Lead the Local Business Community in Your Community
You've spent years connecting people, serving families, communicating vision, and building relationships. If you are bi-vocational, you also understand the marketplace firsthand. Those experiences may uniquely prepare you to build and lead a Local Business Business Directory in your community.
Community Business Directory Network is looking for leadership-minded leaders who want to help connect Business Owners + Community Organizations + Local Business Consumers while building an income-producing local Business Directory.
$997 Annual Platform Fee • Keep 100% of Your Local Directory Listing Revenue
Your Leadership Experience May Have Prepared You for Something You Never Expected
If you've served people in leadership, you've probably spent years doing things like:
Those are many of the same skills needed to build a strong local business community.
You don't necessarily need to become a better salesperson.
You need to become a better connector.
We're Not Primarily Looking for Salespeople. We're Looking for Local Business Leaders Who Know How to Connect People.
If You're Bi-Vocational, You Already Live in Two Worlds
Bi-vocational community leaders understand something many people do not. You understand THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION and THE MARKETPLACE.
You may preach on Sunday and work on Monday.
You may lead a congregation while also:
- You know community leaders.
- You know working people.
- You know business owners.
- You understand leadership.
- You understand financial pressure.
- You understand work schedules.
- You understand customers.
- You understand what it means to provide for a family.
- You understand both calling and responsibility.
That combination can make bi-vocational community leaders exceptionally strong Local Business Marketplace Connectors.
I Grew Up Watching Bi-Vocational Leadership
My father was a community leader.
But community leadering the community organization did not provide everything our family needed financially. So he worked. My dad was a flight instructor and taught students how to fly airplanes. He also drove a school bus.
At the same time, he community leadered people. He preached. He cared for families. He served his congregation. He did whatever was necessary to provide for his family while remaining purposeful to leadership. That was normal to me.
Throughout my own life in leadership, I have been bi-vocational as well.
I understand what it means to love leadership while also needing to earn income outside the community organization. Bi-vocational leadership can actually prepare someone exceptionally well for business leadership.
You understand community leaders. But you also understand the working world.
You understand community organization members. But you also understand customers, employees, schedules, bills, work, business owners, and everyday financial responsibility. You live in both worlds.
That is one of the reasons I believe community leaders, former community leaders, retired community leaders, and especially bi-vocational community leaders could become some of the strongest Community Directory Owners in the Community Business Directory Network.
Joseph Cutler
CEO, Community Business Directory Network
Working Outside the Community Organization Does Not Make You Less of a Community Leader
For generations, community leaders have worked outside the community organization to provide for their families. They have:
There is dignity in honest work.
Being bi-vocational does not diminish leadership. In many cases, it strengthens a community leader's ability to relate to the people they serve.
You know what Monday morning feels like. You know financial pressure. You know workplace challenges. You know customers. You know bosses. You know schedules. You know fatigue.
You know what everyday working families experience. That experience matters.
You May Already Have What Money Cannot Buy: Relationships
Many leadership leaders already know:
Bi-vocational community leaders often have an even larger network because they have relationships through both leadership and work.
You may already know the first 25 people you need.
You may simply have never looked at those relationships as the foundation of a local business community.
You Don't Have to Start From Zero. You May Already Know the Beginning of Your Network.
More Than a Directory
A Community Directory begins as a simple local resource: helping business owners discover locally owned businesses. But the opportunity can become much greater. The Community Directory can help:
Build the Local Business Hub for Your Community.
The Directory Is the Platform. The Relationships Are the Leadership.
The website gives businesses a place to be found. The relationships make the directory valuable. As the local Community Directory Owner, your four-part mission is:
CONNECT
Identify local businesses and help people meet one another.
PROMOTE
Help locally owned businesses gain visibility throughout the community.
ENCOURAGE
Encourage entrepreneurs as they navigate the challenges of business, leadership, purpose, and family.
GROW
Grow the directory, its audience, its relationships, and its recurring revenue.
CONNECT. PROMOTE. ENCOURAGE. GROW.
