What is an Online Directory and why is it important in 2023

A directory website is an online platform that serves as a comprehensive and organized repository of information about businesses, services, or products within a specific industry or niche.

By providing users with a convenient and centralized source of information, directory websites help them make informed decisions when searching for products, services, or businesses that cater to their needs.

In the digital age, where consumers rely heavily on the internet to find solutions and gather information, directory websites play a critical role in connecting businesses with their target audience.

These websites not only make it easier for users to discover and compare offerings from various businesses but also help businesses increase their online visibility, generate leads, and improve their credibility.

With the ever-growing competition in the online space, having a well-designed and user-friendly directory website is essential for standing out and providing value to both users and businesses.

Using WordPress Custom Post Types, and Advanced Custom Fields in creating directory websites

If you ask WordPress-centered Facebook Groups and Subreddits what the best way to build a directory website is, the majority will answer to avoid built-for-purpose plugins and build it with CPT UI (Custom Post Type) and ACF (Advanced Custom Fields).

These are very capable plugins used by millions of users, however, when it comes to developing a directory website using WordPress, Custom Post Types, and the Advanced Custom Fields, the process can be challenging, frustrating, and with a lot of hidden costs.

These tools, while popular and widely used, often require a steep learning curve for developers in order to achieve complexity and can result in suboptimal performance and limited options.

Let me show you why.

15 Challenges in Achieving Desired Features with Custom Post Types and ACF When Building a Directory Website:

1. Create a Front-End Submit Listing Form for Adding and Editing Listings with payments and listing expiration.

while with ACF you can easily create a form on the front end of your website to add or edit content, make it accept payments, offer extra features for paid listings vs free listings, allow for subscriptions (recurring payments), and so on will be a lot harder to accomplish.

If you are a hardcore developer who prefers to create DIY solutions, the only way would be to custom-code all extra features.

This would result in weeks of work (months if it is the first time taking on a similar task).

Otherwise, this can be accomplished by adding extra paid plugins.

For example, the pro version of the Frontend Admin plugin would provide front-end user registration, paid listing submission, and editing.

For a single site, this plugin would add $90/year to your budget.

2. Distinguishing Premium Listings from Free Listings

If you want to sell premium listings, while having also free listings, you must differentiate the two and add value to the paid option.

The best option you have is to create a “submit listing” form for each listing type and add extra features to the premium listings in the form of extra custom fields.

For example, the free listing could have only the listing Name, Address, Phone number, and 1 picture.

While the premium listings would have more details like a web address, social media accounts, more pictures, a longer text description, a contact form, and so on.

In addition, the premium listings should be visually different, for example showing a “FEATURED” badge, or a different layout.

This is not particularly difficult to accomplish, still, it is relatively time-consuming.

What is not as easy, would be providing extra visibility to the Premium Listings as opposed to the free listings.

For example, making premium listings always rank on top of category archive pages.

For that, you need to master WP queries and or SQL.

3. Managing Listing Subscriptions, Failed Recurring Payments, and Listings Expirations

What do you do If a listing owner doesn’t renew a listing by paying again?

Or in the case where you set up a subscription with a recurring payment, and the listing owner cancels the subscription, or his payment method is declined?

You definitely don’t want the listing to remain active or to get the perks of a premium listing without paying, right?

You must set up a system to either downgrade the listing or make it expire and change its status to unpublished.

All this will require custom code and to develop something like that, you need good knowledge of payment gateways APIs, and especially IPNs (instant payment notifications).

You also need to know how to set up a CRON job, how to alter post statuses, and how to turn a premium listing into a free listing, possibly without losing the extra data.

4. Developing a Map with Multiple Pins.

Plotting locations on a Google Map using Advanced Custom Fields and a little javascript, is relatively easy.

The first step is to GeoCode the addresses of each listing, and we will talk more about that in point 6 of this list.

What is not easy is plotting a lot of locations. Especially if you are passing more than just a listing title to the map to show on the Map Markers when clicked.

If you start trying to show more than a few hundred listings on a map (less if the server isn’t top-notch), the map will load extremely slowly or even freeze.

The only solution is to asynchronously load the locations and also the information (AJAX).

Doing that is a lot harder than putting up a map with a few markers, and will take a lot more time to accomplish even for a seasoned developer.

The more listings you have the more complex your solution needs to be.

First, you will hit the maximum AJAX response size of the browser, then you need to load details of single listings via AJAX, then you will need clustering and even server-side clustering which can show millions of listings.

Building a system that gathers the Map Markers in clusters for a high amount of listings becomes imperative when dealing with a vast number of listings.

Hitting these limits on a live site, because your site got some publicity is not something you want or can fix overnight

Building this kind of system comes with another huge set of challenges.

Achieving that requires a lot of coding experience.

5. Integrating a Dynamic Contact Form to the Listings

Integrating a unique contact form for each listing, which allows website visitors to contact the business owner directly, can present several challenges.

The complexity of dynamic form generation, data management, customization and consistency, spam prevention, compatibility issues, performance concerns, and ongoing maintenance and updates.

Despite these difficulties, implementing this feature can greatly enhance the website’s functionality and improve communication between visitors and business owners.

There is no plugin available that provides this functionality out of the box.

Significant custom coding is required to implement such a feature in a WordPress directory built using Custom Post Types and Advanced Custom Fields.

6. GeoCoding listings and Searching by Proximity

To create a search by proximity feature, you first need to GeoCode the address of each listing.

GeoCoding means getting the longitude and latitude coordinates from the address.

This can be done through the Google Maps GeoCoding API, there are several tutorials online and it’s not a very complex task, however, it takes time.

There is a plugin that can help get started, but it’s not been updated in over 4 years: https://wordpress.org/plugins/address-geocoder/

Once you have all your listings GeoCoded, you have what you need to search by proximity, but achieving that feature requires good WP-Query/SQL knowledge and custom code.

Another option would be to use FacetWP, a premium search plugin that starts at $99/year for 1 to 3 websites.

7. GeoLocating Users and Displaying Nearby Listings

This can be done automatically (you’ll need Trusted IP Geolocation Data).

Or, by using the Google GeoLocation API, by asking users to share their browser location.

The first option is more user-friendly but less precise. The IP address rarely returns a 100% correct address.

The second option will return the user’s location with much higher precision but only works with the user’s authorization.

Both options will require custom coding as there is no plugin that will automate all this.

