30 Web Development Business Success Stories [2024]
A web development business is a company that builds and takes care of websites. They typically use coding and design skills to create online spaces that meet the needs of individuals or businesses.
These businesses help ensure websites work well and look good, playing a key role in the online presence of their clients.
Here are some real life success stories of starting a web development business:
1. Vuetify ($300K/year)
In 2016, John Leider, a former U.S. Army member and web developer, discovered the Vue.js framework through Laravel. Inspired by the simplicity and clean design of Vue.js, he decided to build his own UI framework called Vuetify. After releasing the alpha version on GitHub, the overwhelming response led him to quit his job and become a full-time open-source developer. Leider monetizes Vuetify through digital content, paid support, ad revenue, and donations, with the Vuetify store becoming the main revenue generator for the business.
How much they make: $300K/year
Current team size: 1
Vuetify is a popular open-source user interface library, built with the Vue.js framework, that generates revenue through digital content and services such as paid digital content in the Vuetify store, direct support through consulting, ad revenue from Carbon ads on the documentation pages, and donations/sponsorships via GitHub and Patreon, generating an average income of $6,500 per month.
2. Cantilever Web Design & Development ($1.78M/year)
Ty Fujimura, founder of Cantilever Web Design and Development, came up with the idea for his business while freelancing and building a robust list of clients. After hiring Nevan Scott, a talented designer/developer, they successfully pitched and won a large project, prompting the formal incorporation of Cantilever. With a few thousand dollars in the bank and a $20,000 check from their first project, they slowly built momentum and focused on delivering top-quality work to build a strong client base.
How much they make: $1.78M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
Current team size: 9
Cantilever Web Design and Development, with clients including IBM and small businesses, reached a revenue of over $750k last year with a gross margin of 50% by prioritizing Digital Hospitality, fostering high-quality relationships, and constantly improving their process and philosophy.
So... can you actually make money with a web development business?
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. La Teva Web ($900K/year)
Francesc, the founder of LA TEVA WEB, came up with the idea for his web agency after realizing that there was a gap in the market for websites that could sell and achieve objectives in Barcelona. With his background in management and strategy, he combined his skills in coding and design to create a company that focuses on web design and online marketing. Today, LA TEVA WEB has grown to a team of 20 professionals and continues to enjoy growth and profitability, helping clients increase sales through their websites, e-commerce, and social media profiles.
How much they make: $900K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 19
LA TEVA WEB, a web design and online marketing agency in Spain, started with just one person and has grown to a team of 20 professionals, becoming profitable and achieving growth every year with the key to success being a good academic background that helps to devise a sound strategy, love for the work, and a good team committed to the project in the long term.
4. Sam Munoz Consulting, LLC ($132K/year)
Sam Munoz Consulting, LLC was founded after the founder's biggest client closed its doors, leaving Sam to make a tough decision. Choosing to offer tech services, Sam booked a few clients and realized the potential to create websites for entrepreneurs. Through iteration and product development, the Effortless Website Kits were born, generating $9,000+ per month in revenue.
How much they make: $132K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
Current team size: 2
Sam Munoz Consulting LLC generated roughly $9,000 per month in revenue in 2020, thanks to their affordable website templates “Effortless Website Kits” and private clients, with a goal to shift revenue to digital products in the next two years.
So... can you actually make money with a web development business?
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. 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 they make: $840K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50
Current team size: 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.
6. Zovo Team Ltd. ($240K/year)
Mahamud Hasan, the founder of Zovo Team Ltd, started his business as a freelance graphic designer in 2016. After realizing the lack of technical and business knowledge among entrepreneurs, he expanded his services and formed a team of experts to provide comprehensive solutions for startups. With an estimated revenue of 12.5k$/month and yearly 150k$+, Zovo Team Ltd has become a top branding agency in Bangladesh.
How much they make: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $200
Current team size: 40
Zovo Team Ltd, founded by Mahamud Hasan and his co-founders, is a full-stack digital marketing solutions company with an estimated revenue of $12.5k/month and yearly $150k+. They have six subsidiary brands that provide A to Z solutions for entrepreneurs, and their team is dedicated to the development of new entrepreneurs by offering effective solutions.
So... can you actually make money with a web development business?
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. Eikon Labs ($180K/year)
Anebi Agbo, the founder of Eikon Labs, came up with the idea for the web design consultancy during his altMBA program in 2019. With a background in technology and a desire to work with small businesses, he realized that helping them build better websites and apps could have a positive impact on their bottom line. He launched Eikon Labs as a side hustle and eventually transitioned to running it full-time.
How much they make: $180K/year
How much did it cost to start: $999
Current team size: 1
8. Never Settle ($1.8M/year)
Kenn Kelly, co-founder of Never Settle, came up with the idea for the digital agency after experiencing the ups and downs of the tech startup world. He realized the importance of taking care of people and decided to create a company that values and empowers both clients and staff. With a focus on service and building long-lasting relationships, Never Settle has become a globally recognized leader in mobile, website, and marketing solutions, completing over 1,000 projects in seven years.
