88 Digital Marketing Business Success Stories [2024]
Digital marketing businesses serve local and international companies to expand their reach and grow revenue. A top reason digital marketing is so exciting is that the field is constantly evolving and is easy to learn.
If you plan to start a digital marketing business, educate yourself and understand how digital marketing agencies work. Then, focus on building your digital skills and advancing your career through online digital marketing courses.
To stand out, find a digital marketing niche and focus on the audience interested in your services.
In this list, you'll find real-world digital marketing business success stories and very profitable examples of starting a digital marketing business that makes money.
1. Everflow ($15M/year)
Kanwar Dhaliwal, co-founder of Everflow, came up with the idea for the business after selling his previous company, Moolah Media, which was an ad network. Recognizing a gap in the market and armed with firsthand knowledge of the industry, Kanwar and his co-founders decided to disrupt the existing vendors and build a technology platform company. With a commitment to customer success and a hyper-focus on the market, Everflow has grown profitably, serving nearly 700 customers.
How much money it makes: $15M/year
How much did it cost to start: $400K
How many people on the team: 82
Everflow, a bootstrapped company founded by three entrepreneurs, now serving nearly 700 customers profitably, offers a tracking, measurement, and analytics tool for digital advertising, attracting and retaining customers primarily through market-driven decisions and commitment to customer success.
2. Zero Gravity Marketing ($9.6M/year)
Chris Uzzo, the founder of Zero Gravity Marketing, came up with the idea for his digital marketing agency after building and overseeing the SEO and PPC departments for multiple agencies. With a focus on data-driven strategies and a commitment to transparency, Zero Gravity Marketing has experienced impressive growth, including being recognized by Inc as one of the fastest-growing privately-owned companies and projecting over $10 million in revenue for 2022.
How much money it makes: $9.6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 70
Zero Gravity Marketing is a five-star rated digital marketing agency with Premier Google Partnership and recognized by Inc 5000 for the last three years, on track to gross over $10M in 2022, specializing in SEO, paid media management, social media marketing, email marketing, website design, CRO, content marketing and creative services.
3. Impression ($7.8M/year)
Aaron and his university friend, Tom, founded Impression as a side project while working in-house for a renewable energy business. They couldn't find an agency partner that met their expectations, so they decided to create one themselves. Starting with services like paid media, SEO, and digital PR campaigns, they evolved Impression into a strategic agency partner, reaching milestones like employing 100 staff and aiming for a revenue target of £10m.
How much money it makes: $7.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 103
Impression - a digital marketing agency started by two friends who were able to grow the business from scratch by profit-funding and recently reached the milestone of employing 100 staff, serving as a strategic agency partner to clients, and set to hit its next revenue target of £10m.
4. GreenBanana ($7.2M/year)
Kevin Roy, co-founder of GreenBanana SEO, came up with the idea for his business when he realized that clients were looking for simple and quantifiable results from SEO and digital marketing campaigns. After a difficult client meeting, he decided to focus on pay-for-performance SEO and transparent reporting that centered around customer goals and lead generation. With 16 employees and $6 million in revenue, GreenBanana SEO has been listed on the Inc 5000 for the past three years.
How much money it makes: $7.2M/year
How many people on the team: 22
GreenBanana SEO co-founder Kevin Roy explains how his digital marketing company grew from just two employees working on a beer pong table to 16 employees generating around $6 million in annual revenue by focusing on pay-for-performance SEO and being transparent with reporting.
5. QWANTIFY ($7.2M/year)
Keith Lynch, the Founder and CEO of Qwantify, came up with the idea for his digital development and marketing agency after receiving requests from colleagues, family, and friends to develop profitable websites for them. With his knowledge, experience, and skills in digital marketing, he launched Qwantify in 2016 and offered a unique selling proposition of a revenue guarantee, which set him apart from the competition. Today, Qwantify is a multi-million dollar per year agency that attracts hundreds of new partner inquiries every month.
How much money it makes: $7.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 22
Qwantify is a digital development and marketing agency that operates a Partner Program guaranteeing websites earn a minimum of $10,000 per month, and since 2016, they have grown to become a multi-million dollar per year digital development agency.
6. Qnary ($6.6M/year)
Bant Breen, the Founder of Qnary, came up with the idea for his business while working as the CEO of a paid search and social media agency. He noticed that there were no tools available to help individual executives optimize their online presence, so he set out to create a platform specifically tailored to their needs. Since its launch in 2012, Qnary has grown to have thousands of clients and offices in New York, Barcelona, and Sydney.
How much money it makes: $6.6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.2M
How many people on the team: 25
Qnary founder Bant Breen built and grew the executive reputation management and talent branding solutions company, now with thousands of clients globally, with a monthly revenue of $550k by developing a tech-enabled solution that optimizes an executive’s online presence, generates thought-leadership content, and grows followers and engagement.
7. Brandetize ($6M/year)
Eric Berman, the founder of Brandetize, came up with the idea for his digital marketing agency after consulting for famous author Brian Tracy. He realized that he could provide the same services to other successful businesses looking to scale and monetize their brands. With a strong network and a focus on delivering results, Brandetize has become a profitable company with a bright future ahead.
How much money it makes: $6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $998
How many people on the team: 27
Former dotcom entrepreneur Eric Berman built a profitable digital marketing agency by backing into it — helping successful businesses scale and monetize their brands.
8. Dux-Soup ($4.8M/year)
Will van der Sanden, the Founder and CEO of Dux-Soup, came up with the idea for his business after his wife expressed frustration with manual lead generation for her publishing company. Recognizing the potential in LinkedIn scraping, Will saw a gap in the market for a product that offered more value at a lower cost than existing options. The result was Dux-Soup, a LinkedIn automation tool that now has over 70,000 users and nearly $5 million in revenue.
How much money it makes: $4.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 20
Dux-Soup is a LinkedIn automation tool that helps business owners and sales & marketing professionals generate more leads, increase efficiency, and save time; with over 70,000 users and revenue of nearly $5 million, it offers automated top-of-the-funnel LinkedIn outreach activities, targeted LinkedIn campaigns and multi-touch & personalized LinkedIn drip campaigns for lead generation.
9. CreateApe ($4.2M/year)
Alessandro Fard, the founder of CreateApe, developed the idea for his business after realizing the importance of a solid foundation in digital projects. Through years of trial and error, he created the Create Ape Jungle Guide, a comprehensive process that allows clients to fulfill the research and ideation phase of their projects and lays the foundation for successful user experience, design, and development. With impressive revenue growth between 50 and 100% year-over-year, CreateApe is a leading player in the digital agency space.
How much money it makes: $4.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $25K
How many people on the team: 55
CreateApe, a full-service digital agency specializing in user experience design, has seen yearly revenue growth between 50-100%, with $350,000 in monthly revenue and success attributed to their almost reckless embrace of partnering with their clients.
10. Social Beat ($4.2M/year)
Founder Vikas Chawla started Social Beat after realizing a gap in the market for ROI-driven digital marketing solutions. With less than 100 million internet users in India at the time, Chawla saw the potential for growth and started the business with a pay-for-performance fee model, eventually building a 300+ member team and becoming one of the fastest-growing digital agencies in the region. They now manage 3% of the digital media investment in the country and have an MRR of $400,000.
How much money it makes: $4.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $25K
How many people on the team: 300
Social Beat founder Vikas Chawla started up a successful digital agency by identifying a gap in the market for ROI-driven digital marketing strategies; the Chennai-based firm has grown to 300+ staff, manages 3% of India's digital media investments and boasts a monthly recurring revenue of $400k, all since its founding ten years ago.
