5 Paid Advertising Business Success Stories [2024]
Think you have a knack for drawing attention online? Consider starting a paid advertising business. This venture involves creating and managing online ad campaigns for businesses across various platforms such as Google, Facebook, and Instagram.
As a paid advertising specialist, your job is to understand clients' goals, design eye-catching ads, and use data analytics to optimize their performance. This business is in high demand, thanks to the growing necessity for online visibility.
To get started, you need basic knowledge of online advertising tools and platforms, but that can be learned through readily available courses. Once you've mastered the basics, you can begin by offering your services to small businesses, gradually expanding your client base.
Combining creativity with data-driven strategies, a paid advertising business offers you the chance to make a real impact on your clients' success while carving out a rewarding and scalable career for yourself.
In this list, you'll find real-world paid advertising business success stories and very profitable examples of starting a paid advertising business that makes money.
1. 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.
2. STRYDE ($2.16M/year)
Founder Greg Shuey got his start in affiliate marketing and became interested in search engine optimization (SEO) after seeing affiliates boost their website traffic and revenue. After working at multiple agencies, he decided to start Stryde to offer custom digital marketing strategies, focusing on SEO, paid search, paid social, email marketing, and conversion rate optimization. Stryde has been in business for almost 9 years and has generated over $2 million in revenue.
How much money it makes: $2.16M/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 13
Stryde is a women-owned eCommerce digital marketing agency that has been in business for almost 9 years, focusing on creating custom digital marketing strategies that generated just over $2 million in revenue, with a growth strategy of bringing on the right clients and specializing early.
3. NAV43 ($1.14M/year)
Ben Dankiw, co-founder and CEO of NAV43, came up with the idea for his technical digital marketing agency while working as a marketing coordinator. With a strong analytical mindset and experience in Google Ads, he realized the impact he could have on brands at a larger level. After partnering with colleagues and building a client roster, they scaled the business to an MRR in the 6-figures and continue to attract and retain customers through their SEO and PPC services.
How much money it makes: $1.14M/year
How much did it cost to start: $25K
How many people on the team: 7
NAV43 is a technical digital marketing agency specializing in SEO, CRO, and PPC services, known for its SEO delivery, averaging an MRR in the 6-figures with a client roster across e-commerce, lead generation, and publisher sites.
4. Vivid Candi, Inc. ($840K/year)
Chris Wizner, the founder and CEO of Vivid Candi, came up with the idea for his digital tech agency at the age of 16. He started by selling graphic design services to neighbors and locals and gradually grew his client base. Through networking events and his willingness to work hard, he was able to land prestigious clients like Pepperdine University and build his business into a successful venture.
How much money it makes: $840K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50
How many people on the team: 11
Founder and CEO Chris Wizner started Vivid Candi, a full-service digital tech agency, at age 16 with only a $300 Taco Bell paycheck as capital, and now the agency has been running for over 22 years with 10+ employees and an impressive clientele, thanks to networking, Google Adwords, SEO, and selective, quality relationships with clients.
5. Advertisemint ($600K/year)
Brian, the founder of AdvertiseMint, came up with the idea for the business after seeing the launch of Facebook's advertising platform. He realized the enormous potential it had in the world of advertising and decided to specialize in Facebook ads, becoming a leader in the industry. Through hard work and determination, AdvertiseMint has grown to manage close to $100 million in digital media buys for clients such as Coca-Cola and Viacom, making it the number one Facebook advertising agency on Google.
How much money it makes: $600K/year
How many people on the team: 10
This case study is about how the founder of AdvertiseMint, a Facebook advertising agency, started the company with just one employee and has since grown it to 25 employees, managing close to $100 million in digital media buys for clients such as Coca-Cola and Viacom.
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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.