Become the Person Who Knows the Local Business Community
Imagine becoming the person in your community who can say:
“Yes. Let Me Connect You.”
That is the role of a Local Business Marketplace Connector. Over time, your directory becomes the resource community leaders, consumers, businesses, and community leaders think about when they need a connection.
You Can Help Connect Two Communities That Already Need Each Other
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
LOCAL BUSINESS BUSINESSES
Community Organizations regularly need:
local business owners often want opportunities to serve community organizations and Local Business families. The directory helps connect them.
Community Organizations Need Businesses. Businesses Want to Serve Their Communities. You Can Help Them Find One Another.
Many of the Skills You Need Were Learned in Leadership
Relationship Building
You already know how to connect with people.
Communicating Vision
Community Leaders help people understand why something matters.
Follow-Up
Leadership teaches you to stay connected.
Community Building
You know how to help people belong.
Encouragement
Entrepreneurs need encouragement too.
Listening
Strong leadership and strong business relationships both begin with listening.
Trust
Years of serving can create credibility that advertising cannot purchase.
Leadership
You know how to take an idea and help people participate in it.
Your Other Job May Have Quietly Been Preparing You for This
Your work outside leadership has likely introduced you to:
What may have seemed like “another job” may have actually been expanding your marketplace network for years.
You Don't Have to Become a Salesperson
Some leadership leaders may immediately think: “I don't want to sell advertising.” That is not how we want you to think about this opportunity.
Don't begin with
“Would you like to buy an advertisement?”
Begin with
“We're building a Business Directory for our city so business owners can easily discover locally owned businesses. We'd love to have your company represented.”
You are inviting someone into a community. The paid listing provides legitimate marketing value. But the relationship comes first.
Don't Sell a Listing. Invite Them Into the Community.
Don't Build the Whole Community Today
Find Your First 25 Local Businesses.
Then teach every participating business owner to answer:
“Who are two or three other local business owners you know who should be part of this?”
The first 25 become the foundation of the next 50. Then 50 can become 100. The community grows through relationships.
Don't Just Contact Community Organizations. Build Partnerships.
Introducing the Community Business Directory Network Community Organization Partner. A community organization can help make its congregation aware that the Business Directory exists. The goal is not primarily to sell the community organization something.
The directory owner can provide:
- Directory website link
- QR code
- Community Organization bulletin wording
- Email copy
- Website button
- Social media graphics
- Business submission link
Suggested community leader conversation
“Community Leader, we're building a Business Directory for our city so believers have a simple way to discover locally owned businesses. We'd love for your community organization to become a Community Organization Partner and simply help make your congregation aware that this resource exists.”
A Community Organization Partner relationship does not imply endorsement of every listed business.
What Happens When Business Owners Start Helping One Another?
Don't ask first
“Who Can Send Me Business?”
Ask
“Who Can I Help Today?”
A strong local business community is not built around everyone asking for business. It is built around people intentionally helping one another. The Community Directory Owner helps create that culture.
Don't Just Advertise Businesses. Tell Their Stories.
Every business has a person behind it. Create weekly Local Business Spotlights using simple questions:
Introduce Your Community to the People Behind the Businesses.
Become a Voice for Local Business in Your Community
Simple 5–10 minute interviews with local business owners.
Questions to Ask
Tell us about your business. Why did you start it? How does your purpose influence your work? What lesson has business taught you? How can people connect with you?
Where to Share
Directory, Facebook, YouTube, email, business social pages, and community groups.
Over time, the Directory Owner becomes known as someone who champions Local Business entrepreneurs.
Bring the Online Community Together in Person
Connecting Business Owners in your community — a simple one-hour structure:
- 15 MinutesNetworking
- 10 MinutesIntroductions
- 10 MinutesFeatured Business
- 10 MinutesMarketplace Encouragement
- 10 MinutesReferrals & Connections
- 5 MinutesEncouragement
No complicated conference. No expensive production. Just people building relationships. For community leaders and leadership leaders, facilitating this type of gathering may already feel natural.