11. Custom Creatives ($3.6M/year)
Rahul Alim, the founder of Custom Creatives, initially started his career in sales, but after leaving Realtor.com, he started his own company offering marketing services to real estate agents. However, it wasn't until a client requested a banner ad that he pivoted to focus on digital marketing, and CustomCreatives.com was born. Since then, the agency has grown to serve a wide range of industries, and their emphasis on providing value and superior service has helped them retain clients for over a decade and achieve consistent seven-figure revenue.
How much money it makes: $3.6M/year
How many people on the team: 10
Digital marketing agency founder Rahul Alim shares how he grew his business to consistently generate over 7-figures in revenue year-over-year and retain clients for many years through affordable digital marketing strategies that employ the CAP method (Customer Acquisition Program).
12. Prolific Zone ($3.5M/year)
Quin Amorim, the founder of Prolific Zone, came up with the idea for his eCommerce agency after successfully selling products online for over 25 years. He realized his passion for creating and launching products and brands online and decided to help others do the same. With a team of 18 people and a customer retention rate of over 80%, Prolific Zone generates an impressive average of $140K per month without spending a single dollar on advertising.
How much money it makes: $3.5M/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
How many people on the team: 15
Prolific Zone is an eCommerce agency founded by Quin Amorim that has experienced significant growth, with a team of 18 people, a customer retention rate of over 80%, and generating an average of $140K per month helping brands sell their products internationally through Amazon and Walmart.
13. Flying V Group ($3M/year)
Flying V Group was founded by Robb Fahrion and his brother based on an opportunity they identified in the market. After helping a mentor with his website and seeing the demand for digital help, they decided to start a marketing services firm. They focused on serving professional service industries and used SEO and content marketing to establish their clients as industry experts online. The company has since grown to employ 12 people, worked with over 300 clients, and is on track to double its revenue for the second year in a row.
How much money it makes: $3M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 16
Flying V Group, a digital marketing agency co-founded by Robb and Tyler Fahrion, has experienced explosive growth and profitability through their focus on SEO and content marketing, generating 540% more traffic in 2020 compared to the previous year, and increasing revenue YoY, all while operating debt-free and cash-positive.
14. 51blocks ($2.52M/year)
Michael Borgelt, the founder of 51Blocks and BionicWP, was inspired by his grandfather's business principles of helping people. He saw a need for quality digital marketing services and SEO expertise in the industry, so he started 51Blocks in 2009. With a strong focus on customer service and referrals, the agency has achieved an impressive customer lifetime value of 2.5+ years and generates $2.6 million in annual revenue. Building on this success, Borgelt launched BionicWP in 2020 to provide hyper-fast WordPress hosting with top-notch customer support.
How much money it makes: $2.52M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 30
This case study is about Michael Borgelt, founder of 51Blocks and BionicWP, who generates $2.6M revenue annually offering quality digital marketing and hosting solutions, including white label SEO, hyper-fast WordPress hosting, website development, and paid advertising, achieving a customer lifetime value of 2.5+ years and hosting 2,000 sites in about 1.5 years.
15. Prodigi ($2.28M/year)
Aida, the CEO and Co-Founder of ProDigi, came up with the idea of starting a digital marketing and production agency based on her passion for the field. She wanted to create a company that provided cost-effective, high-quality video content and specialized in developing, displaying, and modifying paid advertising services. With a small team in a small room, they worked tirelessly to establish themselves as one of the fastest-growing advertising companies in the industry, gaining clients such as Porsche and Audi in just 1.5 months. Today, ProDigi operates in over 12 countries and continues to strive for growth and improvement.
How much money it makes: $2.28M/year
How much did it cost to start: $2.5K
How many people on the team: 50
ProDigi is a digital marketing and production company with a 29-member team providing video production, social media marketing, and paid advertising services worldwide, and experiencing fast-paced development, boasting a gross margin of 27%, a profit margin of 16%, and winning contracted to companies such as Porsche and Audi after only 1.5 months.
16. Digital Procurement World (DPW) ($1.95M/year)
Matthias Gutzmann, the CEO and Founder of DPW, came up with the idea for his business when he realized that existing procurement conferences were expensive, lacked diversity, and failed to attract startups and investors. He left his job in New York, moved back to Germany, and invested his personal savings to launch DPW. Leveraging his extensive network and applying social selling techniques, Matthias successfully created a buzz and attracted sponsors, delegates, and startups to his conference, leading to exponential growth and €1.8M in revenue in 2022.
How much money it makes: $1.95M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10.8K
How many people on the team: 6
DPW (Digital Procurement World) is a fast-growing conference and community in procurement that has more than tripled in revenue since launching in 2019, capping out the year at €1.8 million, with 95% of their growth coming from inbound traffic leveraging LinkedIn and applying social selling techniques.
17. GreenRope ($1.92M/year)
metrics for our business are our customer satisfaction and retention rates, which remain consistently high. We currently have over 1,000 customers in over 20 countries, ranging from startups to universities and municipalities. Moving forward, we plan to continue evolving and improving our platform to meet the changing needs of businesses and provide even greater value to our customers.
How much money it makes: $1.92M/year
How many people on the team: 15
GreenRope, a self-funded CRM and marketing automation platform with over 1,000 customers in 20 countries, was built organically and focused on creating a positive, customer-centric culture without outside investment, with an all-in-one interface solving challenges in managing sales, marketing, customer service, and operations.
18. Lone Fir Creative ($1.8M/year)
Tyler Pigott, the founder of Lone Fir Creative, came up with the idea for his business after spending years working in the corporate and startup spaces, helping others start and grow companies. He wanted to create a consulting firm that focused on long-term growth and solving clients' sales and marketing problems. Through constant iterations and improvements, Pigott built a team of creative problem solvers and developed processes and systems to ensure the delivery of quality services to clients. With a focus on building relationships and a brand that wasn't centered around himself, Pigott has been able to attract and retain customers, resulting in steady growth and an expected revenue of $3.5M-$4M this year.
How much money it makes: $1.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $300
How many people on the team: 15
Lone Fir Creative, a strategic growth agency catering to tech, healthcare, and academic brands, reached $3.5M-$4M in revenue this year since being founded in 2015, with a primary focus on building relationships with key communities and adding value for clients.
19. Intellitonic ($1.62M/year)
Intellitonic, a digital marketing agency, was founded by Alex, Courtney, and Jared after realizing they could do digital marketing more effectively and transparently with organizations they care about. With their collective skills and experience in SEO, PPC, and software, they launched Intellitonic and have grown to a team of eleven without compromising their values.
How much money it makes: $1.62M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 12
Intellitonic is a digital marketing agency that grew from 3 to 11 people in less than 5 years without investment, earning $90k/month in revenue, with over 97 clients through a combination of referrals, relationships, and online ads.
20. Wealth Ideas Agency ($1.44M/year)
Chris Anthony, the founder of Wealth Ideas Agency, came up with the idea for his digital marketing agency after struggling to maintain stable revenues and generate enough leads through traditional means of prospecting. He realized that automating the agency's lead generation would provide more consistency, and within a year, Wealth Ideas Agency went from a one-man band to a team of ten. Three years later, they reached an impressive $5 million in revenue.
How much money it makes: $1.44M/year
How much did it cost to start: $850
How many people on the team: 10
Learn how Wealth Ideas Agency Founder/Head of Growth, Chris Anthony, went from a one-man agency to $5M revenue in three years, to now generating $120K/month while helping other agencies implement a proven lead generation system.
