I am 28 living in a medium sized city in “the south”. I started a social marketing & media buying agency on the side that has more than doubled each year over the past 4 years to now generating about $3-4M in revenue annually. And promoted at my day Job in medical sales 3 times in the last 4 years. Making $500k-$600k / year net pretty easily but honestly I’m getting bored. I love tech companies who are super innovative and as much as I long for it to start moving from the valley into my town in a bigger way it seems I will be 65 before it ever happens. Feels like I am on the outside looking in but also I know the grass isn’t always greener. Any thoughts?
Not worth it. Don’t do it.
What’s the profit on the media agency?
Varies with consulting being highest profit margin and media buying being the lowest. Design and social management retainers in the middle. I do not aggressively manage the mix since it’s still a side gig but my goal is to maintain at least 25-35% net profit margin for the year. The lowest year was 21% or so.
How do the various sources compare in terms of fraction of total revenue and amount of work? How did you get into this?
Wow that’s quite a story. You are making far more money outside the valley than the vast majority of 28-year-olds in it. And housing prices in the valley are astronomical compared to the south. Can you say more about starting such a successful company “on the side?” Do you have employees? Do they never see you? Is there a manager who manages them instead? What’s the deal?
All people like me that have other jobs but love to do more. I get 20-40% of their day and 1099 them.
I manage them. Most of them are connections I have built in local coffee shops while working.
Don't move to the valley. Go to Austin. Bunch of fun companies out there.
It’s shit here all people do is work, and when they don’t they can’t help but talk about it. Can’t wait to get out.
With that TC at your young age, not worth it. Vacation here a couple of times a year (or work a bit remotely from here) to scratch your itch.
The grass is greener where you water it.
Everyone here would love to leave but are stuck in an attempt to make your tc or even far less. Out of your mind to move here IMO unless you’re Elon Musk and have tons of connections and funding lined up.
Ok thanks for the insight
Make connections, save money first. I do think the Bay Area is singular
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