How we rank Surrey's top 5.
A transparent look at the data, sources, and editorial decisions behind every list on this site.
Our scoring formula
Every business is evaluated on the same criteria:
- Google Maps rating × review count — A business with 4.9 stars and 800 reviews ranks higher than one with 5.0 stars and 12 reviews. Review volume matters as much as the score.
- Cross-referenced ratings — We check Yelp, BBB, HomeStars (for trades), RateMDs (for medical), and RateMyAgent (for realtors) to confirm reputation across platforms.
- Years in business — Long-standing local businesses get extra weight, especially for trades and professional services.
- Local ownership — We prefer locally-owned independents over national chains. At most 1–2 chains appear in any top 5.
- Surrey-only — The business must have a physical location in Surrey, BC. Service-area businesses based in other cities are excluded.
Where the data comes from
We rely on public sources you can verify yourself:
- Google Maps ratings and review counts
- Yelp.ca business profiles
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) Canada ratings
- HomeStars for contractors and home services
- RateMDs and Healthlink BC for medical professionals
- RateMyAgent for individual realtors
- Industry-specific directories and local "best of" lists
Editorial independence
No business pays to appear on a top 5 list, and no ranking can be purchased. Our rankings are entirely editorial.
If we ever introduce sponsored content in the future, it will be clearly labeled and separated from the editorial top 5.
How often lists are updated
We refresh each category at least every six months — sometimes more often when a major change happens (a top business closes, a new highly-rated one opens). The "Last updated" date on every category page reflects the most recent refresh.
Found an error?
We get things wrong sometimes. If you spot a closed business, an outdated address, a missing top performer, or anything else — tell us and we'll review it.