# How it works | AgencyLadder

> One board, one number, five rules. That is the whole product.

Source: https://agencyladder.com/how

## Why this exists

Every directory ranks listings by "research", vetting and star ratings, then sells the top
positions to whoever pays for them. The ranking was always for sale, the only thing you
were never allowed to see was the number. AgencyLadder removes the theatre: there is no
editorial team, no vetting score, no algorithm to reverse engineer. Rank is the amount
paid, printed on every card, updated live.

## The mechanism, start to finish

1. See the board. Every listing's rank and live balance is public, no sign-in required.
2. List for $1. Paste a site, write one line, pay. No application, no review queue.
3. Go live immediately. Payment is the only gate, the listing appears the moment Stripe
   confirms the charge.
4. Bid to pass whoever is above you. Clear their balance plus $5 and you move up.
5. Every bid decays 2% a day. Holding a position costs something every day, which is what
   keeps the top of the board contested instead of frozen after week one.
6. Top up any time. Sign in with the same email used at checkout, no password.

## The five rules

1. Anyone can list for $1.
2. Rank is purely what you've paid.
3. Every bid decays 2% a day.
4. Passing someone costs $5 more.
5. Ties go to whoever got there first.

Full mechanism with worked dollar examples: https://agencyladder.com/rules
List your business for $1: https://agencyladder.com/list