Online Selling Business

2 Online Selling Business Success Stories [2024]

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Updated: October 10th, 2024

Starting an online selling business can be both rewarding and challenging. The essence of this venture is simple: create an online store and sell products directly to consumers.

You'll need to choose a niche, source products, and set up your website. There are platforms like Shopify that make the technical aspects easier. You'll also have to handle customer service, marketing, inventory management, and shipping logistics.

The appeal lies in the flexibility and low overhead costs compared to a physical store. Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent or simply looking for a side hustle, an online selling business offers scalability and the potential to reach a global audience.

This business requires dedication and consistent effort. Mastering digital marketing, understanding your target audience, and staying updated with ecommerce trends can lead to significant rewards. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, this may be the perfect opportunity for you.

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

1. Gumroad ($21.2M/year)

Sahil loves building stuff. He really enjoyed the process of taking a problem coming up with a solution, and then shipping a prototype of that solution to see how good his concept was. Before finishing college he had already shipped a dozen products. Most of the time, they weren't that great.

But sometimes something works out really well, and then he has to decide if he actually wants to work on the idea some more. Very rarely, the answer is yes. That was the case with Gumroad. The question at its core was really compelling to him: How easy could one make it to sell something?

How much money it makes: $21.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 17

Gumroad: Revenue, Profit, Growth, & Story Behind It All

Learn how Sahil Lavingia grew Gumroad from a weekend project into an e-commerce powerhouse generating $21.2 million annually, using nothing more than elbow grease and cold emails to drive their early growth.

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2. 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

I Built My Marketing Agency From Scratch To $13K/Month

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.

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Read by 1,343 founders