8 Online Directory Success Stories [2024]
Starting an online directory can be an accessible and rewarding venture.
An online directory is essentially a digital catalogue where businesses or services are listed in an organized manner, making it easier for users to find what they need. Think of it as a modern-day Yellow Pages, but more interactive and targeted. You create a platform where businesses pay to be listed, and consumers come to discover the best services or products in their area.
The appeal here lies in the recurring revenue model. Each listing offers a potential subscription fee. They may pay monthly or annually to appear in your directory. It's a scalable business, requiring diligent effort to build and maintain the directory, promote it, and ensure it’s user-friendly.
If you have a knack for organization and enjoy connecting people with the services and products they seek, an online directory could be an ideal business for you.
In this list, you'll find real-world online directory success stories and very profitable examples of starting a online directory that makes money.
1. OnlineJobs ($12M/year)
John Jonas, a programmer and accidental entrepreneur, came up with the idea for OnlineJobs.ph when he hired two Filipino workers to help with his online business and realized their incredible work ethic and competence. After experiencing the life-changing benefits of outsourcing, he decided to create a marketplace where business owners could find top-tier virtual workers from the Philippines, ultimately helping them create more time and freedom for themselves. Since its launch in 2009, OnlineJobs.ph has grown exponentially and has revolutionized the way entrepreneurs build and grow their businesses.
How much money it makes: $12M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 38
OnlineJobs.ph founder John Jonas shares how his accidental business idea turned into a fluke success, as he realized outsourcing to the Philippines could help people achieve their ultimate business goal: creating more time and freedom for themselves.
2. DeepBench Inc. ($1.2M/year)
The co-founders of DeepBench, Yishi, Derek, Devin, and Nikhil, met while studying at MIT and realized the need for a better, more efficient expert network. They saw that existing networks were slow, expensive, and disjointed, and believed that technology could solve these problems. By automating the expert-finding process and prioritizing user interface, security, and transparency, DeepBench has attracted over 450 clients and facilitated nearly 2,000 consultations.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How many people on the team: 8
DeepBench, a company disrupting the expert network industry, offers a platform connecting clients with expert advisors for informed decision making, serving over 450 clients and 25,000 advisors and achieving their best quarter yet in Q1 2021.
3. Franchise UK ($600K/year)
Joel Bissitt, founder of Franchise UK, had always dreamt of being an entrepreneur. Drawing inspiration from UK business icons like Richard Branson and Alan Sugar, he started the business at the age of 19 with just £1000 of funding. Through his expertise in SEO and a user-friendly website design, Franchise UK has experienced rapid growth, achieving a 50% increase in turnover last year and attracting some of the world's largest brands.
How much money it makes: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 5
Franchise UK is the UK’s largest franchise directory helping franchise businesses to grow by generating quality franchisee recruitment leads online, with a 50% increase in turnover last year and big plans to further expand in different directions over the coming years.
4. Panda Wish ($90K/year)
Mohammed Khonizi came up with the idea for Panda Wish after struggling to book a massage while traveling in the Philippines. He saw the need for a platform that would make it easier for clients to request beauty and spa services, while also helping massage therapists earn a good income. After conducting market research and piloting the app in Naga City, it quickly gained traction and attracted hundreds of therapists and clients.
How much money it makes: $90K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
How many people on the team: 1
Panda Wish, an on-demand beauty and wellness platform, built by Mohammed Khonizi, a Wayne State University MBA graduate, earned over $7.5k per month, following its successful pilot in the Philippines in 2019.
5. Assure Shift ($69.6K/year)
Debendra Prasad noticed how fake and unprofessional moving companies plagued the industry, so he founded AssureShift in 2017 to offer verified, reliable movers. Today, AssureShift has a network of 700-800 packers and has served over 50,000 customers across India, generating $250K annually.
How much money it makes: $69.6K/year
How much did it cost to start: $9.7K
How many people on the team: 14
AssureShift founder Debendra Prasad shares insights on building a successful web development and digital marketing company that offers a lucrative online moving companies directory, currently serving over 50,000 customers across approximately 23 cities and a yearly revenue of around 1 Cr ($250K).
6. Book A Magician ($28.8K/year)
Rory, a seasoned TV magic writer, conceived Book A Magician after struggling to find quality magician websites. He spent $1,500 on the domain and now lists 103 magicians globally, aiming to revolutionize how people book magic acts online.
How much money it makes: $28.8K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.7K
How many people on the team: 0
Discover the case study of a TV comedy writer turned entrepreneur who launched Book A Magician, an online directory of professional magicians, which has gained 103 magicians from countries worldwide in just three months and secured the number one spot in Google search rankings for "book a magician" in the USA.
7. Shaadivaale ($24K/year)
Shaadivaale was founded in 2018 by an entrepreneur who had a difficult time finding suitable vendors for their own wedding. Recognizing the need for a platform where clients and vendors could easily connect, they launched Shaadivaale to help people find wedding vendors and to support vendors in growing their businesses. Since its inception, Shaadivaale has gained over 500 registered vendors and has seen success in terms of sales and customer retention.
How much money it makes: $24K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 5
Shaadivaale is a successful wedding planning service in India, started in 2018 as a side business with a job, which now has over 500 vendors registered and plans to get into offline and real luxe wedding planning while staying true to their vision of providing a platform for clients and vendors to find each other.
8. Summerfield's Toys ($19.9K/year)
Matthew Fiore, a senior in high school and passionate LEGO lover, came up with the idea for his business, Summerfield's Toys, when he realized that he could turn his love for LEGO into a profitable venture. After starting with selling LEGO Minifigures from his own collection, he expanded to reselling LEGO sets and individual bricks, leveraging platforms like eBay and BrickLink to attract customers worldwide. With a focus on customer service and a growing network of distribution channels, Matthew's business has seen exponential growth, making $1.6k per month and paving the way for a promising future.
How much money it makes: $19.9K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2.5K
How many people on the team: 0
A high school student turned his love for LEGO into a $1.6k/month business, Summerfield's Toys, by reselling sets online through eBay, BrickLink, and Facebook Marketplace, in addition to buying and reselling brand new sets.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