21. Growave ($1.32M/year)
Eldar, the founder of Growave, started the business after realizing the limitations of his successful previous venture, ThinkLab. With a desire to expand into a dynamic market, Eldar and his team researched and developed a product for the growing e-commerce industry. Despite facing challenges and delays, Growave eventually launched as a free app and gained traction through forums and the Shopify App Store, steadily growing its customer base and revenue to over 12,000 merchants and $110,000 per month.
How much money it makes: $1.32M/year
How much did it cost to start: $100K
How many people on the team: 70
Growave, an all-in-one marketing tool for Shopify brands, went from struggling to be profitable to earning over $110,000 monthly with over 12,000 merchants using the app worldwide, thanks to an improved marketing and retention strategy implemented after the launch.
22. Ogline Digital ($1.2M/year)
Dylan Ogline, the founder of Ogline Digital, had a history of failed business projects before he honed in on digital marketing management. With a simple landing page, lean operations, and focused targeting on Google Ads, he quickly found success, reaching six figures in a few months and seven figures within two years. Now, with a team of 12, Dylan's goal for the next five years is to grow to $5-10 million in annual revenue while prioritizing his team's growth and success.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
How many people on the team: 8
Ogline Digital is a digital marketing agency that helps small to medium-sized businesses profitably gain customers with only one service managing a marketing system for clients; the company's founder, Dylan Ogline, started as a freelancer and grew it to become a million-dollar business.
23. Sievers Creative ($1.2M/year)
Roger Sievers, founder of Sievers Creative, started the business as a side hustle to pay off his student loans. He saw a gap in the market for serving small-sized businesses that were underserved by larger agencies. After years of building skills and developing relationships, Sievers Creative has experienced impressive growth, with a team of 8 and a 40-50% year-over-year revenue increase.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How many people on the team: 8
Sievers Creative, a full-service marketing agency in Minnesota, founded as a part-time side project, specializes in multi-channel marketing campaigns, and has experienced year-over-year revenue growth of 50-60% for four years, and currently has a team of eight.
24. Inquivix ($1.2M/year)
keep coming back for more. Additionally, we provide exceptional customer service and personalized strategies tailored to each client's specific needs, which sets us apart from our competitors. Our 10X-ed annual revenue growth and our strong reputation in the industry also attract new customers to our agency.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.5K
How many people on the team: 15
Inquivix is a leading digital marketing agency in Asia with regional hubs in multiple countries, generating $1.2M in annual revenue by helping clients enter the Korean market through social media and content creation, backed by extensive research, data analysis, and SEO strategies.
25. BrandBurp Digital ($1.2M/year)
Anshul Sharma, the founder of BrandBurp, was working at a corporate firm when he realized his true passion was entrepreneurship. He started BrandBurp in 2015 with the vision to revolutionize the functioning of websites, mobile applications, and brands. Since then, the company has grown into one of the fastest-growing digital marketing agencies, leveraging over 2,000 brands and generating over 1,000 leads and 3 billion USD ROI globally.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 175
BrandBurp, a digital marketing company founded in 2015, has leveraged over 2,000 brands to strategically market their business and boost their revenue, generating over 1,000 leads and 3 billion USD ROI globally and working with big names such as Coca-Cola and Supreme.
26. PageTraffic ($1.2M/year)
Navneet Kaushal, the founder & CEO of PageTraffic, came up with the idea for his SEO agency after experiencing the impact of the internet during his MBA studies. He tested SEO strategies on his own website and saw it rank in the top ten within months. With a passion for digital marketing and a desire to help businesses succeed, Navneet launched PageTraffic in 2002 and has since grown it into a successful agency with a strong online presence and a global client base.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 80
Navneet Kaushal, founder & CEO of PageTraffic, shares how he started an SEO agency in India in 2002, which now generates over $1.2 million in annual revenue and attracts clients globally.
27. Bloggers Ideas ($1.2M/year)
Jitendra Vaswani, the founder of BloggersIdeas, started his journey in digital marketing after developing an interest in SEO.
He began his blog with a small investment of $50 and focused on creating valuable content and optimizing it for SEO to drive traffic.
Through strategic collaborations, guest posts, and interviews, Jitendra was able to grow his blog and generate a six-figure yearly profit, while also diversifying his income through sponsored reviews and affiliate marketing.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $50
How many people on the team: 15
Jitendra Vaswani started his blog, BloggersIdeas, in 2013 with just $50 and has since grown to make $150K+ in profits per year from a portfolio of 35+ niche websites by focusing heavily on SEO, constantly updating content, and diversifying income sources through sponsored reviews, SEO consultation, and affiliate marketing.
28. Rejoin Media ($1.2M/year)
Michael Gardon, the CEO of Rejoin Media, came up with the idea for his business after realizing that he wanted to break out of the 9-5 job and create a more flexible and balanced lifestyle. With capital to acquire sites and expertise in SEO and content marketing, Gardon launched Rejoin as a portfolio of web-based businesses, generating around $100,000 per month in revenue and growing at a rate of 20% per month. Today, he is focused on diversifying his business and building new products and marketing channels.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
How many people on the team: 5
Rejoin Media's CEO, Michael Gardon, shares how he built his business portfolio, which generates $100,000 in monthly revenue, without the use of venture capital, and offers insight into achieving business success through resiliency.
29. Half a Bubble Out ($1.18M/year)
Michael and Kathryn Redman, childhood friends turned spouses, founded Half A Bubble Out 18 years ago as a marketing and advertising agency. They later established HaBO Village, a membership website that helps leaders build successful companies. Through their expertise and experience, they have generated millions of dollars for their clients across various industries, and are now focused on helping businesses find clarity and success through their strategic direction and coaching services.
How much money it makes: $1.18M/year
How many people on the team: 8
Half A Bubble Out is a full-service marketing and advertising agency based in Chico, California that has helped business leaders around the world grow their companies through traditional and digital marketing, business coaching, and leadership development, making millions of dollars for their clients across industries such as property management, medical, agriculture, and various nonprofits.
30. Salt Water Digital ($1.07M/year)
Daniel Thompson, the founder of Salt Water Digital, came up with the idea for his digital marketing agency while working for a research and development company in 2011. After teaching himself web development and SEO, he built an affiliate site called ExerciseFoamRollers.com. When he was laid off in 2012, he used his unemployment insurance to start his own business and eventually expanded to offer SEO, PPC, and website development services.
How much money it makes: $1.07M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 9
Salt Water Digital is a digital marketing agency specializing in SEO, PPC, and website development, serving small businesses with revenue from $300k to $5m, having grown from $25k/month to $40k/month in the past eight months, with a goal to hit $60k/month by year end.
31. SEO Hacker ($1.01M/year)
Sean Si, the founder of SEO Hacker, stumbled upon SEO while working as an intern. Despite his lack of formal education and experience, he taught himself the ins and outs of SEO through experimentation and launched his own blog, which gained traction and led to his first client. Through word-of-mouth marketing, the success of his blog, interviews, and community-building efforts, SEO Hacker has attracted and retained clients, earning its status as the best SEO agency in the Philippines.
How much money it makes: $1.01M/year
How much did it cost to start: $60
How many people on the team: 50
SEO Hacker built an impressive business offering a dozen digital marketing services, growing from $10,000 to over $1,000,000 in annual revenue, serving high-profile clients like Toyota and Unilever, with a dedicated team of 50+ professionals.
