Thomas Frank and His Journey to $2.1 Million in Notion Template Sales
Thomas Frank and His Journey to $2.1 Million in Notion Template Sales
Oct 22, 2024
Thomas Frank
Thomas Frank
● 7 min
● 7 min
Revenue/month
Revenue/month
$175,000
$175,000
$175,000
No. of founders
No. of founders
1
1
1
Starting costs
Starting costs
N/A
N/A
N/A
Contents
How he started
How he started
Meet Thomas Frank, a creative entrepreneur whose journey is as inspiring as it is instructive.
With a knack for productivity and a passion for teaching, Thomas has built a thriving business around Notion—a popular productivity tool—while also maintaining a successful YouTube channel. In this case study, we’ll explore how Thomas transformed his interests into a lucrative venture, amassing over $2.1 million in sales in just two years.
Meet Thomas Frank, a creative entrepreneur whose journey is as inspiring as it is instructive.
With a knack for productivity and a passion for teaching, Thomas has built a thriving business around Notion—a popular productivity tool—while also maintaining a successful YouTube channel. In this case study, we’ll explore how Thomas transformed his interests into a lucrative venture, amassing over $2.1 million in sales in just two years.
The Man Behind the Templates
The Man Behind the Templates
So, who exactly is Thomas Frank? Beyond being a Notion guru, he’s a YouTuber with 3 million subscribers, dedicated to helping people become more productive. He runs a business that specializes in teaching users how to maximize their productivity with Notion, and he sells premium templates designed for various needs.
His flagship product, Ultimate Brain, is a comprehensive productivity system that integrates tasks, notes, projects, and goal tracking—all within Notion.
So, who exactly is Thomas Frank? Beyond being a Notion guru, he’s a YouTuber with 3 million subscribers, dedicated to helping people become more productive. He runs a business that specializes in teaching users how to maximize their productivity with Notion, and he sells premium templates designed for various needs.
His flagship product, Ultimate Brain, is a comprehensive productivity system that integrates tasks, notes, projects, and goal tracking—all within Notion.
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The Backstory: From Student to Entrepreneur
The Backstory: From Student to Entrepreneur
Thomas’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2010, during his college years, and it's a story of resilience and evolution. He entered college at a challenging time—the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. Witnessing his father lose his job motivated him to work exceptionally hard to secure a bright future. This drive led him to explore productivity blogs and even apply to write for a college prep blog called HackCollege. After facing rejection, Thomas decided to channel his energy into creating his own blog, College Info Geek.
By 2012, Thomas was earning a full-time income from his blog, which allowed him to pay off his student loans and expand into other media, including a podcast and YouTube videos. His content focused on studying and productivity, capturing the attention of students who needed guidance. The timing was perfect; there were few creators addressing these topics, and Thomas's unique voice resonated with his audience.
Thomas’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2010, during his college years, and it's a story of resilience and evolution. He entered college at a challenging time—the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. Witnessing his father lose his job motivated him to work exceptionally hard to secure a bright future. This drive led him to explore productivity blogs and even apply to write for a college prep blog called HackCollege. After facing rejection, Thomas decided to channel his energy into creating his own blog, College Info Geek.
By 2012, Thomas was earning a full-time income from his blog, which allowed him to pay off his student loans and expand into other media, including a podcast and YouTube videos. His content focused on studying and productivity, capturing the attention of students who needed guidance. The timing was perfect; there were few creators addressing these topics, and Thomas's unique voice resonated with his audience.
The Launch
The Launch
In 2018, after experiencing significant success with his YouTube channel and blog, Thomas began using Notion as a tool to organize his team's video production. Initially, they used it as a company wiki, but its versatility inspired Thomas to build a comprehensive content planning system that would eventually evolve into his first Notion template, Creator’s Companion.
