Product Development Services Business

How Profitable Is A Product Development Services Business? (Updated for 2024)

Updated: October 5th, 2024

How Profitable Is A Product Development Services Business? (Updated for 2024)

So you want to start a product development services business?

And the first question that came to your mind was, “well, are product development services businesses actually profitable?

With a market size of $7.9B - there’s plenty of business to go around.

Especially considering:

  • You could start a product development services business with as low as $500
  • Based on our data, product development services businesses generate an average of $876K per year
  • You could see gross margins as high as 90% with product development services 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 product development services business.

Let’s dive in!

Is a product development services business profitable?

Yes, a product development services 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 $876K per year with an estimated gross margin of 90%, 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 product development services 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 product development services business is doing and if any changes or adjustments need to be made to enhance or maintain your efforts.

Is a product development services business worth it?

If you’re wondering if a product development services business is worth it, the answer is a big YES. With product development services businesses, you have the potential to earn $876K 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 $7.9B, 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 product development services 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 product development services businesses case studies.

Examples Of Profitable Product Development Services Businesses

Here are a few examples of profitable product development services businesses, and a few more details about them:

1. Alice James Global(AJG) ($900K/year)

Fed up with hitting a glass ceiling in the corporate retail world, Alice James took her decade-long experience and industry network to launch Alice James Global from her daughter's bedroom; today, her team of 11 supports over 30 brands monthly, including 8 Shark Tank successes.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $900K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K

Consulting Fashion Entrepreneurs After Quitting My Corporate Job [$900K/Year In Revenue]

Alice James Global, a fashion brand consulting firm, has experienced impressive growth, supporting over 30 brands per month and achieving an average annual growth of 60% over the last three years, with notable collaborations with brands such as Target, Nordstrom, and HomeGoods.

Read by 1,422 founders

2. UniqueSide ($120K/year)

Manoj, frustrated with seeing aspiring founders struggle to bring their ideas to life, quit his job and launched UniqueSide.io, a founder-friendly MVP-focused software development service. In just 8 months, he scaled the business to $65K in revenue, serving clients from the US, UK, Mexico, and Singapore.

Is it profitable? Yes
What's the gross margin? 90%
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0

I Made $65K From My MVP Development Service

Aspiring founder successfully grows software development service, UniqueSide, to $65K in revenue within 8 months, working with 9 founders from 4 countries, leveraging personal branding on Twitter for customer acquisition and retention.

Read by 4,590 founders

3. FounderBlocks ($720K/year)

Lasse, the founder of VIPERdev, came up with the idea after receiving feedback that his team was incredibly fast and innovative. They decided to focus on working with startups and helping them bring their products to market quickly, solving actual problems first before adding fancy features. Through their efficient approach, they have become a trusted accelerator program, releasing 2-5 products per month and ensuring each project is a success story.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $720K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500

How We Created A $60K/Month Startup Factory

VIPERdev is an accelerator program that helps founders turn their digital business ideas into products and bring them to market within 8-12 weeks, releasing an average of 2-5 products per month.

Read by 6,440 founders

Learn more about starting a product development services business:

Where to start?

-> How much does it cost to start a product development services business?
-> Pros and cons of a product development services business

Need inspiration?

-> Other product development services business success stories
-> Marketing ideas for a product development services business

Other resources

-> Product development services business tips

How much can you make with a product development services business?

With a product development services business, you can make an average of $876K revenue per year (based on data reported by real businesses).

You can start with an initial investment as low as $500. Then, with proper knowledge and sustained effort, you could have an ROI (return of investment) within 7 months.

How much does a product development services business make a week?

Based on our data, average weekly revenue for a product development services business ranges around $18.3K. As such, you could see monthly revenues of $73K.

To know if your product development services 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 product development services business.

How much do product development services businesses owners make?

The income of a product development services 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 product development services business is about $18.3K. 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 product development services business owner exists, success in this field requires a commitment to providing quality products and services and building a strong reputation within the community.

Product Development Services Business Profit Margins

Generally speaking, a product development services business can expect profit margin of around 90%. Profit margins refer to the percentage of revenue that remains after deducting all expenses associated with running a business. In the case of a product development services 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, product development services 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, product development services business owners can ensure long-term sustainability and profitability for their business.

Product development services business owner salary

The salary of a product development services 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 product development services business, in a prime position, might see an average weekly salary around the ballpark of $16.4K.

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 product development services business may be a promising business to start - but the success of your product development services business mostly depends on your effort and your approach.

If you focus on these, you'll have a much higher chance of a profitable product development services business.