llms.txt for small business: what it is and how to write one

By CoreTxt · Updated October 9, 2026

llms.txt is a proposed plain-text file, placed at yourdomain.com/llms.txt, that gives AI tools a short, readable summary of your business and links to your most important pages. It is cheap to add and harmless, but no AI company has promised that it improves your visibility.

What llms.txt is

The idea was proposed in 2024 and is described at llmstxt.org. Instead of making an AI tool read through your menus, scripts and pop-ups, you offer a clean summary written in Markdown, with links to the pages that matter.

What it will not do

It is not a ranking switch. Major AI providers have not committed to relying on it, and it does not replace good pages, consistent business details or mentions on other sites. Treat it as a small, low-risk addition.

What goes in the file

• A heading with your business name.
• A one- or two-sentence summary of what you do and who you serve, starting with a line that begins with >.
• Short sections of links to your key pages, each with a one-line description.

A simple example

# Riverside Family Dental

> Family dental practice in Austin, Texas offering cleanings, fillings, crowns and emergency visits. Contact: hello@example.com

## Services
- [Cleanings and exams](https://example.com/cleanings/): What a routine visit includes
- [Emergency dentist](https://example.com/emergency/): Same-day appointments

## About
- [Our team](https://example.com/team/): Dentists and credentials
- [Contact](https://example.com/contact/): Hours, address and phone

The business above is fictional. You can see a real file at coretxt.cc/llms.txt.

How to add it

1. Write the file as plain text and name it llms.txt.
2. Upload it to the root of your site so it opens at https://yourdomain.com/llms.txt.
3. Open that address in a browser to check it loads as text and not as a web page or an error.
4. Update it when your services or pages change.

Common mistakes

• Leaving the file empty, or serving an error page at that address.
• Linking to pages that are blocked, redirected or no longer exist.
• Stuffing it with keywords instead of clear descriptions.

Next, see the AI visibility checklist for the bigger items that matter more than this file.