NetClerk

About NetClerk

NetClerk, founded in 1999 by Silicon Valley entrepreneur Jon Fisher, carved a niche in the construction technology sector by pioneering the online building permit application process. Fisher, a graduate of the University of San Francisco, had previously co-founded AutoReach and later went on to create Bharosa, which was acquired by Oracle. His experience in identifying and building out digital solutions for established industries was evident in NetClerk's strategy. The company identified a significant pain point for construction contractors: the time-consuming, manual process of obtaining building permits from local government agencies.

The company's core business was providing a web-based platform that acted as an electronic intermediary between contractors and municipal building departments. Serving clients in the build and repair subcontracting industries, such as electrical, plumbing, and roofing contractors, NetClerk streamlined the entire permit lifecycle. Its business model centered on simplifying this complex workflow, saving its customers considerable time and resources. Revenue was generated by facilitating this streamlined permit requisition and submission process.

NetClerk's primary service was its online system that allowed users to fill out customized, jurisdiction-specific permit applications for over 1,200 cities. A key product, "PermitCentral," provided a centralized online hub for this purpose. The company later launched "CityCentral," a system designed for municipalities to securely review, manage, and approve these online permit applications. This created a collaborative digital structure between the private and public sectors, featuring encrypted data transmission for security. The platform's benefit was its ability to digitize and centralize a traditionally fragmented and paper-heavy process, effectively eliminating the need for physical trips to city offices.

The company attracted significant venture capital, raising $16.5 million from investors including Adobe Ventures, Granite Ventures, and Integral Capital Partners. After establishing itself as a first-mover in the online permit space, NetClerk was acquired by BidClerk on March 26, 2002, and is now part of Roper Technologies.