The 15 Best Shark Tank Deals Ever Made

For more than 10 years, ABC’s hit show Shark Tank has watched dozens of entrepreneurs seek investment. Something has happened to the show great episode which are informative, educational, heartwarming and entertaining But, at the end of the day, this show is about making business deals. So no matter how great a pitch is, or how much potential a product has, the Sharks are there to make money.
So, after the lights go down and the cameras roll off, which deals have been the most successful? In this article, we will list the 15 most successful Shark Tank deals. We’ve only included deals that closed after the show. This means that a company like Ring, which was rejected by the Sharks, will not make the list. Although Ring has an estimated annual revenue of $400 million.
1. Scrub Daddy
Investment: $200,000 for 20%
Annual revenue: $50 million – $200 million
This little kitchen sponge is known as one of the companies Best deal Lori Greiner Made it during the show. During Season 4, Aaron Krause created a reusable sponge in the shape of a smiley face that hardens in cold water and softens in warm water. Krause had already had some previous entrepreneurial success after selling his line of buffing and polishing pads to 3M. But he seems to be having trouble gaining traction, not being able to earn more than $100,000 a year with Scrub Daddy.
However, this product seems to be a perfect match for the Queen of QVC as Greiner offered a 20% stake in the company for $200,000. Considered the most successful deal ever made on Shark Tank, Scrub Daddy grossed over $100 million. Lori was able to get the product into retailers like Bed Bath and Beyond.
2. Pump
Investment: $200 for 17.5%
Sales: About $18.5 million
By now, the whole world has heard about this unique company that aims to change and give back to the world. But, there was a time when Bombus was an organization looking for help to reach the world. David Heath and Randy Goldberg met in 2007 while working at a media company. Although they had no passion for socks, they learned that socks were the number 1 most requested item of clothing at homeless shelters. The pair worked on a business model that would sell premium socks as well as donate socks to those in need.
The founders entered Shark Tank asking $200,000 for 5% of their company. They gave up 17.5% but walked away with the shark they wanted. Daymond John’s experience with his clothing company FUBU has made a big difference. The company has generated $18.5 million in annual sales and is growing at a rate of 300% per year.
3. Squatty potty
Investment: $350,000 for 10% (shared with Kevin O’Leary)
Gross sales: $150 million+
When pitching a product designed to help with easier bowel movements, you never know you’ll be taken seriously. However, Bobby Edwards was able to successfully pitch his company Squatty Potty to the sharks and land $350,000 in investment capital from Greiner and fellow shark Kevin O’Leary.
Within 3 months of the episode airing, the product sold $12 million. The company is reported to have grossed over $150 million in sales.
4. Simply fit the board
Deal: $125,000 for 18% equity
Sales: Over $160 million
This product is a balance board designed to help individuals exercise and get in shape. The product was created by mother and daughter entrepreneurs Gloria Hoffman and Linda Clark. The pair initially offered 15% of their company for $125,000. The founders negotiated with Lori and Kevin, with O’Leary paying $125,000 for 30% of the company. The entrepreneurs asked O’Leary if he would be willing to partner with Greiner. To which he replied ‘No’. Eventually, Hoffman and Clark made a deal with Greiner for 18% of their company.
Perhaps O’Leary should have partnered with Greiner because the Simply Fit board became a runaway hit. The company generated $160 million in retail sales in just 6 years and sold in 50,000 retail stores.
5. Comfortable
30% for Barbara’s $50,000 equity
Sales: Over $150 million
Brian and Michael Specially went to Shark Tank to give away 20% of their company to one or more sharks for just $50,000. The product, The Comfy, is a wearable blanket designed to move with you so you never have to take it off, like before. It has cuffed sleeves, a large front pocket, a huge plush hood and a high-low hemline, so it won’t drag when you want it to.
They end up giving Barbara 30% of the company and are excited to have her invest in them. Cozy has been a huge success, expanding into retail spaces like Bed Bath and Beyond, as well as being listed on QVC. Comfy has a 5-star rating on Amazon with over 90,000 reviews. Since then, Comfy has been proven One of Barbara Corcoran’s best deals on the show
The deal: No shark deal while on the show but Robert Herjavec got involved after Shark Tank
Sales: $59 million in annual revenue
The Bouqs company was founded with the bold intention of bringing romance and joy back to what was once a noble exchange: the giving and receiving of flowers. The company was founded by John Tabis.
When Tabis first appeared on the show, he was asking $258,000 for 3% of his company. Unfortunately for him at the time, he couldn’t get any of the sharks to invest in The Books Company.
However, three years later Robert Herjavec reached out to The Books Company for help with his upcoming wedding. Herjavec was so impressed with Flowers and company that he decided to get involved.
The partnership led to The Bouqs Company landing an additional $85 million in funding. Currently, its farm network has about 2 billion growing flowers, 10 thousand employees and 4 thousand acres of abundant flower fields. Since its inception, The Bouqs Co. Delivered over 30 million flowers.
