# Measuring a business’s rank within a territory

Availability: Planned API.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-28.

Measure a business against an explicit comparison set inside a defined territory. This is an **observed measurement**, not a score predicting where the business could grow.

## Define what rank means

Specify the business identity, territory revision, metric, eligible peer set, source, observation time and treatment of missing observations. Search position, local visibility, sales share and a general business rank are not interchangeable.

The existing local SEO/grid-scan foundation is relevant evidence, but it does not by itself define one universal ranking of every business in every territory.

## Retain an explainable result

The intended result contains the metric definition, observation context, rank/position when supported, peer coverage and freshness. Preserve stale, seeded, partial and unavailable states. “No supported observation” must not become rank zero.

For example, observed position for a query at a specific grid location should retain that query, device and location; it is not automatically the business's position across the whole territory.

## Compare like with like

Compare revisions only when cohort, metric, scope and method are compatible. A refresh is separately authorized acquisition, not a side effect of reading saved rank.

## Availability and related outcomes

This business API is planned; the general territory-rank contract still needs completion. [Market opportunity](/docs/guides/market-opportunity) models possible demand and revenue. It must not be presented as observed business rank or realized performance.