100 Marketing Agency Success Stories [2024]
Marketing agencies can be a great option for businesses looking to advertise in different ways. For businesses, hiring a marketing company can help them achieve success as they don't have to spend money on employees or needed equipment. Marketing agencies are not inexpensive and there are many different variables that come into play when deciding which one is the best fit for your business.
You want to start a marketing agency, but don't know where to begin. You're not alone, there are thousands of entrepreneurs across the globe that have the same ambition. Luckily for you, compiled a list of how other agencies were able to grow their agency and scale effectively.
In this list, you'll find real-world marketing agency success stories and very profitable examples of starting a marketing agency that makes money.
1. Madwire ($102M/year)
JB Kellogg, the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Madwire, came up with the idea for his business while interning at a travel magazine company. After realizing his talent for website design and seeing the potential for helping businesses grow through digital marketing, JB and his father decided to start Madwire and grew it into a company with over 500 employees and $100 million in annual revenue in less than 10 years. Their mission is to help small businesses grow and make a difference in their local communities.
How much money it makes: $102M/year
How many people on the team: 520
Co-founder of Madwire JB Kellogg grew his business from just the two of them in a tiny office to over 500 employees and $100 million in annual revenue in under 10 years, by focusing on exceptional customer service and a multi-channel inbound strategy.
2. Madrivo ($44.4M/year)
Ronen Hamatian, CEO of Madrivo, came up with the idea for his performance marketing agency after working in the wholesale lending industry and realizing the need for better lead quality and compliance in online advertising. By pivoting the business model and focusing on sourcing brands directly, Madrivo has become a trusted partner for leading US brands and achieved a three-year revenue growth of 72%.
How much money it makes: $44.4M/year
How many people on the team: 47
Performance marketing agency Madrivo has grown into a $44 million-per-year business by offering low-risk, high-reward performance marketing services and focusing on quality, compliant offers from proud brand partners across a range of channels, all while emphasizing the importance of people, culture, and values.
3. ConvertKit ($25M/year)
In 2013, Nathan set a challenge for himself: build a $5K/mo SaaS in 6 months with just $5,000. He got the idea after reading people's complaints about Mailchimp online, and decided to build a product that addressed those.
How much money it makes: $25M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 82
Discover how Nathan Barry bootstrapped ConvertKit from a $5,000 investment to a $25 million/year email marketing powerhouse by addressing the main objections of online creators and scaling through a lucrative affiliate program with an impressive $2.08 million/month average revenue.
4. The Pedowitz Group ($18M/year)
Jeff and Cherie started The Pedowitz Group in 2007, leveraging their expertise in sales and marketing. They saw an opportunity to provide consulting services in the digital marketing space and quickly gained momentum through word-of-mouth and industry referrals. Today, they have achieved over $20 million in annual revenue and continue to focus on growth and providing excellent service to their clients.
How much money it makes: $18M/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 100
Pedowitz Group, a $20M+ consulting agency, shares the story of how they grew their business by prioritizing customer retention/loyalty, being platform-agnostic, and focusing on strong results aligned with clients' key business objectives.
5. Visiture ($10.8M/year)
Brian Cohen, the founder of Visiture, came up with the idea for his eCommerce marketing agency after selling his previous businesses and gaining experience in online marketing. Fueled by his passion for eCommerce, Cohen and his partner decided to focus on working with eCommerce brands and began marketing through PPC ads and content marketing, ultimately leading to the growth and success of Visiture.
How much money it makes: $10.8M/year
How many people on the team: 100
eCommerce marketing agency Visiture has achieved impressive growth, with revenues up 84% YoY, exceeding $1m monthly recurring revenue, representing more than 140 merchants including Spanx and BarkBox, and landing at #753 on the 2019 Inc. 5000 list; CEO Brian Cohen advises startups to concentrate on one core service line, work with well-known brands and to use content marketing to establish expertise.
6. Zero Gravity Marketing ($9.6M/year)
Chris Uzzo, the founder of Zero Gravity Marketing, came up with the idea for his digital marketing agency after building and overseeing the SEO and PPC departments for multiple agencies. With a focus on data-driven strategies and a commitment to transparency, Zero Gravity Marketing has experienced impressive growth, including being recognized by Inc as one of the fastest-growing privately-owned companies and projecting over $10 million in revenue for 2022.
How much money it makes: $9.6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 70
Zero Gravity Marketing is a five-star rated digital marketing agency with Premier Google Partnership and recognized by Inc 5000 for the last three years, on track to gross over $10M in 2022, specializing in SEO, paid media management, social media marketing, email marketing, website design, CRO, content marketing and creative services.
7. TribalVision ($8.4M/year)
Chris Ciunci, the founder of TribalVision, came up with the idea for his business while working as the CMO of a Federal Savings Bank. He was constantly approached by creative agencies, but their recommendations didn't align with the bank's data-driven decisions. This disconnect inspired Chris to start a different type of marketing firm that focuses on lead generation and tailors strategies to clients' needs. Today, TribalVision is a rapidly growing marketing agency with a roster of over 80 clients and 75 full-time marketing specialists.
How much money it makes: $8.4M/year
How many people on the team: 70
Marketing agency TribalVision grew from a one-man shop to one of the top marketing agencies in Rhode Island and the Boston market, serving over 80 clients and employing 75 full-time marketing specialists, by aligning with clients' needs and focusing on lead generation with online marketing tactics.
8. Brandetize ($6M/year)
Eric Berman, the founder of Brandetize, came up with the idea for his digital marketing agency after consulting for famous author Brian Tracy. He realized that he could provide the same services to other successful businesses looking to scale and monetize their brands. With a strong network and a focus on delivering results, Brandetize has become a profitable company with a bright future ahead.
How much money it makes: $6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $998
How many people on the team: 27
Former dotcom entrepreneur Eric Berman built a profitable digital marketing agency by backing into it — helping successful businesses scale and monetize their brands.
9. DSM ($6M/year)
Darren Magarro started DSM, a full-service marketing and PR firm, in 2007 with just a laptop and some IKEA furniture on his front porch. Through smart money management and building trust with clients, DSM has grown by 334% since 2014 and currently boasts 18 employees and a new 6,600 sq. ft. office. With a focus on staying efficient and being the best in their home state of New Jersey, DSM is experiencing its best year yet with 128% revenue growth.
How much money it makes: $6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 14
This case study follows the journey of Darren Magarro, who started DSM, a full-service marketing and PR firm from his porch with just a laptop and IKEA furniture, and has since grown it to 18 employees with 334% growth since 2014, utilizing organic and paid digital media, traditional media, and a full-service creative team.
10. Business Builders ($3.6M/year)
A 17-year-old entrepreneur started Design Extensions, now rebranded as Business Builders, with a passion for building websites. Over the past two decades, the business has experienced significant growth, generating over $3,000,000 in sales this year. They offer coaching, marketing, and development services to help other businesses grow, emphasizing progress over perfection.
How much money it makes: $3.6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.5K
How many people on the team: 16
Business owner grew digital media agency from $5,000 to over $3,000,000 in sales annually by focusing on progress over perfection, implementing clear systems and processes, and building relationships through marketing, speaking engagements, social media, and email campaigns.
11. Jakt ($3.6M/year)
Anthony Tumbiolo, founder of Jakt, started the business after running an events business and teaching himself how to code in college. He realized he loved helping other businesses succeed and saw the potential to impact many people by creating software for them. Jakt started with a six-month contract from their first client, and they have since grown their business through referrals and strategic channel partnerships. In 2018, they achieved $4 million in revenue with a 20% profit margin.
How much money it makes: $3.6M/year
How many people on the team: 15
Jakt, a digital product and innovation studio based in NYC, works with both startups and large enterprises, operating on a revenue of $4 million in 2018 with a 20% profit margin, with focus on referrals and channel partnerships to attract and retain clients.
12. 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.
