The Small Print
“One email every Tuesday at 6am, for four years. Being on time is the whole product.”
CDCarla Diaz · The Small Print · Since 2022
12-mo revenue$176,690+30% vs last yearStripe
Based on 72 real newsletters worldwide, including 32 that closed.
✓Your budget should cover this.
Bills run about $70 a month (fuel, insurance, rent, phone). Most owners make a profit after about 6 months. Keep this much aside to pay bills until then.
Only email people who signed up (PECR). Every email needs an unsubscribe link.
ASA rules: mark sponsored sections clearly.
Sole trader with HMRC (free) or a limited company at Companies House (about £50).
Free with most online banks. Keeps business money apart from yours.
Sets up your books and files your first tax return.
$2.1k
Before costs. Sign-ups peak in January.
| Slow | Typical | Strong | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $565 | $1.5k | $3.7k |
| Year 3 | $1.5k | $3.5k | $8k |
| Year 5 | $1.9k | $4.5k | $10.8k |
Slow: 1 in 4 make less than this. Typical: half make more, half make less. Strong: 1 in 4 make more than this.
“One email every Tuesday at 6am, for four years. Being on time is the whole product.”
about $57k
Starting costs about $54.9k less. Buying costs more, but you earn from the first month and skip the risky early years.