Motivational Speaker

Motivational Speaker Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 10th, 2024

Captivate audiences and transform lives as a motivational speaker. This business idea revolves around sharing transformative insights and inspiring large groups of people to pursue their aspirations and overcome obstacles.

To get started, you'll need to master public speaking skills and identify a unique personal message that resonates with a wide audience. Engage with schools, companies, conferences, or community groups seeking motivation and personal growth.

Marketing yourself will involve building a strong online presence, networking extensively, and possibly self-publishing content such as books or podcasts. Joining speaker associations and attending industry events can also help you land your first engagements.

If you genuinely enjoy helping others achieve their potential and are willing to put in the effort to develop engaging speeches, motivational speaking can be a fulfilling and lucrative opportunity. It’s a business that thrives on personal branding and the ability to deeply connect with an audience.

In this list, you'll find real-world motivational speaker success stories and very profitable examples of starting a motivational speaker that makes money.

1. Ellen Yin Media LLC ($960K/year)

Ellen Yin, founder of Ellen Yin Media and creator of Cubicle to CEO, started her business after quitting her corporate marketing job. She initially took on small projects, but when a coworker became her first client, she realized she could monetize her skills into a service. She then made a pivot to focus on creating and scaling digital products, launching her first program with zero content and pre-selling it to beta students. To attract and retain customers, she leveraged partner campaigns, utilized a self-liquidating offer funnel, and gained media features. Today, the business has reached seven figures in lifetime revenue and is on track to make over one million dollars in annual revenue.

How much money it makes: $960K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
How many people on the team: 3

How I Launched A Six Figure Online Membership That Helps Coaches & Service Providers Make Their First $10K Month

Founder Ellen Yin shares how she profitably bootstrapped growth from a $300 client project into 7 figures in lifetime revenue and how she launched a $10K/month online course using pre-selling to test and validate her offer.

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Read by 8,234 founders

2. World Renowned Coaching & Consulting ($576K/year)

Neal Oates, Jr. identified a growing demand for coaching and consulting services in the real estate sector and launched World Renowned Coaching and Consulting in 2022. By leveraging his luxury real estate experience, Neal turned his business into a $48,000/month enterprise that serves nine different industries.

How much money it makes: $576K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.2K
How many people on the team: 0

My Coaching Business Makes $48K/Month With 96% Profit

Case study about the founder building a successful coaching and consulting business generating $48,000 monthly, expanding from real estate to service-based businesses in nine industries, with growth for three consecutive quarters.

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Read by 1,055 founders

3. You Be Relentless ($48K/year)

Khoa Bui, the founder of YouBeRelentless, came up with the idea for his business after a cancer scare in 2016 made him rethink his life. He decided to start a business he was passionate about, focusing on entrepreneurship and personal development, and began writing articles, conducting interviews, and creating videos to share valuable tips and information with his audience. Since then, his website has seen significant growth, with over 100k views every few months.

How much money it makes: $48K/year
How much did it cost to start: $200
How many people on the team: 5

How I Started A $4K/Month Website About Entrepreneurship And Personal Development

A CEO shares how he generates $4k a month from his business, YouBeRelentless, which is an online resource that provides tips on entrepreneurship and personal development, by focusing on passion, content, and that career growth takes time.

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Read by 6,125 founders

4. Holistic Living Consulting LLC ($1.2K/year)

After experiencing the devastating effects of systemic lupus and finding healing through holistic modalities, Cassandra Hill was inspired to start her business, Holistic Living Consulting. Focused on serving professional women who are neglecting their health while building their careers, Cassandra aims to provide virtual holistic wellness coaching and products that promote healthy living. Despite limited funds, Cassandra launched her business and has since gained brand awareness through media appearances, contributing to her growth and success in the field.

How much money it makes: $1.2K/year
How much did it cost to start: $800
How many people on the team: 1

On Starting A Career As A Holistic Wellness Coach

Holistic Living Consulting is a virtual business that offers holistic wellness and life coaching services and products, and has gained brand awareness nationwide through its founder's media features and contributions to Authority & Thrive Global magazines.

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Read by 4,372 founders