From passion to $1M empire: How I built a global publishing powerhouse on Fiverr

Sometimes the biggest journeys start with the smallest steps. Here's how my love for book covers became a million-dollar publishing empire, and how Fiverr made it all possible.

July 7, 2025

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The Spark That Started Everything

Picture this: It's 2015, and I'm sitting in a mentorship class that would change my life forever. My mentor, Arslan Khawaja, is teaching us about book cover design when he holds up a collection of covers and says something that stops me in my tracks:

Look at these carefully. Each cover tells a complete story before you even open the book. The typography whispers the genre. The colors evoke the mood. The imagery promises an experience. This isn't just design, this is storytelling in its purest form.

As he walked us through the design process, showing how every element worked together to create emotion and intrigue, something clicked. I wasn't just learning about design principles, I was discovering the art of visual storytelling.

That's when I knew: I wanted to master this craft and help authors tell their stories through compelling covers.

While other students in the class saw it as just another skill to learn, I was completely captivated. Armed with Arslan's teachings and countless hours of practice, I took my first real steps into the world of book cover design.

The early days? Brutal. My first designs were... let's call them "learning experiences" remember spending three days on a romance cover that looked more like a horror novel. The client was polite but firm: "This doesn't match my story at all." I felt like crawling under my desk. But every rejection taught me something new. Every small win fueled my determination. I wasn't just learning design—I was discovering my true calling wasn't hiding in conventional career paths. It was waiting to be unleashed.

Arslan's mentorship became my foundation, teaching me that success isn't just about what you achieve—it's about the stories you help bring to life.

The Fiverr Revolution: When Everything Changed

Fast forward to 2018. I'd spent three years honing my craft, but I was stuck. My local network was tapped out, and social media wasn't cutting it. I needed something bigger—a platform that could connect my passion with people who truly needed it.

Enter Fiverr.

Creating my first gig felt like standing at the edge of a cliff, ready to jump. My hands were shaking as I hit "publish." But within 48 hours, something magical happened—my first international order came through. A romance novelist from Australia wanted a cover that would make readers swoon before they even read the blurb.

That moment changed everything.

Suddenly, I wasn't just a freelancer dabbling in design. I was a professional serving authors across six continents. Each project brought new challenges, new genres, new perspectives. A thriller writer in Germany needed something dark and mysterious. A self-help author in Canada wanted bold and empowering. A fantasy novelist in the UK needed pure magic on the cover.

Fiverr didn't just give me clients, it gave me a global education in publishing.

The Pivot That Built an Empire

By late 2018, something incredible was happening. Authors weren't just coming back for more covers—they were asking for everything else: editing, formatting, marketing, full publishing support. I realized I was sitting on a goldmine of opportunity.

But here's the thing about opportunity: it's worthless unless you have the courage to seize it.

I could have stayed comfortable, churning out covers one by one. Instead, I made the scariest and best decision of my life—I decided to build something bigger. HMDPublishing.com was born from a simple belief: every author deserves professional, comprehensive support for their publishing journey.

The leap from solo freelancer to agency owner wasn't just about business—it was about impact. Instead of helping one author at a time, I could build a team that would help thousands.

Building a Team That Shares the Vision

Success isn't a solo sport. The most crucial decision I made was partnering with talented friends who shared my vision. Together, we assembled a dream team:

Aeysha Mahmood, our content analyst, ensures every story resonates with its intended audience

Muhammad Ali, our head of design, creates books that stop scrollers in their tracks

Mukaram Hussain builds communities around our authors through strategic social media

Shaheer Ahmed maximizes every book's visibility through targeted advertising

And guiding us through it all? Arslan Khawaja, whose initial spark of inspiration about visual storytelling became the foundation of everything we've built. His mentorship taught me that true success comes from helping others tell their stories.

The Million-Dollar Milestone: More Than Just Numbers

Today, HMDPublishing has served over 10,000 authors and generated over $1 million in revenue. But those numbers tell only part of the story.

The real victory? We've helped authors quit their day jobs to write full-time. We've turned first-time writers into bestselling authors. We've given voices to stories that might never have been heard.

Every success story of our authors is a success story for us.

The Blueprint: How You Can Build Your Own Empire

Your journey won't look exactly like mine, but the principles remain the same:

1. Start before you're ready

I wasns't a design expert when I started—I was just someone who cared enough to begin. My first month on Fiverr, I made exactly $27. I was so excited I called my mom. Perfection is the enemy of progress. Your version 1.0 doesn't have to be perfect; it just has to exist.

2. Let Fiverr be your global stage

Fiverr isn't just a marketplace—it's your gateway to the world. It connects your skills with people who desperately need them. Use it to:

Test your ideas with real customers

Build your reputation through reviews

Scale beyond your local limitations

Learn what the global market actually wants

3. Listen to your customers' pain points

The idea for HMDPublishing didn't come from a business plan—it came from listening. When authors kept asking for services beyond covers, I realized I wasn't just in the design business. I was in the dream-fulfillment business.

4. Scale Through Systems, Not Just People

Growth without systems is chaos. We use project management tools, automation, and clear processes to ensure that author #10,000 gets the same attention as author #1.

5. Build a Team That Believes in Your Mission

Skills can be taught, but believing in your mission can't. Every team member at HMDPublishing isn't just doing a job—they're changing lives, one book at a time.

What I've Learned Along the Way

Right now, someone somewhere needs exactly what you have to offer. They're searching Fiverr, hoping to find someone who understands their vision and can bring it to life.

Looking back, I realize my journey wasn't about becoming a million-dollar business owner. It was about finding a way to use my skills to help other people tell their stories. The money followed, but the real reward has been the relationships and the impact.

Your side project idea, your weekend hobby, your "someday" dream—it might be the foundation of something bigger than you imagine. The only difference between dreamers and achievers is that achievers take the first step.

Fiverr gave me the platform. Passion gave me the fuel. But the decision to begin? That came from within.

The question isn't whether you're ready—it's whether you're willing to start.

Check out Hammad’s Fiverr Pro agency, HMDPublishing to see how he turned a passion for book design into a full-scale publishing studio helping authors around the world.

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