5 Shipping Business Success Stories [2024]
The shipping business is an exciting and dynamic way to earn a living, and it’s a perfect opportunity for those looking for a change of pace from the typical 9-5 office job. This business entails transporting goods and cargo from one place to another. It can involve everything from small packages and envelopes to large freight containers and pallets.
To run a successful shipping business, you should keep a few key things in mind. Firstly, it’s essential to establish a good working relationship with your clients. You need to be reliable, punctual and have excellent communication skills. This will ensure that your clients come back to you time and time again.
Another tip for shipping business success is investing in high-quality equipment and vehicles. This could include a variety of trucks, trailers, and cargo containers. The right equipment is essential to ensure that your cargo arrives safely and on time.
Lastly, it’s essential to be well-versed in the ins and outs of the industry. This could include understanding the different regulations and laws that apply to shipping and staying up-to-date with new developments in the field. Being informed and knowledgeable about the industry will give you an edge over competitors.
Overall, the shipping business is an excellent opportunity for those who want to be their boss and take control of their career. With hard work, dedication, and a little know-how, you can make your shipping business a booming success.
In this list, you'll find real-world shipping business success stories and very profitable examples of starting a shipping business that makes money.
1. ShipHero ($28.8M/year)
Nicholas Daniel-Richards and Aaron Rubin founded ShipHero in 2013 after experiencing frustrations with legacy warehousing software. They saw a market for a more accessible solution that could work on iPhones or tablets, offering features like order management and integration with e-commerce channels. Since then, ShipHero has grown to bootstrapped revenues of $30 million annually, processing over $5 billion of e-commerce gross merchandise volume annually.
How much money it makes: $28.8M/year
How many people on the team: 193
ShipHero co-founders built their successful e-commerce fulfillment business, offering warehouse management software and outsourced eCommerce fulfillment, growing revenues from zero to $30 million annually, processing over $5 billion of e-commerce gross merchandise volume (GMV) annually while only having received $435,000 in outside capital investment.
2. Easy Auto Ship ($18M/year)
Eric Ray, CEO and Founder of Easy Auto Ship, came up with the idea for his vehicle shipping brokerage after experiencing a frustrating and inconsistent car shipping process. Recognizing the growing demand for car shipping services, particularly with the rise of online car purchases, Ray saw an opportunity to create a better pricing system and started his own brokerage. Through hard work and the development of an instant pricing technology called TAQ, Ray was able to build a successful business, boasting an average of $250,000 a month in brokerage fees and a net profit of $100,000 a month.
How much money it makes: $18M/year
How much did it cost to start: $20K
How many people on the team: 23
Eric Ray founded Easy Auto Ship LLC, a vehicle shipping brokerage, generating $250,000/month in brokerage fees with a net profit of $100,000/month and averaging over 1,500 Google reviews with a 4.6 rating, expected to earn $18 million/year in total sales, expanding into B2B with two more divisions.
3. DocShipper ($13M/year)
Nicolas Rahmé, with a background in new technologies and geopolitics, co-founded DocShipper in 2018 with his brother after seeing a fragmented logistics industry ripe for disruption, achieving a staggering $4.9M turnover by 2021.
How much money it makes: $13M/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
How many people on the team: 45
DocShipper is a digital freight forwarding and sourcing company that offers a one-stop-shop solution for companies and e-commerce business owners throughout the supply chain, which saw over 700% growth in 2021 with a turnover of $4.9 million.
4. Velocity International Group ($1.8M/year)
Ben Elizer, the founder of Velocity International Group, came up with the idea for his logistics company after working at another logistics company for almost five years. He wanted more responsibility and growth opportunities, so he decided to start his own company using the knowledge he had acquired. Despite facing financial difficulties and having to move back in with his mom, Ben put everything he had into Velocity and it has since grown into a successful business, with revenue increasing by over 300% in the past two years.
How much money it makes: $1.8M/year
How many people on the team: 17
How a logistics company grew its revenue over 300% in 2 years, starting with just 2 vans and 25k+ square feet of warehouse space, and focused on relationships, efficiency, and building trust with its customers.
5. InXpress Winnipeg ($780K/year)
Steve Setka and his father Tom decided to buy an InXpress franchise in 2017. With zero experience in freight or business ownership, they faced significant challenges and difficulties in the first two years. However, they persisted, and now, in their fourth year, they are projected to hit CAD 1 million in revenue.
How much money it makes: $780K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 4
A Canadian entrepreneur, Steve Setka, and his father bought an InXpress franchise in Mid 2017, starting as a parcel software platform and now specializing in LTL less-than-truckload services as well, with a minor capacity in Full Truckload and ocean freight, with a projected revenue of CAD 1M.
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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.
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