23 Branding Agency Success Stories [2024]
A branding agency helps create, develop, maintain and improve brands. The role of branding agencies is to create, plan, measure, and manage branding strategies for clients to support them in advertising and other promotions.
Business branding has always been a vital part of a business. With branding, businesses reach more customers daily and stay relevant to their existing customers. As companies compete to get more customers and remain relevant, there is a high demand for branding solutions.
Starting a branding agency can be a profitable and satisfying business venture. To start a branding agency, you must be able to weave together disparate pieces of data and information into compelling narratives so you can help a business convey its story or express its unique values and culture.
Here are some real life success stories of starting a branding agency:
1. Elva Li Luxury Branding ($120K/year)
Elva Li, a brand stylist and designer, came up with the idea for her luxury branding agency when she realized that she could combine her love for creating beautiful designs with her passion for helping female entrepreneurs turn their visions into premium brands. After building her side hustle while working full-time in her corporate job, Elva launched her business by offering branding and website design services and gradually increased her prices as her portfolio grew. With a clear business plan and a commitment to taking massive daily action, Elva successfully quit her job and turned her side hustle into a thriving business.
How much they make: $120K/year
Current team size: 1
How one founder started a luxury boutique branding house and quit her corporate job, becoming a successful entrepreneur with a team of contractors, interns, and VAs, expanding services to personal styling, social media management, and content creation, while building an online course and planning to become a community for female entrepreneurs.
2. Draftss ($180K/year)
Junaid Ansari and Amin Memon co-founded Draftss.com, a productized graphic design and frontend code service. They started by providing graphic design services and later added frontend coding to their list of offerings based on customer requests. In 2019, they made $66,000 in annual recurring revenue (ARR), and as of July 2020, they hit $9.6k in monthly recurring revenue (MRR). Their focus is on automation and improving their service to retain customers and scale their business.
How much they make: $180K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
Current team size: 25
Draftss.com is a productized graphic design and front-end code service on subscription that made $66k ARR in 2019, has an MRR of $9.6k as of July 2020, and offers add-ons such as designers being added to team in interacting tools and front-end code services on WordPress using various page builders like Elementor and Divi.
So... can you actually make money with a branding agency?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
3. Agent C. Advertising ($240K/year)
David Caruso, the founder of Agent C Advertising, was motivated to start his own agency after disagreeing with the way the other partners ran the business. He felt that their focus was on creating work that could win awards rather than creating work that would benefit the client. He wanted to build an agency that valued customer relationships and created work that solved the problems the clients needed to have solved.
How much they make: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
Current team size: 4
Agent C Advertising is a full-service ad agency, emphasizing content creation for print ads, social media, and video productions, that started with just two clients in 2018 and now has more than 35 clients who are active at least quarterly and generates over $20k per month, all through word of mouth referrals, thanks to the agency's focus on building and maintaining strong relationships with its clients.
4. OrangeBall Creative ($480K/year)
Beau Nordby, along with his partners, launched OrangeBall Creative in 2012, initially offering print and digital creative services. However, they realized that their clients struggled with finding the right words to describe their businesses and differentiate themselves. This led them to create Brand Bounce Bootcamp, a set of exercises designed to help businesses simplify their marketing messages and tell their stories. They now offer these exercises in a downloadable, online format, bringing affordable marketing help to small and mid-sized businesses.
How much they make: $480K/year
Current team size: 3
OrangeBall Creative's co-founder shares how they launched Brand Bounce Bootcamp, a set of brand messaging exercises that has helped hundreds of businesses simplify their marketing messages, differentiate themselves, and understand their audience's driving forces.
So... can you actually make money with a branding agency?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
5. The Creative Collective ($2.4M/year)
Yvette Adams, founder of The Creative Collective, came up with the idea to start her marketing agency out of both ambition and necessity. With a diverse background in marketing and media, she saw the potential in offering a one-stop-shop for creative services on the Sunshine Coast. She began by offering her services to people she knew and quickly gained clients and referrals, positioning her agency as a pioneer in the industry.
How much they make: $2.4M/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
Current team size: 20
The Creative Collective is a full-service marketing agency that has grown its revenue and doubled its team in the past year, with around 100 active clients and responding to an average of 160 inquiries each month.
6. Never Settle ($1.8M/year)
Kenn Kelly, co-founder of Never Settle, came up with the idea for the digital agency after experiencing the ups and downs of the tech startup world. He realized the importance of taking care of people and decided to create a company that values and empowers both clients and staff. With a focus on service and building long-lasting relationships, Never Settle has become a globally recognized leader in mobile, website, and marketing solutions, completing over 1,000 projects in seven years.
