start a digital marketing agency business plan & documents pdf

How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency + Free PDF

Starting a digital marketing agency is one of the most rewarding and exciting business ventures you can embark on.

But its also highly competitive. According to Clutch.co , there are over 16,000 digital agencies in the US alone.

While it may sound like a crowded market there are actually great opportunities for new agencies focused on delivering new thinking within niche areas under the broad umbrella of "digital marketing".

According to Clutch.co, there are over 16,000 digital agencies in the US alone.

The broad definition of digital marketing is the use of digital channels such as websites, mobile, search, display, social media, email and any other digital channels to promote products and services.

While those channels are the main ones, there is a longtail of channels that fit within the "other" category including PR, influencer, affiliate, podcasts, ebooks, games, SMS/MMS and more. For further reading check out the Top 10 Types of Digital Marketing .

With over 1,500 digital agency customers, SEOptimer is in a unique place to analyze the digital agency industry.

Our team also has experience working agency-side and understand the complexities in running an agency.

In this guide, we'll cover some common considerations you need to take in to account when learning about how to start a digital marketing agency.

How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency-Quick Guide

• Choose what type of digtial marketing agency you'd like to start.
• Develop your business model.
• Establish your key personnel requirements.
• Set your agency goals.
• Upskill where needed.
• Establish your operational costs.
• Find clients and win contracts.
• Manage your agency.
• Manage your agency employees.

What is a Digital Marketing Agency and What Do They do?

The definition of a digital agency is a company that provides creative, strategic and technical development of screen-based product and services to clients.

Andrew Bailey, CEO of The&Partnership describes an agency as "a group of excellent people collaborating around a difficult challenge and finding solutions that drive the clients' business".

The main reason they exist is that most clients lack the resources to execute digital marketing themselves. Because the potential remit of digital agencies is wide, there are many specialized skills that clients can tap into without the need to employ all these specialists in-house.

While there is a recent trend for brands to move more marketing functions in-house, there will always be a role for agencies to pick up work where clients simply don't have the resources or capabilities.

Andrew Bailey, describes an agency as "a group of excellent people collaborating around a difficult challenge and finding solutions that drive the clients' business".

Most agency founders freelance or consult with clients before actually forming an agency. Our previous guide outlines what its like to work as a digital marketing freelancer .

This is a very common pathway and provides a great preview of working directly with clients. Freelancers who accumulate a large workload may find themselves organically morphing into an agency once they start hiring other freelancers to help them.

Work-wise there's not many differences in the output working as a freelancer or as a small agency founder. The real differences come in when the business starts to scale and as you hire more people. Some things remain the same.

The standard way a client works with an agency at the start of the relationship is to run a thorough onboarding process. This is the first step toward achieving the best agency-client collaboration.

The onboarding process ensures that both agency and client are clear on business goals, roles and responsibilities, target audience, comms expectations, deliverables, timings, overall strategy and reporting. B2B agency, New Breed Marketing have put their onboarding process online:

After onboarding is complete, its time to actually get started on the work. This is almost always driven by the brief which is a business document that outlines the business problem the client wants to solve.

The agency then responds to the brief usually with multiple ideas potentially at different levels of budget, complexity, etc. The brief is the north-star and every decision made about the work needs to help drive the business objective outlined in the brief.

Once it's decided what the work involves, more people potentially get involved (both agency-side and client-side) whether that be moving pixels around to create digital assets, writing content, booking ads, cutting code or shooting video - all these people start spending time working on the work .

There are usually rounds of review which enable the client to provide feedback on the work until its delivered or the project is complete.

How do Digital Agencies Make Money?

Darren Woolley, CEO and Founder at TrinityP3 suggests there are three major business models of digital agencies. Some utilize just 1 model however most utilize a mix depending on client budgets and expectations:

• Project Fees : this is the most common model where the project fee is determined based on an hourly or day rate for individual pieces of work. Over the last few years, this model has become the norm.
• Retainers : typically this is a monthly fee broken down into billable hours of certain members of the agency (based on the agency's rate card ) plus overheads and profit margin. This model was the most common in the 2000's but crunched budgets and brands pulling more work in house has led to less retained clients.
• Commission : a percentage (typically 10% and upward) charged on top of third party charges such as paid media or production. This can also be a revenue-based commission charged by performance agencies who take a cut of sales.