13. 51blocks ($2.52M/year)
Michael Borgelt, the founder of 51Blocks and BionicWP, was inspired by his grandfather's business principles of helping people. He saw a need for quality digital marketing services and SEO expertise in the industry, so he started 51Blocks in 2009. With a strong focus on customer service and referrals, the agency has achieved an impressive customer lifetime value of 2.5+ years and generates $2.6 million in annual revenue. Building on this success, Borgelt launched BionicWP in 2020 to provide hyper-fast WordPress hosting with top-notch customer support.
How much money it makes: $2.52M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 30
This case study is about Michael Borgelt, founder of 51Blocks and BionicWP, who generates $2.6M revenue annually offering quality digital marketing and hosting solutions, including white label SEO, hyper-fast WordPress hosting, website development, and paid advertising, achieving a customer lifetime value of 2.5+ years and hosting 2,000 sites in about 1.5 years.
14. Tetra ($2.4M/year)
Phil Rivers, an email marketer, started Tetra in 2019 as a one-man shop with $5k/month in revenue. He focused on email marketing for e-commerce businesses and grew Tetra to a team of 15 with $200k MRR and over $200,000,000 in sales generated for clients.
How much money it makes: $2.4M/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 11
15. Hustler Marketing ($2.4M/year)
After trying various jobs and experiencing financial struggles, Bostjan decided to go all-in and start the "Hustle House" in Barcelona with three other entrepreneurs. While working on his craft as a copywriter, Bostjan started offering email marketing services and quickly learned the technical aspects. Through hard work and dedication, his agency, Hustler Marketing, grew rapidly and now manages retention marketing for 70 eCommerce stores worldwide, generating impressive revenue figures.
How much money it makes: $2.4M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 68
Hustler Marketing, a remote email and SMS marketing agency, manages retention marketing for about 70 eCommerce stores worldwide, closed its 4th year at about $2.2M, and will aim to do $3-4M in 2022, with a net profit of around 30%.
16. Limeup ($2.16M/year)
Recognizing their superior product and UX design skills compared to competitors, Andrew and his team decided to capitalize on this strength by launching Limeup, a specialized Product Design Agency that generated $2.1 million in revenue in 2022 with 30% annual growth.
How much money it makes: $2.16M/year
How much did it cost to start: $20K
How many people on the team: 40
Limeup, a Product Design Agency, has experienced impressive growth with a workforce of 40+ professionals and a revenue of $2.1 million in 2022, aiming for a 50% growth rate in the current year by providing expertly crafted digital products and experiences to clients worldwide.
17. 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.
18. Profitable Pineapple Ads ($2M/year)
Feeling burned out as an optometrist, Dr. Travis Zigler and his wife Jenna took a bold step in 2010, pivoting from their steady practices to launch Eye Love, growing the e-commerce business to $500,000 per month and helping over 140,000 dry eye sufferers before selling it in 2021.
How much money it makes: $2M/year
How many people on the team: 10
This case study tells the story of Dr. Travis Zigler, who transitioned from being an optometrist to building a successful e-commerce business, Eye Love, which grew to $500,000 per month in sales and was recognized as one of the Inc 500's fastest-growing companies, before eventually selling it. Dr. Zigler then founded the Profitable Pineapple Ads Agency, specializing in Amazon PPC, with a mission to drive exponential growth for purpose-driven e-commerce brands and collectively donate $100 Million to causes that can change the world.
19. Elit-web ($1.8M/year)
Igor Volovyi, co-founder and CEO of Elit-Web, transformed his freelance website optimization success into a thriving marketing agency with 1,200 clients and $120,000-$150,000 monthly revenue by recognizing a high demand for effective SEO and transparent analytics.
How much money it makes: $1.8M/year
How many people on the team: 120
Case study about Elit-web, a marketing company that helps businesses grow online, with 10 years of industry experience, a team of 120 experts, over 1,200 clients, more than 2,500 successful projects, and an average monthly revenue of $120,000-$150,000 through SEO promotion.
20. Lone Fir Creative ($1.8M/year)
Tyler Pigott, the founder of Lone Fir Creative, came up with the idea for his business after spending years working in the corporate and startup spaces, helping others start and grow companies. He wanted to create a consulting firm that focused on long-term growth and solving clients' sales and marketing problems. Through constant iterations and improvements, Pigott built a team of creative problem solvers and developed processes and systems to ensure the delivery of quality services to clients. With a focus on building relationships and a brand that wasn't centered around himself, Pigott has been able to attract and retain customers, resulting in steady growth and an expected revenue of $3.5M-$4M this year.
How much money it makes: $1.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $300
How many people on the team: 15
Lone Fir Creative, a strategic growth agency catering to tech, healthcare, and academic brands, reached $3.5M-$4M in revenue this year since being founded in 2015, with a primary focus on building relationships with key communities and adding value for clients.
21. 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 money it makes: $1.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 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.
22. Prolific Zone ($1.66M/year)
Quin Amorim, the founder of Prolific Zone, came up with the idea for his eCommerce agency after successfully selling products online for over 25 years. He realized his passion for creating and launching products and brands online and decided to help others do the same. With a team of 18 people and a customer retention rate of over 80%, Prolific Zone generates an impressive average of $140K per month without spending a single dollar on advertising.
How much money it makes: $1.66M/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
How many people on the team: 15
Prolific Zone is an eCommerce agency founded by Quin Amorim that has experienced significant growth, with a team of 18 people, a customer retention rate of over 80%, and generating an average of $140K per month helping brands sell their products internationally through Amazon and Walmart.
23. Intellitonic ($1.62M/year)
Intellitonic, a digital marketing agency, was founded by Alex, Courtney, and Jared after realizing they could do digital marketing more effectively and transparently with organizations they care about. With their collective skills and experience in SEO, PPC, and software, they launched Intellitonic and have grown to a team of eleven without compromising their values.
How much money it makes: $1.62M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 12
Intellitonic is a digital marketing agency that grew from 3 to 11 people in less than 5 years without investment, earning $90k/month in revenue, with over 97 clients through a combination of referrals, relationships, and online ads.
24. Growave ($1.32M/year)
Eldar, the founder of Growave, started the business after realizing the limitations of his successful previous venture, ThinkLab. With a desire to expand into a dynamic market, Eldar and his team researched and developed a product for the growing e-commerce industry. Despite facing challenges and delays, Growave eventually launched as a free app and gained traction through forums and the Shopify App Store, steadily growing its customer base and revenue to over 12,000 merchants and $110,000 per month.
How much money it makes: $1.32M/year
How much did it cost to start: $100K
How many people on the team: 70
Growave, an all-in-one marketing tool for Shopify brands, went from struggling to be profitable to earning over $110,000 monthly with over 12,000 merchants using the app worldwide, thanks to an improved marketing and retention strategy implemented after the launch.
25. Sievers Creative ($1.2M/year)
Roger Sievers, founder of Sievers Creative, started the business as a side hustle to pay off his student loans. He saw a gap in the market for serving small-sized businesses that were underserved by larger agencies. After years of building skills and developing relationships, Sievers Creative has experienced impressive growth, with a team of 8 and a 40-50% year-over-year revenue increase.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How many people on the team: 8
Sievers Creative, a full-service marketing agency in Minnesota, founded as a part-time side project, specializes in multi-channel marketing campaigns, and has experienced year-over-year revenue growth of 50-60% for four years, and currently has a team of eight.
26. Inquivix ($1.2M/year)
keep coming back for more. Additionally, we provide exceptional customer service and personalized strategies tailored to each client's specific needs, which sets us apart from our competitors. Our 10X-ed annual revenue growth and our strong reputation in the industry also attract new customers to our agency.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.5K
How many people on the team: 15
Inquivix is a leading digital marketing agency in Asia with regional hubs in multiple countries, generating $1.2M in annual revenue by helping clients enter the Korean market through social media and content creation, backed by extensive research, data analysis, and SEO strategies.