How much they make: $1.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 15
Never Settle, a digital agency with over 1,000 completed projects and a focus on lean methodology and building relationships with clients, has made a name for itself in the eCommerce space, offering comprehensive solutions to businesses of all sizes while maintaining consistent and moderate growth.
So... can you actually make money with a branding agency?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
7. Bop Design ($2.4M/year)
Kara Jensen, co-founder of Bop Design, initially started the company as a side gig while working full-time. After experiencing the instability of the financial industry during the subprime mortgage crisis, she convinced her husband to join her and they focused on B2B website design and marketing services. Through smart financial management and a focus on value-added services, Bop Design has grown to become a multi-million dollar marketing agency, making the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies list two years in a row.
How much they make: $2.4M/year
How much did it cost to start: $25K
Current team size: 13
Bop Design, a B2B digital marketing agency, evolved through working with high-tech, software, industrial, and life science companies to develop lead-generating websites, brand platforms, and content marketing programs, and saw 153.1% revenue growth, landing them on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies list for two years in a row.
8. Tungsten Branding ($1.2M/year)
Phil Davis, a brand naming expert, came up with the idea for his business, Tungsten Branding, after realizing that the traditional advertising agency model was broken. He wanted to create a new type of agency that focused on natural attraction and alignment to help businesses succeed in a more intuitive and effective manner. Starting with a basic website and leveraging referrals and networking, Phil grew Tungsten Branding into a top-five global-rated naming and branding agency that now bills nearly seven figures a year.
How much they make: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.5K
Current team size: 5
Tungsten Branding, a naming and branding agency started with virtually no expenses and showcasing only quality work, has become a top-five globally rated naming and branding agency, billing nearly seven figures a year and naming over 500 companies, products, and services including international companies such as Hitachi, Johnson Control, Lumenis, and AO Smith.
9. Percept ($1.32M/year)
Lewis Jenkins, the founder of Percept Brand Design, started his business 24 years ago with a vision of creating a design agency that prioritized work-life balance and did not rely on unpaid overtime. Despite starting as a one-man show, Percept has grown to a team of 10 and now generates approximately $1.5 million in revenue each year. By implementing a pricing structure that tripled the quality of work delivered and the billing rate, Jenkins was able to achieve financial success while also maintaining a high quality of life.
How much they make: $1.32M/year
How much did it cost to start: $20K
Current team size: 8
This case study is about how Lewis Jenkins bootstrapped his branding and creative agency in Sydney, which now turns over approximately $1.5M/year, employs 10 staff, and has worked with high-profile clients such as Unilever, Dulux, Toyota, Sennheiser, and The Australian Government, while maintaining a focus on company culture and work/life balance.
10. MOTIF® ($420K/year)
After facing several failures in his eCommerce journey, Ash, an eCommerce branding and marketing consultant, came up with the idea for his business Motif. He realized that by niching down to the Luxury Fashion industry and offering value-driven marketing services, he could attract and retain clients in a profitable and impactful way. Now, his agency maintains a 75% profit margin and has plans to expand operations and become a pioneer agency in the Luxury Lifestyle space.
How much they make: $420K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
Current team size: 15
Learn how a growth-driven digital agency targeting luxury fashion and lifestyle brands grew from making $10k a month to $50k-$100k in recurring revenue, with a niche client focus, specialized content marketing, and a focus on value-based pricing and driving results.
11. WOO Branding ($48K/year)
Ulas Uygun, the founder of WOO Branding, came up with the idea after watching a viral animated video. With no prior experience in graphic design or starting a business, he took online courses and practiced for 6 months before landing his first client. Through Instagram marketing and cold outreach, he was able to grow his business and eventually shift the strategic focus to B2C, bringing in $4,000 monthly revenue in the first half of its first year.
How much they make: $48K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
Current team size: 2
WOO Branding, a B2B/B2C logo design and branding service, grew to bring in $4,000 monthly revenue in just six months as a B2C service with a profit margin of over 90%, and founder Ulas Uygun shares tips for aspiring graphic designers to self-learn and build a brand on almost no monetary investment.
12. Athlo agncy ($192K/year)
Jay Fuller, along with co-founders Aly and Isaac Nauta, came up with the idea for athlo agncy after a mom reached out to Jay about helping her daughter with NIL opportunities. With Aly's expertise in personal branding and Isaac's experience as a former college athlete, they saw a gap in the market and decided to create a personal branding startup specifically for college athletes navigating the NIL landscape. Through grassroots marketing, strategic partnerships, and cold outreach, they have been able to gain traction and attract potential customers before their official launch.
