We have to admit that we all associate success with fame, money, luxury buildings and well dressed employees with fancy cars and elegant suits. However, it seems that not many of these successful companies have suddenly become famous overnight, but their CEOs have started working hard on their ideas, although they didn’t have enough financial resources to meet their needs (such as a big space or employees). Hence, they believed in their ideas and decided to start their own businesses without caring about the place, so their activity was initially carried out even in dorm rooms, basements, or garages.
In other words, did you know that Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in his garage? Or that Mark Zuckerberg invented Facebook in his Harvard dorm? Of course, in this article, you will find the stories of many other famous companies.
The truth is that not many young entrepreneurs have enough money for a luxury or large office, so they have to find a place to work on their ideas, right? It doesn’t matter how you started as long as you achieved your dreams and built an internationally known and successful company.
The people in this article prove the fact that you can become rich and successful even if you start with little resources and funds or even in a garage, but all that matters is your desire, effort, ideas, creativity and originality, as well as to believe in yourself and in your plans. In fact, success can only be achieved if you try your best to become the best version of yourself, believe in your business idea and be motivated to put in the work.
That being said, here are some of the world’s most famous companies that started in a garage. Read on for more info!
Microsoft
Microsoft is an American multinational technology company based in Redmond, Washington. As you probably already know, the firm develops, licenses and manufactures computer software, electronics and computers. Its famous products include the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, the Microsoft Office suite, and the Internet Explorer and Edge web browsers.
Microsoft is regarded as one of the biggest technology companies in the United States. The company was founded by childhood friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975. At that time, their main aim was to show people their skills in computer programming. Gates and Allen built the foundation of the company in a small garage, as well as with few resources to help them.
However, it seems that they have managed to license their first operating system for about $80,000 and the rest is history. Thus, the company gradually became famous and is considered one of the biggest technology companies in the world. In fact, Bill Gates’s net worth is now estimated at nearly $124 billion, making him the fourth richest person in the world, according to Forbes Billionaires 2021 list.
You might also like: 7 Brilliant Scientists Who Had Hidden Talents.
Dell
Dell is another American multifunctional computer technology company that develops, sells and repairs computers and other related products and services. The company was founded in 1984 by Michael Dell and is regarded as one of the biggest technology firms in the world. There are more than 170,000 people who work at Dell in the United States and around the world.
Nevertheless, what many people don’t know about this company is that our famous entrepreneur, Michael Dell, dropped out of college in order to focus his whole attention on developing computers in his garage, after getting $1,000 in expansion capital from his family. In addition, the company grossed more than $73 million in its first year of operation.
Yet, from a few resources, a garage and a brilliant idea, to a company with more than 170,000 employees all over the world, Michel’s determination was totally worth it, turning his idea into a large and successful company.
You might also like: 8 Failed Products from the World’s Biggest Companies.
Google is an American multinational technology company that focuses on online advertising technologies, a search engine, software and hardware, among other Internet related services and products. It’s no secret that Google is considered one of the biggest companies in the world. But, did you know that it was initially only a research project of two PhD students?
Back in 1996, the Google concept began as a research project by Larry Page and Sergey Brin when they were both PhD students at Stanford University in California. The domain name “Google.com” was actually registered in 1997, and the company was incorporated in 1998 with a contribution of $100,000 from Andy Bechtolsheim.
At that time, the company was based in the garage of Susan Wojcicki. Their first employee was Craig Silverstein, a PhD student at Stanford. In 1999, the firm moved its offices to Palo Alto, California.
The company is now worth an estimated $420 billion. Page is worth $103.6 billion, while Brin is worth $100.2 billion, according to estimates by Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index, making them two of the richest people in the world.
You might also like: 15 Most Common Regrets People Have in Their 50s.
Amazon
Amazon is an American multinational technology company based in Seattle, Washington. It focuses on e-commerce, digital streaming, artificial intelligence and other related services. Just like Google and Microsoft, Amazon is one of the Big Five companies in the United States information technology industry.
As you probably already know, Amazon is often regarded as the most valuable brand in the world. However, Amazon was developed in 1994 by Jeff Bezos. Bezos operated from his home garage in Bellevue, Washington. At first, the company was an online marketplace for books, and shortly after, it expanded to sell electronics, software, furniture and so on.
It all started in a garage, but now this company is the world’s largest online marketplace, as well as live-streaming platform. Moreover, it is also the highest global brand volution.
You might also like: 11 Celebrities Who You Didn’t Know Have Diabetes.
Apple
Apple is another famous American multinational technology company based in Cupertino, California. It designs, develops and sells computer software, electronics, and other online services. Of course, we all know that it is one of the most popular smartphone and tablet companies in the world. Some of their successful products include iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Macintosh.
