The Numbers Behind My First Year In Consulting
By Mariena Quintanilla, a passionate AI educator and CEO of Mellonhead, helping organizations turn AI potential into real-world skills.
I’m starting a Build in Public series to give aspiring entrepreneurs an idea of what’s possible in a year and demystify entrepreneurship.
There’s lots of Startup posts, but I hope a consulting angle will be helpful (and interesting) for some of y’all too’. This is Part 1 of 4.
The Numbers Behind My First Year
When I started Mellonhead in January 2024, I had two goals:
Make $100,000 as an AI Consultant.
Build a business without grit—working 20-25hr/week—so I could spend the rest learning, hiking, working out, with family, and sleeping 7hr per night.
“I accomplished both, and it went as expected and not at all. Let me take you behind the scenes of Year One, where the numbers tell a story of trial, error, and growth.”
Revenue: Where It Came From
Most of my income came from enterprise clients, with a mix of outbound hustle, inbound opportunities, and a few upsells.
I closed 5 deals (out of 14 opportunities), generating ~$150,000 in booked revenue. These deals ranged from developing custom AI solutions to delivering e-learning videos. My biggest win? Realizing AI education wasn’t just a service; it was a strategy.
I launched two courses on the consumer side. They didn’t bring in much revenue—$1,024 from 4 paid students—but their value was far greater. Those courses focused my marketing, showcased my expertise, and helped me close and deliver on enterprise deals. They say luck is 80% preparation and 20% timing. That’s what curriculum development was for me: preparation for future opportunities.
Expenses: Where the Money Went
If revenue is exciting, expenses are the sobering counterpart. I spent about $90,000, mostly on subcontractors for custom development projects. Other expenses included taxes, software, and professional services (like a tax planner helping me level up my approach and a legit MSA from a contract lawyer).
I quickly learned that in consulting, many expenses are optional. Do I splurge on new software, or scrape by with free tools? Do I fly to conferences to meet people, or focus on virtual networking? This year, I leaned into relationships, investing in one in-person conference and a long-term tax strategy, but using free software and participating in free events.
Profit: The Surprising Reality
With $150,000 in revenue, I thought I’d be rolling in profit. The truth? I made $15,000. Not bad for a first-time business owner, but less than I imagined.
Why so low? Expenses add up fast when building something new—especially when outsourcing work for quality. The silver lining? I’ve set a strong foundation, and now I know where to focus in 2025: improving my profit margin and aiming for a $100,000 profit goal.
The Metrics That Surprised Me
Here’s a number that blew me away: 20 leads. As someone who often felt my pipeline was too small, seeing this number in hindsight was reassuring. Even more surprising? 30% of those leads were inbound—proof that building visibility pays off.
At year’s end, I had 4 opportunities in the pipeline, valued at about $200,000. It’s exciting to see momentum building, and it gives me confidence for Year Two.
What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m proud of the story the numbers tell, more than the numbers themselves. In one year, I:
Built a brand from scratch.
Closed and delivered challenging enterprise projects.
I partnered with talented people to deliver solutions I couldn’t have done alone.
“I learned that business growth isn’t linear. It’s about showing up, learning, and pivoting as you go.”
Starting a business is a leap of faith. If you’re considering it, here’s my advice:
Start small and experiment.
Surround yourself with people who encourage you and have done this before.
Set goals and run towards them.
Got questions about my first-year journey? Feel free to ask me on LinkedIn – I’d love to share my experience and hear your thoughts!
About the author
Hi, I’m Mariena Quintanilla! Founder and CEO of Mellonhead.
At Mellonhead, we help teams get AI-ready with practical training and hands-on experimentation that make a real business impact. Our focus is on building durable skills—blending the power of Generative AI with human expertise—so organizations can adapt, innovate, and stay ahead in an AI-driven world.
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