A method for creating an electronic marketplace includes receiving from a first client a request to create an electronic marketplace and receiving information about a product associated with the marketplace. The information includes at least one of first product information and a reference to second product information. The method also includes creating a marketplace metacatalog associated with the marketplace using a template, storing the first product information in the marketplace metacatalog if the information about the product includes the first product information, and associating the reference to the second product information with the marketplace metacatalog if the information about the product includes the reference. The method further includes communicating at least a portion of at least one of the first product information and the second product information to a second client using the marketplace metacatalog. In addition, the method includes facilitating completion of a transaction involving the second client using the marketplace metacatalog.