25 Online Advertising Agency Success Stories [2024]
An online advertising agency helps businesses promote their products or services on the internet.
To start this business on a budget, first learn the basics of digital marketing through free online resources.
Create a professional website and set up profiles on social media platforms to showcase your skills.
Build a portfolio by working on mock campaigns or offering discounted services to friends and family, and gradually market your services to attract clients.
With dedication, you can grow your agency over time.
In this list, you'll find real-world online advertising agency success stories and very profitable examples of starting a online advertising agency that makes money.
1. Strategus ($15M/year)
Joel Cox, co-founder of Strategus, came up with the idea for the advertising technology startup after recognizing the rise of digital streaming and targeted advertising. Cox saw the potential in programmatic OTT/CTV advertising and launched the first campaign in 2014. Today, Strategus generates $14.8 million in revenue and has been on the Inc. 5000 for three consecutive years.
How much money it makes: $15M/year
How many people on the team: 21
Learn how Strategus, an advertising technology startup, pioneered the first programmatic OTT/CTV advertising campaign and achieved revenues of $14.8 million in 2019, while serving Fortune 100 brands and agencies.
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. 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.
4. 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.
5. The Creative Collective ($2.4M/year)
Yvette Adams, founder of The Creative Collective, came up with the idea to start her marketing agency out of both ambition and necessity. With a diverse background in marketing and media, she saw the potential in offering a one-stop-shop for creative services on the Sunshine Coast. She began by offering her services to people she knew and quickly gained clients and referrals, positioning her agency as a pioneer in the industry.
How much money it makes: $2.4M/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 20
The Creative Collective is a full-service marketing agency that has grown its revenue and doubled its team in the past year, with around 100 active clients and responding to an average of 160 inquiries each month.
6. 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.
7. Grow Your Agency ($1.44M/year)
Iman Gadzhi, founder of IAG Media and Grow Your Agency, came up with the idea for his social media marketing agency (SMMA) and online course after mastering Facebook ads and personal branding. With over $1.2 million in profit in just two years and multiple successful students, Gadzhi has become a leader in the SMMA industry.
How much money it makes: $1.44M/year
How many people on the team: 2
Iman Gadzhi made over $1.2M in profit within two years with his social media marketing agency and education company, where he teaches entrepreneurs how to start and scale a profitable SMMA, with over 45 of his students making over six figures with their SMMA, and over 300 students having quit their regular jobs.
8. Loop ($1.38M/year)
Francesco and Valerio, founders of Loop, a $35K/Mo Online Advertising Agency, started their business in 2017 after working as freelancers in the advertising industry. They saw the potential for growth and wanted to offer specialized services in a specific market that was not yet saturated in Italy. By focusing on performance, priorities, and processes, they were able to attract and retain clients, leading to rapid growth and expansion into new industries and markets.
How much money it makes: $1.38M/year
How many people on the team: 2
Loop is a $35k/month online advertising agency founded by Francesco and Valerio, which primarily deals with paid advertising services, mainly Google Ads and Facebook Ads, with an average of 150% yearly increase in revenue, and is rapidly growing as they expand their outreach to different markets and industries.
9. Scalenut ($1.2M/year)
Mayank Jain, along with his co-founders Gaurav Goyal and Saurabh Wadhawan, came up with the idea for Scalenut after spending a decade each in the digital startup industry. They noticed the challenges that brands face in scaling their content marketing efforts and saw an opportunity to create a platform that helps businesses drive organic traffic and scale their content production. With their MVP product launched in September 2021, Scalenut has experienced rapid growth, with over 100k users and $100,000 in monthly recurring revenue.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $100K
How many people on the team: 30
Scalenut is an AI-powered SEO and content marketing platform that aims to help businesses scale their efforts to nail the entire content life cycle, from planning to creation, which has led to the company turning over $100,000 in MRR within 6 months of launching.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. ADYOUNEED ($1.14M/year)
Bonjour! Tufan founded ADYOUNEED, a marketing tech platform that allows small businesses and startups to create and manage ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Google, and Tiktok without any marketing knowledge. The idea came to him after realizing that many businesses were wasting their marketing budgets on wrongly setup ads, and he wanted to provide a simplified and unified platform to help them succeed. With over $95,000 in monthly recurring revenue, ADYOUNEED is just getting started and has plans for aggressive marketing campaigns and new product launches in the future.
