Multi-billion dollar companies that started in garages

When people see the most successful companies out there, they often think that the companies started big. When in fact, these companies start small, in garages, staples, stalls, shades or even bedrooms. But since the inception of that dream, they grow and rise to become major players in the market. The companies in turn play important roles in our daily lives, and have changed how we live.

Here are the multi-billion dollar companies that started in garages.

1. Amazon

Amazon was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos in his home garage in Bellevue, Washington. It started as a small online bookstore before growing to be the world’s largest online retailer. 

2. Apple

In 1976, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, founded what is now one of the big four Big Four of technology. They started by making a sale of 50 units of Wozniak’s Apple I to a local retailer. It then expanded slowly, adopting new systems and inventing new products.

3. Microsoft

Microsoft was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in a small garage as their workspace. They then built an operating system licensing it at $80,000, then years later Windows was born. 

4. Google

Google was founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in a garage in California that was let out to them by Susan Wojcicki. A project that took 5 months to create, though they later tried to sell the company to Excite for just $1 million.

5. Disney

In 1923, Walt Disney, his brother Roy and his uncle Robert started filming Alice’s Wonderland comedies in Robert’s garage back. Then result was the birth of the highest grossing media conglomerate in the world.

6. Hewlett Packard

HP didn’t start as you know it today. It was founded by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard in 1939 as a small technology club called ‘Silicon Valley with an investment of $538.

7. Dell

Dell was founded in 1984 by Michael Dell in his garage by building computers custom built to order. The company has grown to become a major player in the technological world. 

8. Lotus

Lotus Cars was founded in 1948 by Anthony Colin Bruce by building his first Lotus car in a stable. He was just 20 years then, but Lotus cars are now among the most popular sports cars and competitive racing cars.

9. Yankee Candles

When Michael Kittredge, a 16 years old boy, started making candles by melting crayons in his garage, he only made them as a gift for his mother on Mother’s Day. Through the support of his neighbours as his first customers Yankee Candles, founded in 1969, has grown to be one of the largest and most popular candle manufacturers. 

10. Maglite

In 1950, with just $125 savings, Anthony Maglica started working on a lathe. In 1974 Mag Instrument was incorporated, with Anthony delivering the individual components needed for flashlights to the manufacturers, and so he started selling flashlights under the brand, Maglite in 1976. Now it dominates the flashlight market.

11. Mattel

Mattel was founded in 1969 by Harold Matson and Elliot Handler in a garage by using picture frame scrapes to build dollhouses. The company has now grown to be the highest grossing toy manufacturer.

12. Harley Davidson

In 1901, William S. Harley started designed plans to power a bicycle with a small engine, in a small woodshed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Later in 1903, Harley-Davidson was officially founded.