In 2019, Credo surveyed 271 agency founders around the world to find the average hourly rate of digital marketing consultants and agencies. They found that the worldwide average hourly rate was $148.13 .

source: Credo

Nearly a third of all agencies charge somewhere between $101-$150 per hour on average. However, there's a lot of detail hiding in that average such as country, agency type and agency size.

By doing a quick country split, between the United States and the United Kingdom we can see an interesting difference:

US digital agencies charge an average of $56 more than their UK counterparts. Even "all other countries" charge an average of $19 more than UK agencies too.

Perhaps this can be explained by greater competition in the UK or perhaps the current economic climate and tighter client budgets.

When looking at the hourly rate data by company size, we can see a fairly evident correlation between agency size and hourly rate. The bigger the agency, the higher the rate.

How Much Money do Digital Agencies Make?

This really comes down to the type of business model (as above) and what kind of clients you're targeting.

In terms of monthly retainers Zachary Chastain, Senior Digital Strategist at FUEL for Brands says when working for small businesses retainers can be pretty low: $2,000 - $4,000 per month.

He does say though that most small businesses only opt for project work. This will mean you'll need a steady stream of projects coming in and at least one person focused purely on selling.

For SMBs and smaller corporations, these can be worth up to $10,000 per month but are harder to land especially when you're starting out.

For large agencies hunting big brands, these retainers can start at $15,000 per month and go up from there.

What Kind of Digital Agency Should You Start?

If you visit any digital agency website, there will likely be a "Services" tab in the main menu which broadly outlines what services the agency can deliver.

The absence of services here is important to note because most agencies can't execute all aspects of digital marketing - there's just too much for most agencies to do.

In creating your own agency, you need to play to your strengths. Most agency founders have worked their way up through other agencies or freelanced for several years gaining invaluable experience, industry knowledge and built connections with peers and clients.

Importantly they've seen what has worked and what hasn't worked in other agency environments. Maybe they've seen opportunities by observing client problems or challenges and perhaps witnessed shortcomings in agencies to tackle these problems directly.

This has likely contributed to the rise in smaller agencies focusing on niche marketing disciplines or targeting specific industries. They can outmanoeuvre larger agencies because of their focus and ability to hire specialists within focus areas.

Most digital agencies categorize themselves under one of the following categories below. This is mostly useful to clients when they are searching for agency partners:

Full-Service Agencies

Larger digital agencies tout themselves as "full-service". This means they can literally execute any digital marketing activity no matter what the client brief is.

If these agencies don't have the people necessary to execute work on-hand they immediately hire specialists or plug talent gaps with freelancers.

By saying 'yes' to every brief they're able to charge a premium for this flexibility.  AKQA is a prolific full-service digital agency headquartered in San Francisco with 2,200 staff globally across 29 locations around the world:

Website App Development Agencies

These agencies specialize in the design, build, deployment and ongoing maintenance of websites and mobile apps. This is a highly competitive field with a diverse composition of agencies.

On the low end, these can be freelancers / sole traders who do everything themselves or large development shops who hire hundreds of specialists and work on big-budget projects.

And then there's everything in between. Unified Infotech is a leading development agency in New York who have delivered over 1,500 digital projects:

Branding / Creative Design Agencies

Branding and creative agencies focus on the way a brand looks, feels, behaves and communicates. These agencies typically deliver brand guidelines documents and also visual assets which serve as a definitive reference on how any client work should look and feel.

When clients work with multiple agencies to perform different projects, branding agencies are usually engaged first to define the brand guidelines.

They are sometimes referred to as the "brand custodians" or the "lead agency" when a client works with multiple agencies. Ideo is a highly respected design consultancy founded in Palo Alto, with over 700 people in offices around the world:

Search / SEO Agencies

SEO agencies are tasked with optimizing their clients' organic search engine rankings.