In addition, having the user’s location is just the starting point.

You still need to query the database and return the listings which are closer to the user location.

8. Automating Listing Claims for Business Owners

One of the easier ways to engage with business owners and get them to pay a premium listing is to add their business to your directory as a free listing and let them claim it.

You can then either contact them directly and let them know about the opportunity, possibly with a free trial.

Or, the other option, which normally tends to have the best outcome, is that they discover their listing on your directory, by themselves.

This way you are showing them on the spot that you know how to give visibility to your website and become right away, 10x more attractive to them.

For the second option to be possible, you need to have a Claim Listing system in place.

A claim listing system is a feature implemented in directory websites that allows business owners to take ownership of their business listing on the platform.

This system is designed to ensure that the information displayed on the directory website is accurate, up-to-date, and managed by the authorized business owner or representative.

To claim a listing, business owners must follow a verification process set by the directory website, which may involve providing proof of identity or business ownership, such as a business license, tax identification number, or utility bill.

Once the claim is approved, the business owner gains control over the listing and can update the information, add photos, respond to reviews, or promote their business using premium features offered by the directory website.

For a tiny directory with a few listings, you may set this up with a contact form and a manual process.

If you wish to add some automation, a lot of custom coding need to go into this feature. Especially if you want business owners to pay to upgrade their listing as part of the claim process.

There is no plugin that will do this out of the box for Directories built with CPT and ACF.

9. Showing Business Hours and Search Filtering by Availability

with the Advanced Custom Fields plugin, you can create repeater fields for the opening hours of each listing.

You’ll need to create a dropdown field with the hour values and then use PHP to format it properly for display or calculations.

If you want minute-specific time, you’ll need to use a number field.

Searching by “Open now” or “Closed now”, especially if you have to take into consideration Timezones for the calculation, is only possible with custom queries and code.

Another big challenge is caching this information without disrupting the open/closed status of the listings.

This requires JavaScript skills to have the Open /Closed change live on the page.

It goes without saying that there is no ready-made plugin that will help you accomplish this feature for a CPT and ACF listing.

10. Adding Ratings, Reviews, and Sorting Listings by Top Rated

Adding ratings and reviews to a custom post type, using the comments system is relatively easy.

There are free and premium plugins that will help you do that, and you may even find tutorials on how to achieve it without a plugin.

Sorting listings by popularity or top ratings is a bit more complex and will require some custom code and knowledge of the WP_Query class and possibly SQL.

Also, when working on this, you soon realize a simple best rating ordering is a poor ranking factor and it requires more complex ranking queries.

Especially if you decide to build custom database tables because, with all these fields, you will quickly notice that ACF is not scalable at all.

But more on this in the next point.

11. Searching Listings by Custom Fields or Location

This is where this approach will fail miserably at scale.

The wp_postmeta database table (custom fields) isn’t designed for querying posts by custom fields.

Filtering by anything more than 1 custom field can result in an exponential increase in query times and even a small directory would struggle with filtering more than two custom fields.

For those looking for a technical explanation, you can read this post about ACF scalability limits.

Unless you are dealing with a few hundred listings with a low number of custom fields each, even when using a fantastic search plugin like FacetWP, you will hit a wall quite quickly.

The better your server, the longer it will take you to hit that wall, but eventually, you’ll get there.

There are plugins that save ACF data in custom database tables like: https://hookturn.io/downloads/acf-custom-database-tables/, but it is an extra cost and you will need to write a custom query for your search form to search into the new database tables.

12. Implementing Free and Paid Trials for Business Owners

Offering trial options for easier onboarding is an effective way to encourage business owners to explore the features and benefits of a directory website.

By providing free or discounted access to premium features, business owners can experience the value of the platform without making an immediate financial commitment.

This approach helps reduce the barriers to entry and fosters trust between the directory website and potential customers.

As business owners become familiar with the platform and witness its potential to increase their online visibility, generate leads, and improve their reputation, they are more likely to convert from trial users to paying customers.

That said, offering a free or paid trial might not be as simple. If you go the develop-from-scratch route, this will add days if not weeks of custom coding to your project and budget.

13. Adding Events and Searching by Date

Events are listings with more statuses than the usual listings, which depend on a start date and end date. Events can be Past, upcoming, or ongoing.

You will need yet another custom post type and more complex search queries.

There are several plugins that will add a full Event Calendar to your website, but the style will be completely different from your listings built with CPT/ACF combo.

If you decide to build this too with CPT/ACF, your development time just doubled.

14. Creating a Compare Listings Feature

The benefits of allowing users to compare listings on a directory website are numerous.

By enabling users to easily evaluate different businesses or services side by side, a comparison feature can help them make more informed decisions.

This feature allows users to quickly identify key differences, such as pricing, features, ratings, or proximity, and choose the most suitable option based on their needs and preferences.

Implementing a compare listings feature using custom post types and Advanced Custom Fields can be challenging and time-consuming.

The difficulty stems from the need to create a system that dynamically generates a side-by-side comparison of the chosen listings, taking into account various custom fields and attributes.

Additionally, the comparison interface must be designed to be user-friendly, visually appealing, and responsive to different screen sizes and devices.

The amount of time required to implement a compare listings feature depends on several factors, such as the complexity of the listings, the number of custom fields to be compared, and the developer’s expertise with Custom Post Types and Advanced Custom Fields.

However, it is not uncommon for this process to take several weeks of development and testing to ensure a smooth and functional user experience.

15. Adding a Booking System for vacation rentals

This would be a really complex task with CPT and ACF alone. It would require months of custom coding.

There are a few free plugins that will allow us to take bookings for one property, but in this case, we would need to take bookings for several properties, each owned by different people.

We couldn’t find a premium plugin that would allow multivendor bookings, with a global search by dates, custom fields (Swimming Pool, WiFi, parking), and number of people.

GeoDirectory now is the only solution offering a complete booking plugin for vacation rentals, which allows building a complete Airbnb Clone where the Directory Admin can make money through a commission for each booking secured.

Conclusions

While it is indeed possible to build a fully-fledged business directory using Custom Post Types and Advanced Custom Fields, this approach could take months or even years of custom coding to implement all the required features.

An alternative solution is to use ACF-compatible plugins, which can help streamline certain aspects of development.

However, this approach may require installing an array of plugins from different developers, many of which are not free, leading to potential compatibility issues and increased costs.

