How to list your startup on Manta
TL;DR
Manta is a US directory of small and local businesses that has run for more than 20 years. The Free Company Listing costs nothing, and paid listing management starts at $37 per month according to Manta's plans page. It suits US local and service businesses; most software startups gain little from it.
What is Manta?
Manta connects people with small and local businesses in their area. Visitors search by city or by category, from restaurants and landscaping to construction, HVAC and trucking. Manta states that 45 million people visit the site every year.
Many companies already have a page there. Manta builds profiles from public records, such as trade records, business registrations and secretary of state filings, and the owner then claims the page to correct and expand it. Beyond the directory, Manta sells SEO services, website creation and listings management for small businesses.
The domain authority of 82 belongs to manta.com. Your gain is a correct, owner-verified company page that appears in search results for your business name, plus calls and clicks from local searchers.
Who should submit to Manta?
- US small businesses with local customers: trades, home services, clinics, restaurants, shops and B2B service firms.
- Founders who found an outdated auto-generated Manta page about their company and want to fix it.
- Skip it if you sell software online to a global audience. Manta's search revolves around local categories and cities.
- Skip it if your company is not based in the United States.
How much does Manta cost?
The Free Company Listing is free, and Manta's FAQ confirms you do not have to pay for a member and company profile. It includes:
- preferred search placement on Manta, a logo and photos
- click-to-call, directions and website links
- customizable business information and page analytics
- a Claimed Company Badge
The paid Business Profile Management plan starts at $37 per month, with discounts when you order through a sales representative. It lists your business on up to 70+ directories and data aggregators such as Yellow Pages, BBB and Foursquare, removes ads from your page, and adds a Manta Verified Badge and featured ad placement. Manta's free listing page quotes a Premium Page starting at $99 per month, so confirm which package you get before you pay. You can cancel any time, with no refunds for services already provided.
How do you share your startup on Manta?
- Search for your company on manta.com. If a page exists, click Own This Business? to claim it.
- If there is no page, start from the Free Company Listing page and create a member account.
- Add a company description, photos, videos and your website link from the Business Dashboard. Changes are password protected.
- Run the free Listings Scan to see whether your details are correct on search engines, maps and voice assistants.
Tips to get more out of Manta
- Claim the page with a company email you keep: only the user who first edited a profile can edit it later.
- Write a description that names your city, your service and your ideal customer in the first two sentences.
- Copy your name, address and phone number exactly as they appear on your Google Business Profile.
- Check the page analytics after a month to decide whether a paid plan is worth it.
Our verdict
For a US local or service business, claiming the free Manta page is quick and fixes data that Manta already publishes about you. The paid plans are a listings management service, so compare them with similar tools before you sign. Online software startups can skip Manta.
More options: see all business directories and local listings. Planning the launch around this listing? The Fe/male Switch startup game walks women founders from idea to first customers.