When people ask AI for a service near them, be the answer.
People now ask AI assistants instead of opening apps. But businesses spread across separate franchise apps and marketplaces get zero visibility from AI search. Shopfront gives you one low-cost, commission-free listing exposed through MCP that every AI assistant can read.
Separate Apps vs. One AI-Native Listing
Why building another app or paying 30% aggregator fees fails in the age of conversational AI.
Separate Apps & Marketplace Trap
Swiggy, Zomato, Urban Company, Franchise Apps
- Invisible to AI Search: Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor cannot query closed franchise apps or walled marketplaces. You get zero AI search traffic.
- App Fatigue: Customers refuse to install and keep 30 different apps for every franchise, cafe, or repair technician.
- 20% to 30% Aggregator Tax: Middlemen charge huge take-rate commissions and hold your customer data hostage behind masked numbers.
- Stale Opening Hours: Platforms fail to track your real lunch breaks, afternoon pauses, or festival holidays.
One AI-Native Listing
Exposed via Model Context Protocol (MCP)
- AI-Native from Day One: One listing makes your store queryable by Claude Desktop, Cursor, ChatGPT, and any assistant using MCP.
- One Listing Instead of 20 Apps: No software to build or maintain. Customers don't install an app; they ask their existing AI.
- Direct WhatsApp & Phone Contact: The AI hands the customer directly to your WhatsApp with a pre-filled enquiry. Zero take rate.
- Owner-Controlled Ground Truth: Toggle your shutter up or down in 1 click. AI only recommends you when you are genuinely open.
How an AI Assistant Discovers Your Store
Here is a live simulation of a real customer prompting Claude or ChatGPT, and how Shopfront supplies authoritative truth.
I found A1 Electronics & Mobile Repairs in Adyar (450m away). They are open right now (verified 9 minutes ago, closing at 9:00 PM).
OEM-grade cell • 6-Month warranty • 40 min install
⚡ Delivered in 22ms via PostGIS spatial SQL & Model Context Protocol.
{
"shop_id": "a1-electronics-adyar",
"name": "A1 Electronics & Repairs",
"status": "live",
"is_open_now": true,
"distance_meters": 450,
"locality": "Adyar",
"verified_at": "2026-10-18T12:41:00Z",
"matching_item": {
"name": "iPhone Battery Replacement",
"price_inr": 1800,
"available": true
},
"action_link": "https://wa.me/919840012345?text=..."
}You Decide What AI Says About You
You maintain full sovereignty over your store data. Configure exactly what Claude, Cursor, and AI agents know:
Hours & Split Shifts
Define afternoon lunch breaks, Friday prayer times, and planned holiday closures. AI never sends customers to a closed shutter.
Exact Rupee Rates
List fixed prices or clear price ranges for all your services. Eliminate haggling and qualify high-intent customers upfront.
1-Thumb Availability
Ran out of parts or fully booked today? Toggle items unavailable from your phone. AI immediately reflects your real-time capacity.
Your Craftsmanship Story
Tell AI about your 20 years of experience, specialized certifications, and brand ethos so it champions your business authentically.
Custom WhatsApp Template
Craft the exact pre-filled opening message customers send when they tap your WhatsApp link, including item name and timestamp.
Bilingual Tamil & English
Set local Tamil keywords and descriptions so AI agents seamlessly match Tamil prompts (ஷாப்ஃபிரண்ட்) as effortlessly as English.
Apply to Join the Chennai Pilot (100% Free)
Takes under 2 minutes. We review and activate verified listings within 24 hours. No credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about listing your business on Shopfront.
Why not just build an app for my store?
Building a custom mobile app costs ₹1,50,000+ upfront and ongoing maintenance fees. Worse, consumers already suffer from app fatigue and immediately delete single-use franchise apps. With Shopfront, you get one listing that works across every AI assistant without asking customers to install anything.
Is Shopfront really 100% free with zero commission?
Yes. The Chennai pilot is 100% free with 0% take rate. Customers chat with you directly on WhatsApp or telephone and pay you directly via cash or UPI. We do not intermediate payments.
Can I pause my listing when I take a holiday or lunch break?
Yes. You get full access to the Owner Portal. Lower your shutter with 1 tap, and every AI assistant will immediately stop recommending your store until you lift it back up.