It goes without saying, SEO agencies rely on tools like SEOptimer every day! Victorious are a leading SEO agency in San Francisco who won Search Engine Land's Global SEO Agency of the Year:

Media Agencies

Media agencies are also referred to as PPC (Pay Per Click) agencies and focus on booking paid media (ads).

Depending on the agency, sometimes they can deliver the creative that sits in the ad otherwise they typically are responsible for running the ad campaign which involves research to uncover the best channels to reach the target audience, putting together media plans , booking the ads (also known as trafficking), setting up targeting, running ongoing optimization and reporting.

Digital media agencies can book ads anywhere such as:

• Search ads like Google Ads and Bing Ads - also known as SEM (Search Engine Marketing)
• Social media ads like Facebook Ads, LinkedIn Ads, Twitter Ads, etc
• Display ads - also known as banner ads which appear all around the web (this can also be referred to as Programmatic ads when multiple ad exchanges are utilized)
• Native ads - also known as Discovery ads which are advertorial content pieces usually seen on news sites
• Any other digital advertising methods like affiliate advertising, ads on digital panels or other closed ad buying platforms also referred to as DSPs (Demand Side Platforms)

Mindshare is a global media agency based in New York and part of the massive GroupM network:

Social Media Agencies

Social media agencies deliver strategy, content, community management and optimization across social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Snapchat and YouTube.

This can include emerging channels like TikTok and Byte. Social media agencies usually deliver both organic and paid work which can potentially cause overlaps if clients work with media agencies too. We Are Social is a leading global social media agency headquartered in London:

Performance and CRO Agencies

Performance or CRO (Conversion Rate Optimization) agencies are usually discipline-agnostic meaning they utilize any parts of digital marketing to increase ROI based on client business objectives.

This usually means a mix of search and social leaning heavily on paid media but it can literally include any activity on any digital channel with the sole purpose of driving marketing performance.

Papertoaster is a renowned performance agency based in Singapore who have productized their offering into growth products :

PR Comms Agencies

PR (Public Relations) agencies focus on promoting clients products and services in the press - usually mainstream news publications and other high-traffic properties.

They maintain close relationships with journalists, writers and editors and continually pitch story ideas with the aim of crafting them in such a way that they receive editorial interest.

Their success is judged by how many "hits" (ie mentions) they can generate for their clients.

Some comms agencies specialize in internal comms (for large corporations) or corporate comms too. Weber Shandwick is global PR and communications agency with a heritage in the Asia Pacific region:

Content Marketing / Inbound Agencies

Content agencies, also known as inbound agencies, focus on creating content. They are storytellers at heart and craft the best written, visual and audio content to engage customers and drive sales.

The term inbound relates to inbound marketing where customers seek out a brand usually as a result of content they have consumed as opposed to outbound marketing which is where the customer is interrupted with ads or a sales pitch.

256 Content is a leading content agency in Dublin, winners of Content Marketing Institute's Agency of the Year Award:

Then there are a few other niche agency types such as:

Influencer Marketing Agencies - these agencies behave like a traditional talent agency except they represent influencers!

Clients work with these agencies by briefing them about their project objectives, target audience and budget.

The agency then searches their roster of influencers on Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, etc and recommends talent from their network. They then work with the influencer to create content and are the conduit between the influencer(s) and the client.

Community Management Agencies - these specialist agencies focus on community management on social media.

This includes comment moderation, upholding the discussion policy, replying to questions and generally fulfilling a customer service role. They can triage customer service requests through to experts on the brand side or deal with requests directly.

These agencies are popular for higher-risk clients like Government, alcohol brands, finance brands, etc who need 24/7 community management.

They typically take over social accounts outside of business hours starting at 5pm and managing them through until 9am the next morning when the client takes over during their work day.

Industry-focused Agencies - some agencies deliver multiple services above but do so within a particular category or vertical.

