Custom Category & Taxonomy Search Advice

Hi

I have a client website which requires a custom search and I need some help with setting it up to work better than I have currently developed.

Here is the outline.

1. I have two custom post types. Featured Business / Business.
2. I have two custom taxonomies (shared by both) – County & Business Type.

3. I have been using Cat & Tag Filter Plugin on the frontend for users to select a Business Type in County.. EG. Catering in Kent.

When the user hits search it filters my custom post types and displays the results. FEATURED Businesses first then the remaining Business Listings.

This plugin isn’t behaving as expected so I am looking to re-do this section and make my own custom search for the frontend and need some advice, or pointers to guide me in the right direction.

Currently it works, but some Business types don’t show up, some display in random order i.e. businesses before featured businesses. This is a live site and is buggy and the client is finding frustrating to use it in its current state.

I have looked and tested quite a lot of directory plugins to do this job but they fall short on a number of areas.

1. They require too much hacking to get them to look and play as I need.
2. Too many features not required.
3. Just too cumbersome to use.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE could somebody have a read through the above and try and point me to tutorials, advice, or examples of a search option like this, or anybody willing to offer freelance development services to help me out.

All I want to do is search for a business type in a county. EG Catering in Kent. Then display the results ordered by Featured businesses followed by normal listings.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I don’t seem to be getting anywhere with this.

Thanks for taking the time to read.

Dan