Automation Tool

5 Automation Tool Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 10th, 2024

Automation tools can significantly streamline operations across various sectors, making them an attractive business venture.

In simple terms, an automation tool is a software solution designed to perform repetitive tasks without manual intervention. From managing email marketing campaigns to automating payroll processes, these tools can save businesses invaluable time and resources.

The increasing complexity of business operations means businesses are continuously looking for ways to simplify administrative workloads. By developing or selling automation tools, you can tap into a market eager for efficiency and cost-saving measures.

Starting an automation tools business requires an understanding of software development or partnering with tech experts. The rewards, however, can be substantial as companies across industries seek ways to optimize workflows.

In this list, you'll find real-world automation tool success stories and very profitable examples of starting a automation tool that makes money.

1. MarsX ($1.2M/year)

The founder of MarsX Inc, a low-code development platform, came up with the idea after experiencing the repetitive and time-consuming nature of building startups. Frustrated with traditional development methods, the founder wanted to create a tool that would simplify the process and allow for the reuse of code. Now, with hundreds of projects on the platform and a dedicated team, MarsX is looking to scale and target a specific market.

How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $300K
How many people on the team: 15

Turning The Idea Of Reusable Micro-Apps Into A $1.2M Business

MarsX, a low-code development platform with micro-apps that saves founders 90% of the time and provides flexibility on demand, has over 261 projects on the platform and has attracted hundreds of users through word of mouth.

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Read by 2,545 founders

2. Workbooks CRM ($600K/year)

John Cheney, CEO of cloud-based CRM platform Workbooks, recognized the issues faced by mid-sized businesses with limited IT budgets and in-house IT teams. Seeing a gap in the market, he developed Workbooks to provide a cost-effective solution that offers a comprehensive range of functionalities typically found in more expensive platforms like Salesforce or Microsoft Dynamics. With an initial investment of £2 million and ongoing support from Angel Investors totaling £8 million, Workbooks has grown to serve over 1,400 customers across 30 countries.

How much money it makes: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1M
How many people on the team: 55

How We Started A $50K/Month Cloud-Based CRM Software

Workbooks CEO, John Cheney, shares how he identified a gap in the market for affordable CRM solutions for mid-sized businesses and, after raising over £8m in seed capital, expanded globally, serving over 1,400 customers across 30 countries.

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Read by 5,321 founders

3. Browserless ($600K/year)

Browserless was something Joel stumbled upon while building other things. At the time, he was building a wishlist app for his family to create birthdays and holidays list, which required gathering items across the internet in one place. As a developer, he couldn't find an easy way to do that and the existing options were costly.

How much money it makes: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 0

How I Built An Automation Tool For Developers And Grew It To $28K/Month

One-person SaaS business browserless allows users to automate tasks with a web browser, generating about $28,000 in sales for the month of September, and gained traction through blogging and supporting customers one-on-one.

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Read by 8,669 founders

4. CompanyHub ($480K/year)

Abhishek A Agrawal, the founder of Integrately and CompanyHub, initially started with a service-based software company in 2010. After struggling with finding a suitable and user-friendly CRM for his sales team, he decided to build his own CRM, CompanyHub. Recognizing the need for easy integrations between different apps, Agrawal launched Integrately, which quickly acquired approximately 1,500 paid customers within a month of its beta launch. The success of these ventures validated the idea that people are searching for simple and automated processes.

How much money it makes: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100K
How many people on the team: 20

How We Created A $40K/Month 1-Click Integrations Platform

Integrately founder Abhishek A Agrawal built a 1-click integration platform which acquired around 1,500 paid customers within the first month of its launch, showing that people are looking for an easy way to automate their processes.

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Read by 11,887 founders

5. AYH Consulting Ltd ($60K/year)

Founder Sami Abid came up with the idea for AYH Consulting Ltd while working in various jobs where he implemented technology systems to streamline operations. After gaining recognition for his work, he began offering his services on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, eventually earning enough to quit his day job and focus on running his automation business full-time.

How much money it makes: $60K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 1

I Make $6K/Month Helping Companies Automate Repetitive Tasks [& I Quit My Day Job]

AYH Consulting Ltd is a service-based business that helps automate businesses using low-code applications, bringing in an average of $6k/month, with a stable retainer income, offering a good customer experience, and considering diversifying its income stream in the future through digital products.

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Read by 6,269 founders