# BBB Business Scraper (`jungle_synthesizer/bbb-scraper`) Actor Scrape Better Business Bureau business listings. Extract name, BBB rating, accreditation, phone, address, website, emails, and contact details from US and Canadian BBB directories. - **URL**: https://apify.com/jungle\_synthesizer/bbb-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [BowTiedRaccoon](https://apify.com/jungle_synthesizer) (community) - **Categories:** Lead generation, Business - **Stats:** 3 total users, 2 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing Pay per event This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## BBB Business Scraper Extract business listings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB.org) directory. Search by business type and location across the US and Canadian directories to collect contact details, BBB ratings, accreditation status, addresses, and more. ### What it does This actor searches BBB.org for businesses matching your query and location, then extracts structured data from the search results. BBB.org has information on millions of businesses, including contact details that are often more complete and verified than other directories. **Example use cases:** - Build prospect lists for a specific industry in a target city - Verify business legitimacy and BBB rating before engaging a vendor - Collect contact information for local service providers - Research which businesses in a category hold BBB Accreditation ### Input | Field | Type | Description | |-------|------|-------------| | `searchQuery` | String | Business name or category (e.g. "plumber", "auto repair", "John's Diner") | | `location` | String | City, state or ZIP code (e.g. "Chicago, IL" or "90210") | | `country` | String | `USA` (United States) or `CAN` (Canada) | | `maxItems` | Integer | Maximum number of businesses to return | | `enrichWithDetails` | Boolean | When `true`, visits each profile page for principal contacts and email. Slower but more complete. Default: `false` | **Example input:** ```json { "searchQuery": "restaurant", "location": "New York, NY", "country": "USA", "maxItems": 50, "enrichWithDetails": false } ```` ### Output Each record in the dataset represents one BBB business listing: | Field | Description | |-------|-------------| | `business_id` | Unique BBB identifier extracted from the profile URL | | `name` | Business name as listed on BBB | | `bbb_rating` | BBB letter grade (A+, A, B, C, D, F, or NR for Not Rated) | | `is_accredited` | Whether the business holds BBB Accreditation | | `phone` | Primary phone number | | `street_address` | Street address | | `city` | City | | `state` | State or province code | | `zip` | ZIP or postal code | | `country` | Country code (US or CA) | | `website` | Business website URL | | `email` | Email address (when listed; more common with `enrichWithDetails: true`) | | `categories` | Business categories, comma-separated | | `years_in_business` | Years the business has been in operation | | `num_employees` | Employee count range | | `principal_name` | Primary contact name (populated with `enrichWithDetails: true`) | | `principal_title` | Primary contact title (populated with `enrichWithDetails: true`) | | `logo_url` | Business logo image URL | | `profile_url` | Full URL to the BBB business profile | | `scraped_at` | Timestamp when this record was scraped | **Example output record:** ```json { "business_id": "87156789", "name": "Acme Plumbing Co.", "bbb_rating": "A+", "is_accredited": true, "phone": "(212) 555-0123", "street_address": "123 Main St", "city": "New York", "state": "NY", "zip": "10001", "country": "US", "website": "https://acmeplumbing.example.com/", "email": "", "categories": "Plumbers", "years_in_business": "15", "num_employees": "11-50", "principal_name": "", "principal_title": "", "logo_url": "https://...", "profile_url": "https://www.bbb.org/us/ny/new-york/profile/plumbers/acme-plumbing-co-0121-87156789", "scraped_at": "2026-06-02T20:50:00.000Z" } ``` ### Performance and cost BBB.org uses Cloudflare protection, so this actor uses a real browser with residential proxy to bypass it. This makes it slower and more expensive than simple HTTP scrapers. Expect roughly 10-30 businesses per minute depending on network conditions. **Guidance:** - Default mode (`enrichWithDetails: false`) — saves records from search result cards. Fast and reliable; covers name, rating, address, phone, and categories. - Detail enrichment mode (`enrichWithDetails: true`) — visits each business profile page. Slower due to additional page loads, but adds principal contacts and email when listed. ### Notes - Results are limited to businesses that appear in BBB's search index. Not all businesses are registered with BBB. - Email addresses are not consistently listed on BBB profiles. - BBB accreditation is a paid service — "accredited" status means the business has applied and meets BBB standards, not that it is necessarily better or worse. - Canadian businesses are available by setting `country: CAN`. # Actor input Schema ## `sp_intended_usage` (type: `string`): Please describe how you plan to use the data extracted by this crawler. ## `sp_improvement_suggestions` (type: `string`): Provide any feedback or suggestions for improvements. ## `sp_contact` (type: `string`): Provide your email address so we can get in touch with you. ## `searchQuery` (type: `string`): Business name or category to search for (e.g. "plumber", "restaurant") ## `location` (type: `string`): City, state or zip code to search within (e.g. "New York, NY" or "90210") ## `country` (type: `string`): Country to search in ## `maxItems` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of business records to scrape (default 50) ## `enrichWithDetails` (type: `boolean`): When true, visits each business profile page to extract principal contacts and email. Slower but more complete. ## Actor input object example ```json { "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "searchQuery": "restaurant", "location": "New York, NY", "country": "USA", "maxItems": 10, "enrichWithDetails": false } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): No description # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "searchQuery": "restaurant", "location": "New York, NY", "country": "USA", "maxItems": 10, "enrichWithDetails": false }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("jungle_synthesizer/bbb-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "searchQuery": "restaurant", "location": "New York, NY", "country": "USA", "maxItems": 10, "enrichWithDetails": False, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("jungle_synthesizer/bbb-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "sp_intended_usage": "Describe your intended use...", "sp_improvement_suggestions": "Share your suggestions here...", "sp_contact": "Share your email here...", "searchQuery": "restaurant", "location": "New York, NY", "country": "USA", "maxItems": 10, "enrichWithDetails": false }' | apify call jungle_synthesizer/bbb-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=jungle_synthesizer/bbb-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "BBB Business Scraper", "description": "Scrape Better Business Bureau business listings. Extract name, BBB rating, accreditation, phone, address, website, emails, and contact details from US and Canadian BBB directories.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "bHep98Dge5YGGhSG4" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/jungle_synthesizer~bbb-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-jungle_synthesizer-bbb-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/jungle_synthesizer~bbb-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-jungle_synthesizer-bbb-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/jungle_synthesizer~bbb-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-jungle_synthesizer-bbb-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "maxItems" ], "properties": { "sp_intended_usage": { "title": "What is the intended usage of this data?", "minLength": 1, "type": "string", "description": "Please describe how you plan to use the data extracted by this crawler." }, "sp_improvement_suggestions": { "title": "How can we improve this crawler for you?", "minLength": 1, "type": "string", "description": "Provide any feedback or suggestions for improvements." }, "sp_contact": { "title": "Contact Email", "minLength": 1, "type": "string", "description": "Provide your email address so we can get in touch with you." }, "searchQuery": { "title": "Search Query", "type": "string", "description": "Business name or category to search for (e.g. \"plumber\", \"restaurant\")" }, "location": { "title": "Location", "type": "string", "description": "City, state or zip code to search within (e.g. \"New York, NY\" or \"90210\")" }, "country": { "title": "Country", "enum": [ "USA", "CAN" ], "type": "string", "description": "Country to search in", "default": "USA" }, "maxItems": { "title": "Max Items", "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of business records to scrape (default 50)", "default": 50 }, "enrichWithDetails": { "title": "Enrich With Details", "type": "boolean", "description": "When true, visits each business profile page to extract principal contacts and email. Slower but more complete.", "default": false } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```