"for the market of local businesses" sounds like awkward AI speak
Show HN: Venturu – Zillow for the market of local businesses
21–30 of 38 posts
Re: Show HN: Venturu – Zillow for the market of local businesses
#22"for the market of local businesses" sounds like awkward AI speak
oof, we spent over 2 hours debating what the title should be.. Zillow for local businesses, A zillow for main street, a Main street marketplace, a Local business zillow... we ended up going to "market of local businesses" because we though "zillow for local businesses" could be misinterpreted as a tool that we offer to local businesses exclusively, rather than a market..
Re: Show HN: Venturu – Zillow for the market of local businesses
#23I wish I could see more info about the businesses like cash and cash equivalents, total debt, and free cash flow over the last 5-10 years broken down by year. Would help me do a quick back of the napkin valuation based on my own goals to decide if I'm interested in taking the next step.
Hi phy! We actually have that level of financial detail for many of our listings from our broker partners. The challenge has been figuring out the best way to present it. putting raw financials out publicly isn't the right move for the sellers. So our next big build is a secure data room. The goal is to use that verified data to create richer, dynamic visualizations and financial summaries that a seller or broker can…
how far are you with creating data summaries ? ideating stage, testing ?
& how are you getting the data / verifying from the businesses that are selling.
Re: Show HN: Venturu – Zillow for the market of local businesses
#24Earlier quoted context omitted.
Hi phy! We actually have that level of financial detail for many of our listings from our broker partners. The challenge has been figuring out the best way to present it. putting raw financials out publicly isn't the right move for the sellers. So our next big build is a secure data room. The goal is to use that verified data to create richer, dynamic visualizations and financial summaries that a seller or broker can…
how far are you with creating data summaries ? ideating stage, testing ? & how are you getting the data / verifying from the businesses that are selling.
hey, thanks for the follow up question dzonga!
To answer your first one, we're past ideation and are actively building the data room now. We have the financial data in-house for a large number of listings, this is about writing the code to present it in a secure and dynamic way.
As for where the data comes from, there are two main paths:
- The vast majority of our listings come from direct partnerships with brokerages. We integrate with their systems to sync their inventory, so the data is professionally vetted before it even gets to us.
- For the smaller number of 'For Sale By Owner' listings, it's a manual process for now. We check and reach out to verify the numbers, and we always connect the owner with a professional broker to help guide them, which adds another layer of validation.
So a good rule of thumb on the platform right now, if you see a broker on the listing, they've vetted thoroughly the data.
It's in our roadmap to automate the process for sell by owner case so that we can hook directly integrate with accounting / tax / hr software and present live numbers.
lots of work to do but making good progress!
Re: Show HN: Venturu – Zillow for the market of local businesses
#25"for the market of local businesses" sounds like awkward AI speak
oof, we spent over 2 hours debating what the title should be.. Zillow for local businesses, A zillow for main street, a Main street marketplace, a Local business zillow... we ended up going to "market of local businesses" because we though "zillow for local businesses" could be misinterpreted as a tool that we offer to local businesses exclusively, rather than a market..
so an ebay of local businesses? :-)
personally, having done these kinds of exercises too many times, i think you're over-committing to the two pillzars of "zillow" & "market". zillow is a kind of market, at least in the elastic zone of marketing associations.
Re: Show HN: Venturu – Zillow for the market of local businesses
#26Site looks nice, best of luck!
I'd be curious just to learn more about who's the typical buyer of brick and mortar local businesses -- not something I've ever thought about
Re: Show HN: Venturu – Zillow for the market of local businesses
#27Earlier quoted context omitted.
oof, we spent over 2 hours debating what the title should be.. Zillow for local businesses, A zillow for main street, a Main street marketplace, a Local business zillow... we ended up going to "market of local businesses" because we though "zillow for local businesses" could be misinterpreted as a tool that we offer to local businesses exclusively, rather than a market..
so an ebay of local businesses? :-) personally, having done these kinds of exercises too many times, i think you're over-committing to the two pillzars of "zillow" & "market". zillow is a kind of market, at least in the elastic zone of marketing associations.
:'-) feedback much appreciated and taken!
Re: Show HN: Venturu – Zillow for the market of local businesses
#28Realtors list these as lease takeovers, franchises like Anytime Fitness have their own buy and sell portals.
Re: Show HN: Venturu – Zillow for the market of local businesses
#29Site looks nice, best of luck! I'd be curious just to learn more about who's the typical buyer of brick and mortar local businesses -- not something I've ever thought about
Thanks mnovak, that’s a really good question and something we’re putting a lot of work on answering accurately.
The buyer landscape is more diverse than most poeple think. It's really a mix of a few key groups:
- There's the classic one, the person who's climbed the corporate ladder, has some capital, and wants to buy back control of their own time.
- Then you have the employee who's ready to be the owner. Think of the head cook who wants to buy a restaurant after working at one for 10 years.
- There's also a new wave, partly driven by social media, of people looking for a "low maintenance" business like a laundromat to create cash flow. They quickly find out that even a 'passive' business is a real job, but it's a growing trend.
And on the more sophisticated end, you have roll-up funds and private equity groups who see the massive opportunity in that $10 trillion wealth transfer and are looking to professionalize this space.
To us, it’s honestly a mind-bending cross-section of the economy. Thanks for asking!
Re: Show HN: Venturu – Zillow for the market of local businesses
#30Realtors list these as lease takeovers, franchises like Anytime Fitness have their own buy and sell portals.
Hi opengrass! thank you for the comment.
That is true but these are two really distinct parts of the ecosystem.
A realtor is fantastic for the 'where' the lease and the physical space. We're all about the 'what' the actual operating business with its brand and cash flow. It's the difference between taking over a location and buying an income stream.
And yes, big franchises are their own walled gardens but our world / approach is the millions of independent businesses, the local coffee shop, the family-owned auto repair that make up the vast majority of the market.
That's the massive slice that's been left behind by modern tech.