Welcome to Money Making Story,

Today, we’re thrilled to share the story of Brett Williams transformed a side hustle into DesignJoy, a $2M business built on speed, systems, and skill.

In this discussion, we’ll discuss his:

• Top Advice

• A Solopreneur’s Rise to Success

• Brett Williams: From 9-to-5 to a $1M Business with DesignJoy

• The Breakthrough: Demand-Based Pricing Ignites Momentum

• 7 Ways to Stop Saying Sorry

• Setting Boundaries: The Key to Solo Success

• The Leap: Attracting $5,000 Clients Over $500 Clients

• The Profit Engine: A High-Demand, Low-Touch Service

• Beyond Client Work: Building Passive Income Streams

• Key Takeaways from Brett Williams' Playbook

• Lessons from Brett’s Playbook

• A Story Worth Reading

Top Advice:

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A Solopreneur’s Rise to Success

Brett Williams built a $2 million per year business with DesignJoy, all without employees, contractors, or excessive hours. He worked only six hours a day, creating a highly profitable, productized service model. His journey from solo designer to millionaire entrepreneur is a playbook in simplicity, efficiency, and strategy..

He has become one of the highest-paid solopreneurs on the internet, earning over $2 million annually with his design service, DesignJoy. Remarkably, he operates solo—no employees, no contractors—working just six hours a day. His story is a masterclass in entrepreneurship, showing how smart decisions and persistence can transform a side project into a seven-figure business. Let’s break down the five key steps from Brett’s playbook that made this possible.

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Brett Williams: From 9-to-5 to a $1M Business with DesignJoy

A 9-to-5 graphic designer, felt the pull to build something of his own. Armed with a laptop and a bold idea, he launched DesignJoy, an unlimited graphic design service, without employees or contractors. Today, he earns $2 million annually, working just six hours a day.

The Breakthrough: Demand-Based Pricing Ignites Momentum

Brett’s first bold move was pricing his service at an eye-popping $449 per month—far below market rates. This low-entry price brought in his first client within 24 hours. He then steadily raised rates to $1,000, $3,000, and eventually $5,000 per month, ultimately reaching $1 million annually with just 16 clients.

7 Ways to Stop Saying Sorry

Setting Boundaries: The Key to Solo Success

With demand soaring, Brett faced burnout. Instead of hiring a team, he created strict boundaries:

• No Meetings: All requests through Trello—no calls, no revisions.

• One Active Request Rule: Clients can only submit one task at a time.

• Trello-Based Requests: All design requests were submitted asynchronously—no meetings.

• One Active Request Rule: Only one project per client at a time. This streamlined communication and boosted productivity.

These boundaries forced clients to submit clear briefs and reduced unnecessary back-and-forth, protecting Brett’s time and sanity

The Leap: Attracting $5,000 Clients Over $500 Clients

Brett shifted from $500 clients—who often demanded more for less—to $5,000 clients, who valued results. His ideal clients saw DesignJoy as a bargain compared to alternatives:

• $200k/year in-house designer (slow and costly)

• Agencies charging $30,000+ per project (expensive and slow)

• Freelancers on Upwork (unreliable and inconsistent)

With DesignJoy, clients got professional designs in 48 hours for a flat fee—making it a no-brainer.

Brett’s higher pricing attracted premium clients—established businesses that saw his service as a cost-effective alternative to in-house designers or agencies. This move allowed him to earn more while working with fewer, high-value clients.

The Profit Engine: A High-Demand, Low-Touch Service

Brett’s choice of service—web and graphic design—allowed for high-impact, fast delivery with minimal maintenance. His years of experience enabled him to produce world-class designs efficiently, making his service both scalable and profitable.

With years of experience, Brett delivers designs efficiently in hours—keeping expenses low and profit margins high.

Beyond Client Work: Building Passive Income Streams

In 2019, Brett expanded beyond client work with digital products:

• Scribbles: A collection of design templates, selling over 25,000 copies.

• Productize Yourself: A premium course teaching his business model, now contributing 29% of his income. These digital products earn him passive income, freeing his time while diversifying his revenue

Productizing Knowledge: Build Once, Sell Forever

Brett expanded his income by productizing his expertise:

• Scribbles: A $4.99 design template pack, downloaded over 25,000 times.

• Productize Yourself Course: A premium course teaching others to build productized services—now making up 29% of his income.

These digital products generate passive income, diversifying his revenue streams without adding to his workload.

Brett’s Lean Operations and High Margins

• Tools: Uses Notion for organization and Outseta for subscriptions.

• Costs: Keeps monthly expenses under $1,000, driving 90% profit margins.

• Work Hours: Limits himself to 6 hours a day, prioritizing deep, creative work.

Key Takeaways from Brett Williams' Playbook

• Start Small, Scale Fast: Undercharge early to gain momentum.

• Set Boundaries: Protect your time with clear rules.

• Aim for Premium Clients: High-value clients are less hassle and more profitable.

• Choose a Low-Touch Service: Deliver high value with minimal ongoing effort.

• Create Passive Income: Sell your knowledge through digital products.

Lessons from Brett’s Playbook

• Launch Fast: Start with an irresistible offer to gain customers and experience.

• Set Boundaries: Structure your business to protect your time and well-being.

• Focus on Premium Clients: Work with clients who value your service, not just your price.

• Pick the Right Service: High-demand, low-touch services yield high margins.

• Productize Your Knowledge: Turn expertise into digital assets for passive income.

Learn More About Brett Williams

Brett Williams’ journey from graphic designer to $2M solopreneur proves that a simple, productized service model, paired with strategic pricing and passive income streams, can unlock massive success—without scaling a team. His story offers a roadmap for aspiring entrepreneurs, proving that one person can build a million-dollar business.

A Story Worth Reading

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