59 Digital Marketing Business Success Stories [2024]
Digital marketing businesses serve local and international companies to expand their reach and grow revenue. A top reason digital marketing is so exciting is that the field is constantly evolving and is easy to learn.
If you plan to start a digital marketing business, educate yourself and understand how digital marketing agencies work. Then, focus on building your digital skills and advancing your career through online digital marketing courses.
To stand out, find a digital marketing niche and focus on the audience interested in your services.
Here are some real life success stories of starting a digital marketing business:
1. Custom Creatives ($3.6M/year)
Rahul Alim, the founder of Custom Creatives, initially started his career in sales, but after leaving Realtor.com, he started his own company offering marketing services to real estate agents. However, it wasn't until a client requested a banner ad that he pivoted to focus on digital marketing, and CustomCreatives.com was born. Since then, the agency has grown to serve a wide range of industries, and their emphasis on providing value and superior service has helped them retain clients for over a decade and achieve consistent seven-figure revenue.
How much they make: $3.6M/year
Current team size: 10
Digital marketing agency founder Rahul Alim shares how he grew his business to consistently generate over 7-figures in revenue year-over-year and retain clients for many years through affordable digital marketing strategies that employ the CAP method (Customer Acquisition Program).
2. QWANTIFY ($7.2M/year)
Keith Lynch, the Founder and CEO of Qwantify, came up with the idea for his digital development and marketing agency after receiving requests from colleagues, family, and friends to develop profitable websites for them. With his knowledge, experience, and skills in digital marketing, he launched Qwantify in 2016 and offered a unique selling proposition of a revenue guarantee, which set him apart from the competition. Today, Qwantify is a multi-million dollar per year agency that attracts hundreds of new partner inquiries every month.
How much they make: $7.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
Current team size: 22
Qwantify is a digital development and marketing agency that operates a Partner Program guaranteeing websites earn a minimum of $10,000 per month, and since 2016, they have grown to become a multi-million dollar per year digital development agency.
So... can you actually make money with a digital marketing 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. GreenBanana ($7.2M/year)
Kevin Roy, co-founder of GreenBanana SEO, came up with the idea for his business when he realized that clients were looking for simple and quantifiable results from SEO and digital marketing campaigns. After a difficult client meeting, he decided to focus on pay-for-performance SEO and transparent reporting that centered around customer goals and lead generation. With 16 employees and $6 million in revenue, GreenBanana SEO has been listed on the Inc 5000 for the past three years.
How much they make: $7.2M/year
Current team size: 22
GreenBanana SEO co-founder Kevin Roy explains how his digital marketing company grew from just two employees working on a beer pong table to 16 employees generating around $6 million in annual revenue by focusing on pay-for-performance SEO and being transparent with reporting.
4. Watson Digital ($144K/year)
Jacob Dazzeo, founder of Watson Digital, came up with the idea for his online marketing company after working in a digital marketing company and realizing he could offer services in conversion rate optimization, pay-per-click advertising, and social media remarketing. By leveraging his expertise and forming strategic partnerships, Dazzeo was able to replace his corporate salary and achieve a four-hour workweek within a year of starting his business.
How much they make: $144K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
Current team size: 0
Founder Jacob Dazzeo shares his success story of building Watson Digital, an online marketing company, in less than a year which completely replaced his corporate salary and cut his workweek while focusing on products that help businesses grow their online sales funnel.
So... can you actually make money with a digital marketing 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. Restoration Digital Marketing ($300K/year)
Jeff Carrier came up with the idea for Restoration Digital Marketing after speaking to restoration owners who lacked focus on internet marketing. With their industry-specific knowledge and experience as a restoration company, RDM was able to educate the industry and generate $25,000/month in leads.
How much they make: $300K/year
Current team size: 2
Restoration Digital Marketing generates over $25,000 per month helping restoration companies achieve positive ROI through its specialized digital marketing services, and its success has been fuelled through word-of-mouth marketing tactics and developing client relationships.