For example, if you were to use:

• Frontend Admin: $49.99/year
• FactWP: $99/year
• ACF Custom Database Tables: $149/year

You are already at almost $300/year and you only covered a tiny fraction of the features needed.

A more efficient and cost-effective option is to use a dedicated WordPress business directory plugin, such as GeoDirectory.

By choosing this route, you benefit from a suite of features designed specifically for directory websites, all developed by a single developer.

The plugins are typically lightweight, minimizing performance concerns, and offering a more cohesive and superior application tailored to the purpose of building a directory website.

By opting for a solution like GeoDirectory, you save both time and money, enabling you to create a powerful and user-friendly directory website without the challenges and complexities associated with custom coding and managing multiple plugins.

Did you know that 80% of all job searches were done online as of 2022, and approximately 50% came from job boards?

As the job market becomes more competitive, job seekers and recruiters alike need to be able to find and manage job postings quickly and efficiently.

In response to this growing need, many job board plugins have been developed to help streamline the job-hunting process. 

That’s why in this article, we’ll explore some of the top job board plugins available for WordPress.

Whether you are a job seeker or a recruiter, these plugins can help simplify the job search process and make it easier for you to find the perfect match. 

Ready? Let’s go.

What is a WordPress Job Board Plugin?

A WordPress job board plugin is a plugin that allows you to publish available jobs from your own company or other companies through WordPress. 

These plugins are specifically designed for recruitment and job boards.

Companies and organizations often use them to streamline their hiring process and attract qualified candidates.

Why should you use a job board plugin?

Job plugins are essential components of any job management system.

They provide additional functionalities to simplify job creation, execution, and monitoring processes. Here are some reasons why job plugins are essential:

• Simplify the job search process: Job plugins enable job seekers to find relevant job postings quickly and easily. By offering a centralized location with advanced search capabilities, people can search for open positions without navigating through multiple websites or job boards.
• Job plugins provide customizable job management options, such as the ability to add custom fields to job postings, create custom job application forms, and use custom email templates. These customizations can help you collect relevant information from job seekers, make informed hiring decisions, and build strong relationships with potential candidates.
• Saving time and money: Using a job plugin on your WordPress website means you don’t have to spend extra money on another website for job postings. It also saves you time by eliminating the need to find a third-party job board site.
• Drive traffic to your website: Having a job board on your website can increase its traffic. Indeed, for instance, has averaged more than 600 million monthly visits so far this year.

Criteria to consider when choosing a job board plugin

When selecting job plugins, there are various criteria to consider. Here are some of the most important ones:

1. User interface: Look for a job board plugin that is easy to navigate and use, with an intuitive user interface that is easy to understand.
2. Customization options: Consider a job board plugin that offers customization options to meet your specific needs, such as the ability to add custom fields or create custom job application forms.
3. Compatibility: Ensure that the job board plugin is compatible with your version of WordPress, as well as with any other plugins, themes, or tools you may be using, like an applicant tracking system or email marketing software.
4. Features and functionality: Evaluate the features and functionality of the job board plugin, such as the ability to manage job listings, applicant profiles, and notifications. Consider whether the job board plugin provides the necessary features for your organization’s hiring needs.
5. Reliability: The plugin should be reliable and stable. An unstable plugin or bug can cause issues with your job management system, such as job failures or data corruption. Check the plugin’s documentation, user reviews, and support resources to ensure reliability.
6. Price: Evaluate the cost of the job board plugin, considering both upfront and ongoing costs, and whether it provides value for your organization’s budget.

1.   GeoDirectory

With over 10,000 installations and a 4.7 average rating, the GeoDirectory job board plugin from AyeCode Ltd is one of the most advanced and scalable tools on the market.

This plugin has undergone a complete rewrite in April 2019, resulting in an even more feature-rich solution that’s easier to customize with an improved code base.

Designed to seamlessly integrate with any free or paid job board theme, this plugin makes it easy to create a professional-looking website that will help you attract more job seekers and employers.

If you’re looking for a powerful and versatile job board plugin, here are some of the features that make it stand out as one of the top choices in the industry:

Key Features

• Job listing management: Easily manage all of your job listings in one place, including adding new listings, editing existing ones, and deleting expired listings.
• Paid Job Listings: Monetize Job Listing submissions by offering more features such as extra custom fields, more visibility and priority in search results.
• Custom fields: Create custom fields to collect additional job-specific information from employers, such as required education, experience, and skills.
• Advanced search: Job seekers can easily find the right job with advanced search options, such as location, job type, salary range, and more.
• SEO optimization: Optimize your job board for search engines with built-in SEO features, including custom URLs, meta tags, and more.
• User management: With seamless integration of UsersWP, easily manage job seekers and employers with user registration, login, and account management features.
• Listing comparison: The plugin includes a Compare Listing add-on, which allows job seekers to compare job listings side by side, making it easier for them to make informed decisions and find the best job opportunities.

Pricing

The GeoDirectory core plugin is free and can be more than enough to develop a basic Job Board.

To add extra features like Advanced Search, Job Types, and compare jobs, there are various pricing plans.

The membership starts at $99 including 4 months of support and updates for unlimited websites.

The yearly membership instead costs $199 and includes support for unlimited sites and all features for 12 months.

Pros

• Powerful search and filtering options make it easy for users to find the needed listings.
• User reviews and ratings provide valuable feedback and enhance the user experience.
• Google Maps integration provides accurate location information and maps for job listings.
• The active development community provides frequent updates and support.

Cons

• The learning curve can be steep for WordPress beginners.
• Some features may require additional plugins, which can increase costs.

2.   WP Job Manager

WP Job Manager is a WordPress job board plugin developed by Automattic.

With just a few steps – creating new pages and adding shortcodes – you can establish a fully functional job portal within minutes.

This plugin enables recruiters to sign up on your website and post job openings, while job seekers can effortlessly manage their listings via an intuitive dashboard.

Moreover, WP Job Manager offers the opportunity to generate revenue through paid job postings using premium add-ons.

Additional add-ons allow for email notifications, seamless integration with WooCommerce for monetization, the inclusion of a resume manager, and more. 

WP Job Manager is best for providing alerts and filterable job listings.

Key features 

• Advanced search and filtering options: The plugin offers a range of search and filtering options that allow users to find jobs based on various criteria, such as location, category, and keywords.
• Resume manager: It offers a resume manager that allows job seekers to upload their resumes and apply for jobs directly through the website.
• Job alerts: WP Job Manager offers job alerts functionality that enables users to receive notifications when new jobs are posted that match their criteria.
• Integrates with a variety of other plugins and tools.
• Easy-to-use dashboard for job listings.