27. BrandBurp Digital ($1.2M/year)
Anshul Sharma, the founder of BrandBurp, was working at a corporate firm when he realized his true passion was entrepreneurship. He started BrandBurp in 2015 with the vision to revolutionize the functioning of websites, mobile applications, and brands. Since then, the company has grown into one of the fastest-growing digital marketing agencies, leveraging over 2,000 brands and generating over 1,000 leads and 3 billion USD ROI globally.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 175
BrandBurp, a digital marketing company founded in 2015, has leveraged over 2,000 brands to strategically market their business and boost their revenue, generating over 1,000 leads and 3 billion USD ROI globally and working with big names such as Coca-Cola and Supreme.
28. Impressions Agency ($1.2M/year)
Travis and his wife started Impressions Agency while on their honeymoon in Costa Rica, with the initial goal of making $800 per month. They began by offering affordable online marketing services, but quickly realized the need to provide a more comprehensive solution. Through hard work and a focus on customer service, Impressions has grown into a successful digital marketing agency.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How many people on the team: 20
From a honeymoon in Costa Rica to a successful global digital marketing agency generating $100k a month, Travis Richardson shares his journey of building Impressions Agency without taking any loans or money from friends by keeping costs low, adapting quickly, testing out new strategies that produce results, and focusing on building long-term customer relationships.
29. Half a Bubble Out ($1.18M/year)
Michael and Kathryn Redman, childhood friends turned spouses, founded Half A Bubble Out 18 years ago as a marketing and advertising agency. They later established HaBO Village, a membership website that helps leaders build successful companies. Through their expertise and experience, they have generated millions of dollars for their clients across various industries, and are now focused on helping businesses find clarity and success through their strategic direction and coaching services.
How much money it makes: $1.18M/year
How many people on the team: 8
Half A Bubble Out is a full-service marketing and advertising agency based in Chico, California that has helped business leaders around the world grow their companies through traditional and digital marketing, business coaching, and leadership development, making millions of dollars for their clients across industries such as property management, medical, agriculture, and various nonprofits.
30. SearchEye ($1.14M/year)
Chris Porteous, the founder of SearchEye, came up with the idea for his SEO platform after witnessing the low quality and standards of the industry. After working with clients who were dissatisfied with previous SEO providers, Chris saw an opportunity to create a better solution and deliver on product expectations. He funded the business out of pocket and through consulting services, and is now focused on driving faster turnaround times, low prices, and consistent product quality for his customers.
How much money it makes: $1.14M/year
How much did it cost to start: $600K
How many people on the team: 16
SearchEye is an SEO platform company that has bootstrapped its way to making $1 million a year, with a goal of hitting $100k per month by December 2021 and $500k per month by December 2022, and currently has around 20 active agency users of the platform.
31. Fomo ($1.08M/year)
Ryan Kulp, a marketer and self-taught developer, acquired a social proof tool called Notify in 2016 and rebranded it as Fomo. Through strategic product-led growth, integrations, and a focus on social proof, Fomo scaled its business by 600% and achieved over $1 million in annual revenue.
How much money it makes: $1.08M/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 5
Fomo, a social proof tool for eCommerce stores, scaled its original business by 600% and now generates >$1m in annual revenue through product-led growth via integrations and an extensive case study library.
32. Draft.dev ($1.08M/year)
Karl started his business, Draft, after feeling bored in his previous job. Combining his skills as a software engineer and his passion for writing, he decided to offer technical content to software engineering blogs on a subscription basis. With a focus on building trust and leveraging his network, Karl quickly found success with his business, on track to bring in $10,000 in recurring revenue in just his third month.
How much money it makes: $1.08M/year
How much did it cost to start: $600
How many people on the team: 6
Draft founder, Karl, built a productized service for technical content, generating $10k in (mostly) recurring revenue in just three months of running the business, showing the success of skill-stacking and the impact of word of mouth and maintaining a strong network in a service business.
33. Kreatix ($1.02M/year)
Oliver Op de Beeck and William Matthynssens started Kreatix, a digital/marketing agency, while in university to supplement their studies. They attracted their first client through a Facebook post and built a successful business through word-of-mouth marketing, showcasing their human side and commitment to understanding their clients. They have now built a solid foundation and attract daily leads through their inbound marketing strategy, with plans to become one of the top agencies in their province.
How much money it makes: $1.02M/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
How many people on the team: 1
Two friends started a digital marketing agency, Kreatix, from their shared love of the internet, and built a thriving business with over 150 clients using inbound leads and storytelling on social media platforms despite having not studied in the field.
34. ModumUp ($996K/year)
Olga Bondareva, the founder of ModumUp, came up with the idea for her social selling agency after realizing the high demand for managing personal profiles on social media for business goals. With her background in social media marketing and Microsoft digital marketing, she saw the opportunity to help clients attract new customers, partners, and employees through the development of their profiles on social media. Since launching, Bondareva has focused on growing the brand through her own personal social media presence, speaking at events and conferences, and promoting case studies to attract and retain customers.
How much money it makes: $996K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 44
Meet Olga Bondareva, founder of ModumUp, a social selling agency with an ARR of $1M and 30+ b2b clients, specializing in managing personal social media profiles to generate leads, offering consulting, employee advocacy, and training services.
35. Kontra agency ($960K/year)
Ilija and Petar started their journey in 2011 with just two clients and two laptops. They began as a small social media agency but quickly expanded and evolved into a full-service digital agency, offering a wide range of services. With a focus on driving results and a dedication to continuous learning and improvement, Kontra has become a successful agency, attracting clients like Walt Disney and gaining recognition from platforms such as Clutch.co. Despite challenges faced during the pandemic, they have bounced back and are continuing to grow.
How much money it makes: $960K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 18
Two friends from Split started a small social media agency that has since grown to be a full-service digital agency offering web design, development, and digital marketing services, with a focus on driving results, recording at least 50% growth for four consecutive years, and aiming to continue growing steadily with a goal of employing up to 30 people, while using tools such as Productive, Trello, Bitbucket, git, and Microsoft Teams, and offering a consulting and education service to educate their audience.
36. Trusted CMO ($900K/year)
Burnt out from her full-time CMO roles, Alison Murdock founded Trusted CMO in 2020 to provide fractional marketing services for B2B startups. With minimal investment, the consultancy has scaled by 50% annually and hit a million in revenue by 2023.
How much money it makes: $900K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 4
Trusted CMO founder built a marketing consulting firm from scratch, growing 50% yearly, attracting clients via word of mouth from investors, founders, and marketing leaders, with plans to expand educational offerings and managed services based on client needs.
37. 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.
38. Express Writers ($840K/year)
Julia McCoy dropped out of college at 19 to pursue her passion for writing and started her content writing agency, Express Writers, with just $75. Through a combination of content marketing and exceptional writing talent, McCoy grew her agency to surpass $80k in monthly recurring revenue (MRR) by the age of 27, serving a large number of clients and attracting over 100,000 organic visitors to her website each month. Despite starting with limited resources, McCoy's hard work and dedication have led to her agency's remarkable success.
How much money it makes: $840K/year
How much did it cost to start: $75
How many people on the team: 2
Express Writers, a content writing agency, grew from a $75 investment to surpassing $80k MRR within seven years through content marketing, client focus, and steady growth with a debt-free business model.
39. ExperientialEtc ($816K/year)
Karan Bhardwaj and Prashant Pandey founded ExperientialEtc in 2017 to disrupt the advertising industry with innovative and technology-driven campaigns. Starting with holograms, drone shows, and projection mappings, they have since expanded into digital products such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. With revenue of close to a million dollars in FY 2022-23 and projected revenue of $3 million in FY 2023-24, ExperientialEtc is scaling up and poised for future success.
How much money it makes: $816K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 60
Ad tech agency ExperientialEtc, which offers experiential marketing strategies including holograms, 3D billboards, virtual and augmented reality, has recorded revenue of close to $1m for Indian FY 2022-23, with FY 2023-24 expected to bring in $3m, and is set to expand its delivery team to meet demand.
