24 Website Development Business Success Stories [2023]
Website developers create websites for their clients. as a website developer, your responsibility is to ensure a website is visually appealing and easy to navigate. Web developers also focus on improving the website’s performance and capacity.
To become a website developer, learn different web programming languages. Your customers can be eCommerce business owners or brick-and-mortar businesses looking to have an online presence.
Here are some real life success stories of starting a website development business:
1. Up And Social ($300K/year)
Scott, the founder of Up And Social, came up with the idea for his business after realizing the need for web design and SEO services specifically tailored to small businesses. With his background in marketing and technology, he saw an opportunity to provide affordable but high-quality services to small business owners. Through networking events and online initiatives, Up And Social has been able to attract and retain customers, and they continue to grow at a comfortable pace, with over $20,000 in sales each month.
How much they make: $300K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2.5K
Current team size: 1
How a founder turned his passion for marketing and technology into a successful Boston-based web design and SEO company, generating over $20k in sales each month by focusing on serving the niche market of small businesses through affordable and personalized services, while establishing his reputation through B2B networking and online initiatives.
2. 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.
So... can you actually make money with a website 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. The Locksmith Agency (1-800-Unlocks) ($360K/year)
Samuel Wilson, the owner of The Locksmith Agency, came up with the idea after recognizing the need for digital marketing services in the locksmith industry. Growing up in a locksmith family, he saw firsthand how locksmiths often lacked the time and expertise to focus on their online presence. Combining his background in locksmithing with his love for marketing, Wilson created The Locksmith Agency to help promote genuine locksmiths and provide them with effective digital marketing solutions.
How much they make: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 3
The Locksmith Agency, run by Samuel Wilson, a licensed locksmith with over 10 years of digital marketing experience, is making $30k+ per month by providing digital marketing services such as Website Development, SEO, and Google Listing optimization services specifically for the locksmith industry.
4. MadeByShape ($600K/year)
Andy Golpys, the co-founder of MadeByShape, came up with the idea for his creative and digital agency after working as a freelance designer and noticing the growing demand for websites. Through networking, impressive portfolio work, and providing high-quality services, the agency has grown to average £50k per month in revenue, with a client base ranging from small to big brands. Along with offering web design and development, MadeByShape has expanded its services to include ongoing support, hosting, SEO, and branding, leading to increased financial stability and customer retention.
How much they make: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
Current team size: 10
MadeByShape, a creative and digital agency based in Manchester, UK, shares how they grew their business from designing websites for £200 to making projects that generate £100k, with a strategy focused on quality services, long-term customer relationships, and organic SEO.
So... can you actually make money with a website 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. WPX ($3.6M/year)
Georgi Petrov and his business partner Terry Kyle came up with the idea for WPX, a WordPress hosting company, after experiencing the poor quality and slow service of other hosting providers. They saw a need for a faster and more reliable hosting service that would cater to solopreneurs and non-techies. With just 2 people, they launched WPX and quickly gained customers, eventually growing to a team of 100+ and generating a yearly income of $3M.
How much they make: $3.6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
Current team size: 100
WPX, a WordPress hosting company, started as a side project bootstrapped with just a server and a few licenses, and is now a team of over 100, servicing over 11,000 customers globally, with an annual income of $3M, thanks to their consistent focus on providing fast, reliable service and tech support for non-techies.
6. SharpNet Solutions, Inc ($4.2M/year)
SharpNet Solutions was founded in 1998 by Christopher Sharp, a chemical engineer who wanted to secure his family's future. After self-training in website building, he realized the potential of internet marketing and launched his own company. Today, with a team of 38 talented members, SharpNet generates over $4 million in annual gross sales, offering SEO, PPC, social media management, and website design services with a strong focus on customer satisfaction.
How much they make: $4.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $200
Current team size: 39
This case study is about Christopher Sharp, who founded digital marketing company SharpNet Solutions, which employs 38 people and has gross sales of over $4 million/year, and focuses on customer satisfaction and producing bottom-line results.
So... can you actually make money with a website 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. ThriveWP ($57.6K/year)
Gavin, the founder of ThriveWP, came up with the idea for his WordPress maintenance service after experiencing the need for website updates and patches to prevent issues and vulnerabilities. With over 15 years of experience in the WordPress industry and a focus on providing top-quality support, Gavin built ThriveWP into a successful business through customer-centricity and word of mouth.
