How Two Brothers Built LegitCheck into a $200K/Yr Authentication Powerhouse

Introduction

LegitCheck started as a simple mobile app that listed sneaker “tells” to spot fakes. In 2017, a 19-year-old Daniel Ch built a basic guide on his personal site and launched it on Reddit. He expected a one-off project, but within 16 months the app pulled in 350,000 organic users. That early traction planted the seeds for an authentication service that today generates over $200,000 annually.

From Guide to Service

By April 2019, Daniel was fielding up to 10 daily emails asking, “Is my item real?” He realized he couldn’t keep up free checks. Teaming up with his 15-year-old brother David, he tested a paid email‐based authenticity service charging $20–$50 per report. Their first $20 sale arrived before the site even fully launched. Orders poured in as they managed requests by email.

Streamlining the Workflow

In October 2019 the brothers deployed a clean e-commerce site—LegitCheck.app—with an image‐upload checkout. Customers could now submit photos and item descriptions at purchase, and the Ch brothers delivered formatted authenticity reports via the platform’s “order notes.” Trust indicators—branding, domain, professional emails—boosted conversions and reduced friction.

Organic SEO and Traffic

The original sneaker guides continued ranking #1 for “fake vs real” searches, driving 300K–400K monthly visitors. A call-to-action at the end of each guide funneled readers into the paid service. With minimal ad spend, they hit 7 million unique users in three years and secured credit-card company credibility for their authentication certificates.

Key Metrics

After refining the customer journey, the pair averaged over $16K in monthly revenue. Returns and refunds are managed promptly, and customer support earns high satisfaction. Their certificates now help buyers file chargebacks for fake items, having saved users thousands of dollars.

Looking Ahead

Next up: a faster ordering interface, a no-code website builder based on Notion, and sharing their journey on podcasts and YouTube. With a proven model, they plan to expand beyond sneakers and bags, cementing LegitCheck as a go-to authentication SaaS.