6. Intellitonic ($1.62M/year)
Intellitonic, a digital marketing agency, was founded by Alex, Courtney, and Jared after realizing they could do digital marketing more effectively and transparently with organizations they care about. With their collective skills and experience in SEO, PPC, and software, they launched Intellitonic and have grown to a team of eleven without compromising their values.
How much they make: $1.62M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 12
Intellitonic is a digital marketing agency that grew from 3 to 11 people in less than 5 years without investment, earning $90k/month in revenue, with over 97 clients through a combination of referrals, relationships, and online ads.
So... can you actually make money with a digital marketing 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. Brandetize ($6M/year)
Eric Berman, the founder of Brandetize, came up with the idea for his digital marketing agency after consulting for famous author Brian Tracy. He realized that he could provide the same services to other successful businesses looking to scale and monetize their brands. With a strong network and a focus on delivering results, Brandetize has become a profitable company with a bright future ahead.
How much they make: $6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $998
Current team size: 27
Former dotcom entrepreneur Eric Berman built a profitable digital marketing agency by backing into it — helping successful businesses scale and monetize their brands.
8. Sunlight Media LLC. ($204K/year)
After years of performing as a professional musician, Angelo Frisina developed skills in web design during his downtime on tour. Recognizing the demand for website development services, he founded Sunlight Media and grew the business through outsourcing and targeted marketing efforts. The company has since won industry awards and expanded its clientele, specializing in digital marketing services for the media and entertainment industry.
How much they make: $204K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
Current team size: 2
Sunlight Media is a digital marketing company with a focus on web design and app development, that serves different customers across various industries, and has won industry awards and is continuing to expand in terms of revenue, enterprise productivity, and brand value.
9. Tatum Digital Agency ($120K/year)
AJ Tatum, founder of Tatum Digital Agency, came up with the idea for his business after realizing his passion for digital marketing and automation. With a background in web development and a desire to work with startups and small businesses, he launched TDA and has maintained an impressive average monthly income of ~$10k since May 2021. Through networking, offering free consultations, and creating quality content, AJ has been able to attract and retain customers for his digital presence management agency.
How much they make: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2.5K
Current team size: 1
10. 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.
11. 51blocks ($2.52M/year)
Michael Borgelt, the founder of 51Blocks and BionicWP, was inspired by his grandfather's business principles of helping people. He saw a need for quality digital marketing services and SEO expertise in the industry, so he started 51Blocks in 2009. With a strong focus on customer service and referrals, the agency has achieved an impressive customer lifetime value of 2.5+ years and generates $2.6 million in annual revenue. Building on this success, Borgelt launched BionicWP in 2020 to provide hyper-fast WordPress hosting with top-notch customer support.
How much they make: $2.52M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
Current team size: 30
This case study is about Michael Borgelt, founder of 51Blocks and BionicWP, who generates $2.6M revenue annually offering quality digital marketing and hosting solutions, including white label SEO, hyper-fast WordPress hosting, website development, and paid advertising, achieving a customer lifetime value of 2.5+ years and hosting 2,000 sites in about 1.5 years.
12. H-supertools ($24K/year)
Hasan, the founder of H-supertools, came up with the idea while developing tools for his own online business. He realized that these tools could be valuable for others as well, so he decided to offer them for free on a website. Through content creation and word-of-mouth, he attracted a large user base and was able to monetize the platform through various revenue streams.
How much they make: $24K/year
Current team size: 4
H-supertools founder Hasan developed a set of free SEO and digital marketing tools generating $2k per month in profit using Google Adsense, affiliate marketing, selling ad spaces, and email, plans to launch a membership option, and has attained over 80k registered users and 300k monthly visits in less than two years.
13. Concept Marketing Group ($480K/year)
Barb Ferrigno, the founder of Concept Marketing Group, came up with the idea for her marketing company in 1978 when she was diagnosed with an immune disorder. Wanting to have control over her hours for a healthier lifestyle, she started her own business with just $500 and a computer. Over time, the business grew exponentially, thanks in part to the internet, and now has 8,000 clients globally and internationally, with an average of 25 to 50 new customers per month.
