§1What this business is
A local online directory: people search for a service (plumber, electrician, tiffin, printing, bank, post office) and find contacts and details. Service providers pay a monthly membership for better listing, and businesses buy banner ads and deal slots. A basic version can be built in 5–7 weeks.
Capacity: At full capacity ₹16.80 L a year: 100 Gold members at ₹600 a month, 250 Silver members at ₹250 a month, 10 banner ads at ₹1,000 and 10 deal listings at ₹750 a month.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A local, well-connected person who can sign up shops and service providers door to door.
Who it is not for
Someone who wants passive online income without field sales.
Advantages
- Very low investment
- Every town needs a trusted list of local services
- Monthly memberships give recurring income
- Can grow into bookings and deals
Drawbacks
- Big search and directory apps already exist
- Listings go out of date fast
- Selling paid memberships takes constant field work
- Small income in early years
Skills you need
- Field sales to small businesses
- Keeping data accurate
- Basic app and website management
- Local marketing
Why difficulty 2/5: Cheap to start; the work is in selling memberships and keeping data fresh.
§3Market
Who buys
- Local service providers paying for listings
- Shops and businesses buying ads
- Residents searching for services (free users)
How it sells
- Android and iOS app and website
- Door-to-door sign-up of service providers
Good to know
- The profile allows bulk registrations, for example a batch of 60 students.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Portal / app building | 1 | ₹60,000 |
| Computers with hardware and software | 2 | ₹54,000 |
| Office setup | 1 | ₹45,000 |
| Routers, cables and telephone | 1 | ₹3,000 |
From: SIDBI Stand-Up Mitra project profile — E Directory for Utilities and Service (2018) — private guide — confirm locally
- Internet connection₹700 a month
- Portal maintenance (AMC)₹500 a month
- Google Play Store charges₹1,000 a month in the profile
From: SIDBI Stand-Up Mitra project profile — E Directory for Utilities and Service (2018) — private guide — confirm locally
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST registration once turnover crosses the threshold
- Shops and Establishments registration for the office
- Privacy policy and consent for listed contact data
§6Schemes & subsidies
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
MUDRA (Shishu/Kishore) suits this ₹3.8 L project; PMEGP also covers small service units; CGTMSE for a collateral-free loan.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Portal ₹60,000 + 2 computers, network and office setup ₹1.02 L + working-capital margin for 3 months ₹2.20 L = ₹3.82 L (₹3,81,600).
Working capital: Running cost ₹73,200 a month (salaries ₹55,000, rent ₹10,000, the rest internet, app store, power and promotion); 3 months = ₹2.20 L.
Prices from 2018 — machinery, material and salary figures will be higher now.
§8Export potential
A local digital service; it has no goods to export.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Low member renewals
- Competition from national apps
- Wrong listings hurting trust
- Data privacy complaints
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working local services e-directory app unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, GST registration once turnover crosses the threshold), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Local Services E-Directory App?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.