Pricing

WP Job Manager offers a free version with basic features and a range of paid add-ons that provide additional functionality. The pricing for a single personal site is $159 per year, inclusive of all core add-ons.

Pros

• Lightweight and easy to use, making it a popular choice for small businesses and startups.
• Customizable job submission forms enable administrators to collect the information they need from job seekers.
• Advanced search and filtering options make it easy for users to find the jobs they need.
• Resume manager and job alerts functionality enhance the user experience.

Cons

• Some features are only available through paid add-ons, which can increase costs.
• Limited functionality compared to more robust job board plugins.
• Some users have reported issues with support and documentation.

3.   Simple Job Board

Simple Job Board is a shortcode-based job board plugin that enables you to establish a highly adaptable online job board system.

Simply insert the [jobpost] shortcode on your desired location within your website to begin utilizing the plugin.

You can craft distinct application forms for each job vacancy, incorporating multiple-choice options, specifying required fields, and more.

Supporting 14 languages, Simple Job Board is the perfect choice for multilingual websites.

Simple Job Board is best for a multilingual site.

Key Features

• Uses shortcode to add job listings.
• Ability to add notes to applications from the dashboard.
• Ability to add multiple job features to job listings.
• Customizable application forms.

Pricing

The plugin is currently free, but there are several paid add-ons, which are needed to extend the plugin’s features and capabilities.

Pros

• Available in 14 languages.
• Enables you to short out unsuitable applicants quickly.

Cons

• PHP 7.0 and above is required.
• Limited features make the plugin lack advanced features vital for a job board. 

4.   ApplyOnline

Apply Online is a versatile classified ads management plugin that enables users to respond promptly to listings.

With this plugin, effortlessly incorporating a job board into your website and accepting applications becomes a breeze.

Equipped with robust features such as ad categories, filters, customizable application form fields, and email notifications, Apply Online delivers a comprehensive solution.

However, one limitation is its inability to create paid job listing websites.

To overcome this, you can integrate a membership plugin to establish subscription plans or utilize a payment form plugin to accept orders.

Key Features

• Resume parsing: ApplyOnline automatically parses resumes and extracts relevant information, making it easy for employers to review applications.
• Drag and drop form builder.
• Notification system: The plugin notifies employers when new applications are received, making it easy to manage the hiring process.
• Integration with job board plugins: It integrates seamlessly with popular job board plugins such as JobRoller and WP Job Manager.
• Multiple file attachment fields.

Pricing

ApplyOnline offers a range of pricing plans based on the number of sites and features required.

The Premium Pack plan starts at $199 for a license including 6 months of updates and support.

Pros

• Customizable application forms enable employers to collect the information they need from job applicants.
• Resume parsing makes it easy for employers to review applications.
• A notification system makes it easy to manage the hiring process.
• Integration with popular job board plugins provides additional functionality.

Cons

• Limited customization options for templates and design.
• Some users have reported issues with performance and stability.
• Plugin is not compatible with all WordPress themes.
• Limited customer support.

5.   WP Job Openings

WP Job Openings is another good option for incorporating a job board into your WordPress website.

WP Job Openings is a powerful and user-friendly plugin for creating job listing pages on WordPress websites.

It is designed based on a thorough analysis of various job listing layouts and methods, offering simplicity and extensibility as a high-performing recruitment tool.

Key Features

• Simple and easy setup and usage
• Two modern layout options: Grid and List
• Unlimited job specifications and filtering options
• AJAX-powered job listing and filtering
• Default application submission form and HR role setup
• Customizable email notifications and templates
• Job expiry options and SEO-friendly structured data
• WPML support and compatibility with top WordPress themes and plugins

Pricing

The free version of WP Job Openings can be upgraded to a PRO version that cost $69/year for 1 website, $139/year for up to 5 websites, and $399 for unlimited websites.

Pros

• Intuitive design and user-friendly interface
• Extensive customization options
• Regular updates and detailed documentation
• Compatible with many WordPress themes and plugins

Cons

• Premium features require paid add-ons
• Limited to two layout options

The verdict: Which is the best job board plugin?

All in all, if you’re looking for the best job board plugin for your WordPress site, there are plenty of great options available. 

The right job board plugin for you will depend on your website’s needs and requirements.

By considering each plugin’s key features, pricing, pros, and cons, website owners can choose the best plugin for their needs.

However, if you need greater flexibility and a plugin that is more than just a Job Board and that can be used for any kind of listing, GeoDirectory stands out as the clear winner.

With its advanced features and user-friendly interface, the plugin makes it easy to manage job listings, attract top talent, and create a professional-looking job board website. 

So if you want to take your job board to the next level, we highly recommend giving GeoDirectory a try.

Are you looking for ways to make some extra money on the side and maybe grow a side hustle into your main business? You’re not alone.

Escaping the 9-to-5 rat race and managing your own time should be your top priority.

For Stiofan and me, that’s exactly what GeoDirectory was meant to be. It’s a side hustle to earn some extra cash.

I wanted to build an Italian version of “Yelp” on the side while still working with my SEO customers.

This was over a decade ago, when Yelp was starting to launch in major European cities, such as Paris and London.

I knew they would eventually come to Milan and Rome, and they would likely acquire anything that could give them a competitive edge. That was my plan. Build a database of businesses and reviews to sell to Yelp.

Stiofan wanted to rebuild his directory of hotels and B&Bs on the Scottish Island where he comes from.

Coincidentally, we found ourselves working on the same project at the same time – a fully functional Directory Theme for WordPress.

When we met on a forum and realized we could complete the task faster as a team, we started working together.

Once we finished the theme, we realized that many people would want to use what we created, so we started selling it publicly.

Business picked up quickly. I never even started building my Yelp clone, and Stiofan only puts in a few hours of work each year on his Barra Island Directory.

GeoDirectory has become a solid business that has not only sustained both our families since then but also grown into a team of twelve which is still expanding.

In summary, GeoDirectory started as a side hustle but has grown into a solid business, proving that making a little extra money on the side can lead to big things.

Opportunities like this are still out there, for those willing to take a shot.

WordPress now is a behemoth and with some very basic skills and some hard work, you could start making money working with it today.