How much they make: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
Current team size: 3
Concept Marketing Group, a full-service marketing company, started by Barb Ferrigno in 1978, has grown to 6 employees and 8 subcontractors, with 8,000 clients globally and $480k in revenue annually, offering services such as Email Marketing Lists, Consulting, Social Media, PR services, and Business Coaching for the Executive Staff.
14. GreenRope ($1.92M/year)
metrics for our business are our customer satisfaction and retention rates, which remain consistently high. We currently have over 1,000 customers in over 20 countries, ranging from startups to universities and municipalities. Moving forward, we plan to continue evolving and improving our platform to meet the changing needs of businesses and provide even greater value to our customers.
How much they make: $1.92M/year
Current team size: 15
GreenRope, a self-funded CRM and marketing automation platform with over 1,000 customers in 20 countries, was built organically and focused on creating a positive, customer-centric culture without outside investment, with an all-in-one interface solving challenges in managing sales, marketing, customer service, and operations.
15. Inquivix ($1.2M/year)
keep coming back for more. Additionally, we provide exceptional customer service and personalized strategies tailored to each client's specific needs, which sets us apart from our competitors. Our 10X-ed annual revenue growth and our strong reputation in the industry also attract new customers to our agency.
How much they make: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.5K
Current team size: 15
Inquivix is a leading digital marketing agency in Asia with regional hubs in multiple countries, generating $1.2M in annual revenue by helping clients enter the Korean market through social media and content creation, backed by extensive research, data analysis, and SEO strategies.
16. BrandBurp Digital ($1.2M/year)
Anshul Sharma, the founder of BrandBurp, was working at a corporate firm when he realized his true passion was entrepreneurship. He started BrandBurp in 2015 with the vision to revolutionize the functioning of websites, mobile applications, and brands. Since then, the company has grown into one of the fastest-growing digital marketing agencies, leveraging over 2,000 brands and generating over 1,000 leads and 3 billion USD ROI globally.
How much they make: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
Current team size: 175
BrandBurp, a digital marketing company founded in 2015, has leveraged over 2,000 brands to strategically market their business and boost their revenue, generating over 1,000 leads and 3 billion USD ROI globally and working with big names such as Coca-Cola and Supreme.
17. 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.
18. Social Beat ($4.2M/year)
Founder Vikas Chawla started Social Beat after realizing a gap in the market for ROI-driven digital marketing solutions. With less than 100 million internet users in India at the time, Chawla saw the potential for growth and started the business with a pay-for-performance fee model, eventually building a 300+ member team and becoming one of the fastest-growing digital agencies in the region. They now manage 3% of the digital media investment in the country and have an MRR of $400,000.
How much they make: $4.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $25K
Current team size: 300
Social Beat founder Vikas Chawla started up a successful digital agency by identifying a gap in the market for ROI-driven digital marketing strategies; the Chennai-based firm has grown to 300+ staff, manages 3% of India's digital media investments and boasts a monthly recurring revenue of $400k, all since its founding ten years ago.
19. Big Star Copywriting ($360K/year)
Derryck Strachan, the founder of Big Star Copywriting, started his business after realizing the rapidly growing demand for content for SEO. He initially set up a basic website and ran PPC campaigns to attract clients. Despite challenges during the 2008 financial crash, the business has since grown and is now approaching revenues of approximately $30,000 per month.
How much they make: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $200
Current team size: 5
Big Star Copywriting is a UK-based agency that, after a difficult year due to Covid, is now approaching revenues of approximately $30,000 per month and growing, working with clients such as Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, New Era, Lloyds, Handy.com, and Screwfix, among others, and focusing on customer service, value for money, and expertise.