32. ModumUp ($996K/year)
Olga Bondareva, the founder of ModumUp, came up with the idea for her social selling agency after realizing the high demand for managing personal profiles on social media for business goals. With her background in social media marketing and Microsoft digital marketing, she saw the opportunity to help clients attract new customers, partners, and employees through the development of their profiles on social media. Since launching, Bondareva has focused on growing the brand through her own personal social media presence, speaking at events and conferences, and promoting case studies to attract and retain customers.
How much money it makes: $996K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 44
Meet Olga Bondareva, founder of ModumUp, a social selling agency with an ARR of $1M and 30+ b2b clients, specializing in managing personal social media profiles to generate leads, offering consulting, employee advocacy, and training services.
33. Woww ($960K/year)
Felix Norton, the founder of Woww Digital, came up with the idea for his business while he was still a student studying Computer Science. He started building websites for friends and family on the side, which eventually became a full-time business. As the demand for digital marketing services grew, Felix and his team expanded their offerings to provide a holistic solution for clients to succeed online. They have achieved consistent growth, even during the pandemic, and are on track to reach their goal of $1 million MRR in 2026.
How much money it makes: $960K/year
How much did it cost to start: $250
How many people on the team: 25
Woww Digital is a Cape Town based digital marketing agency specializing in WordPress web design, achieving consistent 60% YoY growth through a pandemic and providing a complete solution to help clients start, grow and thrive online.
34. StayFi ($960K/year)
Arthur Colker, the Founder and CEO of StayFi, came up with the idea for his WiFi marketing and management company after working as a marketing consultant for a short-term rental operator. He realized that there was a need for a solution that could collect marketing data from guests in rental properties, as the booking platforms didn't share this data. He built an MVP version of the product for his client and then expanded it to other operators in the industry.
How much money it makes: $960K/year
How much did it cost to start: $150K
How many people on the team: 6
StayFi CEO Arthur Colker founded a WiFi marketing and management company that operates in almost 10,000 short-term rental properties from 600+ companies across 10 countries, with a focus on helping customers to introduce their brand and market to guests to book directly.
35. Trusted CMO ($900K/year)
Burnt out from her full-time CMO roles, Alison Murdock founded Trusted CMO in 2020 to provide fractional marketing services for B2B startups. With minimal investment, the consultancy has scaled by 50% annually and hit a million in revenue by 2023.
How much money it makes: $900K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 4
Trusted CMO founder built a marketing consulting firm from scratch, growing 50% yearly, attracting clients via word of mouth from investors, founders, and marketing leaders, with plans to expand educational offerings and managed services based on client needs.
36. theta. ($864K/year)
Emmanuel Iroanya, the founder of theta, had a unique journey that led him to start his civic and government-focused digital firm. Inspired by his father's entrepreneurial efforts in working with the City of Baltimore to provide mental health and family preservation services, Emmanuel realized he could make a difference by working with federal agencies. His time at a large federal systems integrator solidified his idea to create a company that existed at the intersection of technology and government, with the goal of addressing the limitations and implications of technology in the public sector.
How much money it makes: $864K/year
How many people on the team: 0
Digital and management firm theta. has served over six government agencies since its inception, providing innovative solutions to unique computing problems that meet client needs so effectively, it has doubled its employee number and is aiming for a 50/50 prime-subcontractor revenue split.
37. Postoplan.app ($840K/year)
Alex Bozhin, founder & CEO of Postoplan, came up with the idea for his automated marketing platform for social media and messengers after working with various social media instruments in his marketing agency and feeling that something was missing. He saw an opportunity to revolutionize the market and create his own instrument for working with social media. After months of research and interviews with potential clients, he launched Postoplan and attracted over 1,000 users, including paying ones, through a Product Hunt launch.
How much money it makes: $840K/year
How much did it cost to start: $11K
How many people on the team: 27
Postoplan, an automated marketing platform for social media and messengers, has reached over $1M in revenues and boasts 112,000 users in 147 countries with an average annual revenue growth of +25% MoM, making it among Estonia's Top 5 most promising startups in 2020, a finalist for the Global Business Owners Startup Awards in 2021, and placing 2nd at Seedstars Tallinn in 2020, all while being the only marketing platform that enables automated posting to WhatsApp.
38. Content-Whale Private Limited ($750K/year)
Vaibhav Kishnani, an engineer turned writer, came up with the idea for Content-Whale after noticing the unprofessional conduct in the Indian content market. With just Rs. 2,500 ($35) in capital, he started the content agency which now generates a revenue turnover of Rs. 4 crores ($514,000) and serves clients like Quikr and The Boston Consulting Group.
How much money it makes: $750K/year
How much did it cost to start: $35
How many people on the team: 30
Content-Whale, a content curation agency, has achieved a Rs. 4 crore ($514k/year) turnover 4-5 years after being started with just Rs. 2500 ($35), and has a pool of more than 500 writers, aiming to become a market leader in the global content market.
39. Data Driven Marketing ($712K/year)
John Ainsworth, the founder and CEO of Data Driven Marketing, came up with the idea for his business after realizing that many online course creators had a large audience but struggled to convert them into paying customers. With his expertise in funnel building, Ainsworth saw an opportunity to help these course creators boost their revenue through email marketing and funnels. Since its launch in 2018, Data Driven Marketing has experienced impressive growth, with sales increasing from $60,000 in 2018 to over $600,000 in 2022, and on track to hit over a million in 2023.
How much money it makes: $712K/year
How much did it cost to start: $25K
How many people on the team: 7
Data Driven Marketing is a company that helps online course creators maximize revenue via KPI analysis, building funnels, and email marketing, with a revenue of $60k in 2018 and a projected revenue of over $1M in 2023 based on a 70% client retention rate.
40. Digitail - Wander Media LLC ($600K/year)
Forrest Webber transitioned from real estate to digital assets after a big payoff, investing 100% into websites. The drive to create a business he could run from anywhere blossomed during his daughter's 100-day NICU stay, leading to $50k monthly revenue from 20 niche sites within five years.
How much money it makes: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $294K
How many people on the team: 50
Forrest Webber's portfolio of 20 niche content websites generates $25-50k in revenue per month, with a team of 30+ contractors and employees, and he has built an agency, Digitail.co, which offers content, backlinks, and SEO research, making his team available to those interested in growing their online presence.
41. Add Value | Growth Marketing Agency ($600K/year)
24-year-old Joachim Brouckaert founded Add Value, a growth marketing agency, after noticing that many marketing agencies prioritized money over delivering value to their customers. With a background in digital marketing and experience freelancing as a digital marketer, Joachim decided to start his own agency focused on full-funnel marketing services. After a year in business, Add Value generates an average monthly turnover of 30k and works with 18 active clients.
How much money it makes: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 5
A 24-year-old founder shares how his growth marketing agency generated €360,000 in its first year, with a team of 5 people working for 18 active clients per month, using SEO, Facebook and Google ads, organic content on LinkedIn, and a hybrid agency model with a focus on client retention.
42. Conversion Perk ($540K/year)
Devjeet’s journey began during the Great Recession when he couldn't land a traditional tech internship, leading him to discover digital marketing. With just ₹2.5 lakh (USD 3,500) and a vision to make digital marketing the main focus, he founded Conversion Perk in 2018, now generating many times the initial investment and recognized as one of India's top PPC Management Agencies.