Whether you want to supplement your income, make it a full-time thing, or just have a little fun, here are 15 great side hustles you can start today!

We’ll also discuss what skills are needed for each one, how difficult it is to get started, and recommend tools that make getting paid easy. So let’s dive in!

1. Blog Marketing

• Skills needed: Writing proficiency + Basic SEO
• Difficulty: Low/Medium
• Tools needed: WordPress hosting + domain, AdSense account (or any other ads network)

If you’ve got a knack for writing, blogging is one of the best side hustles to get started on WordPress.

You can start your own blog by picking a niche that interests you, writing high-quality content regularly, and using search engine optimization (SEO) practices to get more people to visit your website.

Some great free resources for learning the basics of SEO include Search Engine Journal, Matt Diggity’s videos, and the SEMrush blog.

Once you start generating solid monthly traffic, you can monetize this organic audience with ads, affiliate links, and sponsored posts, which is how most bloggers make the vast majority of their income.

With a plugin like GetPaid, you can sell text and image ads on your WordPress site based on the number of impressions, clicks, or by time on your website.

You can pick zones on your site to display these ads:

Alternatively, you can leverage your writing talents to help other people market their blogs.

45% of marketers say blogging is the #1 most important piece of their content strategy.

So, if you have a good handle on what works in terms of writing and SEO, you can start doing freelance blog marketing for small businesses.

2. Affiliate Marketing

• Skills needed: Writing proficiency, basic SEO, sales and marketing knowledge
• Difficulty: Low/Medium
• Tools needed: WordPress hosting + domain, online merchant accounts.

From 2015 to 2023, google searches for “Affiliate Marketing” more than doubled. Why? Because it’s an effective way to make money.

All you have to do is create content about products and services that you already love and promote them through your blog.

Every time someone clicks on one of your links and makes a purchase, you will earn a commission from the sale.

1. Find a niche that you are passionate about, and that has a large audience.
2. Research and partner with reputable affiliate programs that align with your niche.
3. Create valuable content that promotes the products or services you are affiliated with.
4. Utilize multiple marketing channels such as social media, email marketing, and influencer partnerships.
5. Track your performance and adjust your strategy accordingly.
6. Be transparent and disclose your affiliate relationships to your audience.
7. Continuously educate yourself on industry developments and new marketing techniques.

3. Web Directories

• Skill needed: Writing proficiency + Basic SEO
• Difficulty: Low/Medium
• Tools needed: WordPress hosting, GeoDirectory, GetPaid

Sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Angie’s List are great for finding reputable services or businesses.

But did you know you can start your own directory on WordPress?

With a plugin like our GeoDirectory, you can easily create an online directory with custom categories, ratings, and reviews.

Once your directory is set up, the next step is to start getting paid.

Here’s how you can make money with a directory:

1. Charge a fee for businesses to claim their listing in your directory.
2. Offer memberships that include premium features, such as featured listings, priority support, and discounts on products or services.
3. You can also sell text and image ads in different zones of your directory site.

With the GetPaid plugin, you can easily add payment gateways for listings and other premium features.

What would my online directory be about?

Your online directory could be about anything that you are passionate about and knowledgeable about. Here are a few ideas:

• Restaurants, bars, and cafes in your local area
• Local attractions or activities
• Shopping services or stores
• Home service providers like plumbers and electricians
• Real Estate
• Software
• Medical services

For example, Coast Radar is a directory website that acts as a guide to the best beaches and coastlines in the UK.

Of course, you’ll also need to market your directory. Here are some of the best ways to do that:

1. Optimize your website for search engines by incorporating relevant keywords and meta tags.
2. Build backlinks to your website from other reputable websites.
3. Utilize social media platforms to promote your directory and engage with your audience.
4. Create valuable content, such as blog posts or videos, that highlights the businesses listed in your directory.
5. Email marketing is a great way to reach out to potential customers and businesses, and a newsletter can help keep your audience engaged and informed about new businesses and updates to the directory. You can use automation tools like Mailchimp to make this process easier.
6. Use paid advertising on social media or Google Ads.
7. Create a referral program to encourage satisfied customers to share their positive experiences with your directory.

Click here for a full Directory SEO Guide.

4. eCommerce: Physical goods

• Skills needed: Writing proficiency, basic SEO, sales
• Difficulty: Medium/High
• Tools needed: WordPress hosting, GetPaid, Products to sell

Want to start selling physical goods online? With WordPress, you can easily set up an eCommerce store in minutes.

First, you’ll need to decide what type of products you want to sell.

Then, you can use the GetPaid plugin to add payment gateways for customers and manage orders.

For example, you can sell individual items or bundles using the “BUY NOW” button, which displays an overlaying payment form.

You can also set up a blog on your site promoting your products. This is an effective way to increase organic search traffic and drive more sales for your store.

Once your store is set up, it’s time to start marketing.

You can use SEO, paid ads, and social media to get the word out about your products.

Additionally, ensure that you provide quality customer service to keep customers coming back.

5. eCommerce: Digital goods

• Skill needed: Writing proficiency, basic SEO
• Difficulty: Medium/High
• Tools needed: WordPress hosting, GetPaid, one or more digital products to sell

Like physical goods, you can also create an eCommerce store for digital products.

Whether you’re selling digital downloads or subscription-based services, GetPaid makes it easy to set up a digital store and start selling.

Start by adding your digital products to the store, then use SEO and paid advertising to drive traffic.

You can also create promotional campaigns for specific products or bundles.

Additionally, you may want to consider setting up an email list to engage with your customers regularly.

6. Copywriting

• Skill needed: Native-level writing proficiency, sales and marketing knowledge, basic SEO, and a good understanding of different social platforms
• Difficulty: High
• Tools needed: WordPress hosting, GetPaid, and copywriting frameworks

Copywriting is a great way to make money online, and for many, it can be a lucrative side hustle.

Copywriters write the marketing material for advertising campaigns, websites, emails, landing pages, and other marketing materials.

It’s essential to have native-level language proficiency and a solid grasp of search engine optimization (SEO) to create compelling copy that resonates with the target audience online.

To get started, you can learn with resources like the Kopywriting Kourse, Udemy’s Complete Copywriting Course, or The Copywriter’s Handbook.

