Online Database

Online Database Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 10th, 2024

An online database is a powerful tool in our data-driven world, offering immense potential for those seeking a lucrative business opportunity. In simple terms, an online database allows for the storage, retrieval, and management of vast amounts of data via the internet.

Imagine the possibilities: whether it's for customer information, financial records, or product inventories, businesses across all industries need efficient data management solutions. By creating a user-friendly, secure, and scalable online database, you can cater to these ever-growing demands.

The real work involves understanding your target market, developing a robust software solution, and ensuring data security. You’ll also need to invest in marketing strategies to reach potential clients. If done right, this business model not only solves a critical problem but also opens avenues for long-term growth and profitability.

Taking the leap into the online database business could be the key to unlocking a steady stream of income while providing essential services to organizations worldwide.

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

1. Solar Staff ($6M/year)

solar-staff //s3.amazonaws.com/www.starterstory.com/story_images/images/000/021/326/original/open-uri20221009-25-vx9a2y?1665301493 We used business networking and personal connections to attract and retain customers, along with themed conferences and context advertising. Our promotional budget accounts for 20-25% of our revenues.

How much money it makes: $6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.5M
How many people on the team: 77

I Put My Entire Life Savings Into This Startup Idea & Turned It Into An $6M Business

Solar Staff is a profitable fintech solution that helps businesses work with cross-border contractors, making interaction with freelancers 5 times faster and optimizing business productivity, with a YOY growth of 92% and plans to expand into the UK, India, Mexico, and Brazil.

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Read by 2,488 founders

2. Contact Any Celebrity ($360K/year)

Jordan McAuley, founder of Contact Any Celebrity, came up with the idea while in film school to make extra money. Starting in 1997, he built his website into a membership site and online database. Over time, he pivoted the site to cater to professionals, attracting customers from nonprofits, authors, entrepreneurs, and media people. The business has lasted 23 years and continues to thrive, with a 7-day free trial and an affiliate program that pays 50% monthly recurring commissions. The site even received recognition from Tim Ferriss in his book, 'The 4-Hour Workweek.'

How much money it makes: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
How many people on the team: 2

How I Turned My Teenage Hobby Into A 6-Figure Full-Time Business

Contact Any Celebrity founder Jordan McAuley shares how he turned his teenage hobby into a six-figure full-time business with a membership site and print directory of over 59,000 celebrity contacts, and his marketing strategies including an affiliate program, Google AdWords, and free trials.

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Read by 11,458 founders

3. Planit ($600/year)

Billy, a 20-year-old math student from Brisbane, Australia, came up with the idea for PlanIt after struggling to plan adventures in the physical world. Drawing on his experiences in designing cutting-edge recommender systems at venture-funded startup Atmos, he applied his knowledge to create a seamless travel search and planning experience. PlanIt has since expanded its database coverage and user growth, positioning itself as a platform for travel and lifestyle businesses to list their details and generate revenue.

How much money it makes: $600/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.5K
How many people on the team: 0

On Building A Travel Recommendations Platform

PlanIt is a travel recommendation and planning platform that has seen compelling growth in database coverage and user growth, covering every country in the world with several thousand users and a large SEO focus as well as a growing interest from travel and lifestyle businesses to list their details.

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Read by 4,743 founders