Global Companies
Global Companies
Learn about the global company system that helps identify and review companies across all agencies.
Overview
The Global Companies system creates a shared database of company identities that all agencies can reference. When you add a company, the system checks if it already exists in the global database, allowing you to:
- Avoid duplicate company entries
- See aggregated reviews from other agencies
- Access cross-agency analytics like average payment times
- Contribute your own reviews and ratings
Company List Page
The companies page (Dashboard → Companies) displays both global and private companies in a unified list.
Visual Distinction
| Company Type | Badge Color | Row Background | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global | Purple | White (default) | Visible to all agencies, shows aggregated reviews |
| Private | Gray | Light blue tint | Only visible to your agency |
Columns
- Company Name - Links to company detail page
- Vendor number (if set)
- Global/Private badge
- Primary Contact - Name and title
- Location - City, state
- Type - Title Company, Lender, Signing Service, etc.
- Rating - Average rating with review count (global companies only)
- Click to view full reviews page
- Shows "★ 4.5 (12)" format
- Tags - Common tags from all agencies (global companies only)
- Shows up to 3 tags with "+N" for overflow
- Tags like "reliable", "slow-payer", "professional"
Row Actions
- ★ Review - Leave or view a review (global companies only)
- Email - Send email communication
- SMS - Send text message
- Internal Message - Create internal note
- Edit - Edit company details
Architecture
Simplified Model
Global companies are stored in the companies table with agency_id = 0:
agency_id = 0: Global company (visible to all agencies)agency_id > 0: Private company (visible only to that agency)
This unified approach simplifies queries and ensures data consistency.
Agency-Company Junction Table
The agency_company table links agencies to global companies and stores:
- Your agency-specific settings (vendor number, default fees, etc.)
- Your review of the company (rating, review text, tags)
- Your relationship statistics (total orders, revenue)
Company Detail Page
Sidebar Sections
For global companies, the right sidebar includes:
Company Status
- Scope: Global or Private badge
- Status: Active or Inactive
- Company ID: Internal ID
Reviews (Global Companies Only)
- Aggregate rating display (e.g., "4.5 ★")
- Total review count
- Link to full reviews page
- "Leave a Review" button
Common Tags (Global Companies Only)
- Displays all aggregated tags from across agencies
- Each tag shown with icon
- Truncates long tag names
- Helper text: "These are the most common tags used by agencies across the platform."
Timeline
- Created date
- Last updated date
- Deleted date (if applicable)
How It Works
Company Identity
Each global company has:
- Name - The company name (can include DBA variations)
- Legal Name - Official legal name (may differ from DBA)
- EIN - Tax ID for precise matching
- Website - Company website for verification
- Address - Location for matching
- GUID - Public-facing identifier for URLs
Agency Relationships
Each agency has its own relationship with each global company:
- Agency Settings - Your specific vendor number, default fees, etc.
- Your Review - Your rating, review text, and experience
- Tags - Your custom labels (e.g., "reliable", "slow-payer")
Global Analytics
Aggregated data from all agencies:
- Average Rating - Combined rating across all reviews
- Total Reviews - Number of agencies that reviewed
- Avg Time to Pay - Average days to pay invoices
- Payment Reliability Score - 0-100 score for payment consistency
- Common Tags - Most frequently used tags
- Total Agencies Worked With - Number of agencies with relationships
Adding a Company
Step 1: Enter Company Details
When adding a new company, enter:
- Company name (required)
- Address information (city, state helps matching)
- EIN (if known - best for matching)
- Website (if known)
Step 2: Review Potential Matches
The system searches for existing companies that might match:
- High Confidence (90%+) - Very likely the same company
- Medium Confidence (70-89%) - May be the same company
- Low Confidence (<70%) - Probably different
Match Indicators:
- Exact name + city + state match = 100%
- EIN match = 95%
- Website match = 90%
- Similar name + same state = 60-80%
Step 3: Choose Action
- Link Existing - Connect to the suggested global company
- Create New - Add as a new global company (only if sure it's different)
Reviewing Companies
Submitting a Review
You can review any company you've worked with:
- Go to the company's detail page
- Click "Write a Review"
- Provide:
- Rating (1-5 stars) - Overall experience
- Written Review - Detailed feedback (optional)
- Avg Time to Pay - Days to pay invoices (optional)
- Would Work Again - Yes/No
- Tags - Quick labels (e.g., "professional", "slow-payer")
Updating Your Review
You can update your review at any time:
- New data replaces previous review
- Global stats recalculate automatically
- Your agency's relationship data updates
Viewing Company Stats
Global Stats Tab
Shows aggregated data from all agencies:
- Average rating across all reviews
- Total number of reviews
- Average time to pay (all agencies)
- Payment reliability score
- Most common tags
Your Agency Tab
Shows your specific data:
- Your rating and review
- Your average time to pay
- Your tags
- Total orders with this company
- Total revenue from this company
Privacy and Data
What's Shared
- Ratings - Anonymous ratings contribute to average
- Time to Pay - Averaged with other agencies
- Tags - Aggregated to show most common
What's Private
- Your Identity - Other agencies don't see your reviews
- Specific Orders - Your order details remain private
- Agency Settings - Your vendor numbers and fees are private
Best Practices
Before Adding
- Search First - Always check for existing matches
- Use EIN - Best way to find exact matches
- Verify Website - Helps confirm company identity
When Reviewing
- Be Accurate - Your reviews help others
- Update Regularly - Keep reviews current
- Use Tags - Helps categorize companies
Data Quality
- Only review companies you've actually worked with
- Base ratings on actual experience, not assumptions
- Update if company performance changes
Common Workflows
Adding a New Client
- Enter company name and details
- Review suggested matches
- If high-confidence match exists, link to it
- If no match, create new global company
- Add your agency-specific settings
Checking a Company Before Working With Them
- Search for the company
- View global stats
- Read reviews from other agencies
- Check average payment time
- Make informed decision
Updating Your Experience
- Find the company in your list
- Update your review as needed
- Add or remove tags
- Global stats update automatically
Troubleshooting
Company Not Found
If you can't find a company:
- Try partial name matches
- Check for alternative names/DBAs
- Search by EIN if known
- Search by website
Incorrect Match Suggested
If the system suggests a wrong match:
- Click "Create as New Company"
- Report the issue if it keeps happening
Can't Update Review
If you can't edit your review:
- Make sure you're logged in
- Verify you're on your agency's account
- Contact support if issues persist