How much they make: $1.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 15
Never Settle, a digital agency with over 1,000 completed projects and a focus on lean methodology and building relationships with clients, has made a name for itself in the eCommerce space, offering comprehensive solutions to businesses of all sizes while maintaining consistent and moderate growth.
9. Imaginovation ($1.2M/year)
Imaginovation has grown an average of over 40% in revenue every year since its founding in 2011. They have won several credible tech awards and have been featured in top publications. The company has a strong local presence and a focus on building SEO-optimized websites to establish an online presence. The future looks bright for Imaginovation as they continue to attract and retain customers with their client-centered approach and innovative technology solutions.
How much they make: $1.2M/year
Current team size: 35
Imaginovation, a technology and app development company in Raleigh, NC, was recently named one of the Top Technology Companies in North Carolina by Clutch and has grown an average of over 40% in revenue every year since it was founded in 2011 by co-founders Michael Georgiou and Pete Peranzo.
10. NerdPilots ($300K/year)
How much they make: $300K/year
Current team size:
This case study examines how one founder turned a side project into a successful design and development agency bringing in $25k/month.
11. Wolfpack Digital ($3.6M/year)
Gina, the founder of Wolfpack Digital, came up with the idea for her app development agency after realizing the lack of soft skills and business strategy in the tech ecosystem in Romania. With a diverse background in engineering, psychology, and business, Gina was able to bring together her interests and tap into the impressive tech talent pool in her hometown of Cluj. Since launching in 2015, Wolfpack Digital has experienced impressive growth, reaching a yearly revenue of over $1.5 million.
How much they make: $3.6M/year
Current team size: 88
Wolfpack Digital, an award-winning app development agency from Romania, founded by Gina Lupu, with a team of 50 in-house employees, has exceeded the $1.5M yearly revenue threshold, with an impressive 15-20% profit margin, focusing on fintech, health tech, IoT, social, and transportation industries.
12. TRIARE ($300K/year)
Boris, the founder of TRIARE, came up with the idea for his software development company after working as a project manager for a German startup. When the company closed down, Boris decided to keep the team and build a business together. With just a $500 investment, they started providing software development services and eventually evolved into a full-cycle service provider. Through word of mouth and various marketing tools, TRIARE has attracted and retained customers, with their website receiving 22,000 unique visitors and generating dozens of leads.
How much they make: $300K/year
Current team size: 60
Ukrainian software development company TRIARE, with a current annual turnover of $500,000, shares how personal and collective responsibility, paired with patience and consistency, can help build a profitable business.
13. Huemor ($3M/year)
Example: Jeff, the co-founder of Huemor, started his journey as a graphic design student who freelanced to gain experience and earn money. After feeling unfulfilled in a corporate job, Jeff joined forces with a friend to build an internal agency for a media placement company. When the work environment turned toxic, they made a bold move to start their own agency, Huemor, and haven't looked back since. They've helped over 200 companies transform their digital presence and earned over 100 international awards, while maintaining a simple, customer-focused approach.
How much they make: $3M/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
Current team size: 44
Huemor is a successful digital marketing agency with over 200 company transformations, over 100 international awards, and a team beyond 40 people, scaling YoY at 74%, with an average project value of $67,500 and 2.7 year average client relationship.
14. Buddy Web Design & Development ($180K/year)
Scott was interested in a career change, prompting him to learn coding to open up more career opportunities in the software development industry. After training, he put together a freelancer profile on Upwork and secured some projects. Fortunately, freelancing panned out and led to the evolution and growth of Buddy Web Design & Development.
How much they make: $180K/year
Current team size: 0
Buddy Web Design & Development founder Scott Daigger transformed his one-person freelance business into a growing team bringing in around $25k per month in just six months, offering services such as website design and development, logo design, graphic design, branding, web content writing, e-commerce, blogging, and search engine optimization, targeting primarily growing businesses looking to refresh or “level up” their online presence, with a particularly large portion of clients in the healthcare and medical device space.
15. Twelvedevs ($1.2M/year)
Andrey and his co-founder Alexander were working as programmers in a software development outsourcing company when they decided to start their own company. Inspired by stories of small teams achieving success, they came up with the idea of creating a small team of 12 top developers. However, they soon realized that they needed to expand their teams to grow the company, leading to the formation of Twelvedevs, an IT consulting and custom software development company. Since its launch in 2012, Twelvedevs has completed over 70 projects in various industries, including Fintech and logistics, and has become one of the leading custom software development companies with over $100k in revenue per month.
How much they make: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $300
Current team size: 50
Twelvedevs, an IT consulting and custom software development company, shares its success story after 9 years of completing more than 70 projects across various industries, having over $100k revenue per month, fifty employees, and a soon-to-be-opened branch in the U.S. for Fintech and logistics.
16. Self-Made Web Designer ($79.2K/year)
How much they make: $79.2K/year
Current team size:
This case study follows a UX web designer who has earned an impressive $80k through Upwork and has built the Self-Made Web Designer website to help aspiring web designers on their journey.
