Can I get alerts when a new competitor opens near my shop?
Weekly, yes. AlleyPulse emails you every Monday when a similar business appears on Google Maps within 1 km of your shop for the first time, and when a nearby listing is marked closed. It says new on Google Maps near you, never an opening date, and it is not an instant alert.
Last updated: 27 October 2026
How do new competitor alerts work?
- 01
Issue 1 is a baseline
The first issue records the businesses listed within your radius today. It cannot show changes yet.
Week 1 - 02
Issue 2 compares snapshots
Every Sunday scan is compared with the week before. A listing that was not there last week is reported as new on Google Maps near you, with its distance and a source link.
From week 2 - 03
Reliable from about week 3 or 4
Scan depth is limited, so a listing that already has more than 25 reviews is not reported as new: it was probably just outside last week's results. That keeps false alarms down.
Week 3 to 4
What do new and closed items mean?
- New on Google Maps near you: the listing appeared since last week's snapshot. The business may not be trading yet, may never trade, or may have traded for years without a listing.
- Posts about opening or closing: when a nearby business posts publicly about opening, moving or closing, that can appear as an item too, with a link to the post.
- Marked closed on Google: the listing was marked closed when we scanned. Listings are sometimes marked closed by mistake, so the item links to the source.
- Not included: building permits, licenses and business registrations. If you want filings, a registration or permit alert is a different kind of tool, and some owners use both.
An example of an item, from the example issue (EXAMPLE DATA): "A coffee kiosk is new on Google Maps near you, on Station Road. The listing appeared since last week's snapshot. No hours, photos or reviews yet. A new listing is not a confirmed opening."
Questions about new competitor alerts
Is there an app that alerts me when a new competitor opens near my shop?
AlleyPulse tells you, in a weekly email, when a business of a similar kind appears on Google Maps within 1 km of your shop for the first time, and when a nearby listing is marked closed. It is a weekly email, not an instant alert, and a new listing is not a confirmed opening.
Is there a service that tells me when a new coffee shop opens near my cafe?
Yes, in the sense above: AlleyPulse reports a coffee business that is new on Google Maps near your café, with its distance and a source link. It says new on Google Maps near you, never an opening date, because a listing can appear before a business trades.
How does AlleyPulse know a business is new?
Every week it scans the Google Maps listings within your radius and compares them with the previous week's snapshot. A listing that was not in the earlier snapshot is reported as new on Google Maps near you.
Does a new listing mean the business has opened?
No. A listing may appear before the business trades, may belong to a business that never opens, or may have traded for years without a listing. AlleyPulse never states an opening date and labels these items accordingly.
When will I see new and closed businesses?
The first issue is a baseline that records what is around you today. New and closed items need two snapshots, so they start in issue 2 and are reliable from about week 3 or 4.
How is this different from alerts based on business registrations or filings?
Registration alerts watch public government records, which can show a business before it opens, and cover businesses registered in a city or state. AlleyPulse watches Google Maps listings around your address and does not report permits, licenses or registrations. They answer different questions, and some owners use both.
Can I get an alert for a specific kind of business, like a new salon or barbershop?
Each issue compares nearby businesses of kinds similar to yours, based on the business type you choose, such as café, restaurant, bar, bakery, salon or retail. It reports new listings near you for those kinds.
What else is in the email besides new businesses?
Competitor posts and promos, rating and review count changes, closures, local events and news, search interest and the weather, each with why it matters and what to do this week.
What does it cost?
$29 USD per month per shop, cancel anytime, and the first issue of every shop is free. A free sample report is available for any supported address.
See it for your own address
Free sample for any supported address, and a free first issue. No credit card to start.