FAQ
The practical questions.
Clear answers about ScoutLocal, privacy, verification, listings, and the Fort Polk beta.
Is ScoutLocal free?+
Yes. ScoutLocal is always free for families to use — and listing a business is always free too, for every local business. Ranking can't be bought; no one pays for placement.
How is this different from Yelp or Google?+
Listings are reviewed by a human, ranking cannot be bought, and the directory is organized around military life: PCS prep, third places, base proximity, and routines families rebuild.
Will my base affiliation be visible to other users?+
No. There are no public user profiles, saved-place activity, or live presence indicators. Base affiliation is operationally sensitive; ScoutLocal defaults reflect that.
What happens if I report a listing?+
You will receive an acknowledgement and ScoutLocal will review the report. If it results in a change, you will be told what action was taken.
I own a local business. How do I get listed?+
Join the beta for your base or email support@novalyse.com. When your base is live, ScoutLocal will send the next steps for claiming and verification.
Do you have reviews or star ratings?+
Not yet. Beta ships without star ratings. Future review features will need count, recency, and source transparency so ratings have context.
Can families recommend businesses before the app is fully live?+
Yes. Recommendations help prioritize categories and businesses to check first. A recommendation is not the same as a verified listing.
What does a business get during beta?+
A cleaner profile, a chance to be verified early, and a better way to be found by military families near the base.
Who is behind ScoutLocal?+
ScoutLocal is a product of Novalyse LLC, an independent team building practical tools for military families and the local businesses that serve them.