The company was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in 1976. They started this project in order to develop Wozniak’s Apple I personal computer, but Wayne sold his share back to Jobs and Wozniak after 12 days. Shortly after, Jobs and Wozniak decided to hire some computer designers and set up a production line in Job’s garage.
Even though Steve Jobs is no longer with us today, his firm remains the world’s largest technology company by revenue, as well as the most valuable brand in the world.
You might also like: 11 Celebrities Who Have Opened Up About Depression.
Hewlett Packard (HP)
Hewlett Packard Company (also known as Hewlett Packard or HP) is an American multinational information technology company based in Palo Alto, California. The company focuses on developing personal computers, printers and other related products and services.
HP was actually founded in a one-car garage in Paolo Alto by Bill Hewlett and David Packard in 1939. Their garage is now designated an official California Historical Landmark.
They initially created a line of electronic testing and measurement equipment, but now the company has become one of the largest computer companies in the world. However, in 2015, the company was renamed HP Inc. In addition, HP is one of the largest United States corporations by total revenue.
You might also like: 10 Strange Effects of Social Media on Your Brain.
Yankee Candle
Yankee Candle is an American manufacturer and retailer of scented candles, candleholders, accessories, and dinnerware based in South Deerfield, Massachusetts. Their products are sold by a lot of gift shops in more than 50 countries around the world. In other words, this company is the largest candle manufacturer in the United States and probably in the world.
However, we have to admit that not many people know the story of this company. Well, Michael Kittredge was only 16 years old when he started creating his own scented candles in his garage. His first candle was made of melted crayons as a Christmas present for his mother.
Kittredge’s neighbors were impressed with his work and wanted to buy his candles. So, in 1969 Kittredge started producing them in larger quantities and founded the company, but in 1998 he sold the firm to New York-based private equity company Forstmann Little for $500 million.
Click here if you want a Yankee Candle and choose your favorite scent and color!
You might also like: 11 Manners Americans See as Rude (but Other Countries Don’t).
Disney
Did you know that Disney was actually a company founded in a garage? The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney is headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. The company was originally founded in 1923 by brothers Walt and Roy O. Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, but changed its name to The Walt Disney Company in 1986.
It all started in 1923 when Walt, his brother and their uncle Robert decided to film Alice’s Wonderland, which featured child actress Virginia Davis interacting with animated characters, in their uncle’s garage.
Since then, the company has been one of the highest grossing media and entertainment conglomerates in the world. Disney’s other main business units include theme park resorts, consumer products, publishing, broadcasting, streaming media and so on.
You might also like: 8 Stars Who Underwent Dramatic Transformations for a Movie Role.
Harley Davidson
Harley Davidson is an American motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1901, 20 year old William S. Harley drew up plans to power a bicycle with a small engine. Harley and his childhood friend Arthur Davidson worked on their motor-bicycle using a small woodshed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Their company is one of the two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression. At present, it is one of the largest motorcycle manufacturers in the world and an iconic brand that every motorbike enthusiast wants. In addition, the company markets products all over the world.
You might also like: 8 Famous Co-Stars Who Hated Each Other in Real Life.
Maglite
Maglite is actually a brand of flashlight created in the United States by Mag Instrument, Inc. The company is headquartered in Ontario, California, and was founded in 1979 by Anthony Maglica. Maglica founded Mag Instrument in 1955 while working on a lathe with just $125 in savings.
Maglica was born in New York City during the Great Depression and was raised by his Croatian mother. When he was just a child, his mother decided to return to her homeland, but a few years later, Tony managed to go back to America.
He didn’t know English, so, he taught himself a few words and worked as an experimental machinist. However, he started to focus on his dream and worked hard to achieve it in his one-man machine shop in a Los Angeles area garage. Well, his determination and talent transformed his brand into a successful one and the rest is history!
You might also like: 12 Successful Celebrities Who Never Went to College.
Lotus Cars
Lotus Cars Limited is a British automotive company based in Norfolk, England. It develops sports cars and racing cars noted for their light weight and fine handling characteristics.
The company was founded by engineers Colin Chapman and Colin Dare, both graduates of University College, London, in 1952, but what many people don’t know about this firm is that its foundation was actually built in 1948 when Chapman developed his first racing car in a garage.
After Chapman’s death, the company suffered financial instability, so it was bought by General Motors, then Romano Artioli and is now owned by the Chinese multinational Geely, with Etika Automotive as a partner.
You might also like: 7 Bizarre Dishes on Victorian Dinner Tables You’d Probably Hate.