For example, a digital agency that works exclusively with real estate agents or law firms or fashion brands - you name it! If you do a quick search you'll likely find agencies that exist in most categories.

Their big advantage over other agencies is that they have in-depth category knowledge and usually have extensive experience within that category.

B2B Agencies - B2B agencies work purely for business to business clients. In other words, clients who sell to other businesses.

These agencies use LinkedIn heavily and rely on known B2B lead generation tactics like content marketing / inbound marketing and event marketing.

B2G Agencies - B2G agencies work purely for business to Government clients. In other words, clients who sell to Governments.

These agencies rely on relationships developed in Government and help guide their clients through Government procurement processes, tendering and applying on service panels.

Kyle Rachi, CEO at Proposify says:

 "Too many design and marketing agencies have no clear value proposition beyond 'we do good work' and they don't target any particular industry or serve a vertical market, believing they should work for any business that wants to hire them.

Don't make that mistake.

The way to get good clients who pay top rates is to target a specific niche so that you don't have to compete as a generalist".

Developing Your Digital Agency Business Model

You may have heard of the Lean Canvas which seeks to replace the often bloated business plan document with a single page business model using 9 building blocks.

We've taken inspiration from this tool and developed the Digital Agency Lean Canvas as a way to brainstorm, plan and communicate how your new digital agency will operate.

For more information and an example agency walkthrough, check out our full guide and template: Digital Agency Lean Canvas Example (with PDF) .

Key Agency Personnel

At the start there's the founder or founding team - these are the easy days (although there's no such thing as an easy day in agency land). 

While key personnel is dependant on the type of agency you start, there are certain critical functions needed in all agencies.

Sometimes one person fulfils multiple functions but as you grow you will likely need dedicated personnel at each function.

The more headcount you add, the more complex the agency becomes. Growth is good but it also has its own unique set of challenges. These critical functions include:

CEO / Managing Director - the agency leader who sets the agenda, manages the business and attracts talent & clients.

New Business - someone to drive lead generation, expansion of existing clients, preparing pitches & proposals and maintaining a sufficient pipeline of new clients.

Account Management - someone to own the client relationship, be the primary interface between agency staff and the client team, manage client expectations and deliver what they want on time and on budget.

Strategy / Planning - someone to own strategy of the work, how it fits into the client's broader business and how it delivers the intended goals and KPIs.

Production - practitioners who execute the work whether this be designing, building, coding, writing, shooting, editing or any other technical craft.

Goal Setting

In starting any new venture its fundamental to set goals. One of the most cited goal-setting models is SMART:

• S pecific: goals must be crystal clear and objective. A great specific goal is "Grow the agency to 6 clients with monthly revenue of $50,000."
• M easurable: you must be able to answer the question "how will I know when I've achieved it?"
• A spirational: add at least 20% more additional to your targets - think of this as enabling a stretch goal. You'll achieve your goals faster with this mentality.
• R ealistic: know your potential and what's realistic in your market.
• T ime-bound: focus on specific time frames for the short, medium and long term.

Some great examples of agency goals include:

• Grow to 10 retained clients by the end of the year
• Increase monthly revenue 15% by the end of next quarter
• Upsell at least 2 current clients on new services by the end of the month
• Double the amount of inbound new business leads in 90 days

Upskilling yourself and your staff is vital especially in the digital marketing industry because technology is evolving constantly and there are always new things to learn.

As Davida Shensky says "You need to get good at what you’re going to be offering as professional services. Put in the work at a 9–5 before striking out on your own. You can’t sell yourself as a digital marketing expert without being a digital marketing expert."

Some agencies have a training or professional development budget which employees receive each year to spend on courses, conferences, mentors and other learning pursuits.

This is not only great for the individual but excellent for the agency as the staff bring back these learnings and apply them directly in their roles.

Speaker and consultant, Lilach Bullock recommends agencies implement PDPs (Personal Development Plans) for their employees that set out what skills gap each employee wants to address and how they'll address it.

Putting employees in charge of their own skills development is advantageous and also makes them accountable for what they learn.

