Case library · 3,149 businesses · 1,997 founder-reported revenues
How businesses got to $1M a year, and every milestone before it.
Real cases with sourced numbers: what they sell, how they charge, how they found customers. Ask about any business model and get the cases back.
Where 1,997 businesses were when their founders were interviewed
Monthly revenue as the founder reported it. $83K a month = $1M a year.
$1M+ a month 129 $1M+ a year 596 $50K–$83K/mo 196 $10K–$50K/mo 577 $1K–$10K/mo 417 Under $1K/mo 82Median: $40K a month · 36% at $1M+ a year · founders who chose to be interviewed, 2015–2026. Method
Case studies
Latest cases
One sentence on the business, an at-a-glance card, then the story, with every figure sourced and dated.
- BetterPic: turning selfies into AI headshots at $20K a monthAI headshot generator turning selfies into professional headshots for busy professionals and job seekersAI tools & apps$20K/mofounder-reported 2024
- ContentCreator.com: online courses for video creators at $500K a monthOnline education platform teaching professional content creation skills to aspiring creators.Courses & education$500K/mofounder-reported 2023
- EntryLevel: tech skills courses for career starters at $40K a monthEntryLevel helps people learn tech skills and get project experience to land a tech job.Courses & education$40K/mofounder-reported 2023
- Filterbuy: how an online air filter seller grew to $250M a yearManufactures pleated air filters and offers HVAC services to families, businesses, and organizations across the United States.Other physical products$250M/yrfounder-reported 2024
- Man of Many: how a men's lifestyle publisher built a $4M a year businessmen's lifestyle publication covering products and cultureNewsletters, blogs & media$4M/yrfounder-reported 2023
- Solo Female Travelers: small-group luxury tours for women at $150K a monthWomen-only luxury tours led by women for women to bucket list destinationsOutdoor, sports & travel$150K/mofounder-reported 2023
- The Cat Cafe: a San Diego cat café at $40K a month, and why it started charging admissionA cat café in downtown San Diego offering coffee and adoptable cats to locals and tourists.Local & brick-and-mortar businesses$40K/mofounder-reported 2024
- UpHex: white-label ad software for HighLevel agencies at $190K a monthUpHex sells white-label Facebook and Google ad campaign software to marketing agencies.Software & SaaS$190K/mofounder-reported 2023
New case studies are being added. Browse the data pages below in the meantime.
Browse by industry
What each kind of business makes
Software & SaaS
- Median / mo
- $40K
- At $1M+ / yr
- 35%
Agencies & services
- Median / mo
- $48K
- At $1M+ / yr
- 35%
Newsletters, blogs & media
- Median / mo
- $8.5K
- At $1M+ / yr
- 11%
AI tools & apps
- Median / mo
- $16.5K
- At $1M+ / yr
- 26%
Courses & education
- Median / mo
- $20.4K
- At $1M+ / yr
- 26%
Fashion, apparel & accessories
- Median / mo
- $40K
- At $1M+ / yr
- 38%
Marketplaces & platforms
- Median / mo
- $51K
- At $1M+ / yr
- 44%
Home, lifestyle & gifts
- Median / mo
- $30K
- At $1M+ / yr
- 35%
Other physical products
- Median / mo
- $167K
- At $1M+ / yr
- 63%
Mobile apps & games
- Median / mo
- $17K
- At $1M+ / yr
- 19%
Health, fitness & wellness
- Median / mo
- $74.5K
- At $1M+ / yr
- 46%
Food & beverage
- Median / mo
- $56K
- At $1M+ / yr
- 40%
Our analysis
What 1,997 founder-reported businesses tell us
57%
were started by one founder.
Of businesses that gave a founder count.
3
employees was the median team at interview, across all revenue levels.
Founder-reported.
4 yrs
median time from starting to the interview where the revenue was reported.
Where both years are known.
Growth channels credited: $1M+ a year vs everyone else
| Channel | $1M+ a year (501) | Below $1M (932) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organic social media | 53% | 64% | ||
| SEO & organic search | 51% | 49% | ||
| Word of mouth & referrals | 40% | 33% | ||
| Paid ads | 37% | 28% | ||
| Email & newsletters | 28% | 32% | ||
| Partnerships & affiliates | 25% | — |
Share of businesses with channel information that credited each channel; founders often name several. Grouped by 1M.chat.
By business model
By growth channel
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Questions
Where do the numbers come from?
The project list comes from 2,566 founder interviews and 583 business profiles published by Starter Story. Revenue in an interview is what the founder said at that time; profile revenue is a Starter Story estimate and is labelled as one. Facts about what each business sells and charges come from its own website.
Is this what a typical business makes?
No. Founders chose to be interviewed, so the sample leans toward businesses that were already working. Use it to see real ranges and how specific businesses got there, not as the odds for a new business.
What does $1M a year mean here?
A founder-reported run-rate of about $83K a month or more at the time of the interview. It is revenue, not profit.
Can I ask about my own idea?
Yes. The chat answers from the same case library and shows the cases and numbers behind each answer. It does not promise results and nobody will follow up with you unless you ask.