Rank and rent is a business model where you become a digital landlord by building simple service sites, ranking them on Google, then getting paid for the leads your sites generate. Local lead generation is the best way to do rank and rent because you own your digital real estate properties and you get paid on autopilot after ranking them at the top of the search results.
This article will reveal 5 examples of rank and rent websites that you can base your lead generation websites on. We'll go over my tree care website in Grand Rapids, Dan Klein's pool cleaning site, Jarrett's pressure washing site, Chad's electric site, and an international rank and rent site which proves this business model can work in other countries.
How Does Rank and Rent Work?
Rank and rent works by building simple websites that offer a specific service, ranking it on Google in the market of your choice, sending leads to a local small business in need of more work each month, and getting paid a recurring income every month. You get to dictate what you are going to get paid each month for sending exclusive leads.
The best way to rank local business in local SEO is to first choose a niche and location. Then you can use free tools like Ubersuggest, Google Search Console, or Keywords Everywhere to research search volume and the best keywords. You can also use a third-party software like SEMRush or AHREFS to assess the competition.
With rank and rent, the focus is local rather than national which is why it's easier to rank your service sites. If your tenant decides to stop working with you, you can sell your leads to the competition and continue to generate cash flow because your digital properties are yours.
What Is A Rank and Rent Website?
A rank and rent website is a digital property you create that offers the service of your choice and funnels all leads to the local small business who you choose to work with.
What Are Rank and Rent Website Examples?
1. Grand Rapids Tree Care and EDH Pool Cleaning
In the last 7 years, I have built and ranked over 80 sites and currently have 55 paying business owners. If you're wondering what an Ippei rank and rent site looks like, below is an example of an asset I built following Dan's lead gen training. It is a tree care site that I ranked in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
My Grand Rapids Tree Care site took about 15 hours to build and rank and the overhead costs were around $500. My tree care site has paid me $2000 every month for over 8 years. That's a total of $192,000 with a profit margin of over 95%. In an average month, this site will produce between 30 and 50 leads.
Dan Klein spent almost 18 months testing, failing, and retesting several strategies to create his proven concept. The EDH Pool Cleaning site below is one of the first websites he built. He ranked it at the top of the SERPs and generated a steady influx of high-quality leads without relying on paid traffic ads. The site didn't even have a Google My Business listing. Fast forward to 2023, this digital asset still pays him every month. In an average month, this site will produce anywhere between 40 and 70 leads.
2. Can-B-Clean
Jarrett is one of Dan's students who started his rank and rent business right before the COVID-19 pandemic. He went from a self-employed commercial construction worker and associate pastor in his local church to a $100,000+/year earner.
Jarrett built over 50 websites and paid off his tuition in his first year in the program. One of his lead generation properties is the Can B Clean website that offers pressure washing services in Metairie. In an average month, this site will produce over 35 organic leads.
3. Windward Side Electric
Chad is another local lead generation student. His Windward Side Electric site is his first lead generation property but it brings in a steady stream of leads for his paying client. In an average month, this site will produce over 20 leads per month.
This site has paid him $500 every month for the last 2.5 years. Chad continues to build assets that pay him every month.
4. An Example Of An International Rank and Rent Site
Below is an example of a rank and rent site created by one of our students in Europe. He joined in 2020 and now has over 60 lead generation sites.
This is proof that this business model can be done anywhere you have an internet connection. Some of the over 7000 students in the local lead generation training program are from Australia, South Africa, Europe, and Asia.
What is a Rank and Rent Course?
A rank and rent course is a training that teaches the rank and rent business model. The best way to learn how to create an operational rank and rent site is to take a course that reveals all the necessary steps you must take to make the business work for you. A good rank and rent course is going to teach you each step and provide all the resources and tools to help you avoid common mistakes. There is usually a private community for support.
Nick Wood Rank and Rent: Flat Fee Mastery Review
Flat Fee Mastery by Nick Wood is a free rank and rent training. Nick learned this business model from Dan Klein in 2016 but took things seriously in 2019. There are 8 training modules that breakdown the basics of how this business model works. If you are still interested in this business model, you can join Nick's higher ticket program.
More Info: Flat Fee Mastery Review
Herc Magnus Rank and Rent Club?
Rank and Rent Club by Herc Magnus teaches you how to create 3 and 4 page sites that you build, rank and rent each month. You learn how to leverage PBNs and you learn how to rank your google map listings to increase your lead flow. There are 3 membership levels to choose from but you only learn how to build sites on WordPress.
Price: Rank and Rent Club price is $1,747.
More Info: Rank and Rent Club Review
What is Rank and Rent Club Review?
