Causing the Create Site link to Create a Site Collection

If you layout your MOSS intranet with the multiple Site Collections approach, you can simplify the creation of new Site Collections.

There are a couple settings which need to be setup for this to work:

Central Administration

1. Central Administration > Application Management
2. Under the Application Security section click on Self-service site management
3. Turn, 'Enable Self-Service Site Creation' on
4. It is optional to require a secondary contact in this form
5. Click OK
   

Site Directory

1. From within the site directory of the web application, go to Site Settings > Modify All Site Settings
2. Under the "Site Collection Administration" area, click on "go to top-level site settings"
3. Under the same "Site Collection administration" area, click "Site Directory Settings"
4. Check 'Create new site collections from Site Directory'
5. Click OK

Now when you are the Site Directory, clicking the Create Site link, will create a Site Collection.

Thanks to Dave Wollerman for this tip.