One codebase.Four things to launch.

Before you pick one

Which type of directory is easiest to start with?

A local business directory in one trade and one metro area. The listings already exist in the world, so you are not waiting on submissions to have a catalogue worth visiting, and owners have an obvious reason to pay you: the leads land in their inbox. A SaaS or AI tools directory is a harder cold start because the value only appears once the catalogue is broad enough to be worth browsing.

Can one codebase really run a directory and an online store?

Yes — the vertical is a config value, not a fork. A directory and a store both need listings or products with custom attributes, categories, search with filters, payments, moderation and an admin panel. Those are the same components. Switching between them changes the schema, the copy and which screens are switched on, not the foundations underneath.

Do I need to know how to code to launch one?

You need to be able to run a few terminal commands and paste API keys into a config file. Everything past that — categories, pricing, theme, copy, the vertical itself — is edited in config files or in the admin panel. Buyers who would rather not touch any of it can hand the repo to Claude Code or Cursor and describe the niche, or take the Custom plan and have it set up for them.

What does it cost to run once it is live?

A domain, roughly $10–15 a year. Hosting is free on Vercel at normal traffic, and the database, email and payment accounts you need — Supabase, Resend and Stripe — all have free tiers that cover an early-stage directory. The boilerplate itself is a one-time purchase with no recurring fee.

How is this different from a no-code directory builder?

You own the code and the database. A hosted builder keeps your listings in its system, charges monthly, and stops you at whatever its templates allow — which usually means no custom listing schema and no programmatic SEO pages. Here the source is yours, the data sits in your own Supabase project, and there is no plan to outgrow.

Can I build more than one directory with a single licence?

Yes. Every plan is an unlimited-site licence, so you can launch as many directories or stores as you like with no per-site fee. The Custom plan adds a done-for-you setup that launches one of them for you.