Online Newsletter Writing Business

How Profitable Is An Online Newsletter Writing Business? (Updated for 2024)

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 7th, 2024

So you want to start an online newsletter writing business?

And the first question that came to your mind was, “well, are online newsletter writing businesses actually profitable?”

With a market size of $7.5B - there’s plenty of business to go around.

Especially considering:

You could start a online newsletter writing business with as low as $35
Based on our data, online newsletter writing businesses generate an average of $7.15M per year
You could see gross margins as high as 70% with online newsletter writing businesses

There’s money to be made. Don’t worry.

But, I don't want to spoil it all. Below we’ll cover everything you need to know when it comes to the profitability of a online newsletter writing business.

Let’s dive in!

Yes, an online newsletter writing business is generally a profitable business. However, you still need to consider several factors since these things always impact the overall outcome.

For instance, since average revenue is $7.15M per year with an estimated gross margin of 65%, you could expect to recover your investment within 7 months or even less.

But of course, it all comes down to how much you earn compared to the potential revenues of your online newsletter writing business.

To determine whether your business is profitable, you should earn more than your expenses in the beginning months. However, while you're in your first month, it can be challenging to know what to expect.

Therefore, you should maintain a record of your monthly expenses and income to determine whether you're meeting your goals. By doing this step, you can see how your online newsletter writing business is doing and if any changes or adjustments need to be made to enhance or maintain your efforts.

If you’re wondering if a online newsletter writing business is worth it, the answer is a big YES. With online newsletter writing businesses, you have the potential to earn $7.15M per year (this is based on data reported by real founders).

Further, you could have your initial investment back within months. Simply put, it’s a business worth a shot, especially if you have the resources and make the necessary efforts to achieve or surpass the target.

With a market size of $7.5B, it will be possible for you to build something that grows and turns into a flourishing business. As such, it’s the type of business you might want to consider starting.

Of course, you must learn and understand every aspect of running a online newsletter writing business to ensure success. Still, as long as you have the initial investment and can endure a few months before your actual gains, this business could be worth it.

You might want to consider reading more specifics about successful online newsletter writing businesses case studies.

Here are a few examples of profitable online newsletter writing businesses, and a few more details about them:

1. Morning Brew ($49.2M/year)

Back in 2014, Alex noticed that his college peers lacked knowledge about current business news while he was helping them prepare for interviews. In response, he decided to create a valuable resource for them and launched a daily newsletter called The Market Corner.

Initially, it was in PDF format, but it later evolved into what we now know as Morning Brew.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $49.2M/year

How Alex Lieberman Grew Morning Brew to 2.5M Subscribers & Sold for $75M

Case study about the rapid growth and successful acquisition of Morning Brew, a daily newsletter founded in 2017, which was acquired by Business Insider for $75M in 2020 after reaching over 70K subscribers and generating an average of $4.1M/month in revenue.

Read this case study

Read by 905 founders

2. Workspaces ($24K/year)

Ryan Gilbert came up with the idea for Workspaces when he noticed Twitter users sharing pictures of their new setups during the pandemic. Wanting to preserve these inspiring workspaces, he started a newsletter that now has over 9,000 subscribers and generates $2,000 per month from sponsorships. He recently joined YC startup Loops as Head of Content and continues to publish Workspaces while exploring new marketing initiatives.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $24K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500

How I Built A $24K/Year Newsletter Side Hustle That Shares Remote Workspaces And Got Acquired

The founder of Workspaces, a newsletter giving readers a behind-the-scenes tour of entrepreneurs' new desk setups, was making $2,000 per month from sponsorships and was recently acquired by YC startup Loops, with 9,000+ subscribers and open rates around 60%.

Read this case study

Read by 5,685 founders

3. Fem 'n STEM ($18K/year)

Whitney Bowen, a college student, came up with the idea for Fem 'n STEM during the COVID-19 pandemic when she realized the need for educational extracurricular activities for students at home. She created science-themed boxes that contain all the necessary materials to carry out four experiments, aiming to encourage kids to pursue their passions in the sciences. Despite being a college student, Whitney has already achieved $1.5k in monthly revenue and hopes to continue growing her business.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $18K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K

How I Launched A $1.5K/Month Science Box For Kids During COVID-19 Quarantine

College student, Whitney Bowen, launched Fem 'n STEM during the COVID-19 lockdown selling STEM boxes for kids between the ages of 8-12 and has earned $1.5k in monthly revenue within the first month of launch using social media to advertise and using WIX to create an online store.

Read this case study

Read by 7,755 founders

Learn more about starting an online newsletter writing business:

Where to start?

-> How much does it cost to start an online newsletter writing business?
-> Pros and cons of an online newsletter writing business

Need inspiration?

-> Other online newsletter writing business success stories

Other resources

With a online newsletter writing business, you can make an average of $7.15M revenue per year (based on data reported by real businesses).

You can start with an initial investment as low as $35. Then, with proper knowledge and sustained effort, you could have an ROI (return of investment) within 7 months.

Based on our data, average weekly revenue for a online newsletter writing business ranges around $149K. As such, you could see monthly revenues of $596K.

To know if your online newsletter writing business achieves the weekly profit target, you need to keep track of the total earnings you get per day. Afterward, you'll want to consider subtracting the expenses you have daily.

Learning your weekly profit can also show whether you're hitting your target goal for your online newsletter writing business.

The income of an online newsletter writing business owner can vary depending on various factors such as location, size, competition, and the owner's business skills.

But to give you some idea, the weekly revenue of an established online newsletter writing business is about $149K. But this can be lower or higher depending on so many factors - it's almost impossible to say exactly.

While the potential for earning a good income as an online newsletter writing business owner exists, success in this field requires a commitment to providing quality products and services and building a strong reputation within the community.

Generally speaking, an online newsletter writing business can expect profit margin of around 65%. Profit margins refer to the percentage of revenue that remains after deducting all expenses associated with running a business. In the case of an online newsletter writing business, profit margins can vary depending on various factors, such as the type and quality of products sold, the size of the store, and the level of competition in the area.

However, these figures can vary depending on the pricing strategy, inventory management, and overall efficiency of the business. To maintain healthy profit margins, online newsletter writing business owners must focus on managing costs, negotiating favorable supplier terms, and providing high-quality products and services to attract and retain customers. By doing so, online newsletter writing business owners can ensure long-term sustainability and profitability for their business.

The salary of an online newsletter writing business owner is an unpredictable figure. It's significantly influenced by numerous factors, including the store's location, its size, and the degree of competition. An owner of a well-established online newsletter writing business, in a prime position, might see an average weekly salary around the ballpark of $96.8K.

But it's worth noting, such numbers aren't always consistent. The earnings can vary wildly, potentially swinging by as much as 80% either way.

Achieving consistent success and maintaining a reliable income stream in this industry requires a deep commitment. It's imperative to offer high-quality products, deliver impeccable customer service, and nurture a trusted bond with the community you serve.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, based on many of our examples, a online newsletter writing business may be a promising business to start - but the success of your online newsletter writing business mostly depends on your effort and your approach.

If you focus on these, you'll have a much higher chance of a profitable online newsletter writing business.

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