Starting an online business at a young age can look difficult, especially when you have no job experience or strong communication skills. But the journey of Sudeep Mandal, a 21-year-old from Bengal, shows how learning digital skills, finding international clients and staying consistent can build an online income business.
Sudeep runs a digital marketing agency with clients from the USA, Canada and Australia. According to the interview, the agency normally generates around ₹4–5 lakh per month, while good months can reach ₹7–8 lakh.
How Sudeep Started Online
Sudeep started exploring online income while he was still in Class 12.
At that time, he watched interviews and online business content and became interested in the idea of earning online. He also purchased courses to learn different skills.
His first online income came from affiliate marketing. He promoted products through multiple Instagram pages and earned around ₹10,000–₹15,000 during that period.
Later, he connected with his current business partner. His partner had experience with Google Ads and communication with international clients.
They decided to start a digital marketing agency together.
Starting the Digital Marketing Agency
The agency started around 2022.
Initially, there were no employees. Sudeep focused on bringing leads while his partner handled sales and client communication.
Their income started small:
- ₹50,000–₹60,000
- Then around ₹1 lakh per month
- Later, the business began scaling more rapidly
The year 2023 became an important growth year for their agency.
What Services Does the Agency Provide?
The agency offers done-for-you digital marketing services to businesses.
Their services include:
- Website and funnel improvement
- Social media content
- Facebook and Meta Ads
- Google Ads
- Lead generation
- Booking generation
- Landing pages
- Basic SEO and website optimization
- CRM and funnel setup
For example, local businesses may need leads or phone calls, while hotels and glamping businesses may need more bookings.
The agency focuses on identifying the client’s actual business problem and then creating a suitable marketing strategy.
How Much Does the Agency Charge?
According to Sudeep, the agency charges approximately $1,500 to $2,000 per month for certain types of clients.
The agency currently has around 7–8 clients, including clients from the USA, Canada and Australia.
Some clients have been working with the agency since 2024 and 2025, showing that recurring clients are an important part of the business.
Monthly Revenue and Profit
Sudeep says normal monthly revenue is around:
| Period | Revenue Mentioned |
|---|---|
| Normal months | ₹4–5 lakh |
| Good months | ₹7–8 lakh |
| Lowest months | ₹1.5–2 lakh |
He also said that the business can have high profit margins because the core work is handled by the partners and the team is small. He estimated the profit at around 90%, according to the interview.
These figures are the interviewee’s own statements and should not be treated as guaranteed results for every digital marketing agency.
Also Read: How to Make Money from Your Own Website: 7 Easy Ways to Earn Online
How Did He Find His First International Client?
Initially, Sudeep used Facebook groups related to marketing software and digital marketing.
People regularly posted requirements such as:
- Funnel building
- Paid advertising
- Marketing support
He reached out to potential clients and eventually got his first client for around $350.
That first project did not continue for a very long time, but it gave him important experience and proof of work.
How to Find International Clients Today
According to Sudeep, the methods have changed compared with the early days.
He mentioned:
LinkedIn can be used to find business owners and decision-makers. However, closing a client may require regular follow-ups and relationship building.
He mentioned that some prospects can take several months to convert.
Cold Email
Cold email is another method he has used to close international clients.
A targeted email can be sent to businesses that have a specific problem your service can solve.
Facebook Groups
Facebook groups are still useful, although Sudeep says the opportunity is more saturated than when he started.
Choosing a Niche
One important strategy discussed in the interview is niche selection.
Instead of saying:
“I provide digital marketing services.”
A beginner can focus on a particular industry.
For example:
- Plumbing businesses
- Construction businesses
- Local service businesses
- Hotels
- Glamping businesses
After selecting a niche, the next step is to identify a specific problem.
For example, if a business needs more qualified leads, the agency can create an offer focused on lead generation rather than simply selling “Facebook Ads.”
Using AI to Find Potential Clients
Sudeep also discussed using AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini for research.
AI can help research:
- Potential niches
- Customer problems
- Business types
- Lead-generation strategies
- Sales Navigator filters
- Outreach ideas
- Marketing offers
He also mentioned using LinkedIn Sales Navigator to find businesses and decision-makers.
Another option is the Meta Ads Library, where marketers can research businesses that are currently running advertisements.
