💡 How to Start a Job Board Business (Even If You Can't Code)
You don't need to hire a developer either.
👋 Hey, I’m Casandra. I share research-backed business ideas to help you start and grow a business. This is a 🔒 Premium Edition 🔒 of Really Good Business Ideas.
How we work is constantly evolving, and with it, so is how people find jobs. Job boards are more than just online listings; they're platforms that connect people with opportunities.
If you're passionate about helping others find their dream jobs and building a successful business, creating your own job board might be the perfect venture for you.
Table of Contents
The Opportunity 💰
The US had 8.2 million job openings in June 2024. That’s a lot, but they don’t all get filled. Only 5.3 million people were hired during the same timeframe.1
Over the last 18 months, from January 2023 to June 2024, the percentage of roles filled ranged from 59 to 72%. This means 28 to 41% of roles are not being filled.
As the saying goes, good people are hard to find. Most job openings attract many applicants, but companies usually look for someone who fits a specific profile, which can make finding the right applicant like looking for a needle in a haystack. This is especially true if companies limit themselves to advertising roles only on their own websites or in their own physical space.
Many great candidates may not know about the company or be checking their openings regularly. Third-party job board websites can solve this problem by helping companies reach specific audiences they might not otherwise have access to.
Who Is This Opportunity Good For? 🎯
Is a job board business right for you? You might want to consider it if any of the following is true.
Someone who wants a web business.
A job board business can typically be run from anywhere, completely online. You won’t need to invest in physical space or products or spend much face-to-face time with employees or customers.
Someone with a strong network in a specific industry.
The more established you are in your industry or niche, the easier it will be to kickstart a job board business by tapping into your existing network for both applicants and listings.
Someone who already has a business audience.
If you already have an audience of potential job applicants, you’re in a great position to launch a job board. For example, if you write a design blog, it will be much easier to get your first paid listings since you already have an established audience of designers who may need jobs. This means you can monetize from day one.