9 Public Speaker Success Stories [2024]

Updated: December 9th, 2023
Become A Public Speaker

Motivational speakers share powerful messages based on their life experiences. The focus is on helping others gain life's wisdom and become successful.

If you plan to become a motivational public speaker, learn how you can transition your genuine passion to becoming a professional public speaker who inspires others.

Then, start a social media channel and share your videos widely to go viral.

Here are some real life success stories of starting a public speaker:

1. Dean Bokhari ($1.44M/year)

Dean Bokhari, founder of DeanBokhari.com, was working as a marketer for a tobacco company until he had an emotional breakdown and decided to pursue meaningful work. After years of personal development and taking action, he started sharing what he had learned through writing, podcasting, and speaking, which eventually led him to start his membership platform. Now, with over half a million readers and monthly revenues exceeding $100,000, Dean is helping others improve their lives and achieve their goals.

How much they make: $1.44M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 17

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How I Started A $100K/Month Membership Platform Focused On Self-Improvement

Founder Dean Bokhari shares how he launched a membership platform focused on self-improvement, generating over $100,000 per month in revenue, attracting customers via high-quality content, guest blogging and Facebook ads, with plans to grow to $1,000,000 per month over the next 3-5 years.

About
Dean started Dean Bokhari about 3 years ago
Revenue
Dean grew the business to $120K/month
Costs
It cost Dean $5000 to start the business
Read by 7,557 founders

2. 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

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I Started A $2.4M/Year Marketing Agency [From Home]

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.

About
Yvette started The Creative Collective about 17 years ago
Revenue
Yvette grew the business to $200K/month
Read by 4,561 founders

So... can you actually make money with a public speaker?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

3. Simply Hudson ($84K/year)

based on Simply Hudson's core values and vision. By offering strategic advising and process design services, along with additional public speaking packages and online business development courses, Simply Hudson attracts and retains customers by providing tangible and effective solutions for their businesses. The company's focus on simplicity, effectiveness, sustainability, integrity, and trust resonates with clients, leading to meaningful and impactful results.

How much they make: $84K/year
How much did it cost to start: $16K
Current team size: 0

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How I Built An $80K+/Year Business As A Solo Consultant Traveling The World

Simply Hudson, a process design and strategic advising company, has saved over 800 manual work hours and $80,000 in annual overhead costs through designing streamlined, semi-automated processes for their fully remote, globally distributed team.

About
Nicole started Simply Hudson over 3 years ago
Revenue
Nicole grew the business to $7K/month
Costs
It cost Nicole $16000 to start the business
Read by 2,439 founders

4. The Big Talk Academy ($600K/year)

Tricia Brouk, an award-winning director and producer, came up with the idea for The Big Talk Academy after directing a friend's talk. Realizing there was a market for speaker coaches, she immersed herself in online marketing and invested in mentors to grow her business to a 7-figure company in less than 3 years. Brouk's risk tolerance and dedication to serving her clients have led to the success of her virtual and live speaker programs.

How much they make: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
Current team size: 8

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How I Went From Zero To A 7-Figure Company Coaching Public Speakers

Tricia Brouk went from having zero online presence to building a 7-figure company in under 3 years by creating The Big Talk Academy, where she offers virtual signature speaking and thought leadership certification programmes, and The Speaker Salon, a live speaker intensive course which grew into a $30k investment.

About
Tricia started The Big Talk Academy over 6 years ago
Revenue
Tricia grew the business to $50K/month
Costs
It cost Tricia $3000 to start the business
Read by 1,806 founders

So... can you actually make money with a public speaker?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

5. Cary Jack - The Happy Hustle ($300K/year)

Cary Jack, founder of The Happy Hustle, experienced burnout while working 100+ hour weeks for his tech startup. After rejecting a 7-figure funding deal and taking time off in Thailand, he developed a way to find happiness within the hustle and created The Happy Hustle™ to help entrepreneurs achieve work-life balance. Through various revenue streams, such as podcasting, books, and mastermind adventures, Cary has built a successful business that focuses on serving his tribe and creating positive impact.

How much they make: $300K/year
Current team size: 4

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How Experiencing Burnout Led Me To Start One Of The Most Popular Podcasts In The World

Cary Jack started The Happy Hustle to help fellow purpose-driven entrepreneurs avoid burnout and achieve blissful balance in their personal and professional life while putting the Happy in their everyday Hustle, offering multiple revenue streams including a mastermind, book, and course.

Revenue
Cary grew the business to $25K/month
Read by 2,031 founders

6. Natasha Zoryk ($1.34M/year)

How much they make: $1.34M/year
How much did it cost to start: $119
Current team size: 9

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Generating $1.4M/Year Helping Founders Scale Their Brands [+ Building A New App]

Learn about the journey of Natasha Zoryk, a 3x founder and business mentor who currently generates close to $2 million per year and over 6 figures in cash per month, as she shares her entrepreneurial story and tips for building a successful business.

About
Natasha started Natasha Zoryk about 5 years ago
Revenue
Natasha grew the business to $112K/month
Costs
It cost Natasha $119 to start the business
Read by 938 founders