Web Marketplace Development for Creators

I’m looking to build a web-based marketplace similar to ePal, focused on chat and gaming services.

The platform connects clients with creators, allowing users to browse creator profiles, view services, and place orders. Payments will be integrated in a later phase, so this is an MVP-focused build.

Core Roles

Client

Creator

Admin

Core Features & Requirements

Authentication & Roles

Email/password authentication (social login optional)

Users can be clients, creators, or both

Admin role with restricted access

Public Marketplace

Homepage with categories (Chat / Games)

Browse creators page with search and filters

Creator cards showing avatar, name, category, and online/offline status

Public creator profile pages

Creator Profiles & Services

Public profile with avatar, bio, categories, and status

Creators can create, edit, activate/deactivate services

Each service includes: title, description, category, price, and duration

Service Purchasing Flow

Before purchasing, clients can send a limited pre-purchase message to ask questions

After purchase, a full order-based message thread is unlocked

Orders have statuses (Pending, Accepted, In Progress, Completed, Cancelled)

Dashboards

Client Dashboard: view orders and order status

Creator Dashboard: manage services, view and manage incoming orders

Wallet Page: creators can see total earnings based on completed orders

Admin Panel

Admin-only page

View users, creators, and orders

Ability to manually update order status if needed

Navigation & UI

Conditional navigation based on login state and role

Clean, intuitive UI (desktop-first, responsive)

Focus on MVP simplicity and scalability

Technical Expectations

Secure authentication and role-based access

Simple, scalable database structure

Order-based messaging (no real-time chat required for MVP)

Please include:

Examples of similar marketplace or SaaS platforms you’ve built

Estimated timeline and cost range for an MVP

Recommended tech stack (optional)