Best Business Directories in Canada and Australia

In both Canada and Australia, the most important listings are the same free map profiles used everywhere: Google Business Profile, Apple Business Connect and Bing Places. After those, each country has a few established local directories and some strong industry platforms. A small business in either country can cover the essentials with five or six well-kept listings.

This guide describes the main business directories in each country, the industry platforms worth knowing about, tips for each market, and where Search IT fits. Directories update their features and pricing often, so check each one's own website for current terms before you sign up.

Start with the map profiles (both countries)

Before you look at any country-specific directory, set up the three free profiles that feed the map apps people use every day. They are often what a customer sees first, before they ever reach your website.

• Google Business Profile: free, and controls how you appear in Google Search and Maps. For most businesses it is the most important listing.
• Apple Business Connect: free, and manages your details in Apple Maps, the default map app on iPhones.
• Bing Places for Business: free, covers Bing search and maps, and can import your Google details.

Each platform asks you to verify that you manage the business before your details go fully live. Use the same business name, address and phone number on all three, choose the most specific category you can, and add your hours, photos and services. Once these are complete, every other listing you create can copy from them, which keeps your details consistent.

Canada: general and local directories

Yellow Pages Canada

YellowPages.ca, run by Yellow Pages Limited, is Canada's best-known general business directory. Businesses are listed by category and location, customers can leave reviews, and the company also sells digital marketing services to small businesses.

Canada411

Canada411 is a long-standing Canadian phone and business lookup service. Customers use it to find a phone number or address quickly, so it is worth checking that your details there are correct.

Yelp and the Better Business Bureau

Yelp operates in Canada and is most useful for restaurants, cafés, beauty and personal services in larger cities. Claiming your page is free. The Better Business Bureau also serves Canada through local bureaus, publishing business profiles and handling complaints. Accreditation is a separate, paid status with standards to meet.

Local options

• Chambers of commerce and boards of trade. Most Canadian towns and cities have one, and most publish a member directory. Membership is paid and includes networking and advocacy.
• Business Improvement Areas (BIAs). Many Canadian neighbourhoods and downtowns have a BIA that promotes local businesses, often with an online directory.
• Municipal and tourism websites. Useful for hospitality, attractions and visitor-facing businesses.

Australia: general and local directories

Yellow and White Pages

Yellow (yellow.com.au, previously known as Yellow Pages) is one of Australia's best-known business directories, listing businesses by category and location. White Pages (whitepages.com.au) is mainly used to look up phone numbers and addresses, including for businesses. Both are long established, and the company behind them also sells marketing services.

Localsearch and Hotfrog

Localsearch (localsearch.com.au) is an Australian local business directory that also offers marketing services. Hotfrog is a free business directory that operates in Australia and several other countries. Check each site's current listing options before you sign up.

Local options

• Chambers of commerce. Many local chambers publish member directories, and each state has its own chamber or business organisation.
• Council and tourism websites. Many councils and regional tourism bodies promote local businesses, especially in hospitality and tourism.
• Community and neighbourhood groups. Local community pages and groups are widely used to ask for recommendations. Follow each group's rules on promotion.

Industry directories in both

Trades and home services

• Canada: HomeStars is a Canadian platform where homeowners find and review contractors and home service companies.
• Australia: hipages, Oneflare and ServiceSeeking connect customers with tradies and service providers. Their fee models differ, and some charge for leads, so compare terms carefully.

In both countries, many trades must be licensed by their province, territory or state, and customers can check licences through public lookup services. Make sure your licence details are correct and show your licence number where your listings allow it.

Healthcare

• Canada: provincial regulatory colleges publish public registers of doctors, dentists and other regulated professionals. Check your entry is accurate.
• Australia: HealthEngine and Healthshare help patients find practitioners, and HealthEngine supports online bookings. Registered health practitioners appear on the public register kept by Ahpra.

Legal and professional services

In both countries, law societies offer ways to find a lawyer, and many professional bodies, such as accounting associations, have "find a member" searches. Being listed accurately in your professional body's directory is a strong trust signal.

Hospitality

Restaurants and cafés in both countries benefit from Tripadvisor, OpenTable for bookings, and the delivery apps that operate locally, such as Uber Eats and DoorDash, plus Menulog in Australia and SkipTheDishes in Canada.

Tips for each market

Canada

• Language: if you serve customers in Quebec, provide your listing details and description in French. Quebec has rules on the use of French in commercial communication, and many customers search in French.
• Address format: use the standard Canadian format with the two-letter province code and postal code (for example, "ON M5V 2T6"), and keep it identical across listings.
• Seasonal hours: many Canadian businesses change hours with the seasons. Update every listing when your summer or winter hours start.

Australia

• ABN: many Australian customers look for an ABN (Australian Business Number) as a sign of a legitimate business, and anyone can check it on the government's ABN Lookup service. Show yours where a directory allows it.
• Service areas: tradies and mobile services often cover large areas. List the suburbs you genuinely serve rather than the whole state.
• Public holidays: they vary by state and territory, so update holiday hours based on your own state's calendar.

Both markets

Keep your business name, address and phone number identical everywhere, and check your listings every few months. Our guide to NAP consistency explains how to find and fix out-of-date listings.

Where Search IT fits

Search IT is a general business directory that covers Canada, Australia and many other countries. It is smaller than the established local directories above, and we'd always recommend setting up your Google Business Profile first. Search IT is designed to be a carefully maintained listing alongside your other profiles:

• A real person reviews every listing before it goes live.
• Every plan includes online appointment booking and direct messages from customers.
• Premium listings can earn a Verified badge after a document check.
• Plans start at $0.99, shown in your local currency where available.

See our plans and pricing, or start with our business profile checklist so every listing you create is complete.