40. Kairos Digital ($780K/year)
Kairos Digital, a marketing agency specializing in clear messaging for businesses, was founded by two brothers who saw a need for their services. With over $230,000 in sales in 2020 and a focus on ongoing retainer marketing work, the agency is poised for continued growth. Through their own sales funnel and digital advertising strategies, they attract and retain customers while prioritizing quality and strong ROI.
How much money it makes: $780K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
How many people on the team: 5
Two brothers started Kairos Digital, a marketing agency that focuses on clear messaging, and closed out 2020 with over $230,000 in sales, utilizing retainer marketing work as their most profitable kind of service, and utilizing WordPress, Asana, Quickbooks, and Google Ads for their operations.
41. Content-Whale Private Limited ($750K/year)
Vaibhav Kishnani, an engineer turned writer, came up with the idea for Content-Whale after noticing the unprofessional conduct in the Indian content market. With just Rs. 2,500 ($35) in capital, he started the content agency which now generates a revenue turnover of Rs. 4 crores ($514,000) and serves clients like Quikr and The Boston Consulting Group.
How much money it makes: $750K/year
How much did it cost to start: $35
How many people on the team: 30
Content-Whale, a content curation agency, has achieved a Rs. 4 crore ($514k/year) turnover 4-5 years after being started with just Rs. 2500 ($35), and has a pool of more than 500 writers, aiming to become a market leader in the global content market.
42. Ultra Growth Marketing ($720K/year)
Matthew Larsen, the founder of Ultra Growth Marketing, came up with the idea for his business after realizing the need for a comprehensive eCommerce marketing book specifically tailored to eCommerce store owners. He decided to write a step-by-step guide with over 75,000 words, offering actionable advice to help business owners create multi-million dollar eCommerce stores. Through Facebook lead generation ads, Larsen was able to give away over 17,000 free copies of his book and capture valuable leads, resulting in over $60,000 per month in recurring revenue.
How much money it makes: $720K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
How many people on the team: 3
Matthew Larsen's Ultra Growth Marketing earns over $60,000/month in recurring revenue by giving away his eCommerce Marketing Book for free and then capturing leads using Facebook's Lead Generation ads, resulting in over 19,000 downloads in the first month since its launch.
43. DFY Meetings ($720K/year)
Michael Gardiner, a 20-year-old serial entrepreneur, came up with the idea for his digital marketing agency, Nomads with Solutions, after successfully growing a network of Instagram accounts to over 1 million followers. Leveraging his experience in social media marketing and management, he started the agency and has since built a multiyear safety net while traveling to over 20 countries. The agency's main services include Facebook and Google advertising, as well as social media marketing and management, which have consistently brought in the majority of their revenue.
How much money it makes: $720K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 15
A 20-year-old digital nomad and serial entrepreneur shares his journey of starting a successful digital marketing agency, Nomads with Solutions, which specializes in Facebook lead generation, and offers insights on client acquisition, personal branding, and focusing on self-improvement.
44. Data Driven Marketing ($712K/year)
John Ainsworth, the founder and CEO of Data Driven Marketing, came up with the idea for his business after realizing that many online course creators had a large audience but struggled to convert them into paying customers. With his expertise in funnel building, Ainsworth saw an opportunity to help these course creators boost their revenue through email marketing and funnels. Since its launch in 2018, Data Driven Marketing has experienced impressive growth, with sales increasing from $60,000 in 2018 to over $600,000 in 2022, and on track to hit over a million in 2023.
How much money it makes: $712K/year
How much did it cost to start: $25K
How many people on the team: 7
Data Driven Marketing is a company that helps online course creators maximize revenue via KPI analysis, building funnels, and email marketing, with a revenue of $60k in 2018 and a projected revenue of over $1M in 2023 based on a 70% client retention rate.
45. Lead Cookie ($660K/year)
Jake Jorgovan, a serial entrepreneur and business advisor, came up with the idea for Lead Cookie, a LinkedIn lead generation and appointment setting company, after brainstorming various business ideas and realizing the untapped potential in the market. Within the first two weeks of launching, Jorgovan closed $12k of monthly recurring revenue by selling to individuals within his existing network, providing rapid validation for his concept. Lead Cookie is now a thriving company, generating between $45k-$70k in monthly revenue and boasting a team of 20 full-time members.
How much money it makes: $660K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 24
Serial entrepreneur Jake Jorgovan explains how he started and grew his LinkedIn lead generation company, Lead Cookie, which now averages between $45k-70k every month with only 4-8 hours of his own time per week, and shares insights on building and scaling a successful business.
46. AOU Creative Group ($600K/year)
Pam Foley launched AOU Creative Group in 2014 after realizing the disparity in success rates between men- and women-owned businesses. With her expertise, the agency now boasts $50,000 MRR, empowering women over 40 to build robust personal and business brands online.
How much money it makes: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 2
This case study article follows the journey of Pam Foley, the founder of AOU Creative Group, as she transitioned from coaching and website design to offering strategic brand management services for women over 40 seeking to build their businesses, resulting in a growth from "a business that lost money" to a $50,000 MRR in 2023.
47. Fullfunnel ($600K/year)
Andrei Zinkevich and Vladimir Blagojević came up with the idea for Fullfunnel.io while developing an ABM strategy for B2B tech startups. They noticed that many companies had a limited understanding of ABM and decided to launch a pilot campaign to validate the demand for in-house ABM operations. The campaign generated 6 sales opportunities and 2 deals, validating the idea for Fullfunnel.io in September 2020. Since then, they have utilized regular marketing operations, thought leadership on LinkedIn, personalized outreach, and detailed case studies to attract and retain customers, leading to $1M in the sales pipeline and $500K ARR in just 18 months.
How much money it makes: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 2
Co-founders at Fullfunnel.io generated $1M in sales pipeline and extended their portfolio in 18 months to grow the company to $500K ARR by training and guiding B2B marketing and sales teams to connect, engage & win deals with target accounts and create stable demand for products with impressive growth tactics on LinkedIn.
48. Three Girls Media, Inc. ($600K/year)
Erika Taylor Montgomery, founder of Three Girls Media, came up with the idea for her marketing and PR agency after leaving her career in broadcasting and politics. Recognizing the need for work-life balance and wanting more control over her schedule, she decided to launch her own business. With just a $3,000 loan, Erika started Three Girls Media, which has since grown to a team of 10 and grosses about $550,000 annually.
How much money it makes: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
How many people on the team: 10
A marketing and public relations agency founded by Erika Taylor Montgomery, Three Girls Media grosses about $550,000 annually and is a team of 11 who offer a range of services including social media management, digital marketing, email marketing, media relations, and website design and build.
49. Digitail - Wander Media LLC ($600K/year)
Forrest Webber transitioned from real estate to digital assets after a big payoff, investing 100% into websites. The drive to create a business he could run from anywhere blossomed during his daughter's 100-day NICU stay, leading to $50k monthly revenue from 20 niche sites within five years.
How much money it makes: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $294K
How many people on the team: 50
Forrest Webber's portfolio of 20 niche content websites generates $25-50k in revenue per month, with a team of 30+ contractors and employees, and he has built an agency, Digitail.co, which offers content, backlinks, and SEO research, making his team available to those interested in growing their online presence.
50. Add Value | Growth Marketing Agency ($600K/year)
24-year-old Joachim Brouckaert founded Add Value, a growth marketing agency, after noticing that many marketing agencies prioritized money over delivering value to their customers. With a background in digital marketing and experience freelancing as a digital marketer, Joachim decided to start his own agency focused on full-funnel marketing services. After a year in business, Add Value generates an average monthly turnover of 30k and works with 18 active clients.
How much money it makes: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 5
A 24-year-old founder shares how his growth marketing agency generated €360,000 in its first year, with a team of 5 people working for 18 active clients per month, using SEO, Facebook and Google ads, organic content on LinkedIn, and a hybrid agency model with a focus on client retention.