20. Add Value | Growth Marketing Agency ($600K/year)
24-year-old Joachim Brouckaert founded Add Value, a growth marketing agency, after noticing that many marketing agencies prioritized money over delivering value to their customers. With a background in digital marketing and experience freelancing as a digital marketer, Joachim decided to start his own agency focused on full-funnel marketing services. After a year in business, Add Value generates an average monthly turnover of 30k and works with 18 active clients.
How much they make: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
Current team size: 5
A 24-year-old founder shares how his growth marketing agency generated €360,000 in its first year, with a team of 5 people working for 18 active clients per month, using SEO, Facebook and Google ads, organic content on LinkedIn, and a hybrid agency model with a focus on client retention.
21. 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.
22. 930Tech ($72K/year)
Joshua Hurley, founder of 930TECH, came up with the idea for his digital marketing and technology solutions company after noticing a gap in the market. With his background in nonprofit organizations, he saw a need for comprehensive and up-to-date technology services. Despite launching during the height of the pandemic, Hurley's hustle and determination allowed him to attract customers and exceed his financial goals.
How much they make: $72K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
Current team size: 2
This case study follows Joshua Hurley, an executive turned entrepreneur who started a digital marketing company, 930TECH, during the pandemic and is currently making around $3,000 per month, with plans of becoming one of the top three digital companies in Tennessee.
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. Smart Yeti Creative Agency ($96K/year)
Jeremy Kanne, founder of Smart Yeti, came up with the idea for his creative agency after realizing that technical companies needed help with messaging and marketing. With his background in civil engineering and a creative streak, Jeremy decided to combine his skills and provide affordable, high-quality services to these companies. The focus on technical clients and the introduction of retainer engagements have helped Smart Yeti attract and retain customers, leading to steady revenue growth of $1-2k per month.
How much they make: $96K/year
Current team size: 1
Smart Yeti is a successful creative agency offering fractional access to marketing services to highly technical companies and has seen YoY growth of 40%, with an average lifetime value of its customer of $50k in revenue.
27. 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.
28. 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.
29. Lone Fir Creative ($1.8M/year)
Tyler Pigott, the founder of Lone Fir Creative, came up with the idea for his business after spending years working in the corporate and startup spaces, helping others start and grow companies. He wanted to create a consulting firm that focused on long-term growth and solving clients' sales and marketing problems. Through constant iterations and improvements, Pigott built a team of creative problem solvers and developed processes and systems to ensure the delivery of quality services to clients. With a focus on building relationships and a brand that wasn't centered around himself, Pigott has been able to attract and retain customers, resulting in steady growth and an expected revenue of $3.5M-$4M this year.
How much they make: $1.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $300
Current team size: 15
Lone Fir Creative, a strategic growth agency catering to tech, healthcare, and academic brands, reached $3.5M-$4M in revenue this year since being founded in 2015, with a primary focus on building relationships with key communities and adding value for clients.
30. 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.
31. Fruity Llama ($96K/year)
Steve and his wife Stephanie started their digital marketing agency, Fruity Llama, as a side hustle selling graphic design services on Facebook. Inspired by successful YouTubers, they decided to turn their side hustle into a full-time business and evolved it into a digital marketing agency. Within three months, they were making £7,000 per month and their future plan includes hiring more employees and expanding their services.
How much they make: $96K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 3
Digital marketing agency Fruity Llama, based in Lancashire, has grown their business from selling graphic design services on Facebook to a full-time digital marketing agency offering web design, SEO, and branding, and currently generate £7,000 per month within 3 months of launching.
32. WEBRIS ($750K/year)
How much they make: $750K/year
Current team size: 11
Case study: How a serial entrepreneur used the SEO Sprint Methodology to grow his Florida-based digital marketing firm from scratch to $1.1 million ARR within just over a year.
33. theta. ($864K/year)
Emmanuel Iroanya, the founder of theta, had a unique journey that led him to start his civic and government-focused digital firm. Inspired by his father's entrepreneurial efforts in working with the City of Baltimore to provide mental health and family preservation services, Emmanuel realized he could make a difference by working with federal agencies. His time at a large federal systems integrator solidified his idea to create a company that existed at the intersection of technology and government, with the goal of addressing the limitations and implications of technology in the public sector.