Post-learning, employees need to be able to apply their new skills - this may mean the need for new tools or software to put theory into practice. Staff should also be tasked with educating others in the agency through presentations or lunch and learns .

As David Shensky says "You need to get good at what you’re going to be offering as professional services. Put in the work at a 9–5 before striking out on your own. You can’t sell yourself as a digital marketing expert without being a digital marketing expert."

Typical Operational Costs

Starting an agency doesn't need to cost much at all. Since there is very little capital expenditure upfront needed, the barrier to entry is low. As you grow, your biggest expense will be people whether they be on payroll or freelance.

After staff costs, the next big-ticket items include:

• office rent
• business costs such as accounting / legals / insurance / registration
• operational costs such as utilities, office equipment and consumables
• software subscriptions, web hosting and licensing fees

Breaking down software costs further, DPM published a useful guide of popular software used by agencies:

Some highlights in DPM's guide include FunctionFox a project management tool built by an agency for agencies, Mavenlink for tracking operational and financial performance and VOGSY for comms automation within G Suite.

These software tools start from just $5 per month and go up to $19 per month.

Australian digital agency IGNITE wrote about their tech stack which includes:

• Adobe Creative Suite - industry-standard design suite - $52.99 per month
• Asana - project management - $13.49 per user per month
• BrowserStack - browser testing - $12.50 per month
• Cloudflare - Content Delivery Network (CDN) - $5 per month
• Figma - wireframe and prototyping tool - $12 per user per month
• Fullstory - in-depth website analytics - POA
• G Suite - Gmail, Analytics and Ads - $8.40 per user per month
• Pandadoc - proposals and quotes management - $9 per user per month
• Pingdom - server uptime monitoring - $13.95 per month
• Rocket Validator - code validation - $72 per month
• SEOptimer - website audits - $19 per month
• Slack - internal communication - $8 per user per month
• Suitcase Fusion - font management & library - $119.95 one-off purchase
• UserTesting - user testing software - POA
• Vaultpress - website backups and security - $39 per year

Most tools above come with free plans and/or free trials too!

Finding Clients and Winning Work

Most agency founders have an existing network that they use to gain their first clients. Some even leave agencies and take clients with them who become foundation clients at a new agency.

If you're starting from scratch though, you will need a strong point of difference in market and a way to communicate how you're different and better to the other agencies you compete with.

"We put up a sign saying 'UX design agency' to advertise our services. We held whiskey tastings at our desks to explain what we did. When people came to chat, we got to know all the different startups in the building and boom! That's how we got our first clients."

When starting his agency AJ&Smart, Jonathan Courtney found all his first clients by working in a startup co-working space.

"We put up a sign saying 'UX design agency' to advertise our services. We held whiskey tastings at our desks to explain what we did. When people came to chat, we got to know all the different startups in the building and boom! That's how we got our first clients.

Geography is something that people don’t really consider as a big factor, but we physically had to be in the space where the potential clients were. If I were starting an agency again, I’d do the exact same thing".

Clients assess agency partners in many ways but at the end of the day, you're selling your services to people. People are emotional and don't always make rational decisions. Some say, if you can't have a beer with the other person, you shouldn't be working with them.

I've found that the more you showcase your understanding of the clients business and their challenges, the better your chances of winning the work.

Its not always the most knowledgeable, most awarded or most creative team that wins a new business pitch - its usually the team that connects the best with the people in the room, has a deep understanding of the client's business and offers great solutions to fulfil their needs.

According to a 2019 study from WordStream which surveyed agency managers, the biggest challenge facing digital agencies was "getting new clients":

To directly address this challenge, when asked what the main source for acquiring new clients is, the most popular response was "client referrals":

This circular loop is key to developing a robust new business pipeline. Keeping clients happy and delivering outstanding work encourages them to speak about you in the industry and with their peers which opens the door to new work in future.

For online lead generation, you can't go past our Embeddable Audit Tool .  Simply add the code to your agency website and you'll be able to instantly offer your website visitors with a fully customizable instant website audit.