51. Franchise UK ($600K/year)
Joel Bissitt, founder of Franchise UK, had always dreamt of being an entrepreneur. Drawing inspiration from UK business icons like Richard Branson and Alan Sugar, he started the business at the age of 19 with just £1000 of funding. Through his expertise in SEO and a user-friendly website design, Franchise UK has experienced rapid growth, achieving a 50% increase in turnover last year and attracting some of the world's largest brands.
How much money it makes: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 5
Franchise UK is the UK’s largest franchise directory helping franchise businesses to grow by generating quality franchisee recruitment leads online, with a 50% increase in turnover last year and big plans to further expand in different directions over the coming years.
52. CrowdTamers ($540K/year)
Trevor Longino, the founder and CEO of CrowdTamers, came up with the idea for his business after realizing the demand for his marketing expertise as a freelancer. He saw an opportunity to help startups successfully launch and reach $1 million in annual revenue by providing a systematic approach to go-to-market strategies. Through answering founders' questions on Facebook Groups and creating thought leadership content, he was able to attract and retain customers, growing his agency from 2 employees to 5 employees and achieving nearly $600k in annual revenue.
How much money it makes: $540K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 4
This case study follows the founder and CEO of CrowdTamers, Trevor Longino, and how he grew his business from $0 to $600k in annual revenue in just 2 years by answering founders' questions on social media and creating a content engine, and how he plans to scale to $1.1 million in ARR through strategic partnerships and structured growth methods.
53. Cartology ($516K/year)
Michael Maher, a musician turned business owner, came up with the idea for his Amazon service agency after facing difficulties with his own product-based business on the platform. Realizing the need for Amazon-specific work, he pivoted into freelance and consulting work, eventually growing his agency to a remote team of 12 people serving clients worldwide. Through LinkedIn, Maher was able to attract and retain customers by creating content and videos that showcased his expertise and helped grow his agency's presence.
How much money it makes: $516K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 7
A service agency that helps brands grow their business on Amazon saw a 300% YoY growth, averaging $25k a month in revenue and profits of approx. 30-40%, after restructuring pricing and realizing that their service was more valuable than they gave it credit.
54. Attrock ($500K/year)
While working at an Ireland-based digital marketing agency in 2012, Gaurav Sharma saw clients frustrated with generic SEO packages, leading him to launch Attrock in 2014, offering customized digital marketing solutions and generating $500,000 annually.
How much money it makes: $500K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 25
Attrock, a digital marketing agency, has grown its business to generate revenues of half a million dollars annually by providing highly tailored solutions to clients and prioritizing retention over acquisition, resulting in a 95% client retention rate and 25-30% YoY growth.
55. Concept Marketing Group ($480K/year)
Barb Ferrigno, the founder of Concept Marketing Group, came up with the idea for her marketing company in 1978 when she was diagnosed with an immune disorder. Wanting to have control over her hours for a healthier lifestyle, she started her own business with just $500 and a computer. Over time, the business grew exponentially, thanks in part to the internet, and now has 8,000 clients globally and internationally, with an average of 25 to 50 new customers per month.
How much money it makes: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 3
Concept Marketing Group, a full-service marketing company, started by Barb Ferrigno in 1978, has grown to 6 employees and 8 subcontractors, with 8,000 clients globally and $480k in revenue annually, offering services such as Email Marketing Lists, Consulting, Social Media, PR services, and Business Coaching for the Executive Staff.
56. VastGG ($480K/year)
Trey Christensen and Cody Reese started VastGG after realizing the value of running giveaway campaigns for top influencers and brands in the gaming and esports industries. By leveraging their connections and passion for gaming, they grew Vast into a large-scale giveaway marketing agency, generating over $30k in revenue per month and working with clients like Ninja, Sodapoppin, and NRG. Their success came from offering their services for free initially, proving the results, and then converting clients to paying customers.
How much money it makes: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 6
VastGG founders Trey Christensen and Cody Reese have built a multiplayer gaming giveaway marketing agency generating over $30k per month with 1.95 million subscribers to their newsletter and over 2 million social followers.
57. Tao Digital Marketing ($480K/year)
Matt Tomkin, founder of Tao Digital Marketing, came up with the idea for his business after experiencing frustrations with other agencies' lack of communication and understanding of a business's goals. With his background in owning and running businesses, Matt knew the importance of delivering tangible results and effective communication. He validated the need for his services and gained knowledge by working with a freelance client, leading him to start Tao Digital Marketing and achieve monthly revenues of £12-15k with a team of 4.
How much money it makes: $480K/year
How many people on the team: 6
Tao Digital Marketing, a search engine marketing specialist agency based in the UK, grew from a side gig to a £12-15k per month business with a team of four, helping B2B clients with their organic search service or SEO and becoming a Google partner.
58. JVI Mobile Marketing (Now JourneyBuilder.io) ($444K/year)
Jay Vics, the founder of JVI Mobile Marketing, came up with the idea for his business when he attended a business growth workshop and heard someone express the need for someone to teach them how to use their smartphone. Recognizing that small business owners could benefit from learning how to utilize technology to market their businesses, Jay started offering services as a side hustle, eventually expanding into a full-service digital marketing agency. Through networking and word-of-mouth referrals, Jay has been able to attract and retain clients, and he continues to focus on building relationships and providing a good return on investment for his clients. Currently, the business brings in around $7,500 a month in revenue, with the goal of reaching $17,000 a month in the future.
How much money it makes: $444K/year
How many people on the team: 2
How a side-hustle turned into a full-service digital marketing fulfillment agency that is currently bringing in around $7,500 a month in revenue, with big goals for the future, by focusing on human-to-human connections and continually evolving to meet their clients' needs.
59. Travel Tractions ($420K/year)
Matthew Davison, the founder of Travel Tractions, came up with the idea for his tourism-focused marketing agency after scaling his previous travel startup to over 500,000 page views a month. He saw an opportunity to help other travel businesses achieve similar results and launched Travel Tractions as a productized service agency, focusing on SEO content and audits before expanding into other services like social media, PPC, and web builds. Despite facing challenges during the COVID pandemic, the company has rebuilt and grown to a monthly revenue of $35k, with a focus on client retention and a predicted triple-digit growth in 2024.
How much money it makes: $420K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
How many people on the team: 11
Travel Tractions, a tourism-focused marketing agency, which produces and optimizes almost half a million words of content a month for a wide range of travel publications and businesses all over the world, has built back up to be a formidable business today after losing 95% of its business due to COVID and many of the team two years ago, now doing around $35k/month.
60. Salt Water Digital ($420K/year)
Daniel Thompson, the founder of Salt Water Digital, came up with the idea for his digital marketing agency while working for a research and development company in 2011. After teaching himself web development and SEO, he built an affiliate site called ExerciseFoamRollers.com. When he was laid off in 2012, he used his unemployment insurance to start his own business and eventually expanded to offer SEO, PPC, and website development services.
How much money it makes: $420K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 6
Salt Water Digital is a digital marketing agency specializing in SEO, PPC, and website development, serving small businesses with revenue from $300k to $5m, having grown from $25k/month to $40k/month in the past eight months, with a goal to hit $60k/month by year end.
61. Sniply ($420K/year)
Matt Bentley, the Marketing Lead at Sniply, came up with the idea for the custom URL shortener after experiencing the problem of losing customers gained from curating other people's content. He realized that when sharing third-party content on social media, traffic is diverted away from your own website. This led to the creation of Sniply, which adds a custom call-to-action button on any shared page, directing the traffic back to the user's website. With 550 paying customers and an annual revenue of $420k, Sniply has become a valuable tool for startup founders, brand managers, and social media managers.
How much money it makes: $420K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1M
How many people on the team: 3
Sniply is a custom URL shortener that adds a custom CTA button to any page shared on social media, with 550 paying customers, including large marketing companies, and an annual revenue of about $420k, revolutionizing content marketing.
62. 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 money it makes: $420K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
How many people on the team: 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.
63. Media Maven ($402K/year)
Christina never wanted to be a business owner. She just wanted to have a flexible schedule because she had two young children, and no one would let her work remotely in 2015. So, she felt like there was no other choice but to start her own business.