By 2021, he was feeling burnt out from his relentless publishing schedule. He realized he wanted to diversify his income and pivot from brand deals to a more sustainable model. While considering creating a course for creators on how to use Notion, Thomas had an epiphany: he should focus on building a product instead. This revelation led him to refine the content planning system he had developed for his team, and the Creator’s Companion template was born.
Launching the First Product
The launch of Creator’s Companion was a significant turning point. Thomas invested about $3,000 to participate in a course creator fellowship. This experience shifted his focus from creating courses to productizing his internal tool. By June 2021, he launched the template with minimal marketing, simply promoting it through links in his free templates. The initial launch saw 112 sales generating $12,858 in revenue.
The success didn’t stop there. By the end of 2021, Thomas had sold 367 copies, earning nearly $49,019. Riding on this momentum, he quickly followed up with the launch of Ultimate Brain, which was a more comprehensive productivity template designed for a broader audience. The launch of Ultimate Brain on April 5, 2022, brought in an astounding $88,241 in sales within the first month alone.
In 2018, after experiencing significant success with his YouTube channel and blog, Thomas began using Notion as a tool to organize his team's video production. Initially, they used it as a company wiki, but its versatility inspired Thomas to build a comprehensive content planning system that would eventually evolve into his first Notion template, Creator’s Companion.
By 2021, he was feeling burnt out from his relentless publishing schedule. He realized he wanted to diversify his income and pivot from brand deals to a more sustainable model. While considering creating a course for creators on how to use Notion, Thomas had an epiphany: he should focus on building a product instead. This revelation led him to refine the content planning system he had developed for his team, and the Creator’s Companion template was born.
Launching the First Product
The launch of Creator’s Companion was a significant turning point. Thomas invested about $3,000 to participate in a course creator fellowship. This experience shifted his focus from creating courses to productizing his internal tool. By June 2021, he launched the template with minimal marketing, simply promoting it through links in his free templates. The initial launch saw 112 sales generating $12,858 in revenue.
The success didn’t stop there. By the end of 2021, Thomas had sold 367 copies, earning nearly $49,019. Riding on this momentum, he quickly followed up with the launch of Ultimate Brain, which was a more comprehensive productivity template designed for a broader audience. The launch of Ultimate Brain on April 5, 2022, brought in an astounding $88,241 in sales within the first month alone.
The Growth Strategy
The Growth Strategy
Thomas's growth strategy revolves heavily around his YouTube channel, Thomas Frank Explains. Launched in 2020, this channel is dedicated to teaching users how to navigate Notion. His engaging, educational videos have attracted a substantial following, resulting in over 253,000 subscribers and 12 million views.
A standout moment in his YouTube journey was the release of a 45-minute video that walked viewers through every feature of the Ultimate Brain template.
This video, inspired by similar lengthy product breakdowns from other creators, became the most-viewed video on his channel, amassing over 1 million views and significantly boosting daily revenue from $2,000-$2,500 to $4,000-$5,000.
Building a Community
Thomas doesn’t just sell templates; he builds a community around them. By offering free Notion templates and a Notion Fundamentals course, he encourages viewers to subscribe to his Notion Tips newsletter. This approach not only attracts new customers but also fosters loyalty among existing ones.
His written content complements his videos, focusing on key topics and providing valuable resources to his audience. For example, Thomas created 45,000+ words of technical documentation for Notion's formula feature, making it easier for users to understand and implement.
Thomas's growth strategy revolves heavily around his YouTube channel, Thomas Frank Explains. Launched in 2020, this channel is dedicated to teaching users how to navigate Notion. His engaging, educational videos have attracted a substantial following, resulting in over 253,000 subscribers and 12 million views.
A standout moment in his YouTube journey was the release of a 45-minute video that walked viewers through every feature of the Ultimate Brain template.
This video, inspired by similar lengthy product breakdowns from other creators, became the most-viewed video on his channel, amassing over 1 million views and significantly boosting daily revenue from $2,000-$2,500 to $4,000-$5,000.