How much they make: $192K/year
Current team size: 0
Athlo agncy co-founder Jay Fuller shares the story of how the personal branding startup for college athletes navigating NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) was able to generate brand awareness through strategic partnerships and grassroots marketing initiatives, securing athlo ambassadors, event participation, and on-campus workshops with two different universities in pre-launch mode.
13. Digital Butter ($132K/year)
Robyn Mays and Richard Eltringham, the founders of Digital Butter, started their profitable digital marketing agency by doing a lot of work for free. Their generosity and genuine relationships built through pro-bono work have led to exponential growth, with revenue increasing 71% this quarter and a team that has expanded to 6 members. Their success is a testament to the power of generosity and word of mouth in attracting and retaining clients.
How much they make: $132K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
Current team size: 5
Digital Butter, a profitable digital marketing agency based in South Africa, was started five years ago by doing free work for non-profit organizations, and has since grown almost completely through the act of generosity and based on word of mouth, resulting in a full-time team of 4, 2 part-time team members, and clients from more than 10 different countries.
14. Karen Canlas ($36K/year)
Karen Canlas, the founder of luxury branding studio Karen Canlas, came up with the idea for her business while reading the book "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" during the pandemic. Inspired by the book and her desire to take action and pursue her dreams, she joined Upwork as a virtual assistant and eventually discovered her passion for luxury branding and design. Through strategic branding and web design, Karen has been able to elevate her clients' brands and attract top clients, earning $2,500 per client.
How much they make: $36K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 1
Luxury brand strategist, Karen Canlas, explains how she went from earning $200 to $2,500 per client by niching down and offering bespoke luxury branding experiences to her target market of founders and lifestyle brands.
15. EGAMI ($8.9M/year)
How much they make: $8.9M/year
Current team size: 34
Case study article about Egami, a multicultural integrated communications firm with 15 years of experience successfully providing integrated marketing, influencer marketing, brand strategy, and other services in the advertising sector, along with PR management services for corporate crises, founded by Teneshia Jackson Warner, who authored Profit With Purpose.
16. Above 8000 Creative ($120K/year)
Mimi and Delaney, the founders of Above 8000 Creative, came up with the idea for their business after realizing the demand for affordable and high-quality branding services for small businesses. They used their experience in graphic design, photography, and content creation to offer a full-service creative agency, helping other businesses stand out in their industries. With word-of-mouth referrals and targeted outreach on platforms like Instagram, they have successfully attracted and retained clients, leading to profitability and future growth.
How much they make: $120K/year
Current team size: 2
Above 8000 Creative is a successful creative agency started as a side hustle by a husband and wife team, specializing in graphic design, website design, photography, content creation, and Instagram marketing, and has grown to include many clients and services due to word of mouth referrals.
17. Love & Logic ($96K/year)
Angela had been the co-founder of a large successful agency for over a decade. However, her work-life balance wasn't optimal, and she was struggling to juggle roles between an agency owner and a creative person. Finally, she decided to take the leap and start her own solo creative studio with a clear mind and a focus on freedom.
How much they make: $96K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2.5K
Current team size: 0
Love & Logic is a profitable solo creative studio, specializing in brand identity, animation, and motion graphics, averaging around $8k per month, targeting ethical brands, local authorities, and universities with a clear brand strategy, manifest, and reputation for quality and value-based pricing.
18. Branperience ($96K/year)
Teju, an Intuitive Empath and Founder of Branperience, came up with the idea for her business after realizing the importance of emotions and feelings in decision-making. Through her unique approach and strategic experiential marketing, she has been able to increase brand equity by 87% and revenue by 72%, while fostering strong relationships with stakeholders. Despite facing financial challenges, Teju launched Branperience with just $65 and has since attracted new contracts through word of mouth.
How much they make: $96K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 3
Branperience is a full-service brand experience firm with a unique, people-focused approach to increase brand equity, loyalty, and return on investment, resulting in a 22-37% revenue increase each year and a diverse portfolio supporting an array of industries.
19. Designproof ($180K/year)
Designproof was founded by Eva Maganja and Urban Bradesko as a solution to the frustrations they experienced with other design agencies. Eva's friend had a negative experience with an agency that charged by the hour and delivered subpar results, while Eva herself dealt with agencies that lacked communication and customization. This led them to create Designproof, an agency that offers fixed monthly rates, unlimited design requests, and direct communication with designers, resulting in happy clients and a starting revenue of $15k per month.
How much they make: $180K/year
How much did it cost to start: $168
Current team size: 2
Designproof is a startup design agency that provides affordable, fixed monthly-rate design solutions for businesses and startups and is gaining traction with word-of-mouth growth, seeing impressive profits of $15k per month with just two employees in six months.
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
