Start a Niche SaaS and Tools Directory

People search: “software directory website business” (500+ per month)

Build the comparison directory for software in one vertical, earning affiliate commissions and paid placements from the vendors listed.

⚡ Faster with AI: the platform's AI can do the heavy lifting on this idea (content, plan, pages, outreach), so it comes to life quicker than building it all by hand.

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Difficulty

Intermediate

Startup cost

$100 to $1,000

Time to first $

90 to 180 days

Revenue potential

High

Profit margin

85 to 95 percent

Viability

7.2 / 10

Search demand

Low (500+ per month)

Where it runs

Online

Best for: Software-literate writers who know one industry's workflows

The opening

Why this idea is overlooked

SaaS affiliate programs pay 20 to 30 percent recurring, and 'best X software for Y industry' searches convert at buying intent; one vertical done deeply beats the giant review sites' shallow coverage.

The roadmap

How to start, step by step

  1. 1

    Pick one vertical's software stack

    'Software for therapists' or 'tools for landscaping companies' is winnable; competing with G2 across all software is not. Industry knowledge is your moat.

  2. 2

    Map every tool in the niche

    List 50 to 100 relevant tools with categories, pricing, and integrations. Completeness within the niche is what makes you the reference.

  3. 3

    Write comparisons from real trials

    Sign up for free tiers, take your own screenshots, and document setup friction honestly. Depth on 20 tools beats thin summaries of 100.

  4. 4

    Target buying-intent searches

    'Best EMR for solo therapists' and 'X vs Y' pages convert because searchers are choosing, not browsing. These pages are the revenue engine.

  5. 5

    Join the affiliate programs

    Most SaaS vendors pay 20 to 30 percent recurring or $50 to $200 per signup. Recurring programs compound; a referral this year pays again next year.

  6. 6

    Sell placement once you rank

    Vendors pay for featured spots, category sponsorships, and newsletter mentions once your pages rank. Label sponsorships clearly; trust is the asset.

Prove it to yourself

Run the numbers on this idea

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Your first move

Pick one industry's software stack (tools for landscapers, for churches, for therapists), review everything hands-on, and rank for the comparison searches.

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