Building a Community
Thomas doesn’t just sell templates; he builds a community around them. By offering free Notion templates and a Notion Fundamentals course, he encourages viewers to subscribe to his Notion Tips newsletter. This approach not only attracts new customers but also fosters loyalty among existing ones.
His written content complements his videos, focusing on key topics and providing valuable resources to his audience. For example, Thomas created 45,000+ words of technical documentation for Notion's formula feature, making it easier for users to understand and implement.
The Future: Expanding the Vision
The Future: Expanding the Vision
As of 2024, Thomas Frank is poised for continued growth, despite experiencing a slowdown in overall sales. He’s currently running his first-ever Black Friday sale and has noticed positive responses from customers. However, the main reason behind the slowdown appears to be his shift in focus toward building Flylighter, a powerful web clipper and idea-capture tool that integrates with Notion.
This year, Thomas invested significant time learning JavaScript and automating processes within Notion. While these projects took longer than expected, the skills and foundations he built during this time are set to enhance Flylighter’s features. Thomas recognizes that his passion for learning often supersedes his drive for profit, a quality that sets him apart in the entrepreneurial landscape.
As of 2024, Thomas Frank is poised for continued growth, despite experiencing a slowdown in overall sales. He’s currently running his first-ever Black Friday sale and has noticed positive responses from customers. However, the main reason behind the slowdown appears to be his shift in focus toward building Flylighter, a powerful web clipper and idea-capture tool that integrates with Notion.
This year, Thomas invested significant time learning JavaScript and automating processes within Notion. While these projects took longer than expected, the skills and foundations he built during this time are set to enhance Flylighter’s features. Thomas recognizes that his passion for learning often supersedes his drive for profit, a quality that sets him apart in the entrepreneurial landscape.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Thomas Frank’s journey from a college student facing financial uncertainty to a successful entrepreneur and YouTube sensation is a testament to the power of creativity, resilience, and community. By leveraging his passion for productivity and education, he has built a profitable business model around Notion templates, generating over $2.1 million in sales.
His story is a reminder that success often comes from a combination of hard work, strategic pivots, and a genuine desire to help others. As Thomas continues to innovate and expand his offerings, we can expect even more exciting developments from this inspiring entrepreneur. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, there's plenty to learn from Thomas's journey.
Thomas Frank’s journey from a college student facing financial uncertainty to a successful entrepreneur and YouTube sensation is a testament to the power of creativity, resilience, and community. By leveraging his passion for productivity and education, he has built a profitable business model around Notion templates, generating over $2.1 million in sales.
His story is a reminder that success often comes from a combination of hard work, strategic pivots, and a genuine desire to help others. As Thomas continues to innovate and expand his offerings, we can expect even more exciting developments from this inspiring entrepreneur. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, there's plenty to learn from Thomas's journey.
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If you're interested in more stories like this, here's more for you 🙂
I share more of these case studies in my newsletter and I'd love for you to join here 😊
Do me a favor and pass this on to a friend or share on X/reddit? It'll take just 20 seconds—this one took me about 4 hours to research and write 🫠
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Story originally posted on Starter Story
✓ Start a similar business
✓ Start a similar business
(There's a massive opportunity in this niche)
Starting a business selling Notion templates, like Thomas Frank, can be an exciting venture. Here's a breakdown of what you need to consider:
1. Market Research
Identify Your Niche: Focus on a specific audience or type of template (e.g., productivity, project management, personal finance).
Analyze Competitors: Look at other creators selling Notion templates. Note what works, pricing, and customer feedback.
2. Template Creation
Design Templates: Create high-quality, user-friendly templates that solve specific problems.
Gather Feedback: Share early versions with friends or potential users to get feedback and make improvements.
3. Brand Development
Create a Brand Identity: Choose a name, logo, and color scheme that reflects your style and appeals to your target audience.
Build a Website: Use platforms like Shopify, Gumroad, or your own website to sell your templates. Make sure it’s visually appealing and easy to navigate.
