How Heather Lawson Grew An Operations Management Agency To $50K/month
How Heather Lawson Grew An Operations Management Agency To $50K/month
Dec 4, 2024
Heather Lawson-Bradfield
Heather Lawson-Bradfield
⏳ 5 min
⏳ 5 min
Revenue/month
Revenue/month
$50,000
$50,000
$50,000
No. of founders
No. of founders
1
1
1
Startup costs
Startup costs
$100K
$100K
$100K
Company type
Company type
Company type
Service
Service
Service
Contents
Introduction
Introduction
Meet Heather Lawson-Bradfield
Heather Lawson-Bradfield isn’t your typical entrepreneur. She’s a corporate escapee turned six-figure founder of The Clover Collective, a virtual operations management (OBM) agency with a mission: to create a people-first business while serving neurodivergent entrepreneurs and members of marginalized communities, including women and the queer community.
Her journey is one of grit, growth, and determination. From managing burnout in her corporate days to running an agency projected to hit $1M in revenue in 2024, Heather’s story is packed with lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Meet Heather Lawson-Bradfield
Heather Lawson-Bradfield isn’t your typical entrepreneur. She’s a corporate escapee turned six-figure founder of The Clover Collective, a virtual operations management (OBM) agency with a mission: to create a people-first business while serving neurodivergent entrepreneurs and members of marginalized communities, including women and the queer community.
Her journey is one of grit, growth, and determination. From managing burnout in her corporate days to running an agency projected to hit $1M in revenue in 2024, Heather’s story is packed with lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.
The Idea That Sparked The Clover Collective
The Idea That Sparked The Clover Collective
Heather spent 15 years in high-level corporate leadership roles, managing call centers and international operations for Fortune 5 companies. But by 2015, burnout hit hard. It took her five years to recover, and during that time, she realized she wanted something different — something aligned with her values.
She launched The Clover Collective as a virtual operations management agency, but it wasn’t just about running a business. It was about creating a space where people could thrive — not just survive. Heather's mission was clear:
Support creatives with robust operations systems.
Focus on marginalized and neurodivergent entrepreneurs.
Build a workplace where everyone feels valued.
Her corporate background gave her the tools to create systems and processes, but it was her empathy and vision that made the business unique.
Heather spent 15 years in high-level corporate leadership roles, managing call centers and international operations for Fortune 5 companies. But by 2015, burnout hit hard. It took her five years to recover, and during that time, she realized she wanted something different — something aligned with her values.
She launched The Clover Collective as a virtual operations management agency, but it wasn’t just about running a business. It was about creating a space where people could thrive — not just survive. Heather's mission was clear:
Support creatives with robust operations systems.
Focus on marginalized and neurodivergent entrepreneurs.
Build a workplace where everyone feels valued.
Her corporate background gave her the tools to create systems and processes, but it was her empathy and vision that made the business unique.
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➤ Every week, we dig up stories of how regular people started and grew their businesses—
➤ Plus the marketing hacks that won them customers.
➤ Then, we share those insights with you.
➤ Every week, we dig up stories of how regular people started and grew their businesses—
➤ Plus the marketing hacks that won them customers.
➤ Then, we share those insights with you.
From Painful Beginnings to Thriving Operations
From Painful Beginnings to Thriving Operations
Heather didn’t start The Clover Collective with a perfect business plan. In fact, she describes the launch as “freefalling off a cliff.”
“I just jumped. I didn’t have a strategy, go-to-market plan, or even a buyer persona. I knew I had skills that were needed, and I figured it out as I went.”
Here’s how she went from sporadic revenue to building a thriving agency:
1. Bootstrapping with Small Clients
Heather’s early days were tough. She took on $500/month clients and hustled her way to stability. By October 2021, she hit her first $10K month. Six months later, she hit $20K. By the end of 2022, she was at $50K per month — all by bootstrapping, refining her offerings, and staying laser-focused on providing value.
2. Embracing a People-First Model
Heather built her agency on three pillars: People, Processes, and Tech.
People: Diversity was key. Heather hired individuals with complementary skills and placed them in roles they were passionate about.
Processes: She created streamlined workflows to make operations seamless for her team and clients.
Tech: Heather didn’t reinvent the wheel. She used tools like Dubsado, ClickUp, and Slack to automate and connect her systems.
Heather didn’t start The Clover Collective with a perfect business plan. In fact, she describes the launch as “freefalling off a cliff.”
“I just jumped. I didn’t have a strategy, go-to-market plan, or even a buyer persona. I knew I had skills that were needed, and I figured it out as I went.”
Here’s how she went from sporadic revenue to building a thriving agency:
1. Bootstrapping with Small Clients
Heather’s early days were tough. She took on $500/month clients and hustled her way to stability. By October 2021, she hit her first $10K month. Six months later, she hit $20K. By the end of 2022, she was at $50K per month — all by bootstrapping, refining her offerings, and staying laser-focused on providing value.
2. Embracing a People-First Model
Heather built her agency on three pillars: People, Processes, and Tech.
People: Diversity was key. Heather hired individuals with complementary skills and placed them in roles they were passionate about.
Processes: She created streamlined workflows to make operations seamless for her team and clients.
Tech: Heather didn’t reinvent the wheel. She used tools like Dubsado, ClickUp, and Slack to automate and connect her systems.