17. Create Circus ($288K/year)
Oliver, the founder of Create Circus, came up with the idea for his business while building his own Shopify branded business during the global lockdowns. He noticed that many stores lacked great branding and quality, so he began offering custom-built templates and designs to make stores stand out. Today, Create Circus has a turnover of around $24,000 a month and is expanding their services to include SEO, SEM, and TikTok marketing.
How much they make: $288K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
Current team size: 8
Create Circus, a Shopify development agency that focuses on high-quality e-commerce store creation, started during the later end of the pandemic and has since turned over around $24,000 a month with two amazing full-time project managers and three full-time developers.
18. Materialize ($1.5M/year)
Alex Nordlinger, the founder of Materialize, came up with the idea for his business while working on side projects as a software engineer. Realizing he could take on more projects by hiring a team, he decided to start Materialize, a software development studio that provides web and mobile app development services. The business has grown to 18 employees, with a revenue of $125k per month.
How much they make: $1.5M/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
Current team size: 8
How a self-taught engineer built a software development studio, Materialize, into a 18-person team with a revenue of $125k per month, by leveraging his technical expertise and establishing well-defined processes to build products efficiently and cost-effectively.
19. SemiDot Infotech ($2.4M/year)
The founder of SemiDot Infotech came up with the idea for their business while working in London and realizing the issues faced by global clients in IT outsourcing. Recognizing the opportunity to provide solutions, they returned to India and established SemiDot Infotech in 2011, focusing on delivering efficient and effective IT solutions to businesses worldwide. Today, they have achieved significant success, earning over 2 million dollars annually and aiming to double their revenues in the coming years.
How much they make: $2.4M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 52
SemiDot Infotech has earned massive recognition across the world with its highly scalable, unique, and responsive web apps and mobile apps, earning over 2 million dollars annually and aiming to double revenues in the next few years.
20. RipenApps Technologies ($1.8M/year)
After working in the IT field for a decade, Ishan Gupta realized that digitalization was the future and wanted to contribute at a larger scale. He partnered with three friends who had expertise in business consulting, IT and sales, and programming to launch RipenApps in 2017. Since then, they have grown from a team of 4 to 169+ and have delivered 500+ successful projects, resulting in a USD 1.5M turnover.
How much they make: $1.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.5M
Current team size: 169
RipenApps is a fast-growing mobile app development company with a 100% industry success rate, and in just four years, it experienced a high turnover rate of $1.5M and increased its team from four to 169+.
21. Digital Cohort ($120K/year)
Sepideh Maleki, a photographer based in the Seattle Metro Area, came up with the idea for her product photography business after setting up a Shopify store to sell wicker baskets. As she started shooting her own products and improving her photography skills, she realized that product photography itself could be a viable business opportunity. With a low cost of entry and a focus on acquiring local customers through platforms like Craigslist, Sepideh has been able to generate an average of $10k per month in revenue for her business.
How much they make: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $15K
Current team size: 2
Product photographer Sepideh Maleki shares how she grew her business from scratch, generating an average of $10k per month through a focus on customer acquisition with a clear traffic and revenue plan, organic search optimization, and impeccable customer service.
22. 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 they make: $960K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 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.
23. Weichie.com ($360K/year)
Bob, the creative director at Weichie, accidentally started his freelance business while working in a digital agency in New York. After gaining experience in SEO and website design, he launched Weichie.com and used it as an example site to showcase his skills. Through word-of-mouth referrals and a focus on customer satisfaction, Bob's business has grown to specialize in eCommerce and SEO, with a goal of becoming an authority in the field.
How much they make: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
Current team size: 2
A creative director at a Brussels-based creative, technology, and e-commerce optimization agency outlines their process of building a digital agency that focuses on eCommerce and SEO-based projects while providing tips on the importance of looking up to others but never comparing yourself to them.
24. 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 they make: $96K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
Current team size: 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.
25. CreateApe ($4.2M/year)
Alessandro Fard, the founder of CreateApe, developed the idea for his business after realizing the importance of a solid foundation in digital projects. Through years of trial and error, he created the Create Ape Jungle Guide, a comprehensive process that allows clients to fulfill the research and ideation phase of their projects and lays the foundation for successful user experience, design, and development. With impressive revenue growth between 50 and 100% year-over-year, CreateApe is a leading player in the digital agency space.
How much they make: $4.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $25K
Current team size: 55
CreateApe, a full-service digital agency specializing in user experience design, has seen yearly revenue growth between 50-100%, with $350,000 in monthly revenue and success attributed to their almost reckless embrace of partnering with their clients.
26. Get X Media ($180K/year)
Corey Hayes, the founder of Get X Media, came up with the idea for his business after seeing a growing demand among his entrepreneurial friends who needed assistance with website design and business cards. Recognizing the opportunity, he expanded his services to include customized apparel printing and a comprehensive suite of digital marketing solutions, leading to rapid growth and revenue in the six-figure range.
How much they make: $180K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 3
Seasoned web designer Corey Hayes started Get X Media, a marketing agency that offers website design, customized apparel printing, and comprehensive digital marketing solutions that has experienced significant growth, with a remarkable increase in traffic 13 times higher than before and approximately doubling year-over-year, achieving a retention rate of 98%, and hoping to triple growth this year.
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
