Basic), $799/month (Premium), $1,499/month (Spotlight). Premium reports purchased by users ($149–$249).
What we don't charge: We do NOT take referral commissions, lead fees, success fees, revenue share, or any payment tied to whether you choose or transact with a vendor. If you hire a vendor after finding them here, we receive exactly $0 from that transaction.
This flat-fee model is intentional. Commission-based directories have a structural incentive to promote vendors who pay more per lead — even if they're not the best fit for you. We don't have that incentive. Our revenue is the same whether you contact 10 vendors or zero.
Higher-tier vendors get better placement and more features. That's the trade-off we disclose openly — the Spotlight placement is paid for. Sort by Match Score or Rating if you want placement-agnostic results.
What happens when you submit an inquiry
When you click "Contact Vendor" and fill in the inquiry form, your name, email, company, and message are sent directly to the vendor. They receive a notification with your contact details so they can follow up.
You can browse the directory, view vendor profiles, run match assessments, and read reviews without submitting any contact information. No account required for browsing.
If you want to opt out of having your data shared via lead notifications, email us or adjust your account settings. See Marketplace Terms §15 for details.
The full legal details
This page covers the plain-English version. The actual legal terms — vendor agreements, liability limitations, arbitration, review policy, and everything else — live on the dedicated pages below.