Many companies that are well-known all over the world had very humble beginnings. In fact, quite a few of them started in a garage. Why is that the case? At that time, their founders often did not have a penny to their name. Consequently, spending hundreds of dollars on renting a professional office was not a viable option. However, thanks to their creativity and dedication, they quickly became millionaires.
Do you have a garage? If you do, then you might be on your way to becoming a millionaire! Spending your time there should not be an issue unless your garage door is either damaged or drafty. If that is the case, you should consider having it fixed by a professional. Otherwise, you might catch a nasty cold really soon. For instance, if you live in Tennessee, you might want to look for a company specializing in garage door repairs in Nashville and the surrounding areas.
On top of that, you might want to get inspired by the stories of the most successful companies in the world. Surprisingly, most of them had their beginnings in a garage. Want to know what companies we are talking about? Keep on reading to find out!
Disney
The pioneer of the American animation industry was founded in early 1926 in Kansas City, Missouri. It all started with a short film titled Alice’s Wonderland. It was based on a really simple concept of a child actress interacting with a bunch of animated characters. After that, the studio created a series of animated/live-action shorts titled Alice Comedies. They were purchased for $1,500 per reel.
Years later, the animated films produced by Walt Disney Studio in the last century are perceived as timeless classics. Aside from its legendary reputation, the company has become capable of bringing in tens of billions of dollars in revenue every year.
Apple
Apple was founded in 1976 by three businessmen – Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. The first product they released was a desktop computer called Apple I. It was designed and hand-built entirely by Wozniak. It went on sale the very same year and was sold at a price of $666,66.
Today, Apple has thousands of employees. Their products range from smartphones and personal computers to professional software applications. The prices can hit thousands of dollars and as a result, Apple products have become a status symbol in many parts of the world.
Amazon
Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 in a one-car garage in Bellevue, Washington. Initially, the company was an online bookstore. In 1998, it began operations internationally by acquiring online sellers of books in the UK and Germany. Later on, it expanded to sell all kinds of things, from electronics and software to toys and food.
Nowadays, Amazon is the largest online retailer in the world. After all, their website is visited by more than two hundred million users every month. Moreover, thanks to its resources, Amazon managed to enter plenty of other industries, such as live-streaming and cloud computing.
Yankee Candles
Michael Kittredge founded Yankee Candles in a small garage in 1969. Over the years, his business associates were able to develop more and more efficient production methods. Eventually, Kittredge had enough resources to expand his business, and in 1982, he opened up the flagship Yankee Candles store.
These days, Yankee Candles sells natural scented candles that come in over 200 different scents. It has managed to become one of the most popular brands in the entire industry that sells its products all over the world.
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard was founded by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard in 1938 in a rented garage in Palo Alto, California. The initial capital investment amounted to $538. Their first financially successful product was a low distortion audio oscillator used for testing sound equipment. Due to its age and location, the company is recognized as the symbolic founder of Silicon Valley.
In 2015, the company was renamed HP Inc. It is known for developing personal computers as well as selling reliable printers and printing supplies. In 2020, it became the second-largest personal computer vendor in the world.
The most popular search engine in the world was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1998. Initially, they were working out of a messy garage located in Menlo Park, California. However, as time went on, they were able to secure quite a few investors. They provided them with all the funds needed to expand their business.
Thanks to its innovative search algorithm, Google soon became the most visited website worldwide. Beyond its core search engine, the company offers services designed for work and productivity, email, time management, and cloud storage, just to name a few.
Dell
Dell traces its origins back to 1984. That is when Michael Dell started designing customized computers inside his garage. Once his business turned profitable, he dropped out of college in order to expand it. In 1985, Dell produced a computer of his own design called Turbo PC, which was a huge success. The company grossed more than 73 million dollars in its first year of operation alone.
At the moment, Dell is one of the largest technology corporations in the world. It is well-known for its innovative build-to-order approach to manufacturing, which allows the company to deliver PCs configured to each individual customer’s specifications.
Microsoft
Microsoft was founded by two computer programmers – Bill Gates and Paul Allen. They started operating out of a small garage located in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1975. Unlike Apple, Microsoft only focused on developing software. In 1980, the company released its very first operating system and effectively entered the operating system business.
As of right now, Microsoft is worth over one trillion dollars, making it one of the most valuable companies to have ever existed. It is responsible for Windows 10, the most popular operating system for desktops and laptop computers worldwide.
Their founders started a business empire from zero, and so can you!
The fact that all of the companies mentioned above started from a garage might sound ridiculous. After all, their chief executive officers can now afford to live in palatial mansions, drive the most expensive cars, and spend millions of dollars on charity every year. However, it would not have been possible without the effort that the original founders put in.
Thanks to their resourcefulness, they were able to make do with their very limited resources. In spite of a tight budget, they were capable of selling their innovative ideas and making really lucrative investments. Soon enough, they started making hundreds of thousands of dollars every month.
All in all, even if your resources are really limited, starting a business empire is still within your reach. All of these companies are living proof of that claim. If you play your cards right, your very own company might soon join their ranks!
Leave a Comment