Content Marketing Business

How Profitable Is A Content Marketing Business? (Updated for 2024)

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 9th, 2024

How Profitable Is A Content Marketing Business? (Updated for 2024)

So you want to start a content marketing business?

And the first question that came to your mind was, “well, are content marketing businesses actually profitable?”

With a market size of $25.8B - there’s plenty of business to go around.

Especially considering:

You could start a content marketing business with as low as $35
Based on our data, content marketing businesses generate an average of $1.1M per year
You could see gross margins as high as 97% with content marketing businesses

There’s money to be made. Don’t worry.

But, I don't want to spoil it all. Below we’ll cover everything you need to know when it comes to the profitability of a content marketing business.

Let’s dive in!

Is a content marketing business profitable?

Yes, a content marketing business is generally a profitable business. However, you still need to consider several factors since these things always impact the overall outcome.

For instance, since average revenue is $1.1M per year with an estimated gross margin of 65%, you could expect to recover your investment within 7 months or even less.

But of course, it all comes down to how much you earn compared to the potential revenues of your content marketing business.

To determine whether your business is profitable, you should earn more than your expenses in the beginning months. However, while you're in your first month, it can be challenging to know what to expect.

Therefore, you should maintain a record of your monthly expenses and income to determine whether you're meeting your goals. By doing this step, you can see how your content marketing business is doing and if any changes or adjustments need to be made to enhance or maintain your efforts.

Is a content marketing business worth it?

If you’re wondering if a content marketing business is worth it, the answer is a big YES. With content marketing businesses, you have the potential to earn $1.1M per year (this is based on data reported by real founders).

Further, you could have your initial investment back within months. Simply put, it’s a business worth a shot, especially if you have the resources and make the necessary efforts to achieve or surpass the target.

With a market size of $25.8B, it will be possible for you to build something that grows and turns into a flourishing business. As such, it’s the type of business you might want to consider starting.

Of course, you must learn and understand every aspect of running a content marketing business to ensure success. Still, as long as you have the initial investment and can endure a few months before your actual gains, this business could be worth it.

You might want to consider reading more specifics about successful content marketing businesses case studies.

Examples Of Profitable Content Marketing Businesses

Here are a few examples of profitable content marketing businesses, and a few more details about them:

1. 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.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $120K/year

How Brian Basel Built Audience Ops Before To 6-Figure Exit

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.

Read this case study

Read by 276 founders

2. Personal Profitability ($0/year)

Leaving his finance job in 2016, he transformed his passion for blogging into Narrow Bridge Media, a content empire generating over $200,000 annually by delivering educational finance material and scaling with a dedicated team.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $0/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K

I Left My Job In Finance & Built A $200K/Year Blog [About Finance]

This case study is about a finance expert who left his job to start a blog, which has become a six-figure business with high margins by writing articles for banks, investment companies, fintech startups, and other businesses.

Read this case study

Read by 5,134 founders

3. Content Refined ($996K/year)

Narcis became the CEO and Manager of Content Refined after the business was already established. However, he was able to optimize procedures and increase clientele, leading to significant revenue growth of 76% over 3 years. With a focus on delivering high-quality content and helping site owners rank for target keywords organically, Content Refined has become a fully managed content writing service that attracts and retains customers through word of mouth and referrals.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $996K/year

How I Have Scaled Our Content Writing Service Business To 2X Revenue And A 38% YoY Growth

Content Refined's CEO Narcis shares how they grew their fully-managed content writing service to double their revenue, with 76% growth, and expand their clientele while keeping profit margins healthy - all within the past 3 years - by remaining focused on delivering quality and performance, leveraging referrals, and implementing AI procedures.

Read this case study

Read by 1,981 founders

Learn more about starting a content marketing business:

Where to start?

-> How much does it cost to start a content marketing business?
-> Pros and cons of a content marketing business

Need inspiration?

-> Other content marketing business success stories

Other resources

-> Content marketing business tips
-> Blog post ideas for a content marketing business

How much can you make with a content marketing business?

With a content marketing business, you can make an average of $1.1M revenue per year (based on data reported by real businesses).

You can start with an initial investment as low as $35. Then, with proper knowledge and sustained effort, you could have an ROI (return of investment) within 7 months.

How much does a content marketing business make a week?

Based on our data, average weekly revenue for a content marketing business ranges around $22.8K. As such, you could see monthly revenues of $91.3K.

To know if your content marketing business achieves the weekly profit target, you need to keep track of the total earnings you get per day. Afterward, you'll want to consider subtracting the expenses you have daily.

Learning your weekly profit can also show whether you're hitting your target goal for your content marketing business.

How much do content marketing businesses owners make?

The income of a content marketing business owner can vary depending on various factors such as location, size, competition, and the owner's business skills.

But to give you some idea, the weekly revenue of an established content marketing business is about $22.8K. But this can be lower or higher depending on so many factors - it's almost impossible to say exactly.

While the potential for earning a good income as a content marketing business owner exists, success in this field requires a commitment to providing quality products and services and building a strong reputation within the community.

Content Marketing Business Profit Margins

Generally speaking, a content marketing business can expect profit margin of around 65%. Profit margins refer to the percentage of revenue that remains after deducting all expenses associated with running a business. In the case of a content marketing business, profit margins can vary depending on various factors, such as the type and quality of products sold, the size of the store, and the level of competition in the area.

However, these figures can vary depending on the pricing strategy, inventory management, and overall efficiency of the business. To maintain healthy profit margins, content marketing business owners must focus on managing costs, negotiating favorable supplier terms, and providing high-quality products and services to attract and retain customers. By doing so, content marketing business owners can ensure long-term sustainability and profitability for their business.

Content marketing business owner salary

The salary of a content marketing business owner is an unpredictable figure. It's significantly influenced by numerous factors, including the store's location, its size, and the degree of competition. An owner of a well-established content marketing business, in a prime position, might see an average weekly salary around the ballpark of $14.8K.

But it's worth noting, such numbers aren't always consistent. The earnings can vary wildly, potentially swinging by as much as 80% either way.

Achieving consistent success and maintaining a reliable income stream in this industry requires a deep commitment. It's imperative to offer high-quality products, deliver impeccable customer service, and nurture a trusted bond with the community you serve.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, based on many of our examples, a content marketing business may be a promising business to start - but the success of your content marketing business mostly depends on your effort and your approach.

If you focus on these, you'll have a much higher chance of a profitable content marketing business.

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Starting A Content Marketing Business: Everything You Need To Know

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