The First $5K: How I Built a Digital Marketing Business While Working Full Time

Starting a business has always been a dream of mine. But like so many others, I was stuck in the grind of a traditional corporate job. I’m a banker—a job that’s stable, pays well, and on paper, seems like a great career. But behind the scenes, it’s exhausting. Not because of the work itself, but because of the political corporate game that takes its toll on me every day.

I promised myself I’d break free, so two months ago, I finally took the leap.

From Banker to Business Owner
For context, I’m not a developer—I’m a businessman. I love crafting strategies, designing efficient processes, and closing deals. But like many in the indie hacker space, I’ve always been envious of developers who’ve built products that allow them to escape their 9-to-5 jobs. That’s what I wanted for myself.

So about two years ago, I started learning to program. I picked up HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and eventually Python. While I learned how to automate workflows and build small tools, something about writing code all day didn’t click for me. I realized my strength lies elsewhere: business development, process design, and strategy.

I had to find a way to use what I’m good at to build something of my own.

Launching Visionary Group
Two months ago, I started my digital marketing agency, Visionary Group. Yes, the market is saturated, but I believed there was room to stand out. Here’s why:

There are 33.3 million small and mid-sized businesses in the US, and 27% of them still don’t have a website or online presence.

75% of people judge a business’s credibility based on its online presence.
That’s where I saw the opportunity to help small businesses build their digital footprint.

With my wife’s background in corporate marketing and my skills in business strategy and web development, we decided to combine forces. I handle web development, business operations, and hiring contractors, while she focuses on paid media and social media strategy.

The First Two Months: $5,162 in Revenue
Starting from scratch is intimidating, but the results have been incredible. In just two months:

15 meetings booked
7 conversions
4 paying clients
$5,162 in revenue

Notably, over $550 of this revenue is monthly recurring revenue (MRR) from website hosting and maintenance services. This recurring income is a huge milestone because it creates predictable cash flow, which is essential for growing the business long term.

Considering I’m still working a full-time job, this is a huge win. It shows that even in an oversaturated market, there’s room for growth if you position yourself correctly.

Building the Brand
I threw up a basic website quickly to showcase our services. It’s far from perfect, but it’s a start. Once I can afford to build a team, I’ll refine it to match my vision.

For fun, I converted my old YouTube channel into a space for posting business and coding memes. Surprisingly, this has gained over 554,000 views and added 600 subscribers in the past year. My goal is to turn it into a channel for marketing tips, insights, and engaging content to showcase our skills and connect with our audience.

Lessons Learned So Far:

Start Before You’re Ready: My website isn’t perfect, but getting it out there allowed me to start generating leads.

Leverage Your Network: Most of our clients came from people I already knew.
There’s Always Room in “Oversaturated” Markets: If you solve a real problem and deliver value, people will pay for your services.

Consistency Pays Off: Whether it’s building client relationships or posting YouTube memes, consistency leads to growth.

What’s Next?
This is just the beginning. I’m focused on growing Visionary Group to the point where I can leave my corporate job and do what I’m truly passionate about—helping businesses grow through great marketing and web design. My goal is to scale this into a business that provides financial freedom and fulfillment.

If you’re a small or mid-sized business looking to improve your digital presence, I’d love to connect! Or, if you’re just curious about my journey, follow along as I continue building.

If you’re interested in working with us or just want to follow along with our journey:

Website: www.visionaryok.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VisionaryGroupMedia
Let’s build something great together!