Now the business sees annual revenue of $59 million.
Deal: $75,000 for 25% equity
Sales: Over $50 million
The Sleep Styler is a heat-free hair drying and curling tool that curls hair while you sleep, saving you time and effort from curling hair with an iron. Tara Brown was a San Diego optometrist who came up with the product. Since appearing on Shark Tank, the sleep styler has sold over $50 million in retail sales in just 2 years since airing on Shark Tank.
Deal: $55K for 15% equity
Sales: $30 million annually
Another success of Corcoran’s is a food truck with a unique selling point. Cousins Maine Lobster is an international food franchise that brings the unique neighborhood Maine lobster shack experience through their food truck and brick and mortar restaurant.
Cousins Sabine Lomak and Jim Selikis started the food truck in 2012 because the Maine lobster experience was something that was missing in California. After losing interest in four sharks while in the tank, the pair were able to strike a deal with Corcoran offering 15% of the company for $55,000.
Other sharks have missed a gold mine. Corcoran Cousin went to work in Maine lobster production. He helped them increase the number of trucks, expand to other cities and appear on QVC as well as national television shows like “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show,” “MasterChef,” “The Chew” and The. Food Network.
The company now generates about $30 million in annual sales.
9. Bubba’s-Q Boneless Ribs
Investment: $300,000 for 30%
Sales: $16 million+
After Al “Bubba” Baker spent 13 seasons in the NFL as one of the league’s most feared pass-rushers, he sought a second career by founding Bubba Q’s Boneless Ribs. What makes the company truly unique is its patented boneless rib recipe.
During the episode, Daymond John said, “I still believe this will probably be my biggest deal.” Bubba Q’s is definitely becoming one of John’s best deals as the company went from $154,000 in sales to $16 million in 3 years.
10. Tipsy Elves
Investment: $100,000 for 10%
Gross sales: $15 million+
A company that sells ugly holiday sweaters has already sold 5,000 units before entering the shark tank. Corporate lawyer Evan Mendelsohn and endodontist Nick Morton started Tipsy Elves when Mendelsohn noticed the growing popularity of ugly holiday sweaters but realized there was no central place to buy them. When the pair appeared on the show they invested $140,000 in the company but walked away with $100,000 from Herjavec.
Since then, Tipsy Elves has sold over $15 million. The company’s growth was helped by movies last night Starring Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anthony Mackie. Tipsy Elves has made a deal with the production company to mass produce the sweater worn by Rogen in the movie.
11. Grace and Lace
Investment: $175,000 for 10%
Gross Sales: About $20 million+
During season 5, Rick and Melissa Hinnant were able to secure a $175,000 investment from Corcoran for their women’s accessories company Grace and Lace. Since the episode aired, the company has generated nearly $20 million in sales. Corcoran told Business Insider that it was his most profitable Shark Tank investment at the time.
12. Groovebook
Investment: $150,000 for 80% licensing rights (shared with Mark Cuban)
Sale: Acquired Shutterfly for $14.5 million
During season 5 Brian and Julie Whiteman pitch their business GrooveBook to investors on Shark Tank. Groovebook is an app and service that lets you print photo books from your cell phone and then sends them to you every month. The couple was able to negotiate an 80% licensing deal with Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary for $150,000.
After appearing on the show, Groovebook’s paid membership grew from 8,000 subscribers to 500,000. In 2014, the company was acquired by Shutterfly for $14.5 million.
13. Drop Stop
Deal: $200,000 for 20% equity
Sales: Total sales over $60 million
A drop stop is a device designed to prevent items from falling between the front seats and center console of a vehicle. The product helps prevent driver distraction if something falls between the seat and the console. Since airing on Shark Tank 9 years ago, the company has sold $60 million in retail sales.
Deal: $300,000 for 15% equity
Lovepop designs unique 3D paper pop-up greeting cards for all occasions. Friends Ombi Rose and John Wise started the company after discovering the incredible paper art form of kirigami. With their engineering backgrounds and their new found love for kirigami, the duo created a company that designs incredibly artistic and creative greeting cards.
After signing with O’Leary, the company saw its revenue top $40 million.
Deal: $150,000 for 65% equity
In Season 3, Lori invested in a company that solved the problem of lost and scratched glasses. After habitually losing and damaging his glasses, Rick Hopper began using paperclips and magnets to secure his glasses. He later built a prototype product, purchased a patent, and began exhibiting his invention at tradeshows.
Essentially giving Laurie the entire company, Hopper agreed to accept $150,000 for 65% of his company. However, it seems to be paying off as the company has over $8 million in sales. ReaderREST is one of the most popular items on QVC and often sells out.
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Article Tags:
Business Opportunities · Entrepreneurial Lifestyle · Finances · Find Your Way · Grow Your Business · Success · Your Mindset
Article Category:
Entrepreneurial Lifestyle · Find Your Way · Grow Your Business · Your Mindset
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