How much they make: $864K/year
Current team size: 0
Digital and management firm theta. has served over six government agencies since its inception, providing innovative solutions to unique computing problems that meet client needs so effectively, it has doubled its employee number and is aiming for a 50/50 prime-subcontractor revenue split.
34. Siege Media ($5M/year)
How much they make: $5M/year
Current team size: 93
Get an inside look at how Ross Hudgens built one of the largest content marketing businesses in the US, working with some of the biggest names on the internet through a fully inbound sales funnel.
35. DashThis ($4.2M/year)
How much they make: $4.2M/year
Current team size: 33
Automated marketing reporting tool DashThis was created by IT expert and entrepreneur Stephane Guérin to solve the pain point of manual monthly reporting, since its founding it has saved marketers hours of work and helped the company grow strategically.
36. Salt Water Digital ($420K/year)
Daniel Thompson, the founder of Salt Water Digital, came up with the idea for his digital marketing agency while working for a research and development company in 2011. After teaching himself web development and SEO, he built an affiliate site called ExerciseFoamRollers.com. When he was laid off in 2012, he used his unemployment insurance to start his own business and eventually expanded to offer SEO, PPC, and website development services.
How much they make: $420K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
Current team size: 6
Salt Water Digital is a digital marketing agency specializing in SEO, PPC, and website development, serving small businesses with revenue from $300k to $5m, having grown from $25k/month to $40k/month in the past eight months, with a goal to hit $60k/month by year end.
37. DAD OF AD ($154K/year)
Shamreen and Rumit, with backgrounds in graphic design and computer science engineering, respectively, came up with the idea for Dad of Ad over a party discussion. They saw the opportunity to provide social media marketing services during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and since then, the agency has grown to have an average annual revenue turnover of $153,840 with 12 retainer clients and project-based services. Despite facing challenges and making mistakes in the beginning, they have continuously adapted and learned to attract and retain customers through effective communication, moment marketing, and setting clear goals.
How much they make: $154K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.26K
Current team size: 35
Dad of Ad, a social media marketing and advertising agency based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, has 12 retainer clients and provides project-based services, generating an average annual revenue turnover of $153,840 while catering to various industries like sport, skin care, and venture capitalists.
38. Digital Butter ($132K/year)
Robyn Mays and Richard Eltringham, the founders of Digital Butter, started their profitable digital marketing agency by doing a lot of work for free. Their generosity and genuine relationships built through pro-bono work have led to exponential growth, with revenue increasing 71% this quarter and a team that has expanded to 6 members. Their success is a testament to the power of generosity and word of mouth in attracting and retaining clients.
How much they make: $132K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
Current team size: 5
Digital Butter, a profitable digital marketing agency based in South Africa, was started five years ago by doing free work for non-profit organizations, and has since grown almost completely through the act of generosity and based on word of mouth, resulting in a full-time team of 4, 2 part-time team members, and clients from more than 10 different countries.
39. 6 Figure Agency ($240K/year)
How much they make: $240K/year
Current team size:
Learn how Billy Wilson, the founder of 6 Figure Agency, achieved a six-figure run rate in his first year of business and successfully coached thousands of business owners to grow their online presence and increase sales through his in-depth course on starting, growing, and automating an SMM agency.
40. ShoutMeLoud ($456K/year)
How much they make: $456K/year
Current team size:
ShoutMeLoud, an online platform founded by Harsh Agrawal, has built a community of over 1 million subscribers worldwide with its innovative blogging tips and tricks for generating income from blogs, traffic and sales boost, and YouTubing & Podcasting techniques.
41. AppSumo ($79.9M/year)
How much they make: $79.9M/year
Current team size: 150
AppSumo, the top online marketplace for entrepreneurs, has helped over 1 million business owners reach 1 million+ customers by listing their digital products for free, boasting more than 2k products and 1 million monthly site visitors as of October 2021.
