Everyone wants to know how long it takes to build a real business. Here's the honest timeline based on what we've seen with hundreds of clients.
Month 1-3: Foundation
Revenue expectation: $0-2,000/month
This phase is about building, not earning. You're setting up your store, creating content, testing products, finding your audience. Sales trickle in but nothing consistent.
Focus: Get your website right. Build your email list. Test ad creatives. Learn what resonates.
Month 3-6: Traction
Revenue expectation: $2,000-5,000/month
You've found something that works. Maybe one product sells well. Maybe one ad performs. Double down on what's working. Cut what's not.
Focus: Optimize conversion rate. Build email flows. Scale winning ads slowly. Get reviews.
Month 6-12: Growth
Revenue expectation: $5,000-15,000/month
Systems are in place. Revenue is more predictable. You can start thinking about hiring help or expanding product lines.
Focus: Systematize operations. Improve margins. Test new channels. Build repeat customer base.
What Most People Get Wrong
They expect month 6 results in month 2. Business takes time. Compounding takes time. The people who win are the ones who stick around long enough to see it work.
Also: revenue isn't profit. $10K/month with 20% margins is $2K profit. Make sure the math actually works before you celebrate.
Accelerators
Some things speed up the timeline:
- Existing audience or email list
- More capital for ads and inventory
- Previous experience in the industry
- Strong product-market fit from day one
If you don't have these, expect it to take longer. That's okay. Build the foundation right.