How much money it makes: $540K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
How many people on the team: 26
This case study article showcases the journey of Devjeet, the founder of Conversion Perk, a digital marketing agency. With an initial investment of just ₹2.5L, the company has achieved impressive milestones, becoming partners with industry leaders like Google and Amazon and generating a monthly revenue that is many-fold more than the initial investment. The article also highlights their strategies for customer attraction and retention, including mastering the digital landscape, focusing on SEO, utilizing platforms like Upwork, and employing personalized email marketing campaigns.
43. CrowdTamers ($540K/year)
Trevor Longino, the founder and CEO of CrowdTamers, came up with the idea for his business after realizing the demand for his marketing expertise as a freelancer. He saw an opportunity to help startups successfully launch and reach $1 million in annual revenue by providing a systematic approach to go-to-market strategies. Through answering founders' questions on Facebook Groups and creating thought leadership content, he was able to attract and retain customers, growing his agency from 2 employees to 5 employees and achieving nearly $600k in annual revenue.
How much money it makes: $540K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 4
This case study follows the founder and CEO of CrowdTamers, Trevor Longino, and how he grew his business from $0 to $600k in annual revenue in just 2 years by answering founders' questions on social media and creating a content engine, and how he plans to scale to $1.1 million in ARR through strategic partnerships and structured growth methods.
44. O3M Directional Marketing Pvt Ltd ($480K/year)
Renjith Rajan, founder of O3M Directional Marketing, entered the technology space after working as a computer lab assistant and a Java and Perl programmer. His entrepreneurial journey began in 2005 with the launch of Boonze Media Solutions, and in 2010, he founded O3M after joining Google's Premier Partner Program. Today, O3M offers performance-oriented digital marketing solutions to clients around the world, with a team of 45+ members and a focus on expanding its client base and upskilling the team for more comprehensive campaigns.
How much money it makes: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2.5K
How many people on the team: 46
Renjith Rajan's O3M Directional Marketing Private Limited offers performance-oriented digital marketing solutions to clients worldwide, employing over 45 team members who are passionate about what they do and work with businesses of all sizes, via a mix of best practices, relationships, expertise, and hard work.
45. Concept Marketing Group ($480K/year)
Barb Ferrigno, the founder of Concept Marketing Group, came up with the idea for her marketing company in 1978 when she was diagnosed with an immune disorder. Wanting to have control over her hours for a healthier lifestyle, she started her own business with just $500 and a computer. Over time, the business grew exponentially, thanks in part to the internet, and now has 8,000 clients globally and internationally, with an average of 25 to 50 new customers per month.
How much money it makes: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 3
Concept Marketing Group, a full-service marketing company, started by Barb Ferrigno in 1978, has grown to 6 employees and 8 subcontractors, with 8,000 clients globally and $480k in revenue annually, offering services such as Email Marketing Lists, Consulting, Social Media, PR services, and Business Coaching for the Executive Staff.
46. Trust Insights ($480K/year)
Katie, the CEO of Trust Insights, co-founded the company in 2017 after noticing a lack of transparency and understanding in the marketing industry when it came to data analysis. She wanted to change the culture and be a voice for those intimidated by advanced technology, focusing on marrying data analysis with change management. Through their services and customer relationships, Trust Insights has been successful in retaining long-term clients and building a community through their Free Slack Community, Analytics for Marketers.
How much money it makes: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
How many people on the team: 0
Trust Insights is a digital marketing consultancy that focuses on data analysis, utilizing Artificial Intelligence to solve problems and help businesses understand how to use their data to their advantage, with a free Slack community that boasts over 2,500 members and a weekly email with over 20,000 subscribers.
47. ryrob.com ($480K/year)
Ryan Robinson started his blog ryrob.com in college as a way to share the lessons he learned from starting a business around his product, the iStash. After a viral post on HackerNews and Twitter, Ryan saw the potential to build a community around his blog and turned it into a full-time business. Now, his blog has around 500,000 monthly readers and generates between $25,000 to $55,000 in revenue each month through affiliate partnerships, sponsorships, and the sale of his own digital products.
How much money it makes: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 1
Ryan Robinson explains how he built a blog with over 500k monthly visitors and generates $25,000-$55,000 in revenue each month through affiliate partnerships, sponsorships, and his own digital products like courses and books.
48. Social Ktchn ($420K/year)
Chris and Camila, founders of Social Ktchn, came up with the idea for their digital marketing business after realizing the value of social media for restaurants. They leveraged their experience in photography, fashion, branding, and design to offer services such as social media management and email marketing. Eventually, they focused on Facebook and Instagram paid ads, capitalizing on the platforms' growth and becoming experts in the field.
How much money it makes: $420K/year
How much did it cost to start: $250
How many people on the team: 1
Social Ktchn is a successful digital marketing company, specializing in providing Facebook and Instagram paid ads for small to midsize businesses in the lead gen and eCommerce spaces, with an annual revenue of $300-$400k.
49. Wealthtender ($360K/year)
Brian Thorp founded Wealthtender in 2019 to provide inclusive financial advice and resources for people of all income levels. With over 40,000 monthly visitors, Wealthtender generates $8,000 in revenue each month from financial professionals who subscribe to their digital marketing benefits. Thorp identified a gap in the market for a financial advisor review platform and capitalized on new SEC regulations to launch Wealthtender's SEC-compliant online review platform, further expanding their offerings and establishing their authority in the industry.
How much money it makes: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100K
How many people on the team: 1
Wealthtender's founder Brian Thorp created an SEC-compliant financial advisor review platform which generated $8,000 a month from 40,000 monthly visitors in 2019, and now earns over $40-$50 a month from 200 paying financial professional clients, receiving over 30,000 monthly visitors and being in the first page of Google for various search terms.
50. Big Star Copywriting ($360K/year)
Derryck Strachan, the founder of Big Star Copywriting, started his business after realizing the rapidly growing demand for content for SEO. He initially set up a basic website and ran PPC campaigns to attract clients. Despite challenges during the 2008 financial crash, the business has since grown and is now approaching revenues of approximately $30,000 per month.
How much money it makes: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $200
How many people on the team: 5
Big Star Copywriting is a UK-based agency that, after a difficult year due to Covid, is now approaching revenues of approximately $30,000 per month and growing, working with clients such as Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, New Era, Lloyds, Handy.com, and Screwfix, among others, and focusing on customer service, value for money, and expertise.
51. EMUCoupon ($360K/year)
power of persistence and adaptation. Starting a business is not easy, and there will be challenges, setbacks, and unexpected obstacles along the way. However, by staying persistent, constantly learning and evolving, and being open to new ideas and opportunities, you can overcome these hurdles and find success.
How much money it makes: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $8K
How many people on the team: 13
Discover how EMUCoupon achieved a 16% annual growth rate by targeting the untapped Australian market for online discounts, growing to a team of 21, and now attracting 20% of their traffic internationally—a must-read for aspiring founders keen on market gaps and global expansion.
52. Base Coat Marketing ($360K/year)
Austin Houser, the founder of Base Coat Marketing, came up with the idea for his business after acquiring painting businesses as clients at his previous agency and realizing the industry lacked effective marketing solutions. By creating a niche-focused agency dedicated to the professional painting industry, Houser has been able to quickly scale his business and generate impressive results, with $30,000 in monthly recurring revenue and a 50% profit margin within just three months of launching.
How much money it makes: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $15K
How many people on the team: 2
Austin Houser, founder of Base Coat Marketing, launched a full-service digital marketing agency catering exclusively to the professional painting industry and within three months exceeded last year's revenue under his previous agency and is generating $30,000 in monthly recurring revenue with roughly a 50% profit margin by offering simple, niche-focused packages and providing personalized, valuable interactions with customers.
