Fact is, business models like Tepilo rely on one thing: users. Until Tepilo reaches maximum density, it’s going to be pretty useless. Funny that Sarah Beeny’s gone for this hit-and-miss model again, after Mysinglefriend.com. Still, turnover at the dating site is pretty healthy, hitting £3m last year. Profits are unknown [ref. OneSource].

At least Sarah Beeny’s going back to her Property Ladder roots with this venture. Let’s hope she still has some fans from her TV presenter days: the website dangles the tantalising offer of a visit from Beeny herself to new sign-ups. That’s one way to buid numbers.

Sarah Beeny writes this to new users: “In a nutshell, Tepilo is a place where you can buy and sell your home and take control of the process yourself. What’s more we won’t charge you a penny for doing it. Tepilo will guide you through the process, from uploading your home and getting ready for your first viewing to completion day and everything in between.”

So, let’s work out how this site plans to make money. It’s free to use, apparently. Well, it would have to be to get anyone registering their house on a completely untried and untested site – celebrity or no celebrity. It doesn’t seem to host any advertising. And as for legal advice etc, Sarah Beeny’s no solicitor and the site specifically states that it will not take responsibility for matching you with a legal professional. Shame really, they could have borrowed that “perfect match” technology [Joke. No such technology exists] from Mysinglefriend.com.

Hm. Maybe there’s some clever list-buying plan in place. Users sign up, give their email addresses and phone numbers and SHAZAM! Tepilo sells them on the highest bidder. Unlikely?

Got any ideas as to how Sarah Beeny’s new site will make money? Check out the Tepilo site, have a browse and add your comment below!Related articles The UK’s new celebrity entrepreneurs How I sold to…The loveless How to meet the business partner of your dreams

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