42. Adam Enfroy ($1.2M/year)
How much they make: $1.2M/year
Current team size:
Learn how a 32-year-old entrepreneur grew his website to 500k monthly readers and made over $1 million in less than two years with no paid advertising while also gaining over 50k subscribers on YouTube.
43. ArrowUpz ($60K/year)
M Waseem Aziz, the founder of ArrowUpz, started his business after working as a freelancer and realizing the limitation of time and earning potential. He began outsourcing tasks to a team of remote workers and formed ArrowUpz to provide a wide range of digital services. Through referrals, paid ads, and organic traffic, he has gained over 100 clients and has plans for continued growth.
How much they make: $60K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 5
ArrowUpz founder M Waseem Aziz shares how he started his digital agency as a freelancer, learned multiple skills, and outsourced tasks to build a team, resulting in a revenue boost from $250 as a graphic designer to $5K per month selling various digital services primarily via freelancing sites.
44. Wealth Ideas Agency ($1.44M/year)
Chris Anthony, the founder of Wealth Ideas Agency, came up with the idea for his digital marketing agency after struggling to maintain stable revenues and generate enough leads through traditional means of prospecting. He realized that automating the agency's lead generation would provide more consistency, and within a year, Wealth Ideas Agency went from a one-man band to a team of ten. Three years later, they reached an impressive $5 million in revenue.
How much they make: $1.44M/year
How much did it cost to start: $850
Current team size: 10
Learn how Wealth Ideas Agency Founder/Head of Growth, Chris Anthony, went from a one-man agency to $5M revenue in three years, to now generating $120K/month while helping other agencies implement a proven lead generation system.
45. Altar'd Socials ($60K/year)
Altar’d Socials was founded by Claire Ficek, who started the business at 18 years old in the midst of 2020. Inspired by her parents' entrepreneurial background, she decided to offer social media management services to other companies. Within 24 hours of launching her business, she had secured three clients, which reassured her that there was a market for her expertise.
How much they make: $60K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
Current team size: 2
Altar'd Socials, a social media management company founded by Claire Ficek, grew to 10+ clients and a team of 5 women with revenue on track to hit $100k in the first year of business, specializing in full-time social media management and online courses targeted towards women-owned businesses.
46. Thrive Internet Marketing Agency ($15M/year)
How much they make: $15M/year
Current team size: 222
Thrive, a full-service digital marketing agency, started as a small team and grew into a global company with over 220 workers in 34 states, providing custom WordPress design, e-commerce optimization, social media marketing, and more.
47. The ASK Method Company ($10M/year)
How much they make: $10M/year
Current team size: 31
ASK Method CEO Ryan Levesque's Quiz Funnel Masterclass has helped thousands of entrepreneurs launch six- and seven-figure online campaigns, as his Austin-based education company, with a team of over 50 staff, has also been listed in the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021.
48. Bloggers Ideas ($1.2M/year)
Jitendra Vaswani, the founder of BloggersIdeas, started his journey in digital marketing after developing an interest in SEO.
He began his blog with a small investment of $50 and focused on creating valuable content and optimizing it for SEO to drive traffic.
Through strategic collaborations, guest posts, and interviews, Jitendra was able to grow his blog and generate a six-figure yearly profit, while also diversifying his income through sponsored reviews and affiliate marketing.
How much they make: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $50
Current team size: 15
Jitendra Vaswani started his blog, BloggersIdeas, in 2013 with just $50 and has since grown to make $150K+ in profits per year from a portfolio of 35+ niche websites by focusing heavily on SEO, constantly updating content, and diversifying income sources through sponsored reviews, SEO consultation, and affiliate marketing.
49. SEO Hacker ($1.01M/year)
Sean Si, the founder of SEO Hacker, stumbled upon SEO while working as an intern. Despite his lack of formal education and experience, he taught himself the ins and outs of SEO through experimentation and launched his own blog, which gained traction and led to his first client. Through word-of-mouth marketing, the success of his blog, interviews, and community-building efforts, SEO Hacker has attracted and retained clients, earning its status as the best SEO agency in the Philippines.
