From zero client revenue to $2.1M in one year, on HighLevel
Adam McChesney spent eight months legally barred from selling a single service. Then he relaunched with HighLevel as the foundation and closed his first full year at $2.1 million.
Summary
Adam McChesney spent most of 2024 legally barred from selling digital marketing services after a lawsuit ended his agency partnership. He didn't stop building his audience. When the case settled in October 2024, he relaunched Builders of Authority as a full-service agency for contractors and home service businesses, with HighLevel built into the foundation of every client package instead of added on later. The first four months brought in roughly $500,000. The first full year that followed closed at $2.1 million in gross income, with the team growing from two people to 35 and the client base reaching 85 active accounts.
HighLevel Products used
Landing pages
Automations and follow-up sequences
Calendar builds and booking
Integrations between HighLevel and client field/project management systems (e.g. JobTread)
Listings, reviews and reputation management
Gross revenue in 2025
Active paying clients
Active team members
The Challenge
Barred from selling with a team and a reputation he couldn't use
A legal battle tied to a non-compete forced Adam out of his agency partnership in early 2024. For most of the year that followed, he couldn't sell a single marketing service to anyone. Not a website. Not an SEO package. Not a paid ads retainer.
Zero revenue, full expertise
Adam had already scaled a previous agency location to $1.7M in a year and built and sold his own service business. None of it could be monetized while the dispute was open.
A cold restart with a warm reputation
Whenever the case settled, he'd need to rebuild an entire client base and team from nothing, on a timeline he didn't control.
No platform locked in
His prior agency ran on Salesforce, not HighLevel, meaning the operational backbone he'd need for the relaunch wasn't already in place.
"When we relaunched, there was already a strong pipeline of business owners who were ready to work with us." — Adam McChesney
The Solution
HighLevel as the foundation, not an add-on
When the lawsuit settled in October 2024, Adam relaunched Builders of Authority with HighLevel required in every subscription tier, not optional:
Presence: $1,750/month + $500 setup
Demand: $2,750/month + $1,000 setup (SEO, Google Ads, Facebook Ads)
Authority: $3,750/month + $1,500 setup (SEO, Google PPC, Facebook Ads, HighLevel)
"HighLevel wasn't just another tool. It was an operating system for running and scaling a digital marketing business." — Adam McChesney
The Results
A $2.1M year built from a two-person restart
The relaunch generated roughly $500,000 in its first four months. The first full calendar year that followed closed at $2,167,902 in gross income and $567,187 in net income, with the team growing from two people to 35 and the client roster reaching 85 active accounts.
Gross revenue in the first four months after relaunch
Average monthly client retainer
Current monthly recurring revenue
"If I can do it, anybody can." — Adam McChesney
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Disclaimer: The results shared in this case study reflect the experience of one HighLevel user and are not typical or representative of what other users may achieve. Builders for Authority's growth and revenue outcomes are specific to their unique business model, market and execution. Revenue figures represent gross revenue during the stated period and do not reflect expenses or net profit. HighLevel makes no representations, warranties or guarantees regarding potential earnings, client growth or business success. This content is for illustrative and informational purposes only and does not constitute a business opportunity, franchise offering or earnings guarantee. Past performance does not predict future results and individual results will vary significantly.
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