Once you’ve become comfortable with the basics, you should set up a portfolio website on WordPress with samples of your work to showcase your skills, along with packages to sell your services using GetPaid’s service retainer feature:

7. Server Management Service

• Skill needed: IT
• Difficulty: High
• Tools needed: WordPress hosting, GetPaid

Companies need server management services for maintenance and upgrades, monitoring and troubleshooting, backup and recovery, compliance, cost-effectiveness, and security.

If you have IT experience, you can start a server management service – which requires advanced knowledge of networking, server hardware, and system administration.

This can be a lucrative side hustle for those with the technical know-how to manage servers.

You can use WordPress hosting to create your website and GetPaid to set up packages for your services.

Ensure that your website includes a portfolio showcasing your previous projects or clients that you’ve worked with.

Additionally, it’s essential to have a good understanding of different social platforms so that you can promote your services and interact with potential clients.

Pro tip (applicable to service-based businesses in this article): When selling a service tailored to specific business needs (as opposed to a standardized plan), you can send clients a custom quote through GetPaid, which they can accept. This will then automatically convert into an invoice. 

8. Security Researcher

• Skill needed: Writing proficiency + IT security
• Difficulty: Very High
• Tools needed: WordPress hosting, GetPaid, vulnerability scanners, malware analysis tools, debugging tools, network analyzers

If you’re passionate about computer science and networks with a background in IT security, then security research could be a great side hustle.

As a security researcher, you’d be responsible for testing the security of applications and systems, identifying vulnerabilities, and recommending solutions to fix them.

You’ll need an understanding of the different types of attack vectors, how to detect and respond to malicious threats, and how to develop secure applications.

9. SEO/SEM Services

• Skills needed: Writing proficiency + SEO/Marketing
• Difficulty: High
• Tools needed: WordPress hosting, GetPaid, Ahrefs, Surfer SEO

If you have a solid understanding of search engines and digital marketing, offering SEO and SEM services can be a profitable side hustle on WordPress.

You can help businesses improve their search engine rankings, drive more traffic to their website, and increase conversions.

One of the best tools for SEO and SEM services is Ahrefs, which allows you to research keywords and backlinks, track organic traffic and competitors, and monitor your own website’s performance.

A tool like Surfer SEO will help you optimize your content based on the keyword and competitor data.

The SEO industry is constantly evolving, so it’s essential to stay current with the latest trends.

You also want a portfolio with a proven track record since the space is known for many self-proclaimed professionals selling empty promises.

10. Web Design

• Skills needed: UI/UX Design
• Difficulty: Medium/High
• Tools needed: WordPress hosting, BLockstrap, Divi or Elementor

Web design is another in-demand side hustle on WordPress.

With a good eye for design and a solid understanding of UI/UX, you can create beautiful and functional websites for businesses, nonprofits, and individuals.

Our newest Blockstrap theme (+ plugin) is free, and you can build any website with it using the Bootstrap framework without writing one line of code.

Alternatively, two popular WordPress page builders are Divi and Elementor, which allow you to create custom designs without writing any code as well.

They also have a library of pre-designed templates that you can customize to fit your client’s needs.

11. Custom Back end Development

• Skills needed: Programming
• Difficulty: High
• Tools needed: WordPress hosting, PHP, MySQL

Do you have strong programming skills? You can offer custom back-end development services on WordPress.

This includes creating custom plugins, integrating with third-party APIs, and optimizing database performance.

To offer this service, you’ll need a solid understanding of PHP and MySQL.

Additionally, you can use tools like the Query Monitor plugin to debug and optimize your custom plugins and functions.

12. Hosting Provider

• Skills needed: IT + Large Capital
• Difficulty: Very High
• Tools needed: Data center infrastructure, cPanel, WHM

If you have a strong background in IT and a significant amount of capital to invest, you can start your own hosting provider business for WordPress.

Being a hosting provider requires a significant investment in data center infrastructure, servers, and networking equipment.

You can offer a range of hosting services, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting.

You will also need to have a good understanding of cPanel and WHM, which are popular control panel software for managing web hosting accounts.

It’s a challenging business, as it requires a substantial investment of time and resources. Still, it can also be a highly profitable venture, given the ongoing demand for web hosting services.

As a hosting provider, you will also need to demonstrate excellent customer service and technical support, as well as a solid understanding of security, to keep your customers’ websites safe and secure.

Additionally, you will have to continuously monitor and upgrade your infrastructure to ensure that your hosting services are always running at optimal performance.

13. Plugins Development and Distribution

• Skills needed: Programming + Basic SEO
• Difficulty: High
• Tools needed: WordPress hosting, GitHub, CodeCanyon

Developing and distributing your own plugins for the biggest open-source content management system in the free world can be pretty lucrative. 

Creating a WordPress plugin requires mastering the art of PHP, JS, and MySQL programming.

PHP is the backbone of WordPress plugin development as it allows interaction with WordPress functions and APIs.

JavaScript and ReactJS, in particular, are becoming increasingly prominent as the new editor is built with them.

MySQL, on the other hand, is used to store and retrieve data for the plugin, such as user information and settings.

You’ll also need a deep understanding of WordPress plugin development guidelines, actions, and filters, as well as best practices, to create a plugin that seamlessly integrates with the platform and provides an excellent user experience.

And if you’re looking to add more advanced features to your plugin, knowing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript will definitely come in handy.

You can distribute your plugins using the Freemium business model using the WordPress.org plugins repository and selling premium add-ons (like we do) using a plugin like GetPaid and its license manager plugin.

Alternatively, you could use a platform like CodeCanyon, a marketplace for commercial WordPress plugins, which allows you to focus on developing and providing support. At the same time, they handle every other aspect of the business for you.

14. Themes Development and Distribution

• Skills needed: Programming + UI/UX Design + Basic SEO
• Difficulty: High
• Tools needed: WordPress hosting, GitHub, ThemeForest

Just as you can develop and distribute your own WordPress plugins, more design-focused and artistic individuals can do the same for WordPress themes to earn a good income. 

To design and develop WordPress themes, you will need a solid understanding of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and MySQL, as well as knowledge of WordPress’s template hierarchy, template tags, and action/filter hooks.

With a keen eye for design and a strong understanding of web design frameworks like Bootstrap or Foundation, you can create beautiful and functional themes that help businesses and individuals enhance their website’s performance and functionality.

You can distribute your themes on WordPress.org or on ThemeForest, which is a marketplace for commercial WordPress themes.

