The Problem: Finding a Gestoría in Spain is a Mess
A few months ago, a freelancer friend asked me a simple question:
"How do I find a good gestoría in my area?"
The answer wasn't simple. He searched Google, found scattered results, unclear information, no reliable reviews. Some sites were outdated. Others were generic directories without useful filters.
That moment of friction is where good products are born.
In Spain, there are thousands of gestorías. But there's no centralized, modern, easy-to-use directory where freelancers and small businesses can:
- Search by postal code
- Compare services
- See real reviews
- Contact directly
That was the gap I identified. And I decided to build something to fill it.
Quick Validation: Is There Real Demand?
Before writing a line of code, I needed to validate that this was a problem people wanted solved.
I did three simple things:
1. Google Trends Research
I checked if people were searching for related terms: "gestoría cerca de mí", "asesor fiscal en mi zona", "gestoría para autónomos". Search volumes existed, but weren't massive. That was good: validated market, but no overwhelming direct competition.
2. Conversations with Potential Users
I talked to freelancers, small business owners, and accountants. They all had similar frustration stories. Some were overpaying because they didn't know how to compare. Others had been with the same gestoría for years out of inertia, not because it was the best option.
3. Competitive Analysis
I looked at what existed: generic directories without specialization, outdated yellow pages, sites with incomplete information. Nobody had built something modern and specifically focused on gestorías.
Conclusion: the market was real, the problem was clear, and there was room for a better product.
The Tech Stack: Speed Over Perfection
This was a critical decision. I could have built something "perfect" in 6 months. Instead, I chose tools that let me iterate fast:
Next.js as Foundation
I needed a modern framework with integrated SEO (critical for a directory), that would let me scale without issues. Next.js gave me all that. Plus, TypeScript (99% of the codebase) helps me avoid stupid bugs while shipping fast.
Supabase for the Database
Supabase let me have a PostgreSQL database without managing infrastructure. The 900+ gestorías records live here. Real-time data, efficient postal code searches, filters by services. Everything works without me thinking about DevOps.
Sanity CMS for Content
Gestoría data isn't static. I needed a CMS that allowed frequent updates, data validation, and simple editorial workflow. Sanity gave me exactly that: flexible structure, powerful queries, and an interface anyone can use.
Vercel for Hosting
Automatic deployments from GitHub. No friction. Every commit I push to main is in production in seconds.
This combination (Next.js + Supabase + Sanity + Vercel) is what I call the "speed stack". It's not perfect for everything, but it's perfectly suited for validating ideas fast.
Building: From Zero to 900+ Gestorías
The architecture was simple:
Frontend: Search page with filters by location, services, specialties. Detailed profiles for each gestoría. Review system.
Backend: Supabase API handling searches, filters, real-time data.
CMS: Sanity for managing gestoría information, validating data, keeping everything updated.
How did I get data for 900+ gestorías?
Combination of:
- Ethical web scraping from public directories
- APIs from data providers
- Manual validation of critical information
- Verification system for new entries
It wasn't sexy. It was grunt work. But it was necessary.
Features I Built (And That Matter)
Many directories have unnecessary features. I focused on what actually solves the problem:
Postal Code Search: User enters their postal code, sees gestorías in their area. Simple, but few directories do it well. Requires clean data and a data structure built for this.
Service Filters: Need tax advice? Labor law? Accounting? Filter it. Most users don't need everything, they need something specific.
Complete Profiles: Services offered, specialties, contact information, hours. Not a generic paragraph, but structured data that matters.
SEO Optimized: Each gestoría has its own page with meta tags, schema markup, unique content. That means Google ranks each profile for local searches.
Recent commits (from just days ago) show iterations on mobile UX (Phases 9-11) and city name detection in search. Small details that make a difference.
The Journey So Far: Wins and Lessons
What Worked:
- Choosing a specific problem (gestorías, not generic directories)
- Using tools I knew well (Next.js, Supabase)
- Launching fast, iterating in public
- Focusing on clean, accurate data (900+ verified gestorías)
What I Learned:
- Data validation is 80% of the work in a directory
- Local SEO is critical for this type of product
- Users value simplicity over complex features
- Keeping data updated is ongoing work
What's the Business Model?
I won't lie to you with specific numbers (not the time to reveal everything), but the model is clear:
Gestorías pay for featured listings, verified leads, premium visibility. Users get a free, trustworthy directory.
It's a two-sided marketplace. Simple.
Takeaway: The Importance of Building in Public
This project is alive. Recent commits are from days ago. I'm iterating, improving, learning.
It's not perfect. But it's real.
And that's what matters.
When you build in public:
1. You learn faster - Feedback is immediate 2. You validate ideas without months of investment - You know if it works in weeks 3. You attract people who believe in what you're doing - Transparency builds trust 4. You document your process - Others learn from your mistakes
If you have an idea for a directory, a marketplace, or any product that solves a real problem in the Spanish market:
Don't wait for it to be perfect. Build now. Iterate in public. Learn from the market.
Gestorías Cerca de Mí is proof that it works.
