Local business network Yelp has opened a suite of new options for firms that provide services in more than one area. Starting Wednesday, owners of service-based businesses who have unlocked their Yelp page will be able to specify up to five major cities that their service area covers.

Say, for instance, that a tow truck business operates out of New York, but also provides services in Newark. Previously, when a frustrated driver whose car had broken down in Newark searched on Yelp for tow truck operators in the city, they would only see Newark-based businesses, but now they could also view our New York-based driver who might be able to help them get out of their unfortunate situation.

This option should prove to help people such as plumbers, mechanics and electricians be found more easily by consumers in need of their services as they will be able to state explicitly how far they will travel and when. The new feature is based on feedback from both business owners and consumers, with the aim of providing a more complete search experience for local businesses.

What do you think of this feature? Do you think it might prove useful?