My Rank and Rent Club review is that although you learn a business model that is more passive than other online business models, Herc's course is lacking in information when it comes to teaching you about the power of sites. One downside of the Rank and Rent Club is that the SEO tools that are provided to you are only made to work with WordPress sites, they don't provide you with any outsourcing services such as link-building or citation creation to help optimize your digital properties.
Mike Martin Rank and Rent: Hybrid Lead Generation Review
The Hybrid Lead Generation course by Mike Martin will teach you the rank and business model. You also learn how to implement paid traffic ads to generate even more leads. Mike teaches you how to run Facebook ads and Google ads. When you join, you access to 13 training modules, a private Facebook group and Mike's CRM software that will help you run your business.
Price: Hybrid Lead Generation is free.
More Info: Hybrid Lead Generation Review
What is Rank and Rent Reddit?
Rank and rent Reddit reviews are mixed and filled with skepticism. This Reddit post highlights the biggest hurdles they see.
They said getting Google Business Profile validation appears illegitimate and selling the service to business owners doesn't appear easy at all. They also said that ranking sites against legitimate businesses must be harder than people make it out to be.
This Reddit comment also comes from a place of skepticism by saying the rank and rent business model is "one of the worst ideas."
It is possible this person didn't try to make this business model work for them. If they did, they would see the benefits it provides instead of judging it.
This next comment is from someone who has made this business work for them because they got their sites to rank in the top 3 of the search results on Google for the main service keyword. They said competition was low, which when this happens makes it easy to rank.
What are the Best Rank and Rent Courses?
The best rank and rent courses are:
- Flat Fee Mastery by Nick Wood
- Rank and Rent Club by Herc Magnus
- Hybrid Lead Generation by Mike Martin
- Udemy Rank and Rent Local Lead Generation: The Complete Guide (Udemy) by Jamie Tsang
These are some of the best rank and rent courses you can learn this business model from, starting with the rank and rent free course by Nick Wood. Even the Udemy rank and rent course might be worth looking into if only to show you how the business model works. Still, the local lead generation training program by Dan Klein is the top recommendation for learning the business model.
What are Rank and Rent Niches?
Rank and rent niches are services you offer with your rank and rent sites. They can be tree care, pool cleaning, plumbing, home remodeling, medical suppliers, etc. The fastest way to get your service sites to rank is to choose a niche that is considered "low-hanging fruit". The more specific you get with your niche and keywords, the easier it is to rank, because competition for those keywords is not as high. For example, ranking for "home improvement" is harder to rank for than if you went after keywords like "residential deck repair" or "bathroom tile installation".
What are the Best Rank and Rent Niches?
The best rank and rent niches to start a rank and rent business are:
- Pressure Washing
- Auto Detailing
- Carpet Cleaning
- Moving
- Photography
- Catering Services
- Accounting
- Appliance Repair
- Pool Cleaning
How Do You Make Money On Rank and Rent?
You make money in rank and rent in many ways, which include:
- Flat Fee
- Pay Per Lead
- Commission Deal
- Arbitrage
- Sell the Website
- Pre-Sell Rank and Rent Websites
~Flat Fee:
You need to research your niche and determine the value of your leads. Then factor in how many leads you generate each month and calculate a flat fee agreeable to both parties.
~Pay Per Lead:
You own the tracking number and website. So you can monitor the quality of the leads. Then you can devise a pay-per-lead based on the duration of the call, the quality, etc. But if you want to make a steady cash flow with your rental site, your goal should be to move over to a flat fee as soon as possible.
~Commission Deal:
You get a percentage of the profit on completed jobs. But you need to trust your business owner. And make sure that you are paid your fair share.
~Arbitrage:
You can start your own company and hire a team to run the operation for those online properties you can't sell.
~Sell The Website:
Once your online property is at the top of the SERPs, it's a valuable asset. And business owners are often happy to pay for that value. Sites typically sell for 12-24X the monthly revenue they generate. So if you can find a buyer, you stand to make a good chunk of change.
~Pre-Sold Rank & Rent Websites:
You can sell your site before you build it if you can get a business owner to agree to a start-up fee (a one-time payment). They don't give you additional money until the leads start coming in. But this way, the business owner has skin in the game. Then, of course, you fund a lot of the upfront expenses.
But they cover the costs for the majority of the build. Of course, you need some savvy sales skills for this suggestion. (Like the ones we teach in our lead generation program). But if you are an expert negotiator. Then this is one of the best ways to make money with the business model.
You have a few choices with selling your leads. The goal is to get the best possible price for your rank and rent site. The local lead generation coaching program helps you make money in each of the ways shown above. You can make money with rank and rent, but it comes down to how you want to make your money and what you feel comfortable doing.
You can make anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars per month with rank and rent depending on the niche you get into and the deal you cut with a business owner. Keep in mind your profit margins are 95% + since you aren't paying for traffic.