53. Major Impact Media ($342K/year)
Brice Gump, the founder of Major Impact Media, got his start in digital marketing after helping a friend sell cell phones online. He saw the explosive growth of the business and realized the power of working on the internet. After taking online courses and freelancing in various areas of marketing, Brice launched Major Impact Media in 2015, offering Google Ads for a monthly retainer. He learned through trial and error and eventually found his niche, providing high-quality marketing services to a specific market. Today, the company has generated over $5.8 million in online sales for their clients and is expanding their services to adapt to changes in the advertising landscape.
How much money it makes: $342K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 3
This case study follows the story of Brice Gump, founder and CEO of Major Impact Media, a hybrid agency/education company that has generated over $5.8M in online sales for their clients through their marketing services.
54. Paper Box SEO ($336K/year)
Russell Michelson, the founder of Paper Box SEO, originally began as a freelance web designer. However, after clients consistently asked him for help with driving traffic to their websites, he transitioned into the world of SEO. Through teaching himself about digital marketing and experimenting with different methods, he developed a passion for SEO and eventually started his own boutique SEO agency, Paper Box SEO. Today, the company brings in $20k/month in revenue and focuses solely on providing comprehensive SEO services to small to medium-sized businesses.
How much money it makes: $336K/year
How many people on the team: 2
This case study describes the journey of Russell Michelson who, after leaving his corporate job, turned his WordPress skills into a thriving boutique SEO agency earning $20k/month, thanks to client referrals and Upwork.
55. CJAM Marketing ($312K/year)
While dining with a colleague, Behdad "Bee" Jamshidi was astounded by a friend's mention of someone earning over $50k monthly from SEO for dentists. Intrigued by passive income, Bee transitioned from his lucrative engineering career to founding CJAM Marketing, which generated $430,000 CAD in 2023.
How much money it makes: $312K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
How many people on the team: 0
Matchmaker solves marketing puzzle for businesses, profits over $430k CAD in one year, connects companies with vetted agencies at an 80% success rate.
56. Kadima Grow ($300K/year)
After founding several businesses, Richard Rubenstein realized that traditional digital marketing's limitations often hindered growth. This led to the creation of Kadima Grow—a revolutionary Marketing-as-a-Service platform offering unlimited marketing services for a fixed monthly fee, already earning $25,000 per month within two months of launch.
How much money it makes: $300K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10
How many people on the team: 10
This case study article highlights the launch and success of Kadima Digital Marketing Agency's "Kadima Grow" platform, which offers unlimited marketing services at a fixed monthly subscription fee and has already grown to $25,000 a month in just two months, providing aspiring founders with an innovative and affordable approach to marketing their brands.
57. Restoration Digital Marketing ($300K/year)
Jeff Carrier came up with the idea for Restoration Digital Marketing after speaking to restoration owners who lacked focus on internet marketing. With their industry-specific knowledge and experience as a restoration company, RDM was able to educate the industry and generate $25,000/month in leads.
How much money it makes: $300K/year
How many people on the team: 2
Restoration Digital Marketing generates over $25,000 per month helping restoration companies achieve positive ROI through its specialized digital marketing services, and its success has been fuelled through word-of-mouth marketing tactics and developing client relationships.
58. Maildroppa ($240K/year)
Feeling stifled in corporate life, Marcus Biel leveraged his Java development skills to create Maildroppa, an affordable email marketing tool for solo founders. The platform's unique free plan and bootstrapper ethos helped it achieve $20,000 in monthly revenue, transforming the email marketing landscape.
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 0
Bootstrapper turned entrepreneur created an affordable yet powerful email marketing solution, offering a free plan for 100 subscribers forever, leading to $20,000 in monthly revenue, catering to solo founders and bootstrappers building their businesses.
59. Sunlight Media LLC. ($240K/year)
After years of performing as a professional musician, Angelo Frisina developed skills in web design during his downtime on tour. Recognizing the demand for website development services, he founded Sunlight Media and grew the business through outsourcing and targeted marketing efforts. The company has since won industry awards and expanded its clientele, specializing in digital marketing services for the media and entertainment industry.
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 2
Sunlight Media is a digital marketing company with a focus on web design and app development, that serves different customers across various industries, and has won industry awards and is continuing to expand in terms of revenue, enterprise productivity, and brand value.
60. The Digital Vibe Podcast and Network ($240K/year)
Annette Thomas, the creator and founder of The Digital Vibe Podcast and Network, came up with the idea to start her business after feeling the need to challenge herself and express herself in a way that traditional avenues couldn't offer. Through self-education and using her voice to share her story, Annette has built a network that generates around $20,000 per month through various revenue streams including brand clothing, podcast sales, affiliate sales, and book reselling.
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 3
A founder shares how she built a podcast network with brand clothing, podcast sales, affiliate sales, and publishing book partnerships, generating around $20k per month, while staying true to her voice and values.
61. LV8 ($240K/year)
George Chatzicharalampous and George Margaritis, founders of lv8 - Consulting, came up with the idea for their digital marketing and consulting agency after realizing that other agencies they worked with were slow and difficult to communicate with. They decided to start an agency that genuinely cared about their clients and focused on delivering top-quality work. Since launching in December 2020, they have grown rapidly and are currently generating $12,000 per month, helping some of the largest companies in their area.
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 4
LV8 Consulting generated $12,000 per month helping some of the biggest companies in Lamia, central Greece, achieving a 2680% increase in revenue in one month for one of their clients and now offering services in video production, social media management, web development, SEO, and PPC management.
62. Aun Digital ($240K/year)
When a friend's cleaning business couldn't afford a website, Aun Ali discovered that many UAE startups faced similar challenges, inspiring him to launch Aun Digital. The firm offers affordable, comprehensive digital services and now generates annual revenue between $200,000 and $300,000, serving 20 regular clients.
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $60K
How many people on the team: 50
Aun Digital, a UAE-based web design company, generated $200,000 to $300,000 annually by offering affordable and reliable digital services to small businesses, startups, and medium-sized enterprises, with 20 regular clients per year and an average project cost ranging from $10,000 to $15,000.
63. Watson Digital ($233K/year)
Jacob Dazzeo, founder of Watson Digital, came up with the idea for his online marketing company after working in a digital marketing company and realizing he could offer services in conversion rate optimization, pay-per-click advertising, and social media remarketing. By leveraging his expertise and forming strategic partnerships, Dazzeo was able to replace his corporate salary and achieve a four-hour workweek within a year of starting his business.
How much money it makes: $233K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
How many people on the team: 0
Founder Jacob Dazzeo shares his success story of building Watson Digital, an online marketing company, in less than a year which completely replaced his corporate salary and cut his workweek while focusing on products that help businesses grow their online sales funnel.
64. Mylance ($216K/year)
Bradley Jacobs, founder of Mylance, came up with the idea for his business after experiencing the freedom and financial success of working as an independent consultant. He saw a growing market of individuals who wanted to monetize their expertise and work flexibly, so he started Mylance to provide a comprehensive platform for self-employed professionals. Through organic social media marketing and customer word of mouth, Mylance has attracted and retained customers, growing to $40k/month in revenue.
How much money it makes: $216K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 0
Mylance, founded by Bradley Jacobs, is an end-to-end software platform for self-employed individuals and independent consultants, growing to ~$40k/month in revenue with 3 main value-adds: actionable guides, a vetted community, and lead generation software.
