From "A" to "F" the Southwest Missouri Better Business Bureau is giving area businesses a new and more comprehensive grade based on their services to consumers.

"Up until now, the Better Business Bureau gave a rating on a company.  They were either satisfactory, unsatisfactory, or we just gave a factual report of what was in the complaint history," said Judy Mills of the Better Business Bureau.

But they say the new letter grades give consumers a better way to know when a business is doing bad or if they're doing good.

"We've all been to school.  So, we know what the letter grades mean.  It's going to be easier for consumers," said Mills.

Keegan Martin, who's worked at Enterprise Park Lanes throughout most of her teenage years, says the new scoring system is easier to understand.  It doesn't hurt that Enterprise got an "A," but Keegan says it might hurt if someone didn't.

"Maybe they're satisfactory, but there's a few things they need to work on, so they are a "C."  So they're right in the middle.  I think it's a lot more in depth.  It will help businesses become better," said Keegan.

In the past, the Better Business Bureau already used some of the elements.  In fact, the type of business, the time in business, and the complaint volume were all part of the grading system.  So, now they've extended that to 16 elements, all of which add up to a total point value to give you the new letter grade.

It's certainly not an easy "A."  In the Ozarks alone, there were more than 500 businesses that received an "F" mostly for doing things like failing to answer customer complaints.

"If people are reading the information that's out there, it could be a good deciding factor as to where they want to go," said Hollie Brannen.

She's the manager of Enterprise Park Lanes, and says she thinks it holds businesses more accountable, whether it's a member of the Better Business Bureau or not.

"It's a great thing to know you've been voted by your community to receive a good A rating...to know you've done something good, and people have come into your business, and they've enjoyed being in here," said Brannen.

The Southwest Missouri Better Business Bureau tells us that some businesses may score a "F" just because of the type of business that's being run.  In order to be accredited by the B.B.B. you must rank a "B" or higher on the new report card.

To see how businesses faired you can go to their website at www.southwestmissouri.bbb.org

Story ideas or comments?  Email me at wcarter@kspr.com