28 Online Advertising Agency Success Stories [2024]
An online advertising agency helps businesses promote their products or services on the internet.
To start this business on a budget, first learn the basics of digital marketing through free online resources.
Create a professional website and set up profiles on social media platforms to showcase your skills.
Build a portfolio by working on mock campaigns or offering discounted services to friends and family, and gradually market your services to attract clients.
With dedication, you can grow your agency over time.
Here are some real life success stories of starting a online advertising agency:
1. Fantôm Agency ($300K/year)
Luis Camacho, founder of Fantôm Agency, discovered his passion for digital marketing after starting a successful clothing line and utilizing social media for promotion. After gaining experience at a marketing agency, he decided to establish his own agency focused on paid advertising, which now earns approximately $8,600 per month.
How much they make: $300K/year
Current team size: 1
Fantôm Agency founder Luis Camacho shares how he built his digital advertising agency from scratch, focusing on helping mid-to-late stage SaaS companies scale through paid advertising channels and generating around $8,600 per month without significant overhead costs.
2. 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 they make: $516K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
Current team size: 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.
So... can you actually make money with a online advertising 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. Loop ($1.38M/year)
Francesco and Valerio, founders of Loop, a $35K/Mo Online Advertising Agency, started their business in 2017 after working as freelancers in the advertising industry. They saw the potential for growth and wanted to offer specialized services in a specific market that was not yet saturated in Italy. By focusing on performance, priorities, and processes, they were able to attract and retain clients, leading to rapid growth and expansion into new industries and markets.
How much they make: $1.38M/year
Current team size: 2
Loop is a $35k/month online advertising agency founded by Francesco and Valerio, which primarily deals with paid advertising services, mainly Google Ads and Facebook Ads, with an average of 150% yearly increase in revenue, and is rapidly growing as they expand their outreach to different markets and industries.
4. Strategus ($15M/year)
Joel Cox, co-founder of Strategus, came up with the idea for the advertising technology startup after recognizing the rise of digital streaming and targeted advertising. Cox saw the potential in programmatic OTT/CTV advertising and launched the first campaign in 2014. Today, Strategus generates $14.8 million in revenue and has been on the Inc. 5000 for three consecutive years.
How much they make: $15M/year
Current team size: 21
Learn how Strategus, an advertising technology startup, pioneered the first programmatic OTT/CTV advertising campaign and achieved revenues of $14.8 million in 2019, while serving Fortune 100 brands and agencies.
So... can you actually make money with a online advertising 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. ADYOUNEED ($1.14M/year)
Bonjour! Tufan founded ADYOUNEED, a marketing tech platform that allows small businesses and startups to create and manage ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Google, and Tiktok without any marketing knowledge. The idea came to him after realizing that many businesses were wasting their marketing budgets on wrongly setup ads, and he wanted to provide a simplified and unified platform to help them succeed. With over $95,000 in monthly recurring revenue, ADYOUNEED is just getting started and has plans for aggressive marketing campaigns and new product launches in the future.
How much they make: $1.14M/year
How much did it cost to start: $120K
Current team size: 12
ADYOUNEED is a marketing tech platform generating over $95,000 MRR monthly recurring revenue offering simplified ad creation and management, boasting over 10,000 users globally, with the company planning to raise a Series A to advance future growth.
6. 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.
So... can you actually make money with a online advertising 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. 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 they make: $3M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
Current team size: 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.
8. 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.
9. 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 they make: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $15K
Current team size: 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.
10. Ogline Digital ($1.2M/year)
Dylan Ogline, the founder of Ogline Digital, had a history of failed business projects before he honed in on digital marketing management. With a simple landing page, lean operations, and focused targeting on Google Ads, he quickly found success, reaching six figures in a few months and seven figures within two years. Now, with a team of 12, Dylan's goal for the next five years is to grow to $5-10 million in annual revenue while prioritizing his team's growth and success.
How much they make: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
Current team size: 8
Ogline Digital is a digital marketing agency that helps small to medium-sized businesses profitably gain customers with only one service managing a marketing system for clients; the company's founder, Dylan Ogline, started as a freelancer and grew it to become a million-dollar business.
11. 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 they make: $1.2M/year
Current team size: 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.
12. Grow Your Agency ($1.44M/year)
Iman Gadzhi, founder of IAG Media and Grow Your Agency, came up with the idea for his social media marketing agency (SMMA) and online course after mastering Facebook ads and personal branding. With over $1.2 million in profit in just two years and multiple successful students, Gadzhi has become a leader in the SMMA industry.
How much they make: $1.44M/year
Current team size: 2
Iman Gadzhi made over $1.2M in profit within two years with his social media marketing agency and education company, where he teaches entrepreneurs how to start and scale a profitable SMMA, with over 45 of his students making over six figures with their SMMA, and over 300 students having quit their regular jobs.
