Last updated: October 18, 2026
Search Acharya (“Search Acharya,” “we,” “us” or “our”) runs the website searchacharya.com, a free directory that helps people find local businesses across the United States. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and share it, and the choices you have. It applies to everyone who visits the site, searches for businesses, writes a review, creates an account or lists a business with us.
By using Search Acharya, you agree to the practices described here. If you do not agree, please do not use the site.
Quick summary
- You can search and browse Search Acharya without creating an account.
- We collect account details, business listing details and reviews only when you choose to give them to us.
- Business listing information is meant to be public and is shown to everyone who visits the site.
- We do not sell your personal information for money.
- You can ask us to access, correct or delete your information at any time by writing to support@searchacharya.com.
1. Information we collect
Information you give us
- Account information: When you sign up, we collect your name, email address and a password. Passwords are stored in encrypted form and we cannot see them.
- Business listing information: When you add or claim a business, we collect details such as the business name, address, ZIP code, phone number, website, opening hours, services, photos, descriptions and the name and email of the person managing the listing.
- Reviews and ratings: When you leave a review, we collect your rating, the text you write and the display name shown with it.
- Messages to us: When you use our contact form or email us, we collect your name, email address and whatever you choose to include in your message.
- Payment information: If you buy a paid plan for your business, your payment is handled by a trusted payment processor. We receive confirmation of the payment and basic billing details, but we do not store your full card number.
Information collected automatically
When you visit the site, our servers and tools collect some information on their own, such as your IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, the pages you view, the searches you run, the date and time of your visit and the website that sent you to us. We may use your approximate location, based on your IP address or the city you search for, to show businesses near you. We do not collect your precise GPS location unless your browser asks you for permission and you allow it.
Information from other sources
Some business details shown in our directory may come from publicly available sources, such as a business’s own website or public records. This information is about businesses, not about private individuals using the site.
2. How we use your information
We use the information we collect to:
- Run the directory and show search results, maps, hours and contact details
- Create and manage your account and keep you signed in
- Review business listings and reviews before they go live, so the directory stays accurate and trustworthy
- Process payments for paid business plans
- Reply to your questions, requests and support messages
- Send important notices about your account or listing, such as approval updates or changes to our policies
- Understand how people use the site so we can improve pages, categories and features
- Detect and prevent spam, fake reviews, fraud and abuse
- Follow the law and protect the rights and safety of our users and the public
If you sign up for marketing emails, we will only send them with your permission, and every email will include a simple way to unsubscribe.
3. What is shown publicly
Search Acharya is a public directory. Business listing details, such as the business name, address, phone number, hours, photos and description, are visible to anyone who visits the site and may appear in search engines. Reviews are shown with the display name you choose. Please do not include private or sensitive personal information in a listing or review. Your email address and password are never shown publicly.
4. Cookies and similar tools
Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We use them to keep you signed in, remember your preferences, understand how visitors use the site and keep the site secure. Some cookies are set by us and others are set by trusted third parties, such as analytics and advertising providers.
You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings. If you do, some parts of the site, such as signing in, may not work properly.
Analytics
We may use tools such as Google Analytics to learn how visitors find and use our site. These tools collect information like pages visited and time spent on the site. You can learn how Google uses this data at How Google uses information from sites that use its services, and you can opt out with the Google Analytics opt out browser add on.
Advertising
We may show ads on Search Acharya through partners such as Google AdSense. These partners may use cookies to show ads based on your visits to this site and other websites. You can turn off personalized ads from Google in your Google Ad Settings, and you can learn more about opting out of interest based ads at aboutads.info.
5. How we share information
We do not sell your personal information for money. We share information only in these situations:
- Service providers: Companies that help us run the site, such as web hosting, email delivery, payment processing, analytics and security services. They may only use your information to provide services to us.
- Advertising partners: If we show ads, our partners may collect information through cookies as described above.
- Legal reasons: When we believe sharing is needed to follow the law, respond to a valid legal request, enforce our Terms of Use, or protect the rights, property or safety of Search Acharya, our users or others.
- Business changes: If Search Acharya is merged, sold or transferred, user information may be transferred as part of that deal. We will let you know if this happens.
- With your permission: In any other case where you ask us to or agree to it.
6. How long we keep your information
We keep your account and listing information for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account or listing, we remove or anonymize your personal information within a reasonable time, unless we need to keep some of it to meet legal, tax or accounting duties, settle disputes or prevent fraud. Reviews may stay on the site in anonymized form after an account is closed.
7. How we protect your information
We use reasonable safeguards to protect your information, including secure HTTPS connections, encrypted passwords and limited access to our systems. No website can promise complete security, so please use a strong password and keep it private. If you think your account has been accessed without permission, contact us right away.
8. Your choices and rights
You can:
- Update your account and listing details at any time after signing in
- Ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you
- Ask us to correct information that is wrong
- Ask us to delete your account, listing or reviews
- Unsubscribe from marketing emails using the link in any email
- Control cookies through your browser settings
To make a request, email support@searchacharya.com from the email address linked to your account. We may need to confirm your identity before acting on a request. We aim to respond within 30 days.
Rights for California residents
If you live in California, the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act, gives you the right to know what personal information we collect, use and share; to ask us to delete or correct it; to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information for targeted advertising; and to limit the use of sensitive personal information. We will not treat you differently for using these rights. To use them, contact us at support@searchacharya.com. You may also use a browser signal such as Global Privacy Control to opt out of sharing, and we will honor it where required.
Rights in other US states
Residents of states with their own privacy laws, such as Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah and Texas, may have similar rights to access, correct, delete and opt out. You can make these requests the same way. If we deny your request, you may appeal by replying to our response and asking us to review the decision again.
9. Children’s privacy
Search Acharya is meant for adults and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has given us personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
10. Links to other websites
Business listings often link to outside websites, maps and phone apps. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites or services. Please read their privacy policies before sharing your information with them.
11. Do Not Track
Some browsers send a “Do Not Track” signal. Because there is no common standard for how websites should respond to it, our site does not currently change its behavior when it receives this signal. We do honor Global Privacy Control where the law requires it, as explained above.
12. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our site, services or the law. When we do, we will change the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. If the changes are important, we may also notify you by email or with a notice on the site. Using Search Acharya after an update means you accept the revised policy.
13. Contact us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, we are happy to help.
Search Acharya
Email: support@searchacharya.com
Website: searchacharya.com/contact