About ColumbiaSCInsider

An independent guide to the Columbia, SC area, published by DixonAppStudio LLC

Who we are

ColumbiaSCInsider is published by DixonAppStudio LLC, a small independent studio based in Elgin, South Carolina, in the Columbia metro area. The studio also builds free web tools and mobile apps. You can reach us at support@dixonappstudio.com.

What the site is

A directory of local businesses in Columbia and the surrounding Midlands, grouped by service, plus practical guides: how to check a contractor's licence, what to ask before hiring, and what the area's neighborhoods and weekends have to offer.

What we check — and what we do not

Every listing is checked against the business's own website: the site must work and the contact details must match. In an audit on September 26, 2026 we removed listings we could not confirm and took down phone numbers that did not match the business's website.

We do not inspect work, verify licences or insurance, or rank businesses. Listings are alphabetical and are not endorsements. Each category page links the official licence lookup so you can check a business yourself.

How the site is funded

The site shows ads served by Google AdSense, labelled "Advertisement". Listings are free, and no business pays to appear higher or to be described differently. If we ever offer paid placement, it will be labelled "Sponsored".

Affiliate disclosure

Some guide, neighborhood and footer sections include a "Visiting Columbia?" box with referral links to hotel searches (through Stay22, which passes you to booking sites such as Booking.com and Expedia) and to tour and activity searches on GetYourGuide and Viator. If you book through one of these links, DixonAppStudio LLC may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

These links are labelled as referral links where they appear and are marked as sponsored for search engines. They are general searches for the Columbia area, not recommendations of a particular hotel or tour, and they never affect which businesses are listed or how our guides are written. Prices and availability are set by the booking sites.

Corrections

If a listing or guide is wrong, email support@dixonappstudio.com with the page and the correct information (a link to the business's own website is the fastest way for us to confirm it).