This is a powerful lead generation tool which can help you start the conversation with potential clients:

Managing a Digital Agency

As the agency grows, so too does the level of operational planning. Processes need to be implemented to manage the intricate workflow of multiple clients, multiple pieces of work and multiple resources.

Each week the management team typically plan the agency's capacity known as the capacity plan .

This is irrelevant for small agencies of 2 or 3 people but if your agency has, for example, 10 full-time employees who each work 40 hours per week, then the agency has 400 hours of weekly capacity that needs to be planned.

Each employee will have a percentage of time they can spend on client work (ie billable work) while the rest of their time will be spent on internal work (ie non-billable work) such as team meetings, brainstorming, new business development, team activities etc.

It will be your goal to ensure you get the balance right of allocating sufficient hours in the capacity planner to get the work done to a high quality whilst ensuring the project remains profitable for the agency by working backwards from the budget or monthly retainer and dividing by each allocated employees' hourly rate. This can be tricky!

For any billable hours business, its important to track capacity planned each week against actual hours spent. This requires all employees to maintain accurate timesheets detailing how much time they spent on each client and each project.

There are a number of digital timesheeting solutions but choosing one that's either part of or integrates with your payroll system is best for efficiency and reporting.

Timesheeting is so important but let's face it, employees don't enjoy doing it so some agencies have taken some harsh fun measures to ensure employees complete their timesheets each week.

Brazilian agency Casa has a fully-stocked fridge electronically locked to their timesheet system and only when everyone's timesheets are submitted does it unlock on Friday afternoon!

At the end of the week you can reconcile actual hours spent against the capacity plan. This reconciliation results in a productivity report which shows which of your staff are the most "productive" based on how much time they spent on billable hours.

Managing Agency Employees

Agency culture is certainly unique. While the stereotype of work hard, party hard millennials holds some truth in larger agencies; these days there's a lot more diversity and work-life balance.

In a services business driven by deadlines and performance, there are many opportunities for stress to build.

Because work is mostly of a creative nature, agencies attract extroverts and people with big egos. This pressurized environment can lead to a perfect storm of negative internal culture.

This manifests in the high churn rate of agency employees. In exit interviews staff typically mention the lack of balance, friction with colleagues or the feeling of stagnation as the main reasons for leaving.

Rachelle Denton, Co-Founder of The Storm Collective recounts her time working in agencies: 

"It was incredibly demanding in terms of the amount of hours. It wasn’t unusual to have people break down because of work. I had friends who are doctors, and they all kept saying that the way I work was a bit crazy."

Its management's job to maintain a health agency culture where employees enjoy coming to work and feel valued.

Several strategies agencies use to maintain or promote healthy work-life balance include:

• Team lunches
• Meeting-free mornings
• Retreats and social events
• Friday drinks
• Winter Mondays (late starts on Monday during Winter)
• 9-day fortnights
• Remote / flexible working or,
• Community service initiatives where staff leave the office for a day and work for their favorite charity or non-profit.

Building a sense of camaraderie and shared progress towards the agency's mission also contributes to a positive culture.

#officegoals - TBWA\Chiat\Day's Los Angeles office

Despite all this, sometimes there's little you can do about high staff churn.

With agency staff in high demand, skills shortages and agencies perpetually recruiting - this has reduced the available talent pool in many cities resulting in increased head-hunting which in turn fuels higher churn.

The Media Federation of Australia says the churn rate in Australian media agencies is rapidly approaching the 35% mark annually which is huge.

In fact, some agencies have lowered the bar of long service leave from 10 years to just 5 years, which is testament to the high churn rate issues in this industry. 

Paul Gumbinner, President of Gumbinner Co recommends agencies implement staff retention programs to incentivize employees to stay.

Recognition is essential too. Gumbinner says even a simple all-staff email can make all the difference in making people feel appreciated.

Attracting talent can be as difficult as retaining them. While some agencies work with recruiters, many go it alone and place job openings on LinkedIn and industry job boards.

