Groupon Unveils Self-Serve, DIY Deal-Making Tool for Merchants The Chicago-based website released Deal Builder, an option that allows business owners to automatically build a custom promotion.

By Catherine Clifford

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You can order your groceries to be delivered to your door all online, without speaking to a person, ever. And so, it makes sense that you should be able to build a digital promotion online without ever speaking to a person, too.

Today, Chicago-based daily-deal website Groupon unveiled a new tool called Deal Builder that allows merchants to construct a promotion without ever having to speak with a representative. With a series of online templates, the new tool, which can be found on GrouponWorks.com, means that you can build a custom deal for your business. The deal will not automatically be blasted to the entire metro-area in a Groupon email, which for some smaller merchants can feel overwhelming, but will be searchable in the Groupon database.

Related: Groupon Moves Deeper in the Discount Space With 'Freebies'

The product has been in beta with 10,000 business owners and today was released to the public. You fill out your basic contact information, construct the deal and how many you want to release, electronically sign the contract and you are off to the races.

"By expanding the number of ways that merchants can work with Groupon, we're providing our customers with even more great local business options when they want to do or buy just about anything, anywhere, anytime," says said Dan Roarty, vice president of product development at Groupon, in a statement.

If you run into a problem, you can always reach a Groupon rep with a live chat. Again, no talking on the phone required. As it should be.

Related: Groupon Scoops Up Fashion Flash-Sale Site Ideeli for a Cool $43 Million

Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Marketing

Beyond Likes and Shares — How to Leverage Influencer Partnerships in the New Era of Social Media

Social media is evolving, and traditional marketing tactics are no longer enough. Learn how to leverage influencer partnerships, build authentic connections and navigate dark social to create impactful marketing campaigns that drive real engagement and trust.

Leadership

Why Work-Life Balance Is Overrated — and What to Pursue Instead

Managing quality, not time, is the secret to thriving personally and professionally.

Celebrity Entrepreneurs

From Hollywood to Harvest — How Zooey Deschanel is on a Mission to Make Fresh Produce More Accessible

Along with her business partner and ex-husband, serial entrepreneur Jacob Pechenik, Deschanel founded Lettuce Grow. This hydroponic vertical garden system allows you to grow fruits, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers at home.

Marketing

How to Nail Your Product Messaging with This 8-Step Framework

Effective product messaging is clear, relevant and focused on solving customer problems, not just listing features.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.