I have an idea for a website. In order to become a member, people would have to take an extensive exam. Those who pass the exam would be invited to become members (paying a fee) and avail themselves of the benefits of the site. My question is, would there be any legal problems in starting a website business of this type? Would requiring potential members to qualify by taking an exam be seen as discrimination? Thanks for any feedback.

Just out of my own personal experience browsing websites the less information I see about a site before joining the less inclined I am to join a site. Also the more times you make a potential user click on things to get to the "inside" of a site the less appealing it is to a user. Most people want things simple and easy. To answer your question you must ask yourself this..... How would you feel if a store gave you a 100 question quiz to buy a loaf of bread?

just my 2 cents worth..........

Does anybody have any info about whether it's legal to have a website in which there are requirements for membership?

If I say "no" there's no legal problem and they you get sued, will you countersue me? Just kidding.
I would just keep your entrance criteria far away from anything that our litigious culture finds controversial (race, gender, smooth vs. chunky, etc.).

Other than the obvious speedbumps, I think you should be able to require your members to wear purple hats if you want to.

Now, whether you can get people to PAY to wear the purple hats... that's whole nuther story!

It depends on what your exam asks. Can people be failed based on their answers to certain questions? Most importantly, which questions can potentially cause a person to fail? If they have anything having to do with race, creed, religion, gender, or sexual orientation for example, then yes, you'd have legal problems. Otherwise, probably not.

I also agree with an above poster. The more difficult you make signing up, the fewer members you'll have. But it also depends on your target audience.

Well, I wouldn't personally try that business model.

And you should ask a lawyer.

But if I were to try that business model, I certainly wouldn't make membership dependent on anything like race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. I would have no problem with just have "IQ" type questions or knowledge based questions. Though as I said, I don't see that being a successful business model.

I wouldnt think many would want to join a site you have to pass a exam for,and have to pay,they have some now you have to pay ,I am not sure how they are doing?
Not when you have great sites like TFS to be members of

What benefits do you offer and how much is the fee?

I think people don't dare to take a exam just to be a member of the site. But it all depends on what benefits you offer to the members.

I personally, would click out immedietly. I like things to be simple. Just that, "simple" and fast. If I have to pay a fee to join a site, then I do not want to be told what to do. The website who should be doing the work...not me. I don't even like ecommerce sites that require me to register in order to buy.