How much money it makes: $402K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 1
Case study: Christina Nicholson built her PR agency, Media Maven, from scratch and now generates an impressive $33,500 in monthly revenue. By leveraging her background in journalism and utilizing strategic content creation and media exposure, she attracts clients who already know, like, and trust her without the need for a dedicated sales team.
64. SheerSEO ($360K/year)
Ayal Aldema, the founder of SheerSEO, saw a gap in the market for online SEO tools when he couldn't find any reliable options and all he found were scammy desktop applications. With 10 years of software engineering experience and a previous successful website, he launched SheerSEO for free and relied on SEO skills to gain customers. Today, the business generates $30,000/month by selling its SaaS service to webmasters and SEO professionals.
How much money it makes: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 1
Founder Ayal Aldema built SheerSEO, an online SEO software, to fill a gap in the SEO market, offering a free service to help clients optimize their sites, which now makes $30,000/month by selling SaaS service to both webmasters and SEO professionals.
65. Base Coat Marketing ($360K/year)
Austin Houser, the founder of Base Coat Marketing, came up with the idea for his business after acquiring painting businesses as clients at his previous agency and realizing the industry lacked effective marketing solutions. By creating a niche-focused agency dedicated to the professional painting industry, Houser has been able to quickly scale his business and generate impressive results, with $30,000 in monthly recurring revenue and a 50% profit margin within just three months of launching.
How much money it makes: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $15K
How many people on the team: 2
Austin Houser, founder of Base Coat Marketing, launched a full-service digital marketing agency catering exclusively to the professional painting industry and within three months exceeded last year's revenue under his previous agency and is generating $30,000 in monthly recurring revenue with roughly a 50% profit margin by offering simple, niche-focused packages and providing personalized, valuable interactions with customers.
66. Major Impact Media ($342K/year)
Brice Gump, the founder of Major Impact Media, got his start in digital marketing after helping a friend sell cell phones online. He saw the explosive growth of the business and realized the power of working on the internet. After taking online courses and freelancing in various areas of marketing, Brice launched Major Impact Media in 2015, offering Google Ads for a monthly retainer. He learned through trial and error and eventually found his niche, providing high-quality marketing services to a specific market. Today, the company has generated over $5.8 million in online sales for their clients and is expanding their services to adapt to changes in the advertising landscape.
How much money it makes: $342K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 3
This case study follows the story of Brice Gump, founder and CEO of Major Impact Media, a hybrid agency/education company that has generated over $5.8M in online sales for their clients through their marketing services.
67. The Links Guy ($300K/year)
Amit, the founder of The Links Guy, stumbled upon the world of SEO and link building while working as a pharmacist. Frustrated with the lack of opportunities in the pharmacy industry, he decided to pursue his passion for digital marketing and started offering custom-built link-building campaigns. Through hard work, determination, and a focus on exceptional quality and customer service, The Links Guy has attracted and retained clients, landing links on major media outlets like MIT and Business Insider.
How much money it makes: $300K/year
How much did it cost to start: $200
How many people on the team: 10
How the founder of a digital PR agency honed his link-building skills to build a stable and fruitful business, attracting clients from tech-focused industries, expanding in size, and working with huge publications like Business Insider and The Kitchn.
68. MagicSpace SEO ($240K/year)
Ilias Ism and his co-founder Sasha launched MagicSpace SEO, leveraging their skills as ex-SaaS founders to help startups save on ballooning ad budgets. In just six months, they grew to $20K MRR, showing the power of targeted SEO and growth marketing.
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 0
MagicSpace SEO, an SEO agency founded by Ilias Ism and Sasha, has grown to $20K MRR in just 6 months, primarily through affiliate partnerships and growth partnerships, while focusing on pay-per-lead models or revenue-share agreements, rather than charging for time or using poor-quality spammy backlinks.
69. Spear Growth ($240K/year)
Ishaan, the founder of Spear Growth, started his entrepreneurial journey while exploring various ventures during his time as a computer science engineering student. After gaining experience in marketing and SEO, he left his job at a unicorn startup and realized the importance of understanding business to become a better marketer. This realization led him to start Spear Growth, a B2B SaaS marketing agency that has grown rapidly, bringing in impressive results for clients and expanding its team from 6 to 9 full-time employees in just 6 months.
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
How many people on the team: 9
Spear Growth, a B2B SaaS Marketing agency, has helped high-growth companies like Hasura and Darwinbox achieve results like 13x SQLs from Paid ads in 6 months and has grown from a team of 6 to 9 full-time people in just the last 6 months.
70. Juicy Pickles ($240K/year)
Giulia Cian Seren, founder of Juicy Pickles, started her business after moving from Europe to Southeast Asia and seeing the favorable business climate in Singapore. With a passion for technology and a desire to help small businesses succeed, Giulia offers digital marketing consulting and coaching through her flagship coaching membership, The Pickling Club. Her dedication to her clients and focus on long-term relationships has helped her grow her business to an average monthly revenue of $20,000.
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
How many people on the team: 1
Giulia Cian Seren, founder of Juicy Pickles, offers digital marketing consulting, training, and coaching to small businesses and has grown her monthly revenue to an average of $20,000 by focusing on long-term relationships over short-term gains and helping small, traditional businesses transition into the digital world.
71. 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 money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 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.
72. Good Chance ($240K/year)
to my old office to pick out a few things I forgot, and I treated myself to - you guessed it - a venti Starbucks iced coffee. I posted on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn that Good Chance Creative was starting to take on clients. I used some of the photos I had taken previously as examples of my work. I sent text messages to friends whose businesses I thought could benefit from my services. And then I waited. Not for long, though! I received my first client inquiry within a couple of hours. It was a friend of a friend who had a small online boutique. She loved my photos and wanted to hire me for product photography and social media management. From there, it was a domino effect. Word spread, referrals came in, and I started to build my client list. It was a slow and steady process in the beginning, but I was grateful for each and every client who trusted me with their social media presence. As the years went by, I continued to refine and expand my services, and here I am today, running a successful full-service social media creative agency.
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 1
This case study follows Kelsey Chance and her creative agency, Good Chance Creative, which specializes in social media content creation, and in just 3 years she has grown her one-woman business to make $20,000 in monthly revenue through a niche in small in-house marketing teams and start-ups managing their social content, with key services including lifestyle brand photography, social media account management, copywriting, and eCommerce strategy consulting.
73. Fame ($204K/year)
Tom Hunt, the founder of Fame, came up with the idea for his podcast growth service while working as the head of marketing at a B2B SaaS business. After experiencing success with their own podcast, Tom decided to launch Fame and offer the same growth process to other B2B brands. He validated the idea by converting his ex-employer into his first client and finding two more clients through a blog he had built on the side.
How much money it makes: $204K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 3
Fame's founder, Tom Hunt, shares how he started a $17k/month podcast growth service for B2B SaaS and service businesses, and provides insights on how he grew the business to $20k MRR and his plans to hit $50k MRR by the end of 2021 through prioritizing revenue and customer satisfaction.
74. Counterweight Creative ($192K/year)
Jeremy Enns, the founder of Counterweight Creative, came up with the idea for his podcast production business after realizing his passion for podcasts and his background in audio engineering made him well-suited to help others produce high-quality shows. With just one client and making $15/hour at the start, Enns grew his business into a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week, with revenue exceeding $10,000 per month.
How much money it makes: $192K/year
How many people on the team: 0
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
75. Ascend Marketing, Inc ($180K/year)
Jim Ackerman, the founder of Ascend Marketing, came up with the idea for his business after realizing that many small businesses struggled with marketing and advertising. He developed a highly prescriptive coaching program that included weekly one-on-one meetings, specific assignments, and personalized feedback and accountability. The program has been successful, with over 600 businesses completing it and only one refund requested.
