We charge $3 for what JustAnswer charges $50/month — here's how

Hey IH! I am building HelpByExperts (helpbyexperts.com) — an online platform where you can ask verified experts questions for $3 per consultation.

The problem: getting expert advice is absurdly expensive. Plumbers charge $150-$300 to show up. Lawyers charge $200-$500/hour. JustAnswer found a middle ground at $46-$66/month, but that's still expensive if you only need help once or twice.

The insight: most expert consultations don't require a house call. A plumber can diagnose why your toilet is running in 2 minutes through targeted questions. Remove the travel time and overhead, and the economics work at $3.

How it works:

AI assistant (Ava) handles intake and routes your question

Verified expert provides personalized advice via chat

15 categories: plumbing, electrical, career coaching, auto mechanics, legal, and more

100% money-back guarantee

Tech stack: Next.js 14, Supabase, Stripe, OpenAI, Vercel

Current status: 6 verified experts with government-issued credentials, live and taking consultations. The hardest part isn't the code , it's recruiting experts willing to go through real credential verification.

Revenue model: $3/session one-time or $15/month unlimited. Margins work because AI handles all the intake overhead that normally makes consultations expensive.

Would love to hear from other IH founders who have built marketplaces , what was your hardest growth challenge?