13. Prodigi ($1.92M/year)
Aida, the CEO and Co-Founder of ProDigi, came up with the idea of starting a digital marketing and production agency based on her passion for the field. She wanted to create a company that provided cost-effective, high-quality video content and specialized in developing, displaying, and modifying paid advertising services. With a small team in a small room, they worked tirelessly to establish themselves as one of the fastest-growing advertising companies in the industry, gaining clients such as Porsche and Audi in just 1.5 months. Today, ProDigi operates in over 12 countries and continues to strive for growth and improvement.
How much they make: $1.92M/year
How much did it cost to start: $2.5K
Current team size: 50
ProDigi is a digital marketing and production company with a 29-member team providing video production, social media marketing, and paid advertising services worldwide, and experiencing fast-paced development, boasting a gross margin of 27%, a profit margin of 16%, and winning contracted to companies such as Porsche and Audi after only 1.5 months.
14. Adjust Media ($960K/year)
Uri, an eCommerce enthusiast and serial entrepreneur, started Adjust Media after realizing the potential of his side-hustle as a Shopify consultant. By providing free content and delivering exceptional service, Uri attracted and retained high-quality clients, ultimately growing Adjust Media into a successful digital strategy agency with $1 million in revenue by the end of 2021.
How much they make: $960K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
Current team size: 5
Adjust Media is a digital strategy agency offering services such as paid media management and email management that grossed ~$1M by the end of 2021 with impeccable service, a proactive performance, and a "merchant-first mentality" that keeps over half of their clients for over two years.
15. Wealth Lead Generation ($120K/year)
Maria, the founder of Wealth Lead Generation, came up with the idea for her business through her experience as a freelancer and her passion for marketing. After successfully helping a fintech startup raise 7 figures through social media advertising and PR, she realized the potential of digital advertising and decided to start her agency. She focused on creating specific offers that addressed the pain points of her target audience and spent time listening to the market to refine her services. Through hard work and perseverance, Maria's agency quickly scaled to a team of 5 and achieved impressive revenue growth.
How much they make: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $200
Current team size: 5
"Wealth Lead Generation grew from a side hustle to a 6-figure business in 2021, generating an average of 250% increase in revenue for their clients through digital advertising campaigns on social media with a team of 5 people."
16. 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 they make: $342K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 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.
17. Social Ktchn ($420K/year)
Chris and Camila, founders of Social Ktchn, came up with the idea for their digital marketing business after realizing the value of social media for restaurants. They leveraged their experience in photography, fashion, branding, and design to offer services such as social media management and email marketing. Eventually, they focused on Facebook and Instagram paid ads, capitalizing on the platforms' growth and becoming experts in the field.
How much they make: $420K/year
How much did it cost to start: $250
Current team size: 1
Social Ktchn is a successful digital marketing company, specializing in providing Facebook and Instagram paid ads for small to midsize businesses in the lead gen and eCommerce spaces, with an annual revenue of $300-$400k.
18. 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 they make: $9.6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
Current team size: 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.
19. Seller Labs ($11.5M/year)
How much they make: $11.5M/year
Current team size: 200
Seller Labs, founded in 2013, has 200+ employees worldwide and engineering offices in 5 different nations, and has been listed twice on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing businesses for their goal to equip companies of all sizes with the resources they require for success and drive constant improvement.
20. Growth Cave ($120K/year)
How much they make: $120K/year
Current team size:
Learn how a founder used UpWork and word of mouth to grow his Facebook ads agency, generating a client base that has helped him build a successful business.
21. 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.
22. O3M Directional Marketing Pvt Ltd ($480K/year)
Renjith Rajan, founder of O3M Directional Marketing, entered the technology space after working as a computer lab assistant and a Java and Perl programmer. His entrepreneurial journey began in 2005 with the launch of Boonze Media Solutions, and in 2010, he founded O3M after joining Google's Premier Partner Program. Today, O3M offers performance-oriented digital marketing solutions to clients around the world, with a team of 45+ members and a focus on expanding its client base and upskilling the team for more comprehensive campaigns.
How much they make: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2.5K
Current team size: 46
Renjith Rajan's O3M Directional Marketing Private Limited offers performance-oriented digital marketing solutions to clients worldwide, employing over 45 team members who are passionate about what they do and work with businesses of all sizes, via a mix of best practices, relationships, expertise, and hard work.
23. T.LY ($60K/year)
How much they make: $60K/year
Current team size:
T.LY's founder Tim Leland created a URL shortener extension that has streamlined the process of designing, sharing, and tracking short URLs with just one click and currently tracks more than 100 million clicks from over 10 million short URLs.
24. Viscap Media ($33.6K/year)
How much they make: $33.6K/year
Current team size: 38
Viscap Media is an advertising agency that collaborates with influencers to produce highly effective advertisements that have helped e-commerce brands generate multiple 6-figure sales.
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- 4,818 founder case studies
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- 8,628 business ideas
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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