Lessons From Building A Business From Scratch
Lessons From Building A Business From Scratch
Building a business from scratch taught Heather plenty. Here are her top takeaways:
1. Lead with Imperfect Action
Heather is a big believer in action over perfection.
“Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction.”
Whether it’s launching a new service or trying a new tech tool, she encourages entrepreneurs to start, learn, and adjust along the way.
2. Build a Resilient Business Model
The pandemic wiped out Heather’s client roster overnight. Instead of giving up, she pivoted. By focusing on networking and building word-of-mouth referrals, she rebuilt her business from the ground up.
3. Stop Being the Bottleneck
As her agency grew, Heather realized she needed to step back from being involved in every decision.
“Eliminate yourself as the bottleneck. Set up your team for success so they don’t need to come to you for every decision.”
Building a business from scratch taught Heather plenty. Here are her top takeaways:
1. Lead with Imperfect Action
Heather is a big believer in action over perfection.
“Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction.”
Whether it’s launching a new service or trying a new tech tool, she encourages entrepreneurs to start, learn, and adjust along the way.
2. Build a Resilient Business Model
The pandemic wiped out Heather’s client roster overnight. Instead of giving up, she pivoted. By focusing on networking and building word-of-mouth referrals, she rebuilt her business from the ground up.
3. Stop Being the Bottleneck
As her agency grew, Heather realized she needed to step back from being involved in every decision.
“Eliminate yourself as the bottleneck. Set up your team for success so they don’t need to come to you for every decision.”
The Clover Collective’s Secret Sauce
The Clover Collective’s Secret Sauce
One of Heather’s superpowers is delivering an exceptional client experience. Her approach to customer retention is simple but powerful:
Deliver Excellence. Go beyond what’s expected and anticipate client needs.
Build Relationships. Referrals have become The Clover Collective’s primary growth engine because of the trust Heather and her team have built with clients.
This commitment to quality has allowed Heather to take on bigger projects and scale sustainably.
One of Heather’s superpowers is delivering an exceptional client experience. Her approach to customer retention is simple but powerful:
Deliver Excellence. Go beyond what’s expected and anticipate client needs.
Build Relationships. Referrals have become The Clover Collective’s primary growth engine because of the trust Heather and her team have built with clients.
This commitment to quality has allowed Heather to take on bigger projects and scale sustainably.
What’s Next for The Clover Collective?
What’s Next for The Clover Collective?
Today, Heather’s agency is thriving. With 16 team members, a revenue of $500K in 2023, and a projected $1M in 2024, she’s setting her sights on mentorship and education.
Heather’s podcast, The Imperfect Founder, is her platform to share hard-won lessons and guide others in building ethical, sustainable agencies. She also runs The Agency Blueprint, a program designed to help entrepreneurs create people-first businesses.
Today, Heather’s agency is thriving. With 16 team members, a revenue of $500K in 2023, and a projected $1M in 2024, she’s setting her sights on mentorship and education.
Heather’s podcast, The Imperfect Founder, is her platform to share hard-won lessons and guide others in building ethical, sustainable agencies. She also runs The Agency Blueprint, a program designed to help entrepreneurs create people-first businesses.
Heather’s Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Heather’s Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
For anyone starting out, Heather’s advice is straightforward:
Start Small, But Start Now. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or plan. Take small steps, and the momentum will follow.
Learn From Failure. Mistakes are inevitable. Use them as stepping stones for growth.
Build a Business You’re Proud Of. Align your work with your values, and success will feel even more rewarding.
For anyone starting out, Heather’s advice is straightforward:
Start Small, But Start Now. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or plan. Take small steps, and the momentum will follow.
Learn From Failure. Mistakes are inevitable. Use them as stepping stones for growth.
Build a Business You’re Proud Of. Align your work with your values, and success will feel even more rewarding.
Tools and Resources
Tools and Resources
Tech Stack:
Recommended Podcasts:
Heather mentions Tanner Campbell’s 1-Year Podcast Mastermind as a resource that’s been influential for her growth.
Tech Stack:
Recommended Podcasts:
Heather mentions Tanner Campbell’s 1-Year Podcast Mastermind as a resource that’s been influential for her growth.
Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Heather’s story is proof that you don’t need to have it all figured out to start. She took a leap, made mistakes, and learned as she went—and that’s what entrepreneurship is all about. By focusing on people, delivering excellence, and staying true to her values, she turned her idea into a successful business.
P.S. I’ve got a weekly newsletter where I share Stories of how regular people started and grew their businesses— Plus the marketing hacks that won them customers. Then, I share those insights with you. I would love for you to join us here
Shoot me a DM if you want to share your story or visit this page to submit your information 💌
- h/t The Clover Collective, Bold Journey, Starter Story ⇢ Great resources
Heather’s story is proof that you don’t need to have it all figured out to start. She took a leap, made mistakes, and learned as she went—and that’s what entrepreneurship is all about. By focusing on people, delivering excellence, and staying true to her values, she turned her idea into a successful business.
P.S. I’ve got a weekly newsletter where I share Stories of how regular people started and grew their businesses— Plus the marketing hacks that won them customers. Then, I share those insights with you. I would love for you to join us here
Shoot me a DM if you want to share your story or visit this page to submit your information 💌
- h/t The Clover Collective, Bold Journey, Starter Story ⇢ Great resources
