Slowly, then all of a sudden

 If on a smartphone, hold your phone in landscape mode (sideways)

So, the first BoontonWorks went LIVE in 2015. I blogged on it a few times over the years. One virtual location, on Main Street BOONTON in the one and only good ol' BOONTON USA. Ho hum. It took ten years to get 100 members. I guess I was the only person who thought a virtual co-working space in BOONTON USA was a good idea. 

And then came Nextdoor.com 

Nextdoor.com is a hyperlocal social networking platform (available as a website and mobile app) that connects verified neighbors within specific neighborhoods. It functions like a private, address-based community hub where people share local information, recommendations, alerts, and more.

Key Features

Neighborhood-specific feeds: Users see posts only from their verified local area (or nearby neighborhoods). Real-time safety alerts, crime reports, and weather updates. Local news from trusted sources and neighbor-reported events.

Recommendations: Ask for or share suggestions on services like plumbers, restaurants, dog walkers, or local favorites.

Marketplace: Buy, sell, or give away items (for sale/free listings) within the community.

Events and groups: Discover or organize community events and join interest-based groups.

Lost/found pets, missing items, and general neighborly help requests.

The platform emphasizes verified addresses — users must provide their real name and address to join, creating a more trusted (though sometimes debated) environment compared to broader social networks.

As of recent data, Nextdoor connects over 100–105 million verified neighbors across roughly 345,000–350,000 neighborhoods in 11 countries (primarily the US, plus places like the UK, Canada, Australia, and several in Europe). It reaches about 1 in 3 U.S. households.

Company Background

Founded: 2008 (launched publicly in 2011) in San Francisco. Public company: Trades as NXDR (Nextdoor Holdings, Inc.). Mission: "To make every neighborhood feel like home" by fostering local connections, belonging, and useful information exchange. It’s free for individuals to join and use. Local businesses can create pages to advertise and connect with customers.

Common Uses

Every day of the week millions of people turn to Nextdoor for practical neighborhood matters: reporting suspicious activity, finding and giving their personal opinions and recommendations. Folks across the USA who are selling garage-sale items, coordinating block parties, or simply staying informed about what’s happening nearby. It can feel like a mix of a community bulletin board, Facebook group, and Craigslist but all hyper-localized.

Note: Experiences vary. Some users love the neighborly connections and timely info, while others mention it can sometimes surface complaints or "nextdoor drama." Like any community platform, content depends on who’s active in your specific area.

Around a year ago I started using Nextdoor.com to find dog sitters. And to hire an electrician and a plumber. And to hire a handyman and a landscaper. I needed to hire a roofer. Normal stuff.

And then I had the idea: what if we use Nextdoor to grow BoontonWorks all across North America - from LA to NYC? Yeah.... what if we use Nextdoor.com to sell, market, promote and GROW BoontonWork.com locations on Main Streets across the USA? There is only one BOONTON in the USA, the same as there is only one LA in California. And yet, there are currently 639 LA FITNESS locations across 25 states. Interesting lesson in branding, right? 

As they say, timing in life is everything. Here we are in 2026 with gas prices going through the roof. Fuel costs for airlines are making travel by air pretty much unaffordable. And what about AI? Everyone in every industry is trying to figure out their AI strategy. We service 174K+ schools across North America via the NYDLA.org and the NADLA.org and 80% of these colleges and universities have some form of AI class that you can take online or on campus. 

Entrepreneurship (and Solopreneurship) is a thing. And GROWING. But being a business owner without PROFITABILITY is not a good thing. We only want GOOD THINGS, right? Profitability = FREEDOM. And profitability is always a choice. Yours. 

Get ready for a new and improved BoontonWorks.com coming to Main Street USA in YOUR town. BUSINESS FITNESS. Sometimes success happens slowly, and then all at once.