How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency Today
According to the interview, the process can be approached in a simple way:
- Learn one useful digital marketing skill.
- Choose a specific niche.
- Identify a real business problem.
- Create a clear service offer.
- Find potential clients.
- Start outreach through LinkedIn, cold email or relevant communities.
- Get the first client and build proof of work.
- Improve your service and retain clients.
- Build a small team as the workload increases.
The important point is to solve a business problem rather than simply sell a service.
How Many People Are in the Team?
The agency currently has four people including Sudeep.
Their responsibilities are divided between:
- Client outreach and funnels
- Sales and client closing
- Advertising
- Video editing
- Technical work and automation
This small team structure allows them to handle multiple international clients.
How Are International Clients Paid?
Initially, Sudeep used different payment methods, including cryptocurrency for one early client.
Later, the agency used PayPal, but they experienced high fees and refund-related issues.
They then started using services such as Wise and Remitly for international payments.
According to Sudeep, Wise allows clients to send money internationally and receive it in an Indian bank account, with relatively low fees compared with some alternatives.
Tools Used by the Agency
The agency uses several online tools, including:
- ChatGPT
- Claude
- Gemini
- Freepik
- GoHighLevel
- Google Workspace
- CRM and automation tools
GoHighLevel is used for CRM, funnels and related marketing operations.
Working From Home
Interestingly, the agency does not operate from a traditional office.
Sudeep works from home, and his partnership has also been managed remotely.
He said that he and his main partner started working together in 2022 but met physically for the first time during the 2026 podcast recording.
Their business relationship was built through communication, work and financial transparency.
Learning From Trading Losses
Sudeep also shared an important personal financial experience.
After earning money from the agency, he started experimenting with trading in the Indian market.
According to him, he eventually suffered a total loss of around ₹32 lakh from trading.
He said the main problem was his own lack of discipline and that he later decided to focus on his core business instead.
Since 2025, he has also started investing through SIPs.
Also Read: How Nitesh Built a ₹3 Crore Digital Product Business From a Laptop
Building a House From Online Business Income
Sudeep said he is currently constructing his own house.
According to the interview, the overall project is expected to cost around ₹35–40 lakh, with approximately ₹22–23 lakh already spent at the time of the interview.
This became one of the ways he used the income generated through his online business.
The Biggest Challenge in Online Business
One of the biggest lessons from his four-year journey is that business income does not always increase every month.
Some months can be strong, while others can be significantly lower.
Sudeep mentioned that his lowest monthly income was around ₹1.5–2 lakh, while his highest months reached around ₹7–8 lakh.
His advice from the interview is to remain consistent even during low-income periods.
Future Goal: ₹12–15 Lakh Per Month
After reaching approximately ₹7–8 lakh in peak monthly revenue, the agency’s next goal is to scale towards ₹12–15 lakh per month.
The strategy discussed includes:
- Getting new international clients
- Increasing referrals
- Continuing outreach
- Building relationships with existing clients
- Improving the agency’s service systems
He believes additional clients and referrals can help increase monthly revenue.
Key Lessons for Beginners
| Area | Lesson |
|---|---|
| Skill | Learn one valuable digital skill |
| Niche | Focus on a specific industry |
| Offer | Solve a clear business problem |
| Clients | Use LinkedIn, cold email and communities |
| AI | Use AI for research and planning |
| Team | Build a small team as you grow |
| Payments | Use suitable international payment methods |
| Business | Expect both high and low months |
| Finance | Be careful with high-risk trading |
| Growth | Focus on consistency and client retention |
Final Thoughts
Sudeep Mandal’s journey shows how a young person can start an online business without first having a traditional job.
He started with affiliate marketing, learned digital marketing skills, partnered with someone who had complementary skills, found international clients and gradually built a remote digital marketing agency.
The main lessons from his journey are simple: learn a valuable skill, choose a niche, solve a real problem, find clients, deliver good work and stay consistent.
However, the income figures mentioned in this article are based on the interviewee’s own statements. They are not a guarantee that someone starting a digital marketing agency will earn the same amount.
For someone in India who wants to explore online business, freelancing or digital marketing, this journey provides a practical example of how a small service-based business can develop over time.
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