Why the Marketoonist is the dream indie business - Tom Fishburne

Why the Marketoonist is the dream indie business - Tom Fishburne

Author: James McKinven May 1, 2025 Duration: 16:38

Tom Fishburne is the founder of Marketoonist, a bootstrapped marketing cartoon business he started in 2010. He started drawing and sharing cartoons in 2002, and it took him 8 years to make the leap, despite having a successful career in marketing. 15 years later, Tom is still going strong, with the business making money from cartoon licensing, speaking gigs, brand deals, his book and more.

Listen to the extended version of the show here: https://indiebites.com/membership/

Timestamps

  • 00:00 - Intro
  • 01:23 - Moving to Czech Republic out of college
  • 02:16 - From Czech Republic to MBA
  • 03:19 - Starting cartooning
  • 04:03 - Tom's first client
  • 04:37 - Imposter syndrome
  • 05:20 - Pricing too low
  • 06:01 - Making the leap to full time
  • 07:08 - The terrifying moment of taking the leap
  • 08:08 - How Tom executed on his plan as a full time cartoonist?
  • 09:20 - Marketoonist revenue breakdown
  • 10:45 - Why Tom still does client work
  • 12:45 - Dealing with sh*tty clients
  • 13:55- Dealing with AI and competition
  • 15:55 - Recommendations

Recommendations

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Every Tuesday, James McKinven sits down for a short chat with someone who’s quietly building a business on their own terms. Indie Bites focuses on the real, often messy, beginnings of profitable, bootstrapped ventures. Instead of abstract theory, you’ll hear founders explain the exact moment an idea clicked, the scrappy ways they tested it without spending a fortune, and how they landed those crucial first few customers. The conversations are deliberately kept concise, getting straight to the practical insights that make a difference when you’re starting with limited time and resources. This podcast digs into the specifics of creating a sustainable income independently, covering the intersection of entrepreneurship, marketing, and hands-on business tactics. It’s for anyone who prefers learning from direct experience rather than corporate playbooks, offering a regular dose of motivation and actionable advice from people who are actually doing the work.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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