Home › Ideas › A paid-listing directory for one industry's software
A paid-listing directory for one industry's software
Build a website that lists and compares software for one industry, and sell featured spots to the makers.
01The idea
What you'd build
Pick one industry, like dental clinics, wedding planners or restaurants. Build a website that lists and compares the software they use: booking, billing, marketing. Your AI collects public facts and keeps them fresh. Software makers pay for a faster review or a featured spot, always labeled Sponsored.
Why now: Small businesses now use more software than ever, and general review sites are crowded with ads.
02Demand
Is anyone asking for this?
An idea is only worth your time if real people want it. Here's what we found.
- One founder's directory of software alternatives made about $6,000 in one month from ads, featured listings and affiliate links. $3,500 of that came back every month.
- That directory charges $197 a month for a featured listing and $97 for a faster review. It costs about $50–100 a month to run.
- Smaller directories charge $19–49 for a listing or a 30-day featured spot.
03The gap
Why isn't this solved already?
Big review sites cover all software for everyone, are full of ads, and are hard to trust. Owners in one industry rarely find a simple, up-to-date list made just for them.
04The pain point
What hurts, and when
A clinic or shop owner who needs new software faces dozens of options, sales calls and unclear prices. They want a short, honest comparison for their kind of business.
😣 When it hurts: When their old software gets too expensive or stops fitting, or they open a new location.
05Who needs this
The person you'd build for
- 👤Who they are
- Owners in one industry choosing software, and the software makers who want to reach them.
- 🧰What they use today
- Big general review sites, sales calls, and asking peers.
- 📍Where to find them
- Google searches like "best booking software for dental clinics", industry groups and newsletters.
- 💳Why they'd pay
- Readers use it free. Makers pay for featured spots: one directory charges $197 a month.
06AI score
How much AI can do
🤖 AI does
- Builds the tool, the pages and the listing
- Runs checks and fixes problems
- Writes posts, emails and replies for you to check
- Turns your numbers into a weekly note
🙋 You do
- Make the accounts and pass ID checks
- Approve what AI makes
- Post, send and talk to buyers
- Handle the money, tax and decisions
AI can also prepare the selling and marketing work: posts, emails and replies. But a person has to do it: post, send and talk to buyers.
How hard is it? Medium.
07Your AI
What to have your AI do
Use any AI assistant you like. One paid plan (~$20 a month) is usually enough. Here's what to have it do:
Search the web for people asking for this, and list who already sells it and their weak spots.
Write the tool step by step, test it, and explain anything you need to do by hand.
Write your website, store listing and help pages in plain words, with no income claims.
Draft posts, emails and replies. You edit them, then post and send them yourself.
Keep your FAQ and refund rules in one saved chat or project, so every reply follows them.
Re-run the tests, check for changes, and turn your weekly numbers into a short note.
08Tools
The other tools you'll need
Your AI plus a few everyday tools. Costs are estimates.
The main AI engine to run your business
~$0–20 a month (estimate)Your own web address, like yourname.com
~$10–15 a year (estimate)Puts your directory online
~$5–10 a month (estimate)Stores every listing and its 'last checked' date
Free planTakes payments for featured spots
~3–5% of each payment (estimate)The 'Submit your tool' form
Free planShows search engines your pages and how people find you
FreeThe playbook
How to do it, step by step: proof, where to find buyers, the money math, and a prompt for each step.
09Proof
Has anyone made money from this?
🔒 Sections 09–17 are locked
Read the full playbook
10Marketing
Where to find buyers, and a 7-day launch
11Risks
What could go wrong, and what to do
12Your time
How much of your week it takes
13Setup
Step by step, with your AI
14Budget
What it costs
15Money math
Low, middle and high (estimates)
16Stop rule
When to stop
17Prompt pack
Copy the prompt. Paste it into your AI.
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This report is based on outside sources and our own research. All numbers are estimates. It is not financial advice. Results depend on you, and no income is promised.