How much they make: $1.01M/year
How much did it cost to start: $60
Current team size: 50
50. Woww ($960K/year)
Felix Norton, the founder of Woww Digital, came up with the idea for his business while he was still a student studying Computer Science. He started building websites for friends and family on the side, which eventually became a full-time business. As the demand for digital marketing services grew, Felix and his team expanded their offerings to provide a holistic solution for clients to succeed online. They have achieved consistent growth, even during the pandemic, and are on track to reach their goal of $1 million MRR in 2026.
How much they make: $960K/year
How much did it cost to start: $250
Current team size: 25
Woww Digital is a Cape Town based digital marketing agency specializing in WordPress web design, achieving consistent 60% YoY growth through a pandemic and providing a complete solution to help clients start, grow and thrive online.
51. 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.
52. Wealthtender ($360K/year)
Brian Thorp founded Wealthtender in 2019 to provide inclusive financial advice and resources for people of all income levels. With over 40,000 monthly visitors, Wealthtender generates $8,000 in revenue each month from financial professionals who subscribe to their digital marketing benefits. Thorp identified a gap in the market for a financial advisor review platform and capitalized on new SEC regulations to launch Wealthtender's SEC-compliant online review platform, further expanding their offerings and establishing their authority in the industry.
How much they make: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100K
Current team size: 1
Wealthtender's founder Brian Thorp created an SEC-compliant financial advisor review platform which generated $8,000 a month from 40,000 monthly visitors in 2019, and now earns over $40-$50 a month from 200 paying financial professional clients, receiving over 30,000 monthly visitors and being in the first page of Google for various search terms.
53. CrowdTamers ($540K/year)
Trevor Longino, the founder and CEO of CrowdTamers, came up with the idea for his business after realizing the demand for his marketing expertise as a freelancer. He saw an opportunity to help startups successfully launch and reach $1 million in annual revenue by providing a systematic approach to go-to-market strategies. Through answering founders' questions on Facebook Groups and creating thought leadership content, he was able to attract and retain customers, growing his agency from 2 employees to 5 employees and achieving nearly $600k in annual revenue.
How much they make: $540K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
Current team size: 4
This case study follows the founder and CEO of CrowdTamers, Trevor Longino, and how he grew his business from $0 to $600k in annual revenue in just 2 years by answering founders' questions on social media and creating a content engine, and how he plans to scale to $1.1 million in ARR through strategic partnerships and structured growth methods.
54. Data Driven Marketing ($712K/year)
John Ainsworth, the founder and CEO of Data Driven Marketing, came up with the idea for his business after realizing that many online course creators had a large audience but struggled to convert them into paying customers. With his expertise in funnel building, Ainsworth saw an opportunity to help these course creators boost their revenue through email marketing and funnels. Since its launch in 2018, Data Driven Marketing has experienced impressive growth, with sales increasing from $60,000 in 2018 to over $600,000 in 2022, and on track to hit over a million in 2023.
How much they make: $712K/year
How much did it cost to start: $25K
Current team size: 7
Data Driven Marketing is a company that helps online course creators maximize revenue via KPI analysis, building funnels, and email marketing, with a revenue of $60k in 2018 and a projected revenue of over $1M in 2023 based on a 70% client retention rate.
55. Mindbox ($84K/year)
their revenue. Diversify your client base and focus on providing value to your customers. Additionally, prioritize feedback from clients and use it to improve and iterate on your product.
How much they make: $84K/year
Current team size: 6
Mindbox is a cloud-based marketing automation platform that unites a CDP, a loyalty program, omnichannel communications, and more, working with over 700 clients in Eastern Europe including L’Oréal, Panasonic, Burger King, and JBL and generating $7K/MO in the US with a 50% YoY growth where founder Ivan Borovikov shares his insights on starting and growing a business.
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- 4,818 founder case studies
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- 4,818 founder case studies
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