15. Website Maintenance Service

• Skills needed: Basic IT, Programming, and UI/UX Design
• Difficulty: Medium/High
• Tools needed: WordPress hosting, UpdraftPlus, WP-Optimize

Website maintenance is an ongoing task that must be performed to keep a website running smoothly and ensure it remains up-to-date.

If you have skills in IT, programming, and UI/UX design, you can offer website maintenance services on WordPress.

You can use backup tools to make sure that your client’s website is backed up regularly, a security plugin to keep it secure, and caching plugins to keep it fast and efficient.

You can also offer services such as plugin and theme updates, security scans and monitoring, and other performance optimization.

Parting words

Starting a side hustle on WordPress can be a great way to make money while also honing your skills and gaining experience with the platform.

Whether you choose to develop plugins and themes or offer website maintenance services, there is a range of businesses that you can pursue on WordPress.

What are you waiting for? Get started on your WordPress side hustle today!

Good luck, and enjoy the ride!

Most “best WordPress real estate plugin” guides assume you need MLS integration on day one.

The assumption is wrong for the vast majority of operators.

MLS data feeds require an IDX Broker, IDX/Showcase IDX, or Realtyna subscription that costs anywhere from $80 to $300+ per month, on top of MLS board membership fees that vary by region.

The full stack runs $1,500 to $5,000 per year before you list a single property.

For brokers running large teams in competitive US markets, that math works.

For solo agents, international operators, niche real estate businesses (vacation rentals, commercial, land, luxury, off-market deals), and anyone testing whether a website is worth the investment, it does not.

You can launch a real estate website with manually-entered listings, capture leads, build SEO authority, and validate the business model for under $250/year.

When the revenue justifies it, add MLS later.

This post is the honest comparison of seven WordPress real estate listing plugins, the framework for separating MLS-dependent options from standalone setups, and the case for starting lightweight.

The MLS Trap

MLS integration is sold as the killer feature of real estate websites.

The pitch makes intuitive sense: pull in every listing in your market automatically, never type a property detail again, and visitors get a full local inventory to browse.

The hidden costs:

• IDX feed providers (IDX Broker, Showcase IDX, Realtyna, IHOMEFINDER) charge $80-$300/month for the data feed connection
• MLS board membership fees ($300-$1,500 annually per board, depending on region)
• Some MLS boards require co-brokerage agreements before granting feed access
• Display restrictions vary by MLS — some require listings to disappear when the listing agent removes them, others require specific branding
• The full inventory you import competes with your own listings for SEO authority, which can dilute rather than help organic rankings
• You are dependent on the MLS feed staying live (outages happen) and the data structure not changing (it does, periodically)

The agents who actually benefit from MLS integration are the ones with enough volume to absorb the recurring costs and enough team capacity to convert the higher lead flow.

Solo agents, new agents, niche operators, and anyone selling internationally where MLS does not exist (most of Europe, Asia, Latin America) are better served by a plugin that handles manually-entered listings well, with the option to add MLS later when the business case is clear.

What to Look For in a Real Estate Listing Plugin

Beyond MLS integration, the features that separate serious real estate plugins from glorified post-type plugins:

• Front-end listing submission so team agents can add properties without WordPress admin access
• Custom fields per property type (single family, condo, commercial, land, rental)
• Google Maps integration with location-aware search and filtering
• Multi-location support for agents serving multiple markets
• Lead capture forms on every listing tied to your own CRM
• Mortgage calculator, walk score, virtual tour support per listing
• Energy rating compliance (required by law in most of Europe)
• SEO-friendly URLs, schema markup, and indexable category and area pages
• Page builder compatibility (Elementor, Bricks, Beaver Builder, Divi)
• Multilingual support for international markets
• Front-end claim listings workflow if your model includes verified agent profiles
• Performance at scale (a directory of 10,000 listings should not slow your site to a crawl)

A plugin missing more than two or three of these is built for a narrower use case than a serious real estate operator needs.

For the full walkthrough on actually building the site, see our guide to how to build a real estate website.

The Comparison Table

Seven WordPress real estate listing plugins in 2026, sorted by MLS dependency and total annual cost.

Plugin	Starting Price (Year 1)	MLS Required?	Best For
Essential Real Estate	Free	No	Budget builds, beginners
GeoDirectory	Free, or $139/year single site / $229/year unlimited	No	Serious real estate businesses, multi-location, paid listings
Easy Property Listings	Free, or $87 PRO one-time	No (paid MLS via add-ons)	Simple manually-entered listings
Estatik	Free, or $89 PRO / $649 Premium	No (Premium tier adds MLS)	Solo agents who may add MLS later
WPCasa	Free (GitHub), or €149/year Standard	No	Developer-friendly custom builds
Realtyna WPL	Free, paid plans for MLS	Optional (paid)	Agents committed to Realtyna’s ecosystem
IMPress for IDX Broker	Free + IDX Broker subscription ($80+/month)	Yes (the whole point)	US agents with MLS access and budget

Five of these plugins run without MLS dependency.

One has MLS as a paid option in its top tier (Estatik Premium).

One is built specifically for the MLS-via-IDX-Broker use case and assumes you already pay for the underlying feed.

The Plugins, Reviewed

GeoDirectory

GeoDirectory is the free WordPress directory plugin built by our team at AyeCode Ltd, with the dedicated Real Estate Directory add-on that adds real estate-specific features on top of the core.

Active on 10,000+ websites, in continuous development since 2014.

The architectural difference from competitors comes from two specific technical choices.

First, GeoDirectory stores listing data in its own custom database tables (wp_geodir_gd_place_detail and wp_geodir_gd_{cpt-name}_detail for additional listing types) rather than overloading WordPress’s wp_postmeta.

The result is a directory that stays fast at 50,000 listings instead of slowing to a crawl at 5,000 (which is where every wp_postmeta-based competitor hits a performance wall).

Second, GeoDirectory has native compatibility with every major page builder, including deep dynamic data integration with Bricks and Elementor PRO that requires no bridge add-ons.

The free core covers multi-location directories, custom post types for different property categories, Google Maps integration with location-aware search, front-end submission forms, and SEO-friendly indexable archives.

The free Real Estate Directory add-on adds mortgage calculator, energy rating chart (HERS for US, EPC for EU), Walk Score integration, and virtual tour support per listing.

The free Real Estate Listings theme provides a polished default design out of the box.

Optional paid add-ons cover the monetization side: Pricing Manager for paid listing packages, Claim Listings for verified agent workflows, Event Manager for open house calendars, and Reviews Manager for property and agent ratings.