How Do You Start A Rank and Rent Business?
The goal of rank and rent is to capitalize on an opportunity. You want to build an online entity that will drive organic traffic. So you need to get your web property to the top of the SERPs. And that's where you'll find the money. Rank and rent sites are about results.
Much like the local lead gen business model, the barometer of success is calculated by the number of calls or contact forms you can generate for small business owners. There are five steps of the business model. And they include the following:
You're looking for a phone-driven business (here's a list of lead generation niches that are some of the top money-makers). Aim for a population between 75,000 to 250,000. So there's a demand for the service without too much competition.
Pro Tip: Niche research is key to profitability. So look for businesses that don't have a website listed in the map section or a lot of reviews.
Use sites like Wikipedia for size and demographics. And third-party tools like ahrefs to check the number of backlinks, citations, etc. Plus, you don't want a ton of paid ads. And you're looking for organic websites that don't have a GBP in the top three of the map pack. (If you need a more detailed analysis of niche selection, you can check out my rank and rent guide).
Once you've decided on your niche and target market, it's time to build your website. Choose a domain name and your hosting platform. When building your site, your call to action (clickable phone number and/or email) needs to be above the fold.
And you should aim for 1000-1500 words on the homepage and 500-1000 for every service page. But remember, Google like high-quality website content. So utilize sites like AnswerThePublic and Google Trends to assess top search queries. Or get ideas for your content.
Pro Tip: Include the same topics found on competitor's sites. Then write more and better content and include lists, FAQs, etc.
And take advantage of a free Google Business Profile (this is your chance to get in the map pack). Verify your listing and fill out every section.
Then add pictures; you can geotag with software like GeoImgr or Geotag Online. And post regular updates and rank your GBP in conjunction with your website to generate even more online traffic.
Pro Tip: Get reviews and publish a Google website.
If you want to get to the top of Google search engines, your rank and rent site needs to have authority. And that includes things like:
On-page optimization using keywords and targeted search queries. You can use tools like Mangools Keyword Checker.
Backlinks-votes that tell Google your site is important. And you can use software like Majestic and SEMRush.
Citations-business listing includes your NAP (name, address, phone number). Leverage tools like Brightlocal and Whitespark.
Pro Tip: You don’t need to be an SEO expert but never buy cheap links from sites like Fiverr; ensure your NAP is consistent.
You own the sites, the leads, and the tracking number. So you can redirect calls and contact forms to your phone and email while your site is ranking. And because you can easily track the volume of leads, you'll know when it's time to start looking for a local business owner.
Pro Tip: Your site doesn't need to be at the top of Google to strike a deal.
By using the leads in advance method we teach our lead gen students. You lead with value. But you're also offering a no-brainer opportunity to a business owner. Because you have a proven concept, they have nothing to lose. And this makes it super easy to sell your rank and rent leads for the best possible price.
The best part of the business model is that you can scale super fast because the focus is on local SEO. And you can build and rank multiple sites simultaneously. (It only takes renting one to start generating a profit).
Pro Tip: Do your due diligence (especially your keyword research). And you can start a digital real estate business and rank your online property at the top search result in as little as six weeks to six months.
How Much Does It Cost To Rank and Rent A Website?
Each rank and rent website costs about $500. And while you're ranking your website, you'll need to cover the costs of things like:
- Domain: $10-$15/year through platforms like Namecheap or GoDaddy.
- Hosting: $3-$12/month on sites like Siteground and Hostinger
- Call Tracking Number: $25/month with services like CallRail.
But once your site generates calls, you need to find a business owner. (This is your tenant). Then just like in physical real estate. (Where you purchase a home and rent it to a tenant for more than your mortgage). You act as a landlord. (But a digital landlord).
And the business owner pays for your leads and covers all your expenses. (Plus a profit). So even if you're tight on funds, you can start a lead generation business. Plus, you don't need a $50K down payment. (Like you do with traditional real estate).
How Do You Find Rank and Rent Clients?
Your potential customer base is any local business or industry that relies on a steady stream of leads. You can find your clients on Google (look for businesses on page two). Or companies that don't sit high in Google Maps.
Of course, you need to find a business owner as soon as leads come in. But be transparent if the calls are still sporadic. Or you don't yet have a high call volume. (You don't want any contentious beginning to the relationship). The idea is to build a lucrative long-term arrangement for both parties. So start with the free leads in advance. Then move to a payment plan that suits both parties. You can choose things like:
- Pay Per Lead
- Flat Fee
- Commission On Closed Deals
You can also take the micro-niche route. Here the rank and rent niche focus is on a sub-service. For example: rather than building and ranking a general plumbing site. Instead, create an online asset that targets repairs on the p-trap. Then, include all the relevant information a person would search for and get your site to the top of the SERPs for that keyword phrase.
