# A store locator that costs a few requests, not a few dollars

> A store locator needs three things from a geocoder: coordinates for each store, an address box for the shopper, and a way to turn a phone’s location into a place name. geolith does all three with one API key: geocode your stores once and store the results permanently (allowed on every plan), use /v1/autocomplete for the search box, and /v1/reverse for "use my location". The Free plan includes 100,000 requests a month.

## What is a store locator?

A store locator is a page that finds the shops or branches nearest to a customer: the customer types an address or shares a location, and the page lists stores sorted by distance and shows them on a map. It needs geocoding for the store addresses, autocomplete for the search box and reverse geocoding for “use my location”.

## The request budget

Geocode each store once and save the coordinates in your database. Shoppers then cost one autocomplete call per pause in typing, plus one call when they pick a result. Distance sorting happens in your code with the haversine formula; it needs no API call.

- Stores: one /v1/search per store, once, stored permanently.
- Shopper search: /v1/autocomplete while typing, with boundary.country set.
- "Use my location": one /v1/reverse to show the shopper where they are.
- Map: MapLibre GL JS with any basemap.

## Everything in one guide

The store locator guide builds the whole page with MapLibre and geolith: a search box, a list sorted by distance and markers on a map, in one HTML file.

## Questions

### Can I save store coordinates from geolith in my database?

Yes. Results may be stored permanently on every plan, including Free. Show the OpenStreetMap and Overture attribution on the map or page.

### How many requests does a store locator use?

One per store, once, plus about one or two autocomplete calls per shopper search when you debounce typing. A locator with 200 stores and 30,000 searches a month fits in the Free plan’s 100,000 requests.

## Guides

- https://geolith.app/guides/store-locator-maplibre
- https://geolith.app/guides/address-autocomplete-react

Get a free API key (100,000 requests a month): https://console.geolith.app/signup