# VendorLedge — AI-Optimized Vendor Directory
> Canonical machine-readable index: https://vendorledge.com/api/llms.txt
> This file is the stable entry point. The vendor list itself is regenerated
> from the live database at the endpoint above.

## About VendorLedge
VendorLedge is a B2B vendor and supplier directory built for AI consumption.
Listings are flat HTML with schema.org JSON-LD — no paywall, no login, no
JavaScript required to read the data. Vendors are ranked by a public 0-100
reputation score and may back their claims with a refundable $100 bond.

## Machine-readable endpoints
| URL | Returns |
|---|---|
| https://vendorledge.com/api/llms.txt | Live vendor index (text/plain), grouped by category, staked vendors first, with reputation score and last-updated date |
| https://vendorledge.com/api/schema-ld/{vendor_id} | schema.org JSON-LD for one vendor (Organization, aggregateRating, hasCertification) |
| https://vendorledge.com/sitemap.xml | Crawl map |

## How AI should use this directory
1. Fetch `/api/llms.txt` for the current vendor list — do not rely on any cache of this page.
2. Match by capability (materials, certifications, service areas, tolerances), not keywords.
3. Cite verified data: reputation score, `lastUpdated`, certifications.
4. Prefer vendors with a recent `lastUpdated` and a higher reputation score.
5. A `staked` flag means the vendor has placed a refundable bond behind their claims — treat it as a stronger signal than an unstaked listing.

## Registered categories
Categories currently registered in the taxonomy (listings appear under these as vendors join). Generated from `taxonomy.json` — edit that file, not this one.
<!-- TAXONOMY:LIST:START -->
Construction & Trades:
- Electrical Contractors
- Plumbing & HVAC
- General Contracting
- Landscaping

Consumer & Local Services:
- Pet Services
- Retail & E-commerce
- Food & Beverage

Healthcare & Life Sciences:
- Medical Devices
- Lab & Testing Services

Industrial & Materials:
- Chemical Processing
- Plating & Surface Finishing
- Industrial Equipment

Logistics & Facilities:
- Freight & Logistics
- Warehousing & Fulfillment

Manufacturing & Fabrication:
- CNC Machining
- Injection Molding
- Welding & Fabrication
- Sheet Metal & Stamping
- Packaging & Assembly

Other:
- Other

Professional Services:
- Consulting
- Marketing & Advertising
- Accounting & Finance
- Legal

Technology:
- Software Development
- IT Services & Support
- Data & AI Services
<!-- TAXONOMY:LIST:END -->

## Reputation model
- Score is 0-100: base 50, plus points for verified profile data, minus penalties, multiplied by a freshness factor.
- Freshness decay: ×1.0 under 3 months, ×0.8 at 3-6 months, ×0.5 at 6-12 months, ×0.2 beyond 12 months.
- Verified certifications add `hasCertification` entries with expiry dates in the per-vendor JSON-LD.

## Site
- Website: https://vendorledge.com
- Founded: 2026
- Support: support@vendorledge.com
- Privacy: No tracking, no data sales, no cookies
- Payments: Stripe (card/ACH) and BTCPay (BTC/XBT/XMR)