Building a business directory website like Justdial is a powerful digital business idea in 2026. With increasing local searches like “best salon near me” or “top dentist in Pune,” a directory platform can generate leads, ads revenue, and subscription income.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to build a business directory website like Justdial using a direct website builder, step by step.

🔎 What Is a Business Directory Website?

A business directory website is a platform where:

• Businesses create profiles

• Users search by category & location

• Customers view reviews & ratings

• Leads are generated through calls, forms, or chat

Examples include:

• Yelp

• IndiaMART

But today, you don’t need to code everything from scratch. A direct website builder can help you launch faster.

🚀 Step-by-Step Guide to Build a Directory Website

Step 1️⃣: Choose the Right Direct Website Builder

If you want a quick and scalable solution, you can use:

• WordPress + Directory Theme

• SaaS-based directory builder

• No-code platforms

• Custom Laravel/React builder (for advanced version)

For startups, WordPress is the most popular direct  app website builder because:

• Easy setup

• SEO-friendly

• Large plugin ecosystem

• Low development cost

Step 2️⃣: Buy Domain & Hosting

Choose:

• Brandable domain name

• Fast hosting (VPS or Cloud recommended)

Example:

• yourcitydirectory.com

• topbusinesshub.in

Install WordPress using one-click setup.

Step 3️⃣: Install a Directory Theme

Use themes like:

• ListingPro

• MyListing

• GeoDirectory compatible themes

These themes already include:

• Search filters

• Category system

• Location-based listings

• Review system

• Business dashboard

This reduces development time drastically.

Step 4️⃣: Add Core Features (Must-Have)

👤 User Panel

• Registration/Login

• Advanced Search Filters

• Ratings & Reviews

• Favorites

• Contact form

🏢 Business Owner Panel

• Add Listing

• Upload Images

• Manage Leads

• Upgrade Plan

⚙ Admin Panel

• Approve Listings

• Manage Categories

• Subscription Plans

• Advertisement Settings

• Reports & Analytics

Step 5️⃣: Add “Direct Website Builder” Functionality

If you want businesses to create their own mini websites inside your directory:

Add features like:

• Custom business landing page

• Drag-and-drop section builder

• Logo upload

• Gallery section

• Contact forms

• Social media links

This increases monetization because you can charge for premium listing with website builder access.

Step 6️⃣: Enable Monetization

Directory platforms make money through:

• Featured Listings

• Subscription Plans (Monthly/Yearly)

• Pay Per Lead

• Banner Ads

• Sponsored Posts

You can integrate:

• Razorpay

• Stripe

• PayPal

Step 7️⃣: Add SEO Optimization

To rank like Justdial, you need:

• City-based landing pages

• Category pages (e.g., /salon-in-mumbai/)

• SEO meta tags

• Schema markup

• Fast loading speed

• Mobile responsive design

Example keyword strategy:

• Business directory website

• Local business listing platform

• Direct website builder for businesses

• Justdial clone website

• City business directory

Step 8️⃣: Add Advanced Features (2026 Ready)

• AI-based search suggestion

• Google Maps integration

• WhatsApp chat button

• Voice search

• Push notifications

• Multi-language support