How much money it makes: $1.14M/year
How much did it cost to start: $120K
How many people on the team: 12
ADYOUNEED is a marketing tech platform generating over $95,000 MRR monthly recurring revenue offering simplified ad creation and management, boasting over 10,000 users globally, with the company planning to raise a Series A to advance future growth.
15. Adjust Media ($960K/year)
Uri, an eCommerce enthusiast and serial entrepreneur, started Adjust Media after realizing the potential of his side-hustle as a Shopify consultant. By providing free content and delivering exceptional service, Uri attracted and retained high-quality clients, ultimately growing Adjust Media into a successful digital strategy agency with $1 million in revenue by the end of 2021.
How much money it makes: $960K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 5
Adjust Media is a digital strategy agency offering services such as paid media management and email management that grossed ~$1M by the end of 2021 with impeccable service, a proactive performance, and a "merchant-first mentality" that keeps over half of their clients for over two years.
16. Cartology ($516K/year)
Michael Maher, a musician turned business owner, came up with the idea for his Amazon service agency after facing difficulties with his own product-based business on the platform. Realizing the need for Amazon-specific work, he pivoted into freelance and consulting work, eventually growing his agency to a remote team of 12 people serving clients worldwide. Through LinkedIn, Maher was able to attract and retain customers by creating content and videos that showcased his expertise and helped grow his agency's presence.
How much money it makes: $516K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 7
A service agency that helps brands grow their business on Amazon saw a 300% YoY growth, averaging $25k a month in revenue and profits of approx. 30-40%, after restructuring pricing and realizing that their service was more valuable than they gave it credit.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. MOTIF® ($420K/year)
After facing several failures in his eCommerce journey, Ash, an eCommerce branding and marketing consultant, came up with the idea for his business Motif. He realized that by niching down to the Luxury Fashion industry and offering value-driven marketing services, he could attract and retain clients in a profitable and impactful way. Now, his agency maintains a 75% profit margin and has plans to expand operations and become a pioneer agency in the Luxury Lifestyle space.
How much money it makes: $420K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
How many people on the team: 15
Learn how a growth-driven digital agency targeting luxury fashion and lifestyle brands grew from making $10k a month to $50k-$100k in recurring revenue, with a niche client focus, specialized content marketing, and a focus on value-based pricing and driving results.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. Fantôm Agency ($300K/year)
Luis Camacho, founder of Fantôm Agency, discovered his passion for digital marketing after starting a successful clothing line and utilizing social media for promotion. After gaining experience at a marketing agency, he decided to establish his own agency focused on paid advertising, which now earns approximately $8,600 per month.
How much money it makes: $300K/year
How many people on the team: 1
Fantôm Agency founder Luis Camacho shares how he built his digital advertising agency from scratch, focusing on helping mid-to-late stage SaaS companies scale through paid advertising channels and generating around $8,600 per month without significant overhead costs.
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. Wealth Lead Generation ($120K/year)
Maria, the founder of Wealth Lead Generation, came up with the idea for her business through her experience as a freelancer and her passion for marketing. After successfully helping a fintech startup raise 7 figures through social media advertising and PR, she realized the potential of digital advertising and decided to start her agency. She focused on creating specific offers that addressed the pain points of her target audience and spent time listening to the market to refine her services. Through hard work and perseverance, Maria's agency quickly scaled to a team of 5 and achieved impressive revenue growth.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $200
How many people on the team: 5
"Wealth Lead Generation grew from a side hustle to a 6-figure business in 2021, generating an average of 250% increase in revenue for their clients through digital advertising campaigns on social media with a team of 5 people."
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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.