How much money it makes: $180K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 2
Ascend Marketing founder Jim Ackerman developed a six-month 1-on-1 coaching programme to help small business owners improve their marketing, advertising, and sales systems, resulting in over 600 businesses enrolled with a unique 200% ROI guarantee and a $15k monthly profit selling 2 dozen programs yearly, and now the company provides a business opportunity for marketing professionals seeking to become marketing coaches.
76. Blue Surge Marketing Agency ($168K/year)
Godson Michel founded Blue Surge Marketing Agency after running a successful sneaker marketplace business, KickBackz. When the sneaker market shifted, he recognized his marketing skills were in high demand and decided to start his own agency. With a strong brand name, a clean logo, and a well-designed website, Blue Surge has become one of the most sought-after multicultural marketing agencies in the US.
How much money it makes: $168K/year
How much did it cost to start: $150
How many people on the team: 3
Blue Surge Marketing Agency is a successful Black-owned marketing and website design firm specializing in e-commerce brands and nonprofit organizations and has been voted as a Top 20 Web Design Agency two years ago with over $1M in revenue and an average rating of five stars.
77. 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
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.
78. Entrepreneur Business Blog ($156K/year)
Emenike Emmanuel, the founder of Entrepreneur Business Blog, came up with the idea after seeing the success of other bloggers like Jon Morrow and Pat Flynn. With a desire to build a profitable business and escape unemployment, Emmanuel launched his blog during his one-year service with the National Youth Service Corps. Despite financial constraints and health issues, Emmanuel persevered and built a loyal audience through guest posting and a Twitter growth challenge, ultimately generating a monthly revenue of $1,500+.
How much money it makes: $156K/year
How many people on the team: 6
This case study follows the journey of a young entrepreneur from Nigeria who started a profitable blog generating a monthly revenue of $1,500+ through sales of advertising space, sponsored posts, and information products, and shares his strategies for success including a Twitter growth challenge and guest post pitches.
79. DAD OF AD ($154K/year)
Shamreen and Rumit, with backgrounds in graphic design and computer science engineering, respectively, came up with the idea for Dad of Ad over a party discussion. They saw the opportunity to provide social media marketing services during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and since then, the agency has grown to have an average annual revenue turnover of $153,840 with 12 retainer clients and project-based services. Despite facing challenges and making mistakes in the beginning, they have continuously adapted and learned to attract and retain customers through effective communication, moment marketing, and setting clear goals.
How much money it makes: $154K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.26K
How many people on the team: 35
Dad of Ad, a social media marketing and advertising agency based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, has 12 retainer clients and provides project-based services, generating an average annual revenue turnover of $153,840 while catering to various industries like sport, skin care, and venture capitalists.
80. SocialBu ($144K/year)
Usama, the CEO and co-founder of SocialBu, came up with the idea for his social media management platform while freelancing as a developer and managing social media accounts. He saw a need for a more powerful and affordable solution, so he built a simple tool that gained traction and eventually led him to create SocialBu. Since its launch, the bootstrapped company has made $300K in revenue and has plans for future improvements and features.
How much money it makes: $144K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
How many people on the team: 6
Social media management platform SocialBu is 100% bootstrapped and has made about $300K since its launch, and CEO Usama shares his process of building a social media management tool that solved a real problem and attracted users through online communities and organic traffic.
81. Front Page SEO ($144K/year)
Janet Camilleri, the founder of Front Page SEO, initially started her business as Redland City Living, a local magazine-style blog. However, after a year, she realized that this wasn't what she truly wanted to do. In 2014, she rebranded as Front Page Web Writing, and eventually transitioned her business to specialize in search engine optimization (SEO). It took time for her business to become profitable, but with the help of a business coach, she has seen immense growth, surpassing her goal of making $100,000 AUD last year and expanding her team.
How much money it makes: $144K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 1
Janet Camilleri, the founder of Front Page SEO, turned her love for writing and passion for the web into a boutique digital marketing agency specialising in SEO, which has seen tripled turnover and doubled profits in the past year and launched a DIY SEO HQ membership program to guide small business owners.
82. Ethos Copywriting ($144K/year)
Matt Flowers, the founder of Ethos Copywriting, came up with the idea for his business while working as an educational assistant and freelance writer. Realizing the abundance of content in various industries, Matt saw an opportunity to provide professional copywriting services. He landed his first client serendipitously and started his business from there, eventually growing it to generate $130,000 in annual revenue.
How much money it makes: $144K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 2
Content marketing agency Ethos Copywriting, founded by Matt Flowers, generates $130,000 annually through meticulous attention to quality and the creation of entertaining, high-value content, all without paying for ads, and advises startups to invest wisely and ensure their businesses enable them to pursue other opportunities.
83. Audience Ops ($120K/year)
Inspired by Jesse Mecham’s talk at MicroConf Vegas, Brian, the founder of Audience Ops, conceptualized his company with the core belief that content marketing is about building assets, not tactics.
He identified that companies miss opportunities by focusing on superficial metrics such as word counts, keyword stuffing, and click-bait rather than deep customer research and email engagement.
Brian emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs and using email to maintain connections, ultimately building a valuable audience and gaining a competitive edge.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
Audience Ops, founded by Brian Casel, generated over $3,000 in revenue within six weeks of launching a validated concept, ultimately leading to a high six-figure acquisition, proving the effectiveness of productized content marketing services and strategic networking.
84. Rex Marketing and CX ($120K/year)
While leading MyWellbeing's expansion across all 50 states, Ryan Ward realized the dire need for marketing support among small mental health practices. Leveraging his growth marketing expertise and no-code skills, he co-founded Rex Marketing & CX in April 2023, quickly achieving $10,000/month in revenue.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 0
Case study of Rex Marketing & CX: Growing revenue to $10,000/month in just a year by leveraging AI, automation, and outsourcing, specializing in growth marketing, product development for small businesses in healthcare, financial services, and SaaS spaces.
85. 930co ($120K/year)
Joshua Hurley, founder of 930TECH, came up with the idea for his digital marketing and technology solutions company after noticing a gap in the market. With his background in nonprofit organizations, he saw a need for comprehensive and up-to-date technology services. Despite launching during the height of the pandemic, Hurley's hustle and determination allowed him to attract customers and exceed his financial goals.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
How many people on the team: 1
This case study follows Joshua Hurley, an executive turned entrepreneur who started a digital marketing company, 930TECH, during the pandemic and is currently making around $3,000 per month, with plans of becoming one of the top three digital companies in Tennessee.
86. Tribecto Automations ($120K/year)
Sam Wilcox, the founder of Tribecto Automations, came up with the idea for his business while working at InvisiblePPC, where he re-designed and rebuilt sales processes using CRM and automation tools. He started doing consulting as a side gig, and after 12 months of hard work, Tribecto was making more than his full-time role. Eventually, he decided to take the chance and run Tribecto Automations full-time, leading to consistent growth and profitability.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How many people on the team: 0
Tribecto Automations re-designed sales and marketing processes for B2B companies, growing from $5k/month to $10k/month, through creating a defined productized service model and using specific software tools for email marketing, CRM, webhooks and Zapier.
87. Maverick Media Lab ($120K/year)
Gilberto, the founder of Maverick Media Lab, grew up in an immigrant family in the US with a desire for financial independence. After working for a marketing agency and refining his skills, he ventured out on his own to create a service that would help businesses generate more referrals. By focusing on using LinkedIn and email to expand clients' networks of referral partners, Maverick Media Lab has grown rapidly and is projected to double its current revenue of $10k/month in the next six months.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 0
Gilberto, founder of Maverick Media Lab, shares his success story of generating $10k/month through his productized Referral Connector System, which helps businesses enter the online marketing space without large advertising costs.
