Community Website

Startup Costs: $2,000 – $10,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.
Online Operation? Yes

Business Overview

Not all small business owners andprofessionals have the time, ability or inclination to build, maintainand regularly update a website. But at the same time many would stilllike to have some sort of presence on the web.

Therein lies theopportunity for internet-savvy entrepreneurs: Develop, maintain andmarket a community-based website, featuring local news and information,as well as participating businesses and professionals. Each businessthat joins would receive one or more web pages within the site toadvertise, promote and even sell their products and services, alongwith a web address extension, private e-mail, and a host of additionalweb and commerce features. Think of it as a bricks-and-mortar mall, butin virtual space.

You can charge each participating business a monthlyfee membership that includes fixed services, and additional fees forpremium services such as content updating and web tools specific tothat business. Promote the community web site locally with fliers,print advertisements in newspapers and with the use of advertisingspecialties. Offer clients a noncompetition clause to entice them tojoin. This means one car dealer, one roofer, one clothing retailer, onechiropractor and so on. Community websites are truly a win-win-winsituation. Participating businesses win by getting a fully functioningand regularly updated site for a fraction of what it would costindividually. Community residents win by getting news and informationspecific to their area, along with convenient online access to productsand services offered by community businesses. And you win by building asuccessful and profitable business.