4. Marketing Strategy
Content Marketing: Start a blog or YouTube channel sharing tips on using Notion and productivity hacks to attract potential customers.
Social Media Presence: Use platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok to share your templates and tips, engaging with your audience.
Email Marketing: Build an email list by offering free templates or guides in exchange for email subscriptions.
5. Sales and Distribution
Set Up Payment Processing: Ensure you have a reliable payment processing system (like PayPal, Stripe, etc.) for online transactions.
Choose a Delivery Method: Decide how you will deliver the templates (e.g., direct download, through a membership site).
6. Customer Support
Provide Excellent Support: Be responsive to customer inquiries and offer assistance with using your templates.
Gather Reviews and Testimonials: Encourage users to leave feedback, which can be used for future marketing.
7. Legal Considerations
Register Your Business: Choose a business structure (LLC, sole proprietorship, etc.) and register it accordingly.
Consider Copyrights: Protect your intellectual property and ensure your templates are original and not infringing on others' work.
8. Scaling and Expansion
Diversify Offerings: Once established, consider creating more advanced templates, bundles, or courses teaching users how to maximize Notion’s potential.
Collaborate: Partner with other creators or brands to expand your reach.
9. Continuous Improvement
Stay Updated: Keep up with Notion updates and community feedback to improve your templates continuously.
Seek Feedback Regularly: Regularly ask your customers for input on new features or templates they would like to see.
Starting a Notion template business requires creativity, a solid marketing strategy, and dedication to serving your audience. If you maintain a consistent quality and focus on user needs, you can build a successful venture!
(There's a massive opportunity in this niche)
Starting a business selling Notion templates, like Thomas Frank, can be an exciting venture. Here's a breakdown of what you need to consider:
1. Market Research
Identify Your Niche: Focus on a specific audience or type of template (e.g., productivity, project management, personal finance).
Analyze Competitors: Look at other creators selling Notion templates. Note what works, pricing, and customer feedback.
2. Template Creation
Design Templates: Create high-quality, user-friendly templates that solve specific problems.
Gather Feedback: Share early versions with friends or potential users to get feedback and make improvements.
3. Brand Development
Create a Brand Identity: Choose a name, logo, and color scheme that reflects your style and appeals to your target audience.
Build a Website: Use platforms like Shopify, Gumroad, or your own website to sell your templates. Make sure it’s visually appealing and easy to navigate.
4. Marketing Strategy
Content Marketing: Start a blog or YouTube channel sharing tips on using Notion and productivity hacks to attract potential customers.
Social Media Presence: Use platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok to share your templates and tips, engaging with your audience.
Email Marketing: Build an email list by offering free templates or guides in exchange for email subscriptions.
5. Sales and Distribution
Set Up Payment Processing: Ensure you have a reliable payment processing system (like PayPal, Stripe, etc.) for online transactions.
Choose a Delivery Method: Decide how you will deliver the templates (e.g., direct download, through a membership site).
6. Customer Support
Provide Excellent Support: Be responsive to customer inquiries and offer assistance with using your templates.
Gather Reviews and Testimonials: Encourage users to leave feedback, which can be used for future marketing.
7. Legal Considerations
Register Your Business: Choose a business structure (LLC, sole proprietorship, etc.) and register it accordingly.
Consider Copyrights: Protect your intellectual property and ensure your templates are original and not infringing on others' work.
8. Scaling and Expansion
Diversify Offerings: Once established, consider creating more advanced templates, bundles, or courses teaching users how to maximize Notion’s potential.
Collaborate: Partner with other creators or brands to expand your reach.
9. Continuous Improvement
Stay Updated: Keep up with Notion updates and community feedback to improve your templates continuously.
Seek Feedback Regularly: Regularly ask your customers for input on new features or templates they would like to see.
Starting a Notion template business requires creativity, a solid marketing strategy, and dedication to serving your audience. If you maintain a consistent quality and focus on user needs, you can build a successful venture!
