What is llms.txt, and does a local business need one?

llms.txt is a plain Markdown file at the root of a website (https://yourwebsite.com/llms.txt) that gives AI agents a short summary of the site and links to its most useful pages. It was proposed by Jeremy Howard in September 2024, and a second version of the proposal was published in August 2026.

What goes in it

The proposal at llmstxt.org sets out a simple order:

• An H1 with the name of the site. This is the only required part.
• A blockquote (a line starting with >) with a short summary.
• Optional paragraphs or lists with more detail.
• Optional sections under H2 headings, each a list of links in the form [name](url): notes. A section called "Optional" is for links an agent can skip.

Does it help you show up in Google or ChatGPT?

Be careful with claims here. In June 2026 Google updated its guidance to say Google Search does not use llms.txt files, and that having one "won't harm (nor help)" your visibility in Google Search (reported by Search Engine Land). Chrome's Lighthouse has an llms.txt audit in its agentic-browsing checks, but it only flags a server error; a missing file is marked "not applicable" because the file is optional.

The proposal itself says the file is used most heavily for software documentation, where coding agents follow it. For a plumber, dentist or roofer, it is a small, low-cost extra, not a ranking factor. If you have limited time, these come first:

1. Make sure AI search bots can reach your site (how to unblock AI crawlers).
2. Add accurate LocalBusiness structured data.
3. Keep your Google Business Profile and other listings complete and consistent.

A template for a local service business

Save this as llms.txt, edit every value, and upload it to the root of your site. Only list pages that exist and say only what is true.

# Example Plumbing Co.

> Licensed plumber serving Springfield and nearby towns. Emergency repairs, water heaters, drain cleaning. Phone (555) 010-0000. Open Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, emergency line 24/7.

Service area: Springfield, Shelbyville, Capital City.

## Services

- [Water heater repair and replacement](https://example.com/water-heaters): Tank and tankless, same-week installs
- [Drain cleaning](https://example.com/drains): Kitchen, bathroom and main sewer lines
- [Emergency plumbing](https://example.com/emergency): 24/7 line for leaks and burst pipes

## About

- [About us](https://example.com/about): Owner, license number, years in business
- [Contact and hours](https://example.com/contact)

## Optional

- [Reviews](https://example.com/reviews)

If your site runs on WordPress, check first whether a plugin already writes one for you; the llms.txt proposal lists Yoast SEO and AIOSEO among tools that generate it, and some hosting plugins do too. A generated file can include leftover sample content such as a default "Hello world" post, so open it and read it.

How to check yours

Open https://yourwebsite.com/llms.txt in a browser. It should show plain text, not your homepage or an error page. Then run the free AI-Readiness Check to confirm the basics on your homepage.

Sources

• Jeremy Howard, "The /llms.txt file, v2" — llmstxt.org (read October 26, 2026)
• Search Engine Land, "Google says llms.txt files won't harm or help your search rankings", June 15, 2026 — searchengineland.com
• Chrome for Developers, "llms.txt" Lighthouse audit — developer.chrome.com