5 Design Company Success Stories [2024]
Intrigued by the idea of transforming creativity into a thriving business? Consider starting a design company.
In simple terms, a design company provides clients with aesthetic solutions—whether it’s graphic design, web design, interior design, or product design. This business revolves around crafting visually stunning and functional layouts that meet your clients’ specific needs.
Creating a design company can be deeply satisfying as it allows you to bring innovative ideas to life. You'll work closely with clients to understand their vision and turn it into reality. From brand logos to entire website revamps, your artistic touch can leave a lasting impact.
If you've got a knack for artistry and an eye for detail, starting a design company could be the perfect avenue to channel those skills into a profitable venture. Dive into a world where your projects don't just serve functional purposes—they become compelling stories in their own right.
In this list, you'll find real-world design company success stories and very profitable examples of starting a design company that makes money.
1. BRCHN Design House ($480K/year)
Sam Birchenough, driven by a childhood passion for building and taking things apart, founded BRCHN Design House in 2015, enduring six months of zero income and $35,000 in debt before turning the business into a success, with current monthly revenues between $20,000 and $80,000.
How much money it makes: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 1
This case study outlines how BRCHN Design House went from starting with no revenue to bringing in $20,000 to $80,000 monthly, by developing an efficient product design process, leveraging networking opportunities, and retaining clients through exceptional service.
2. Wave Connect ($300K/year)
After working in banking and transitioning to a sales role, George El-Hage noticed that sales teams wasted countless hours managing new contacts. Frustrated by the inefficiency, he built Wave Connect with just $5,000, a digital business card solution now generating $25K in monthly revenue.
How much money it makes: $300K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 2
Discover how George El-Hage built Wave Connect, a sales and marketing tool that helps professionals exchange contact information and manage leads efficiently, resulting in monthly revenues of $25K per month and a customer base of 12,000, primarily acquired through organic LinkedIn outreach.
3. Revolution Design ($240K/year)
Kerim, frustrated by the inefficiencies and unfair practices he encountered as a freelance designer, launched Revolution Design, a design-as-a-subscription service, now generating $20k/month after 10 months in beta. This platform eliminates hourly billing, offering top-tier design services for a flat $4,990/month, revolutionizing access to premium design talent.
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 0
Get top-tier designers in 24 hours with Revolution Design, a design as a subscription service for fast-growing tech companies, saving you six figures a year and supercharging your growth, with a 7-day risk-free trial and a monthly fee of $4,990/mo.
4. Agent C. Advertising ($240K/year)
David Caruso, the founder of Agent C Advertising, was motivated to start his own agency after disagreeing with the way the other partners ran the business. He felt that their focus was on creating work that could win awards rather than creating work that would benefit the client. He wanted to build an agency that valued customer relationships and created work that solved the problems the clients needed to have solved.
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 4
Agent C Advertising is a full-service ad agency, emphasizing content creation for print ads, social media, and video productions, that started with just two clients in 2018 and now has more than 35 clients who are active at least quarterly and generates over $20k per month, all through word of mouth referrals, thanks to the agency's focus on building and maintaining strong relationships with its clients.
5. Freshly Squeezed ($33.6K/year)
Adam Crookes, the founder of Freshly Squeezed, had always dreamed of running his own business and had been developing ideas since his high school days. After leaving a digital marketing agency, he took the opportunity to start a content writing business. In just six months, Freshly Squeezed has become incredibly successful, earning considerably more than Adam's previous job.
How much money it makes: $33.6K/year
How many people on the team: 0
Learn how Adam Crookes started a content writing business, Freshly Squeezed, from scratch, resulting in $3K MRR in just 6 months, and get tips on attracting and retaining customers and building a successful service-based business.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
