In our test of 100 questions, how ChatGPT recommends local businesses came down to Google Maps links. None linked a business website.
On 30 October 2026, AISO Studio ran a study of 100 local questions. All 100 answers named businesses and linked each one to a Google Maps search for that business. No answer linked a business's own website.
The headline finding
The result was one-sided. Every answer linked Google Maps. Not one linked a business website.
We counted 707 business links in total. Each answer linked between 5 and 8 businesses, with a median of 7.5.
How we ran the study
We asked ChatGPT the same question once for each pairing of service and city. The question was: "Who is the best [service] in [city]?" We asked through OpenAI's API with web search on, using the model gpt-4.1-mini. We kept the raw answers.
The 10 services
Plumber, dentist, roofer, HVAC company, personal injury lawyer, auto repair shop, veterinarian, real estate agent, electrician and landscaping company.
The 10 cities
Dayton OH, Boise ID, Tulsa OK, Spokane WA, Knoxville TN, Des Moines IA, Chattanooga TN, Fort Wayne IN, Springfield MO and Lubbock TX.
What ChatGPT linked
A Google Maps link is a link that opens a Google Maps search for one business. ChatGPT used these links for every business it named.
Only 2 answers cited any other site. One was a real-estate ranking site. The other was a contractor ranking site.
What ChatGPT said about each business
The answer text did more than list names. It repeated details about each business. We counted how often each kind of detail appeared across the 100 answers.
| Signal in the answer text | Answers (of 100) |
|---|---|
| Years in business, experience or family-owned | 91 |
| Star ratings or review counts | 87 |
| 24/7 or emergency service | 32 |
| Licensed, certified, insured or accredited | 31 |
| Better Business Bureau | 7 |
| Yelp | 1 |
| Angi | 1 |
One answer, for example, mentioned "a perfect 5.0-star rating from over 3,300 reviews."
Reviews and years in business appeared in almost every answer. Review sites like Yelp and Angi barely appeared.
Results by service
The average number of businesses linked per answer changed a little by service.
| Service | Average businesses linked per answer |
|---|---|
| Dentist | 7.6 |
| Personal injury lawyer | 7.4 |
| Real estate agent | 7.3 |
| Electrician | 7.3 |
| Landscaping company | 7.3 |
| Plumber | 7.1 |
| Auto repair shop | 7.1 |
| HVAC company | 6.9 |
| Roofer | 6.6 |
| Veterinarian | 6.1 |
Dentists got the longest lists. Veterinarians got the shortest.
What this suggests about how ChatGPT recommends local businesses
The study shows what ChatGPT linked and wrote. It does not show why. Still, the pattern points to some practical steps for a local business and its agency.
Keep the Google Business Profile complete
Google Business Profile is a free listing that controls how a business appears on Google Maps. Every link in our study pointed to Maps. A complete, accurate profile is the obvious place to start.
Earn and answer reviews
Star ratings and review counts appeared in 87 of 100 answers. Ask happy customers for reviews. Reply to all of them, good and bad.
State the basics plainly and the same everywhere
Years in business, licensing and hours showed up often. Say them clearly and keep them identical across your listings and your website. We don't know where ChatGPT read these details. They may come from listings or from websites.
A simple checklist for an agency:
- Pull up the client's Google Business Profile.
- Compare years in business, licensing and hours with the website.
- Fix any mismatch in every place it appears.
- Ask for new reviews and answer the old ones.
- Ask ChatGPT about the business and read what it says.
What this does not mean
- Websites may still matter. The study found no answer linking a business website. It did not test whether websites feed the details ChatGPT repeated.
- Nobody can promise a mention. We can't promise ChatGPT will name any business.
- The study does not explain choices. It shows what ChatGPT linked, not why it picked those businesses.
The limits of the study
We asked one question per service and city, once, on one day. We used the API with gpt-4.1-mini and web search, which may differ from the ChatGPT app people use. ChatGPT's answers change from person to person and day to day.
The study also does not show where ChatGPT read the details it repeated. Treat it as a snapshot, not a rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ChatGPT link to a business's own website?
In our study, no answer did. All 100 answers linked businesses to a Google Maps search. Only 2 answers cited any other site.
What details did ChatGPT repeat about local businesses?
The most common were years in business or experience, in 91 of 100 answers. Star ratings or review counts followed, in 87 of 100.
Does this prove why ChatGPT picks a business?
No. The study shows what ChatGPT linked and wrote, not why. It also does not show where the details came from.
Should I stop working on my website?
No. We found no answer linking a website, but the repeated details may come from listings or websites. Keep both accurate and consistent.
Will I get the same answer if I ask ChatGPT?
Probably not exactly. ChatGPT's answers change from person to person and day to day. We also used the API, which may differ from the app.
How can I see what ChatGPT says about my business?
AISO Studio offers a free ChatGPT brand check. It asks ChatGPT one question about your own business.
Key Takeaways
- All 100 answers linked businesses to Google Maps. None linked a business's own website.
- The study counted 707 business links, 5 to 8 per answer, with a median of 7.5.
- Years in business appeared in 91 of 100 answers and ratings or reviews in 87 of 100.
- Licensing appeared in 31 answers and 24/7 or emergency service in 32.
- Keep your Google Business Profile complete, earn and answer reviews, and state the basics the same everywhere.
- The study is one day, one question per pair, through the API. It shows what ChatGPT linked, not why.
Try the free ChatGPT brand check to see what ChatGPT says about your business. If you want help fixing what you find, send a request through our AISO agency service. Founding clients see the first fix before they pay.