How much they make: $57.6K/year
Current team size: 1
ThriveWP, a WordPress Maintenance Service based in the UK, shares how they started a $3.5k a month business providing website management, maintenance, hosting, and support services to various customers, with a focus on customer-centric service and a non-jargon approach.
8. 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 they make: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
Current team size: 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. Draftss ($180K/year)
Junaid Ansari and Amin Memon co-founded Draftss.com, a productized graphic design and frontend code service. They started by providing graphic design services and later added frontend coding to their list of offerings based on customer requests. In 2019, they made $66,000 in annual recurring revenue (ARR), and as of July 2020, they hit $9.6k in monthly recurring revenue (MRR). Their focus is on automation and improving their service to retain customers and scale their business.
How much they make: $180K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
Current team size: 25
Draftss.com is a productized graphic design and front-end code service on subscription that made $66k ARR in 2019, has an MRR of $9.6k as of July 2020, and offers add-ons such as designers being added to team in interacting tools and front-end code services on WordPress using various page builders like Elementor and Divi.
13. illumisoft ($792K/year)
Dan Prince, founder of illumisoft, started the company because of his passion for technology and creating innovative solutions. He realized that many technical projects fail because of a lack of understanding between business and technology. illumisoft bridges that gap by understanding the client's needs and designing solutions that meet their expectations. With over $10 million in projects and zero failed projects, illumisoft has become a trusted software development company in the healthcare industry.
How much they make: $792K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
Current team size: 2
Illumisoft, a software development company specializing in cloud migration, web applications, business solutions, and data management, has experienced consistent growth and success with 42 completed projects worth over $10M, 30 different clients, and 100% 5-star reviews, while focusing on providing services solely to the healthcare industry and changing lives of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.
14. PageGuard ($2.4K/year)
Jonathan Moore, founder of PageGuard, came up with the idea for his WordPress website maintenance business after encountering friends and colleagues who experienced website issues. Realizing that these problems could have been avoided with proper maintenance, Moore created PageGuard to offer affordable and flexible website maintenance solutions. Despite being a new business, PageGuard is already attracting customers, particularly smaller businesses, entrepreneurs, and the self-employed. Moore's long-term goal is to expand the team and create a successful maintenance machine.
How much they make: $2.4K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
Current team size: 0
PageGuard is a new WordPress website maintenance business bringing in $200 a month, catering mainly for smaller business, entrepreneurs, and the self-employers, offering three levels of support at different price points.
15. 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.
16. Modern Launch ($600K/year)
Cody Benedetto and Ryan Serkes, founders of Modern Launch, started their custom software development company after experiencing success with their own business ventures. Within just three months of launching, they generated over $100k in revenue and have been profitable since their third week in business. Their services include mobile application development, website development, and custom software development.
How much they make: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 2
Modern Launch, a custom software development company, generated over $100k in revenue and achieved profitability within its first 3 weeks of bootstrapping, offering services including mobile application development, website development and design, and custom software development.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. Yes To Brand ($132K/year)
Veronica Baljak, the co-owner of Yes to Brand, started her online business journey by building dropshipping stores for herself, family, and friends. Through networking, sharing her knowledge in blogs and on social media, and becoming a motivational dropshipping influencer, Veronica gained a dedicated following and decided to create Yes to Brand, an agency that helps people start and improve their online businesses. With sales averaging $11,000 per month, Veronica's positive mindset and passion for manifesting success have led to rapid growth and opportunities for collaboration.
How much they make: $132K/year
How much did it cost to start: $7K
Current team size: 3
Dropshipping entrepreneur Veronica Baljak shares how her agency, Yes to Brand, helps people start and grow their online businesses, averaging $11,000 in monthly sales just three months after launching by focusing on positive mindset, collaboration, and transparency with customers.
20. Skynet Technologies ($1.2M/year)
Rajesh Bhimani, the founder of Skynet Technologies, started the digital agency and technology company with the goal of bringing digital transformation to businesses. Despite limited financial resources, he gathered support from friends in India and the USA and built a team. With a clear vision of offering all digital services under one roof, Skynet Technologies has grown to a monthly revenue of $150k - $200k.
How much they make: $1.2M/year
Current team size: 0
Skynet Technologies is a successful digital agency and technology company that has scaled to a monthly revenue of 150k - 200k USD, offering end-to-end eCommerce solutions, CMS, mobile app development, custom application development, and much more, with growth despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
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