65. Prop Media ($186K/year)
Ebs Turner started Prop Media after realizing that traditional advertising was cost-inefficient for companies. His breakthrough came during his university years while balancing exams and entrepreneurship, eventually growing his London-based marketing agency to $18,000/month.
How much money it makes: $186K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 2
A 25-year-old entrepreneur shares his journey of starting a property marketing agency, with a current monthly income of $18,000/month, and divulges the importance of having a niche and going all-in on client results and experience.
66. The Profit Finder ($168K/year)
Disillusioned by repeated failures from hired marketing experts, Brian Carmody tripled his company's revenue and expanded from 1 to 48 states by employing his own strategies. This sparked the idea for The Profit Finders, now generating up to $15k monthly.
How much money it makes: $168K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
How many people on the team: 1
Case Study: Founder of The Profit Finders tripled revenue, expanded to 48 states, and lowered break-even by 70%, using specific strategies and a proprietary software built on 1 billion weighted algorithms.
67. Ignore No More ($156K/year)
Sophia O’Neal’s relentless desire to avoid mundane employment led her to launch Ignore No More, a SaaS-focused marketing agency. Inspired by Warby Parker's innovative branding, Sophia built a $21K/month business through savvy positioning and strategic no-code solutions, employing a globally diverse team.
How much money it makes: $156K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 2
Case study about how Sophia O'Neal built Ignore No More, a profitable marketing agency for SaaS companies, working with 2-5 clients/mo and bringing in $13K-$21K/month, with a team of 10 employees speaking 12+ languages, showing how she went from freelancing to agency success despite financial struggles and setbacks.
68. DAD OF AD ($154K/year)
Shamreen and Rumit, with backgrounds in graphic design and computer science engineering, respectively, came up with the idea for Dad of Ad over a party discussion. They saw the opportunity to provide social media marketing services during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and since then, the agency has grown to have an average annual revenue turnover of $153,840 with 12 retainer clients and project-based services. Despite facing challenges and making mistakes in the beginning, they have continuously adapted and learned to attract and retain customers through effective communication, moment marketing, and setting clear goals.
How much money it makes: $154K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.26K
How many people on the team: 35
Dad of Ad, a social media marketing and advertising agency based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, has 12 retainer clients and provides project-based services, generating an average annual revenue turnover of $153,840 while catering to various industries like sport, skin care, and venture capitalists.
69. My Media Pal ($144K/year)
James Kuck, co-founder of My Media Pal, came up with the idea for his business after experiencing the struggle of generating inbound local leads for his construction company. He discovered the power of local SEO and decided to pivot, creating My Media Pal as a digital marketing agency that helps local businesses with web design, SEO, and paid ads. Eventually, they realized the value of owning the assets that generate leads and shifted their focus to rank and rent, offering optimized websites and exclusive leads to local businesses.
How much money it makes: $144K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
How many people on the team: 1
My Media Pal is a successful digital agency that has morphed into three divisions, including a rank and rent business focused on generating local service leads, bringing in an average of $12,000-$15,000 per month.
70. Digital Butter ($132K/year)
Robyn Mays and Richard Eltringham, the founders of Digital Butter, started their profitable digital marketing agency by doing a lot of work for free. Their generosity and genuine relationships built through pro-bono work have led to exponential growth, with revenue increasing 71% this quarter and a team that has expanded to 6 members. Their success is a testament to the power of generosity and word of mouth in attracting and retaining clients.
How much money it makes: $132K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 5
Digital Butter, a profitable digital marketing agency based in South Africa, was started five years ago by doing free work for non-profit organizations, and has since grown almost completely through the act of generosity and based on word of mouth, resulting in a full-time team of 4, 2 part-time team members, and clients from more than 10 different countries.
71. 930co ($120K/year)
Joshua Hurley, founder of 930TECH, came up with the idea for his digital marketing and technology solutions company after noticing a gap in the market. With his background in nonprofit organizations, he saw a need for comprehensive and up-to-date technology services. Despite launching during the height of the pandemic, Hurley's hustle and determination allowed him to attract customers and exceed his financial goals.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
How many people on the team: 1
This case study follows Joshua Hurley, an executive turned entrepreneur who started a digital marketing company, 930TECH, during the pandemic and is currently making around $3,000 per month, with plans of becoming one of the top three digital companies in Tennessee.
72. Understanding eCommerce ($120K/year)
Mike Doherty, the founder of Understanding eCommerce, came up with the idea for his business after experiencing frustration with limited options and unreliable hosting services while building eCommerce sites for friends. He discovered the flexibility of WordPress, became an expert in WordPress-related issues, and realized the need for a reliable hosting service that specifically supports WordPress. Through his expertise and commitment to customer service, Understanding eCommerce has grown into a trusted provider for various digital marketing services.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $15K
How many people on the team: 3
Understanding eCommerce is a business that offers worry-free hosting for WordPress sites, including maintenance, performance, and security, to help innovative companies build their brand awareness, grow their online reach, and convert visitors into customers.
73. Tatum Digital Agency ($120K/year)
AJ Tatum, founder of Tatum Digital Agency, came up with the idea for his business after realizing his passion for digital marketing and automation. With a background in web development and a desire to work with startups and small businesses, he launched TDA and has maintained an impressive average monthly income of ~$10k since May 2021. Through networking, offering free consultations, and creating quality content, AJ has been able to attract and retain customers for his digital presence management agency.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2.5K
How many people on the team: 1
Aspiring founders can learn how leveraging programming skills and effective digital marketing strategies enabled AJ Tatum to grow Tatum Digital Agency into a $120k/year freelance business, averaging around $10k in monthly income.
74. Maverick Media Lab ($120K/year)
Gilberto, the founder of Maverick Media Lab, grew up in an immigrant family in the US with a desire for financial independence. After working for a marketing agency and refining his skills, he ventured out on his own to create a service that would help businesses generate more referrals. By focusing on using LinkedIn and email to expand clients' networks of referral partners, Maverick Media Lab has grown rapidly and is projected to double its current revenue of $10k/month in the next six months.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 0
Gilberto, founder of Maverick Media Lab, shares his success story of generating $10k/month through his productized Referral Connector System, which helps businesses enter the online marketing space without large advertising costs.
75. Fruity Llama ($96K/year)
Steve and his wife Stephanie started their digital marketing agency, Fruity Llama, as a side hustle selling graphic design services on Facebook. Inspired by successful YouTubers, they decided to turn their side hustle into a full-time business and evolved it into a digital marketing agency. Within three months, they were making £7,000 per month and their future plan includes hiring more employees and expanding their services.
How much money it makes: $96K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 3
Digital marketing agency Fruity Llama, based in Lancashire, has grown their business from selling graphic design services on Facebook to a full-time digital marketing agency offering web design, SEO, and branding, and currently generate £7,000 per month within 3 months of launching.
76. Smart Yeti Creative Agency ($96K/year)
Jeremy Kanne, founder of Smart Yeti, came up with the idea for his creative agency after realizing that technical companies needed help with messaging and marketing. With his background in civil engineering and a creative streak, Jeremy decided to combine his skills and provide affordable, high-quality services to these companies. The focus on technical clients and the introduction of retainer engagements have helped Smart Yeti attract and retain customers, leading to steady revenue growth of $1-2k per month.
How much money it makes: $96K/year
How many people on the team: 1
Smart Yeti is a successful creative agency offering fractional access to marketing services to highly technical companies and has seen YoY growth of 40%, with an average lifetime value of its customer of $50k in revenue.