You don't need to focus on popular cities to make money with the business model. Instead, build your web properties in locations that aren't as competitive. Then find a company that's scalable and prepared to handle more business. You can find clients by cold calling or sending leads in advance. Or by looking for ads on platforms like LinkedIn or Craigslist.
But you don't need to stand out with rank and rent to get a client because you have something of value. Instead, you're coming to the table with traffic and leads. (This is how to monetize your leads). So you need to keep your pitch simple and to the point. (It's not like pitching clients for SEO where you need tangible evidence to prove your worth your salt).
Pro Tip: If you don't want to contact business owners directly, you can sell your leads to an intermediary or lead broker.
How Long Does Rank and Rent Take?
You can rank your site in as little as six weeks. But sometimes, it takes longer. (Depending on a ranking factor like the level of competition, population, etc.). So it's essential to set realistic expectations.
The good news is that your site doesn't need to be number one to generate organic traffic. You can monitor the number of leads with your call tracking software or Google Analytics. Plus, you can advertise on Google and get calls quicker if you have a budget. But the goal is to drive organic traffic because it's more consistent and sustainable long term.
What is Rank and Rent Case Study?
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What Are The Benefits Of Rank and Rent?
Is Rank and Rent Legal?
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Is Rank and Rent Dead?
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Is Rank and Rent Legit?
Rank and rent is legit. And it's legal. Think of sites like HomeAdvisor and Angie's List. They're examples of national lead generation platforms. Plus, they've been in business since the '80s. However, rank and rent is done at a much smaller scale. (It focuses on the local market).
And you're not selling your leads to multiple business owners or engaging in a bidding war. Instead, you sell your leads to one business owner for the agreed price. But there are a few things you can do to make sure your digital assets are in compliance, including:
Tips To Keep Your Online Assets In Compliance:
Rank and rent is like real estate; you buy and rent. But it's on the internet. Like being a landlord, your business owner is your tenant and pays you a monthly fee to leverage your online property. (Like a renter pays the landlord monthly to live in their rental unit). All legit and all legal. But you can check out my rank and rent legal article if you want more information.
Is Rank and Rent Worth It?
Rank and rent is worth it if you want to create internet real estate and harness a passive income. If you can learn the skills you need to rank a new website. You own a huge opportunity. Plus, once your processes are in place, you can rinse and repeat. And you own the site, so you have full control over every aspect of your business.
Think of it like this: You're creating digital billboards for services actively searched by people daily. And there are 41,683 zip codes in the USA. Each one represents a local market. So you just need to identify profitable niches and generate free traffic. Plus, because you own the sites, no one can take them from you.
And local is less competitive than the global market, so your sites rank faster. In addition, small business owners don't understand the success clues of the internet. So you can outrank local businesses with relative ease. Then you find a hungry business owner and sell your leads to make recurring income.
You hold the golden handcuffs, and your clients know how much money your virtual property makes them, so they're happy to pay you monthly. And even year after year. The internet continues to grow. So focus on keyword research and finding new opportunities to make money with the rank and rent business model.
Why Lead Generation Is Our Number One Recommendation
Lead generation is all about driving organic traffic. But this steady flow of free high-quality leads is more predictable than paid advertising. Plus, it's more cost-effective and sustainable long term. And you own the online property.
So when you understand how to generate local leads. And can rank websites that reach the top of Google's search engines. The result is valuable online real estate. And these digital billboards belong to you. Like this rank and rent website below (another one of my lead gen assets). It took me about 15 hours to build, but it's been making me $750/month for almost 7 years.
They're front and center for people actively searching for the service you offer. So you don't need to interrupt them on Facebook or other social media platforms. Or make outlandish claims on YouTube to promote your offer. And you don't need to worry about algorithms or the rising costs of ad spend.
You just need to learn how to manipulate SEO tactics. And use the right strategies. Like the ones we teach in our lead gen program—five simple steps to building a digital empire. And once you get your digital property to the top of the SERPs. You'll get to the money.
Conclusion
We've shown you five examples of rank and rent websites. They're real assets on the internet. And they generate passive income for people who took the time to learn the skills—individuals who know how to leverage Google. The focus of the business model is on a local scale, so it's less competitive. But you need skills if you want to be successful. And this skill set acts to minimize market saturation.
Learn and implement the formula. And understand the SEO strategy behind the concept. And you can scale quickly to create recurring income. But you can expedite the process if you connect with a local lead gen coaching program. And learn from others' mistakes with access to a complete guide to success. The internet continues to grow and evolve. So there will always be new and unique opportunities to make money online. But if you have the skills, you hold the key to passive income.
