Every business wants customers to keep coming back. And for that to happen, they need to offer more than just great prices and service. Because when it comes to real customer loyalty, trust matters the most. Research from the Better Business Bureau found that 82% of consumers in the United States believe trust sets the foundation for a good business.
So with that in mind, ZenBusiness decided to do some of its own research. Using data from the Better Business Bureau, ZenBusiness created some maps of the USA showing the business trust rating in every major city and state.
Smaller is better
Smaller US states have the highest percentage of trusted businesses. The 10 top states with the most trusted companies include North Dakota, Minnesota, Maine, and Alaska.
Smaller states often have smaller populations. This creates a greater sense of community and belonging, meaning businesses can build lasting relationships with their customers. Companies are also more likely to operate for longer periods in smaller states.
Word spreads quickly in smaller towns and cities. So businesses are incentivized to stick by their promises and provide the best possible service to every customer.
US States with the lowest % of trusted businesses
Nevada is the state with the lowest number of trusted businesses (76.5%). But what do you expect when the leading industry (gambling) is based on convincing people to hand over their money to the casinos and bookmakers?
Utah is the next lowest scorer (82.7%), followed by California (85.3%) and New York (85.8%).
10 major US cities with the most trusted businesses
Texan business owners are doing something right. Four Lone Star cities feature in the top 10 list. They are San Antonio, Fort Worth, Dallas, and Austin.
Memphis has two entries: Nashville and Memphis.
The remaining top 10 spots belong to Boston, Colorado, Albuquerque, and Seattle.
The most and least trustworthy industries
Car dealers get a bad rap. But unfortunately for them, the data from ZenBuiness suggests there’s truth to the stereotypes.
On an industry by industry basis, car dealerships ranked among the least trusted companies in several major US cities, including Seattle and San Antonio.
Arkansas is the worst state in the country to dine out in, according to what the locals think of the restaurants. The food service industry in Arkansas scored a trust rating of just 52.3%.
Most customers in New Jersey have a pretty low opinion of their banks. The Garden State banking industry has a 47% trust rating.
The banking industry scored a perfect 100% trust rating in North Dakota, New Mexico, and Hawaii.
Let’s give the last word to entrepreneurial guru Zig Ziglar. He said. “If people like you, they’ll listen to you. But if they trust you, they’ll always do business with you.”