88. 7 Eagles ($120K/year)
Ashkar Gomez, Founder & CEO of 7 Eagles, came up with the idea for his growth marketing agency after realizing that there was a lack of holistic SEO services in the market. He noticed that many agencies focused more on ads and social media marketing, while SEO took a backseat. With a passion for SEO and a desire to help brands reach their marketing goals, Gomez started 7 Eagles as a side hustle, offering SEO and WordPress services initially. As the agency grew, it expanded its services to include content writing, social media, emails, and website development, with a focus on delivering outstanding SEO results for clients. Now, with a team of 25 marketing experts and a revenue of $100,000 in 2022, 7 Eagles has plans to launch offices in global locations by 2023 and aims to become a leading growth marketing agency.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 10
7 Eagles is a growth marketing agency that offers low-priced holistic SEO services with a team of professionals who have helped over 100 brands in 10+ countries, and has earned $100,000 in revenue as of the 2022 annual calendar with plans to expand its offices to global locations by 2023.
89. Prime Marketing Experts ($108K/year)
Michael Krieger, the founder of Prime Marketing Experts, was inspired to start his business after developing a passion for marketing and website building through his involvement with a healthcare nonprofit organization. Recognizing the demand for digital marketing and website development services, he rebranded his business and focused on providing high-quality SEO and web development services. Today, the company has experienced significant growth and continues to attract and retain customers through referrals, networking, and a strong social media presence.
How much money it makes: $108K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 2
Prime Marketing Experts is a successful digital marketing agency that offers a wide variety of digital marketing solutions and has grown their business to $100k per year through referrals, building customer relationships, and expanding their focus with sales consulting services.
90. 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 money it makes: $96K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 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.
91. Rise Visible ($96K/year)
Aunia Kahn, CEO of Rise Visible, started her digital marketing agency after receiving an old computer from a friend that had software like Dreamweaver and Adobe Photoshop. With no previous experience, she learned through trial and error and discovered her passion for digital marketing. Through solid work and referrals, Rise Visible has been able to attract and retain clients, leading to impressive revenue growth and recognition as a top-ranking woman-owned digital agency.
How much money it makes: $96K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 0
Rise Visible, a full-service digital marketing agency, founded by Aunia Kahn, has achieved Top-Ranking Woman-Owned Digital Agency 2022 by Clutch and is rapidly approaching its first $100K year in revenue, solely through solid work, referrals, digital marketing through Google My Business, reviews, Facebook groups, social media and newsletters.
92. SupplyDrop ($96K/year)
Danavir Sarria, an eCommerce marketing consultant, came up with the idea for SupplyDrop after his own luxury sportswear brand failed to be profitable. He realized that his skills in email marketing could be valuable to other eCommerce businesses and pivoted his focus to offering full-service email marketing services. Today, SupplyDrop is his flagship business, making an average of $8,000 per month and attracting clients such as Kettle & Fire and Lensabl.
How much money it makes: $96K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 0
Danavir Sarria shares how he built SupplyDrop, an eCommerce email marketing agency that helps scale 6, 7, and 8 figure businesses, and currently makes $8,000/month on average, through trial and error and thoughtful pivots, while utilizing content marketing and focusing on building trust with potential clients.
93. Smart Yeti Creative Agency ($96K/year)
Jeremy Kanne, founder of Smart Yeti, came up with the idea for his creative agency after realizing that technical companies needed help with messaging and marketing. With his background in civil engineering and a creative streak, Jeremy decided to combine his skills and provide affordable, high-quality services to these companies. The focus on technical clients and the introduction of retainer engagements have helped Smart Yeti attract and retain customers, leading to steady revenue growth of $1-2k per month.
How much money it makes: $96K/year
How many people on the team: 1
Smart Yeti is a successful creative agency offering fractional access to marketing services to highly technical companies and has seen YoY growth of 40%, with an average lifetime value of its customer of $50k in revenue.
94. The Web Factory ($90K/year)
The founder of The Web Factory came up with the idea after seeing numerous businesses fail due to a lack of knowledge and operational capabilities. They saw a gap in the market for a digital services company that could provide logo creation, web design, brand design, creative writing, and digital marketing, and set out to fulfill those needs. With a focus on client satisfaction and a team of specialized individuals, The Web Factory has become a leading digital firm with impressive monthly online sales of $5,000 and a large portfolio of clientele.
How much money it makes: $90K/year
How many people on the team: 19
The Web Factory is a successful digital services business that has been operating for 10 years and has served over 500 clients, with a focus on logo and web design, achieved through unparalleled digital strategies and client satisfaction.
95. Electric Sauce ($90K/year)
The founders initially started as Shopify developers but quickly realized the need for email marketing strategies in the eCommerce space. They used Upwork as a platform to find clients and focused on providing valuable services at reasonable prices. Their dedication to simplicity and accountability helped them attract and retain customers, with their main client being acquired through Upwork.
How much money it makes: $90K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
How many people on the team: 0
Electric Sauce, a data-driven, retention-focused, email marketing micro-agency founded by two Seans, generates $12,500 a month through pricing their services from $3,500 to $5,000 for established brands, and $1,500 to $2,500 for startups through patient learning, frugality, simplicity, extensive outreach on Upwork, and utmost accountability while using tools like ClickUp, and exposure to thought leaders on YouTube and courses like Klaviyo and Smart Marketer.
96. Kelsey Vetter Co. ($78K/year)
During the pandemic, Kelsey wanted to leave the corporate world and start making money online. She stumbled upon dropshipping and decided to start a print-on-demand Etsy shop. She soon realized that this business was too similar to her corporate job, but loved the Pinterest marketing aspect of the business. She decided she had the skills to turn this into a business.
How much money it makes: $78K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2.5K
How many people on the team: 0
Kelsey Vetter grew her Pinterest Marketing + Strategy company, generating $5,500 to $9,500 monthly since her first month where she made $675.
97. Rank Trends ($72K/year)
Md. Yousuf Ali, the founder of Rank Trends and Khan, came up with the idea for his business after discovering the potential of digital marketing through oDesk. With his background in web design and development, he launched Rank Trends to provide SEO, web design, and graphics design services. The business quickly gained traction and was recognized as the "Best SEO Service Provider in Bangladesh 2019." Today, Ali is expanding his retail business into the online space and plans to resume activities for Rank Trends soon.
How much money it makes: $72K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 2
This case study features Md. Yousuf Ali, the founder of Rank Trends, who shares how he started a successful digital marketing agency, which generated a revenue of over $6k per month through SEO and video production services.
98. backl.io ($62.4K/year)
Philipp, a product manager in Switzerland, created SEO Kickstarter as he struggled to get traffic for his shared flat site without using ads. Frustrated by the manual effort of backlink outreach, he automated the process and launched a guide, now boasting $5K MRR.
How much money it makes: $62.4K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 0
A Product Manager builds a successful side business that generates $5K MRR by creating an SEO guide for startups, turning initial failures into a profitable venture with a Twitter launch strategy that brings in 87 sales and $3400 revenue within a day.
99. Altar'd Socials ($60K/year)
Altar’d Socials was founded by Claire Ficek, who started the business at 18 years old in the midst of 2020. Inspired by her parents' entrepreneurial background, she decided to offer social media management services to other companies. Within 24 hours of launching her business, she had secured three clients, which reassured her that there was a market for her expertise.
How much money it makes: $60K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
How many people on the team: 2
Altar'd Socials, a social media management company founded by Claire Ficek, grew to 10+ clients and a team of 5 women with revenue on track to hit $100k in the first year of business, specializing in full-time social media management and online courses targeted towards women-owned businesses.
100. Bryn Elizabeth Co. ($15.6K/year)
Bryn Bonino, founder of Bryn Elizabeth Co., came up with the idea for her business after working as a marketing coach for creative micro-business owners. She witnessed their struggles to carry out marketing strategies and decided to create a hybrid model where she builds a strategic and tactical digital marketing system for her clients and then trains them on how to use it. With her expertise in digital marketing and her personal experience with challenges in life, Bryn validated her idea and has since been able to charge four times her salaried hourly rate and attract more clients than she can handle.
How much money it makes: $15.6K/year
How many people on the team: 1
Bryn Bonino founded a company that helps micro-businesses connect with their ideal clients, averaging $1,300 per month since shifting from an hourly consultant to offering entire packages to help clients meet their business goals.
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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.
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