Whether it’s local news (EveryBlock), local food (GrubHub) or local deals (Groupon), Chicago has emerged as the leader in producing Internet startups focused on the “hyperlocal” scene. Some recent innovative launches in our city include one focused on community based lost and found (Found In Town) and even local charitable giving (Zealous Good). Maybe it’s because Chicago has such a strong neighborhood “scene” with great diversity and unique identities. MyServista.com (which launched this week) adds to this legacy.
MyServista empowers consumers to share and compare prices for 100s of local services such as child care, guitar classes, maid service, dog grooming and even Feng Shui consulting. While there are many review sites out there, you are still left wondering, "What's it going to cost me?" For the first time, you can compare prices for services just as easily as you can for airline tickets and TVs. The site currently has over 8,000 prices for 230+ services. The site is based on user-generated-content meaning that the community submits prices. The company’s tagline is, “What your neighbor paid.”
It’s easier to find and compare prices for products because they are well defined items with a model or SKU #. But pricing for local services is extremely complex with millions of local businesses having their own definitions and prices that change at the business owner’s whim. MyServista is bringing structure and transparency to this space through its patent-pending algorithms, rich database of services, and a system that allows for easy apples-to-apples comparisons across service providers.
Check out MyServista.com! We hope you become a ‘regular’ and help spread the word. Working together, we can all save money!