Business Leadership Happens Monday Through Saturday Too
Local Business entrepreneurs carry responsibilities many people never see. They deal with:
You do not need to become everyone's community leader. But you can become:
A connector. An encourager. A relationship builder. A promoter. A friend to Local Business entrepreneurs.
For bi-vocational community leaders especially, these conversations may come naturally because you understand many of the same pressures.
Your Leadership Role May Have Changed. Your Ability to Serve Hasn't.
Maybe you community leadered for 30 years. Maybe you recently stepped away from community organization leadership. Maybe you're retired. Maybe you're between leadership assignments.
You still have:
Those gifts still matter. You may not want to community leader another community organization. But you may love building and encouraging the local business community in your community. Your leadership experience is not wasted. It may have prepared you for your next assignment.
Community Leader, Your Work Outside the Community Organization Was Never Something to Be Ashamed Of
Maybe you have worked throughout your entire leadership. Maybe you preached Sunday and went to work Monday. Maybe you worked nights. Maybe you ran a company. Maybe you taught. Maybe you drove. Maybe you sold. Maybe you worked construction. Maybe you served customers all week and your congregation on weekends.
You did what was necessary. You provided for your family. You served your community organization. And through those years, you learned things that can now become incredibly valuable. You learned:
You Understand Both Leadership and Marketplace. That Is a Powerful Combination.
Purpose and Income Do Not Have to Be Enemies
Bi-vocational community leaders understand this perhaps better than anyone. There is nothing wrong with earning money through honest work. Providing for your family matters. The Community Directory is also a legitimate local business opportunity.
$997
Annual Platform Fee
Community Directory Owners receive 100% of the listing revenue generated by their own directory.
BASIC LISTING
- Free
- Always included
FEATURED LISTING
- $49 One Time — first 25 businesses (Founders Launch)
- $49 Per Year after the Founders Launch closes
These are recommended listing prices. This is not guaranteed income. Actual results depend on owner effort, market, pricing, participation, promotion, relationships, follow-up, retention, and other business factors.
What Could a Growing Directory Look Like?
100 Businesses
Average $125 annual listing revenue
$12,500
Annual Listing Revenue
250 Businesses
Average $125 annual listing revenue
$31,250
Annual Listing Revenue
500 Businesses
Average $125 annual listing revenue
$62,500
Annual Listing Revenue
The vision is bigger than revenue.
Imagine knowing 100 local business owners. Then 250. Then 500.
Imagine those businesses referring each other. Imagine community organizations using the directory.
Imagine Local Business entrepreneurs gathering together.
Imagine becoming the person helping connect that community.
This Is a Relationship Business
This opportunity is not designed for someone who wants to buy a website and wait for money to appear. Successful owners will:
But that is exactly why community leaders and leadership leaders may have an advantage. You've already spent years doing relationship-driven work.
Build Something Meaningful in Your Community That Can Also Produce Ongoing Income.
Consistency Can Matter More Than Full-Time Hours
5
BUSINESSES
Contact five local business owners.
3
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
Contact or strengthen relationships with three community organizations.
2
CONNECTIONS
Introduce two business owners who may be able to help one another.
1
SPOTLIGHT
Feature one local business.
5 Businesses. 3 Community Organizations. 2 Connections. 1 Spotlight. Every Week.
This gives busy community leaders, bi-vocational leaders, retirees, and leadership professionals a simple weekly rhythm.
You Build the Relationships. Community Business Directory Network Provides the Platform.
Your Primary Responsibility: Build Relationships and Build the Community.
You Will Not Be Left to Figure This Out Alone
Owners log in and go through step-by-step interactive training.
Training Includes
- Directory setup
- Your First 25
- Business outreach
- Follow-up
- Community Organization partnerships
- 5–3–2–1 weekly activity
- Business referrals
- Business Spotlights
- Local Business interviews
- Local Business Coffee
- Long-term growth
Owners Can Track
- Training progress
- Business prospects
- Community Organization relationships
- Weekly activities
- Marketplace connections
- Milestones
Owners can request help when needed. Community Business Directory Network leadership can also monitor owner progress and help identify people who may need additional encouragement or coaching.
