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Business model · Services, agency & consulting
Businesses that make money from services, agency & consulting
The 1M.chat dataset has 601 businesses built on services, agency & consulting. 517 of them have a revenue figure the founder reported in an interview. Their median is $43K a month, and 36% were at $1M a year or more when interviewed, with a median team of 5 employees. The growth channels founders credited most often were organic social media (58%), SEO & organic search (53%), word of mouth & referrals (50%).
Revenue at interview
| Under $1K/mo | 9 | |
| $1K–$10K/mo | 81 | |
| $10K–$50K/mo | 174 | |
| $50K–$83K/mo | 66 | |
| $1M+ a year | 157 | |
| $1M+ a month | 30 |
Growth channels credited
| Organic social media | 58% | |
| SEO & organic search | 53% | |
| Word of mouth & referrals | 50% | |
| Paid ads | 28% | |
| Content marketing | 23% |
Share of 351 businesses with channel information; founders often name several.
Industries in this group
| Agencies & services | 404 | |
| Local & brick-and-mortar businesses | 74 | |
| Courses & education | 31 | |
| Health, fitness & wellness | 23 | |
| Outdoor, sports & travel | 18 | |
| Finance & real estate | 14 |
Tools named most: Instagram (30%), Twitter (29%), Google Drive (19%), YouTube (14%), Slack (8%) — of 92 that listed tools.
Case studies
Read how they did it
- Hennessey Digital: an SEO agency for law firms that grew from one client to $20M a yearProvides SEO and digital marketing services for law firms$20M/yrfounder-reported 2024
- QShark Moving: a moving company started at 18 that reached $5M a yearFull-service relocation company offering local, long-distance, packing and commercial moving in California and South Florida.$5M/yrfounder-reported 2024
- SMB Law Group: a boutique firm for small business acquisitions at $267K a monthBoutique law firm providing M&A and legal services to small and medium-sized business buyers and owners.$267K/mofounder-reported 2024
- HMW Law: a criminal defense and injury firm started in an apartment, at $250K a monthA Cleveland law firm providing criminal defense and personal injury representation to individuals across Ohio.$250K/mofounder-reported 2023
- Arsenal Health: a Denver clinic, gym and recovery center at $1.5M a yearDenver clinic, gym, and recovery under one roof for active adults optimizing health$1.5M/yrfounder-reported 2024
- Washmart: laundry and dry cleaning with pickup in India at $1.5M a yearWashmart provides professional laundry and dry cleaning services with pickup and delivery across India.$1.5M/yrfounder-reported 2023
- MI Express Care: a walk-in urgent care clinic in Michigan at $85K a monthWalk-in urgent care and primary care clinic serving patients in Canton and Ann Arbor, Michigan.$85K/mofounder-reported 2024
- Augustine Tours: tailor-made East African safaris at $54K a monthAugustine Tours sells tailor-made wildlife safari and cultural tour experiences around East Africa to travelers.$54K/mofounder-reported 2023
- Blue Surge Marketing Agency: a small marketing and web design firm at $14K a monthFull-service AI-powered marketing and website design firm helping businesses across the U.S. grow.$14K/mofounder-reported 2023
- Topnotch SEO: an SEO service for New Zealand local businesses at $7K a monthTopnotch SEO helps local business owners in New Zealand create an online presence to increase sales and leads.$7K/mofounder-reported 2022
- Y2 Lending: a private real estate lender that started with one HELOC deal, at $7K a monthprivate and hard money real estate lending$7K/mofounder-reported 2023
Examples
Highest founder-reported revenues in this group
| Business | What it sells | Revenue / month | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| ShipMonkAgencies & services | Ecommerce order fulfillment and logistics services | $62.5Mfounder interview 2019 | United States |
| Rent a Car & Luxu...Outdoor, sports & travel | Luxury yacht rentals in Dubai | $12Mfounder interview 2024 | United Arab Emirates |
| Boundless LabsAgencies & services | Ecommerce email and paid social marketing | $8.3Mfounder interview | United States |
| MonetizeMoreAgencies & services | ad revenue optimization for publishers | $8Mfounder interview 2019 | Canada |
| GetSpiffy, Inc.Local & brick-and-mortar businesses | Mobile car wash, detailing, oil change and tire services | $4Mfounder interview 2022 | United States |
| MadrivoAgencies & services | Performance marketing and customer acquisition agency | $3.7Mfounder interview 2021 | United States |
| UPQODEAgencies & services | Website design and development services and WordPress themes | $3Mfounder interview 2021 | United States |
| Rankings.ioAgencies & services | SEO services for personal injury law firms | $2.5Mfounder interview 2019 | United States |
| Oz Moving & StorageLocal & brick-and-mortar businesses | Commercial and residential moving and storage services | $2.5Mfounder interview 2023 | United States |
| Twinkle Toes Nann...Local & brick-and-mortar businesses | in-home childcare and nanny services | $2.5Mfounder interview 2022 | United States |
| Honest FulPhilmentAgencies & services | Sourcing, branding and fulfillment services from China | $2Mfounder interview 2021 | China |
| Solar Energy Part...Local & brick-and-mortar businesses | Residential solar panel installation services | $2Mfounder interview 2022 | United States |
| GR0Agencies & services | SEO and organic growth marketing | $1.8Mfounder interview 2021 | United States |
| VirtudeskAgencies & services | Virtual assistants and business automation services | $1.8Mfounder interview 2021 | United States |
| Hennessey DigitalAgencies & services | SEO and digital marketing services for law firms | $20M/yrfounder interview 2024 | United States |
| Food FleetFood & beverage | Corporate food truck catering services | $1.5Mfounder interview 2019 | United States |
| LemonlightAgencies & services | on-demand video production services | $1.5Mfounder interview | United States |
| SEO HackerAgencies & services | SEO and digital marketing services | $1.5Mfounder interview 2022 | Philippines |
| The Pedowitz GroupAgencies & services | Sales and marketing consulting agency | $1.5Mfounder interview 2022 | United States |
| Bio-OneLocal & brick-and-mortar businesses | crime scene and biohazard cleanup services | $1.3Mfounder interview 2019 | United States |
Revenue as the founder reported it in a Starter Story interview, at the interview date; not current revenue. “What it sells” is a 1M.chat summary. Business model is the main way the business charges, as listed on Starter Story or classified by 1M.chat. How this data is built
Questions
How much do businesses built on services, agency & consulting typically make?
Among 517 businesses built on services, agency & consulting with founder-reported revenue, the median was $43K a month at the time of the interview. The sample is founders who chose to be interviewed, so it leans toward businesses that were already working; treat it as a range of real outcomes, not an average for everyone who tries.
How many businesses built on services, agency & consulting reached $1M a year?
187 of 517 (36%) reported at least $83K a month, the run-rate for $1M a year.
How did businesses built on services, agency & consulting find customers?
Of 351 with growth-channel information, founders most often credited organic social media (58%), SEO & organic search (53%), word of mouth & referrals (50%), paid ads (28%), content marketing (23%). Channels are grouped by 1M.chat from what founders said worked.
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