Pricing: $139/year single site or $229/year unlimited sites, with a $115 four-month option and a 30-day refund policy. No lifetime license, by design.

MLS integration is not built into the current core.

An MLS add-on from our team is on the roadmap, priced as a reasonable yearly subscription add-on rather than the recurring monthly subscriptions that define the rest of this category.

For operators who eventually need MLS data feeds, the upgrade path stays affordable instead of adding $80-$300/month to the cost of doing business.

Easy Property Listings

Easy Property Listings is the most beginner-friendly real estate plugin in the WordPress repository.

Free core, with the PRO version at $87 one-time and the full Core Extension Bundle at $297 one-time for the complete add-on set.

The setup wizard walks you through listing types, search forms, and template selection in under 15 minutes.

Built specifically for agents and brokers in markets where MLS data feeds (REAXML, JUPIX) are the standard rather than the US-centric IDX model, with strong adoption in Australia, UK, and parts of Asia.

The trade-off is the underlying architecture: listing data stored in WordPress’s wp_postmeta table, which hits the performance wall mentioned in the GeoDirectory section once your directory exceeds a few thousand listings.

Best for solo agents and small offices with under 1,000 listings who want a one-time-fee solution.

Estatik

Estatik is a mid-market real estate plugin with a clean Elementor-integrated visual builder for property pages.

Free core, $89 PRO, and $649 Premium one-time for the MLS-integrated version with RETS plus RESO Web API support.

The Premium tier is the only legitimate MLS integration option in this list that uses a one-time fee instead of recurring subscriptions, which makes Estatik attractive for agents who need MLS data but want to avoid IDX Broker’s monthly costs.

The catch: MLS board compatibility varies. Confirm Estatik supports your specific MLS before paying for the Premium tier.

HubSpot CRM integration is built in, which is useful for agents already running marketing through HubSpot.

Around 8,000 active installations, 4.3/5 rating.

Essential Real Estate

Essential Real Estate is the most comprehensive completely-free real estate plugin in the WordPress repository.

Includes property listings, custom data fields, Google Maps integration, agent profiles, front-end and back-end customizer, Visual Composer compatibility, and WPML translation support.

Supports global payment integration (PayPal, Stripe, Wire Transfer) and 360-degree virtual tours.

The trade-offs: documentation is translated from a non-English original and shows it, support quality varies, and the learning curve is steep because the feature surface is large.

Best for budget-conscious operators willing to invest setup time in exchange for $0 ongoing cost.

WPCasa

WPCasa is a developer-friendly real estate plugin that was removed from the official WordPress.org repository for guideline violations and now distributes through GitHub.

The plugin itself is still actively maintained.

Free core via GitHub, with Standard at €149 and Developer at €199 for premium themes, add-ons, and support.

WPCasa functions as both a real estate plugin and a theme framework, which gives developers more control but adds complexity for non-developers.

The wp.org removal means you cannot install or update WPCasa through the standard WordPress plugin browser, which adds operational friction over time.

Best for developers and agencies building custom real estate sites for clients.

Realtyna WPL

Realtyna WPL Real Estate is a comprehensive real estate platform built by Realtyna, an MLS integration specialist that also offers full MLS data feed services as part of its ecosystem.

Free core handles unlimited listings, multiple listing types (sale, rent, vacation rental), and basic agent management.

Paid plans add MLS integration through Realtyna’s RETS Listings service, which is sold separately at subscription tiers based on data volume and refresh frequency.

The free version is more functional than most free real estate plugins, but the upgrade path locks you into Realtyna’s broader ecosystem (which is a strength if you want one vendor for everything, a constraint if you prefer modular tools).

Best for US agents who plan to use Realtyna’s MLS data services and want the plugin from the same vendor.

IMPress for IDX Broker

IMPress for IDX Broker is the official WordPress plugin from IDX Broker, the largest IDX data feed provider in the US real estate market.

The plugin itself is free.

It requires an active IDX Broker subscription to function, which runs $80+/month for the basic tier and climbs with feature add-ons (lead management, custom widgets, advanced search).

The IMPress family (formerly separate plugins: IMPress Listings, IMPress Agents) has been consolidated into the single IMPress for IDX Broker plugin.

If your business is built around US MLS data feeds and you already pay for IDX Broker, this is the cleanest integration option.

If you are starting fresh and have not yet committed to the IDX Broker subscription, the MLS-dependent approach is the most expensive path to a working real estate website.

When MLS Integration Actually Matters

The case for MLS integration is real for specific scenarios.

Large brokerage firms in competitive US markets where every comparable agent has MLS-powered search on their site.

Teams with the volume to convert higher lead flow into closed deals (the per-lead value has to exceed the subscription cost, which typically requires 5+ closings per year attributable to MLS-driven traffic).

Operators in jurisdictions where buyers expect to see full market inventory rather than just an agent’s own listings.

For everyone else, MLS is a cost without a corresponding revenue case.

Start without it.

Add it when the business demands it.

The Practical Path

The best real estate listing plugin for most operators is the one that handles real estate as a first-class capability without forcing MLS dependency at launch.

For most operators, that is the free GeoDirectory plugin paired with the free Real Estate Directory add-on and the free Real Estate Listings theme.

Listings, search, maps, mortgage calculator, energy rating, walk score, virtual tour support: all included, all free, all ready on activation.

The paid Membership bundle at $139/year single site or $229/year unlimited sites adds the monetization layer (paid listing packages, claim listings, events, reviews) for less than one month of most IDX Broker subscriptions.

For the step-by-step build walkthrough, see our guide to how to build a real estate website.

For an Elementor-specific build path, see our tutorial on how to create a WordPress real estate listings directory.

For the broader case against SaaS directory platforms across all directory categories, see our best business directory software guide.

Final Thoughts

The real estate plugin market splits cleanly into two camps.

Plugins that assume MLS integration is essential, charge accordingly, and lock you into an ecosystem of recurring subscriptions before you have validated whether the website even produces leads.

Plugins that handle real estate listings well on their own, give you the option to add MLS later when the business case justifies it, and let you keep the difference in your pocket while you grow.

The free GeoDirectory plugin sits squarely in the second camp by design, has been in continuous development since 2014, and stays out of your way as the directory grows from a side project into a real business.

Start without MLS.

Build the asset.

Add MLS only when the revenue makes the recurring cost obvious.