We Don't Simply Want to Sell You a Directory. We Want to Help You Build It.
Your First 90-Day Mission
Days 1–30 — Foundation
- Complete directory setup
- Build First 25 prospect list
- Begin business outreach
- Begin community leader outreach
- Add first businesses
- Publish first Business Spotlight
- Establish social presence
Days 31–60 — Community
- Continue adding businesses
- Build community organization relationships
- Publish weekly Spotlights
- Make business introductions
- Record first local business interview
- Plan first Local Business Coffee
Days 61–90 — Momentum
- Work toward 75–100 businesses
- Host first gathering
- Develop Business Ambassadors
- Continue community organization outreach
- Build referral relationships
- Establish consistent weekly activity
These are recommended activity goals, not guaranteed results.
Could You Be the Right Person for Your Community?
You Don't Have to Choose Between Leadership and Marketplace. You May Be Uniquely Equipped for Both.
The Local Business Community Already Exists. It May Simply Be Disconnected.
Your community probably already has:
They attend different community organizations. They work in different industries. Many never meet one another.
Consumers may not know where to find them. Community Leaders may not know who they are.
Your job is not necessarily to create a local business community from nothing.
Your Job Is to Help Connect the Community That Is Already There.
What If Leadership-Minded Leaders Helped Build Local Business Communities Across America?
Each one helping build the local business community in their city: Connecting businesses. Building Community Organization Partners. Promoting entrepreneurs. Creating referrals. Hosting gatherings. Encouraging local business owners. Growing a sustainable directory.
BUSINESS OWNERS IN BUSINESS CITY DIRECTORY NETWORK — ONE CITY. ONE MARKETPLACE CONNECTOR. ONE CONNECTED LOCAL BUSINESS BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
From One Leadership Leader to Another
For most of my life, I have been involved in leadership.
I grew up watching my father community leader while also teaching people how to fly airplanes and driving a school bus to help provide for our family. I have lived the bi-vocational life myself.
So I understand that leadership and work do not always fit into neat little categories. Sometimes the very work we thought was simply helping us make ends meet is also teaching us lessons, introducing us to people, and preparing us for something we did not yet understand.
That's how I see this opportunity. local business owners throughout our communities need visibility. They need relationships. They need referrals. They need encouragement.
Community Organizations need local businesses. Local Business consumers want easier ways to discover locally owned companies. And someone needs to help connect all of those people.
I believe community leaders and leadership leaders are uniquely equipped for that role. And I believe bi-vocational community leaders may be especially equipped because they understand both leadership and everyday working life.
You know the community organization. You know the marketplace. You know people. You know relationships. You know what it means to serve. Maybe those experiences have prepared you for this.
If you have a heart for your community and would like to build something meaningful that can also generate additional income, I invite you to explore becoming the business owners in Business Community Directory Owner for your community.
Your community already has local business owners. Maybe you're the person who can help bring them together.
Joseph Cutler
CEO, Community Business Directory Network
Frequently Asked Questions
See If Your Community Is Available
Tell us where you serve. We'll check availability, then invite you to complete a short application. Submitting this form is not a purchase and does not imply approval.
Your Community Already Has Business Owners.
Maybe You're the Person Who Can Bring Them Together.
You already understand people. You understand leadership. You understand relationships.
And if you are bi-vocational, you understand the marketplace too.
Connect local businesses. Help community organizations discover them. Encourage entrepreneurs. Create referrals. Build community. Serve your community.
And build an income-producing local Business Directory at the same time.
$997 Annually — Keep 100% of Your Local Directory Listing Revenue
ONE CITY. ONE MARKETPLACE CONNECTOR. ONE CONNECTED LOCAL BUSINESS BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
The Directory Is the Platform. The Relationships Are the Leadership.
CONNECT. PROMOTE. ENCOURAGE. GROW.