Let's start a website where, for $25, we'll give you a good reference for a job interview.

That's actually kind of brilliant!

Expandable into the academic field, as soon as someone around here gets a PhD.

Do we have anyone here on-track for a PhD? I know one guy who's going to be getting an MD, but that's really not going to be worth his time and money by that point.

theres really no garuntee that the customer will get the job, even with a great referance. sorry to shit in your oatmeal, but its true. I personally wouldnt pay for this service, and i could have used some good referances in my time.

I'm not guaranteeing a job! Frankly, since it would be a service by Internet and I probably wouldn't even KNOW anyone I was recommending, I don't really care about their employment status.

All I care about is their $25.

I agree. All you can do is promise a good reference, not guarantee a job. Some people are downright unemployable and desperate. Those people are your target market.