77. Mindbox ($84K/year)
their revenue. Diversify your client base and focus on providing value to your customers. Additionally, prioritize feedback from clients and use it to improve and iterate on your product.
How much money it makes: $84K/year
How many people on the team: 6
Mindbox is a cloud-based marketing automation platform that unites a CDP, a loyalty program, omnichannel communications, and more, working with over 700 clients in Eastern Europe including L’Oréal, Panasonic, Burger King, and JBL and generating $7K/MO in the US with a 50% YoY growth where founder Ivan Borovikov shares his insights on starting and growing a business.
78. backl.io ($62.4K/year)
Philipp, a product manager in Switzerland, created SEO Kickstarter as he struggled to get traffic for his shared flat site without using ads. Frustrated by the manual effort of backlink outreach, he automated the process and launched a guide, now boasting $5K MRR.
How much money it makes: $62.4K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 0
A Product Manager builds a successful side business that generates $5K MRR by creating an SEO guide for startups, turning initial failures into a profitable venture with a Twitter launch strategy that brings in 87 sales and $3400 revenue within a day.
79. Altar'd Socials ($60K/year)
Altar’d Socials was founded by Claire Ficek, who started the business at 18 years old in the midst of 2020. Inspired by her parents' entrepreneurial background, she decided to offer social media management services to other companies. Within 24 hours of launching her business, she had secured three clients, which reassured her that there was a market for her expertise.
How much money it makes: $60K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
How many people on the team: 2
Altar'd Socials, a social media management company founded by Claire Ficek, grew to 10+ clients and a team of 5 women with revenue on track to hit $100k in the first year of business, specializing in full-time social media management and online courses targeted towards women-owned businesses.
80. ArrowUpz ($60K/year)
M Waseem Aziz, the founder of ArrowUpz, started his business after working as a freelancer and realizing the limitation of time and earning potential. He began outsourcing tasks to a team of remote workers and formed ArrowUpz to provide a wide range of digital services. Through referrals, paid ads, and organic traffic, he has gained over 100 clients and has plans for continued growth.
How much money it makes: $60K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 5
ArrowUpz founder M Waseem Aziz shares how he started his digital agency as a freelancer, learned multiple skills, and outsourced tasks to build a team, resulting in a revenue boost from $250 as a graphic designer to $5K per month selling various digital services primarily via freelancing sites.
81. 411Writers ($60K/year)
Constantin Coutun, the manager of 411Writers, came up with the idea for the business while working at 411 Locals as a blog writer. After realizing the potential of his writing team was being limited to the company's clients, Coutun decided to create 411Writers to help his department and provide a platform for writers and editors to express their creativity. Through strategic marketing efforts and the launch of new services, such as targeting app developers and offering a Guru content plan, they were able to attract and retain customers.
How much money it makes: $60K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 65
Content writing company 411Writers started with $13.99 and now generates over $50,000 revenue per month, providing clients with unique website content for both search engines and human readers.
82. DKDesigns ($36K/year)
David and Kaitlyn Gilbert founded DKDesigns after realizing their combined corporate skills could meet the diverse needs of small businesses in Brooklyn, NY. Starting as a side hustle aiming for $10K annually, they surpassed this in the first quarter alone, hitting $3K in monthly revenue quickly.
How much money it makes: $36K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 0
Case study about DKDesigns, a web design agency in Brooklyn, NY, that offers affordable corporate quality digital marketing services to small businesses, surpassing their $10K annual revenue goal in the first quarter and closing in on $3K in monthly revenue in their first year.
83. SideGains ($36K/year)
Paul Franklin, founder of SideGains, started his business in 2015 after being made redundant. He initially began freelancing as a contractor, focusing on PPC campaigns. As he gained clients through recommendations, he saw an opportunity to monetize his blog and create a more stable source of income. Despite the challenges of maintaining a blog, Franklin is committed to long-term growth and plans to scale his business by outsourcing work and making the blog his primary source of income.
How much money it makes: $36K/year
How much did it cost to start: $300
How many people on the team: 1
This case study follows the journey of Paul Franklin who runs SideGains, offering PPC campaign management and WordPress development; despite COVID-19's impact, his blog generates 10% of income and he plans to shift this to 50-50 in a year's time.
84. Spreadtheworld ($24K/year)
Xavier Coiffard, a developer turned solo entrepreneur, came up with the idea for his business, Spreadtheworld, after struggling to find online places to post his startup. He curated a list of 100 places and shared it on Reddit and IndieHackers, which gained significant traction. This led him to create a product, and from there, he launched several other successful ventures following a similar approach.
How much money it makes: $24K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 0
Learn how Xavier Coiffard generated $2000 per month in revenue by building 4 products in 4 months with no-code tools like Carrd, Airtable, Gumroad, and Zapier, as well as how he soft launched his products on Twitter and iterated on his launch strategy.
85. H-supertools ($24K/year)
Hasan, the founder of H-supertools, came up with the idea while developing tools for his own online business. He realized that these tools could be valuable for others as well, so he decided to offer them for free on a website. Through content creation and word-of-mouth, he attracted a large user base and was able to monetize the platform through various revenue streams.
How much money it makes: $24K/year
How many people on the team: 4
H-supertools founder Hasan developed a set of free SEO and digital marketing tools generating $2k per month in profit using Google Adsense, affiliate marketing, selling ad spaces, and email, plans to launch a membership option, and has attained over 80k registered users and 300k monthly visits in less than two years.
86. FVA Business Consultancy ($12K/year)
Julmar Grace Locsin, founder of Filipino Virtual Assistance, came up with the idea after experiencing the challenges of transitioning from office jobs to freelancing. Recognizing the potential for freelancing to improve the lives of individuals and families, Locsin and her husband launched FVA to provide training, coaching, and services to empower freelancers. Since its inception, FVA has trained over 25,000 students and aims to become the top online academy in the world.
How much money it makes: $12K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 14
Filipino Virtual Assistance by FVA Business Consultancy, founded by Julmar Grace Locsin, offers online and offline training to empower marketers, enable businesses, and equip freelancers which has trained 25,000 students from their 31 courses, has 16 coaches assigned from different territories, and fifteen in the FVA team for global digital leadership that will impact the world through digitalization, one life at a time.
87. Neuwly ($1.2K/year)
Steve Christensen came up with the idea for Neuwly Live after realizing the power of connecting people through knowledge and inspiration. The initial concept of a bucket list tracker evolved into a platform for discovering and sharing experiences. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they pivoted to a virtual approach, launching a marketplace of knowledge and ideas.
How much money it makes: $1.2K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100K
How many people on the team: 0
Neuwly Live is a marketplace of knowledge and ideas that allows people to learn and advance together using live video, which has gained over 300 downloads in just one month.
88. BT Neil Consulting ($1.2K/year)
Cornelia "Miss Co" Malloy came up with the idea for her online consulting business, BT Neil Consulting, after reflecting on her desire to have her own business and her skills in creating documents and navigating the internet. Her experience working in a long-term care facility as the Director of Social Services also inspired her to focus on providing resources on long-term care placement in a nursing facility. Despite not yet making significant profits, Cornelia remains consistent and is using social media and affiliate marketing to build awareness for her business.
How much money it makes: $1.2K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 1
BT Neil Consulting founder, Cornelia "Miss Co" Malloy, shares how she started her online consulting business and the struggles she faced when trying to build awareness and gain customers while highlighting the importance of consistency and not giving up.
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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.
