---
title: "Vendor self-check: what limits the grade and how to fix it"
method: GET
path: "/api/v1/improve"
tags: ["Improve"]
---

# Vendor self-check: what limits the grade and how to fix it

`GET /api/v1/improve`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://www.venumark.com`
- URL: `https://www.venumark.com/api/v1/improve`
- Auth: none required

Anonymous. The vendor-side counterpart to the Decision API. One call turns a license number into a self-improvement readout: the current letter grade, a one-line standing, the factors limiting the grade ordered most severe first (each with a machine-readable code, the issue, a concrete corrective action, and an official resource link), the strengths already on the record, and the free claim link for the vendor profile. Every factor is derived from the real DBPR-scored record on file; nothing is speculative. Identify the vendor by license_number or vendor_id (at least one is required). Letter grades only: the numeric VMScore is never exposed, and the grade is withheld when the current DBPR license cannot be confirmed (that itself becomes the top limiting factor). The response also carries the VMScore Vendor Pro monitoring offer ($9.99/month, daily DBPR monitoring of the vendor own record with email alerts on any change) in the monitoring block; checkout is a browser flow at /api/vendor-pro/checkout, not an API call, and requires a free VenuMark vendor account with the DBPR license claimed. Additive: fields may be added over time.

## Query parameters

- `license_number` string
- `vendor_id` string

## Response `200`

The self-check readout.

- ImproveEnvelope
  - `data` ImproveResponse, required
    - `vendor` object
      - `vendor_id` string
      - `name` string, nullable
      - `city` string, nullable
      - `county` string, nullable
      - `license` string, nullable
    - `improve` ImproveResult: The self-check block. Letter grade only; the numeric VMScore is never included. Additive: fields may be added over time.
      - `grade` string, required: Letter grade tier, 'Ungraded', or 'Withheld (license unconfirmed)'.
      - `standing` string, required: One-line summary of where the record stands.
      - `limiting_factors` ImprovementItem[], required: What is holding the grade back, ordered most severe first. Empty when nothing is.
        - `code` string, required: Machine-readable factor code, e.g. active_hold, license_unconfirmed, license_lapse_risk, failed_inspections, stale_record, or a deduction-derived code.
        - `issue` string, required: What the record shows.
        - `action` string, required: The concrete corrective step the vendor can take.
        - `resource` object, required: Official resource for the action: a DBPR page or a VenuMark guide.
          - `label` string, required
          - `url` string, uri, required
      - `strengths` string[], required: True positives already on the record.
      - `claim_url` string, uri, required: Free vendor signup link to claim the profile and track standing.
      - `scorecard_url` string, uri
      - `methodology_url` string, uri
      - `monitoring` object: The VMScore Vendor Pro monitoring offer, included on every response. An offer, not vendor state. Checkout is a browser flow (sign in, then Stripe), not an API call.
        - `price` string, required: Subscription price, e.g. $9.99/month.
        - `what` string, required: What the subscription does: daily DBPR monitoring of the vendor own record with email alerts the moment anything changes.
        - `checkout_url` string, uri, required: Browser checkout link (/api/vendor-pro/checkout). Prompts sign-in when needed.
        - `requires` string, required: Precondition: a free VenuMark vendor account with the DBPR license claimed.
  - `meta` EnvelopeMeta, nullable: Optional response metadata, e.g. {count}. List endpoints are unpaginated and return the full result set. Null when not applicable.
  - `error` unknown, required

## Other responses

- `400`: Missing or invalid query parameter.
- `404`: Resource not found or not owned by the authenticated account.

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/venumark/apis/venumark-read-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/venumark/apis/venumark-read-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/venumark/apis/venumark-read-api/revisions/3bd019092f9c?raw)