I built an independent CPA review comparison site while working a 9-5

Like many of you, I am currently working full time. On the side, I built Atlas CPA Index — a site that compares CPA exam review courses across all 55 U.S. jurisdictions.

The CPA review market is dominated by a handful of companies with massive ad budgets. If you Google "best CPA review course," every result is either an affiliate blog ranking whoever pays the most or the companies themselves. There's no independent way to compare courses based on how you actually learn.

Atlas breaks down every major provider by learning style, budget, flexibility, study time, and support level. No sponsored rankings. The site also tracks state-by-state licensing requirements, which is relevant right now because 28 states are rewriting their education rules to address the accounting talent shortage.

I launched February 11, 2026. The site has 201 pages of content, covers all 55 jurisdictions (50 states + 5 territories), and I've built it entirely solo. Revenue is $0 so far — affiliate partnerships are in progress.

Built with Next.js, Tailwind, and Framer Motion. Happy to answer questions about the build, the niche, or what it's like running a content-heavy side project while working full-time!