Craigslist dominates the online classified space, but that doesn't rule out opportunities for other websites. Many industries are underserved by the classified market so consider solving the problem by creating a classified site for your industry. Here are a few resources to get you started.
Noah's Classifieds is arguably the leading classified software available. Available in seven languages, it is an ideal solution for those who want to charge for ads or even subscription fees. An SEO benefit is the ability to write systemwide titles, keywords and descriptions and even the ability to write the same for categories and individual ads. A host of administrative and user features makes Noah's a respectable choice for aspiring classified site creators. Those interested in testing the waters can download a free limited version, but the paid enterprise versions ($149.95 and 189.95 for a one or two site license, respectively) is well worth the investment.
ikiClassifieds is a customizable PHP classifieds software that closely resembles craigslist. It is highly configurable and touts the ease of adding custom banners, YouTube videos, Google Maps, or AdSense. ikiClassifieds is PayPal-ready, so users can pay for listings. A multi-city version is available upon request. ikiClassifieds is priced at $290.
Geodesic Solutions has several classified software applications, ranging in price from $199 for the basic version to $799 for an enterprise solution. The software offers a deep feature list including many options for buyers and sellers, security features and site customization abilities. The fee-based features help to distinguish the offers. Site operators can choose to add fees for prioritized listings, bolded listings, added photo fees and category.