Headhunting talent is another option and with new functionality in LinkedIn's Talent Solutions product, its easier to narrow down a potential list of candidates with the ability to filter people who are explicitly "open to job offers".

But at the end of the day Stephen Beck, Founder of EngineDigital says "Great talent requires meaningful work. The best agencies recognize that their people are their greatest asset, and keeping their team engaged through meaningful work remains a top priority.

Those agencies with a defined vision and set of principles focus on finding the right purpose-driven clients and projects that keep the agency team challenged and fulfilled".

Taking the Plunge

With all this in mind, it can be a bit daunting if you're at square one about to embark on your new venture.

Spare a thought for Mario Falchoni, founder of Retorix who launched his agency in April 2020 during the Coronavirus pandemic.

"Like everyone else, we watched the events of March unfold with growing unease.Crashing stock markets, exhaustion of monetary policy, ever-tightening social restrictions and rising global mortality.

The upshot of our deliberations? Ships are built to cross the oceans, not to sit safely in harbours. In the same way, strategists, communicators and brand builders thrive in a crisis.So, girding our loins and bound by our logic, we launched Retorix. It was also born into a recession".

Tin Rovic writes about building agencies from scratch outlined 7 points for agency owners that are just starting out:

https://twitter.com/tinrovic/status/1259090743433494529

The barriers to entry for starting an agency have been lowering as the digital industry has become increasingly fragmented.

In fact, one could say there's never been a better time to start a digital agency as more clients move their marketing activity and budgets to digital.

Start with SEOptimer's Digital Agency Lean Canvas and map out your target clients, your focus and how you'll generate leads.

While this model won't be set in stone it will give you a starting point. Register a domain, get a website live and start getting in front of potential clients. Don't forget you can also download this guide as a PDF too!

Tim's background is in digital marketing working for both large and small digital agencies and diverse client types. He has a passion for tech, software and staying up to date on the latest search engine news.

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Start a Digital Marketing Agency [Business Plan + Documents + 20 Templates]

If you're looking to start a digital marketing agency, you’ve come to the right place.

There are over 5 million new businesses started every year , and the need for digital marketing grows with each one.

While the demand for these services is soaring, success in digital marketing still requires a thorough understanding of both internal and external operations. 

That’s why our experts at Slam Media Lab (Slam) are breaking down the steps and strategies you’ll need to build, operate, and scale your agency. 

Founded during the pandemic and based in San Francisco , Slam has scaled to a $2M agency focused on Webflow , SEO , branding , and content marketing. 

This growth wasn’t magic; it was the product of consistent and effective strategies, which we’ll share in this guide.

While this article provides a comprehensive foundation for your agency, we’ve assembled an entire course dedicated to those looking to go the full nine yards.

In our How to Start an Agency course, you’ll find everything from how we got our first clients to ways to crush your sales process, arming you with the knowledge and resources needed to build a successful digital marketing agency.

Understanding the Types of Digital Marketing Agencies

Before you can offer your digital marketing services, it’s important to determine which types of digital marketing you’ll provide. 

While it’s possible to start a full-service digital marketing agency, building knowledge and authority across all types of digital marketing services will require a significant amount of time and resources. 

By selecting a specific service, you can diminish this learning curve, obtain better results, and establish credibility for your services. 

These services might include:

• PPC Advertising
• Social Media Marketing
• Search Engine Optimization
• Content Marketing
• Influencer Marketing
• Email Marketing

To determine which service you’ll offer, consider your skill set and interests, as well as any relevant work experience. In our How to Start an Agency course, we break down the various service types to help you make this distinction. 

Using this resource, take some time to identify a service that you find interesting and start learning everything you can about your specific field. To further expedite your growth, you should also focus on and pick a niche, which we’ll dive into later in the article.

Once you've determined your service, you can move onto the next step: the legal foundation.

Starting a Digital Marketing Agency Legally

Before you can onboard clients and send invoices, you’ll need to consider your legal structure. In the U.S., some of the most common business structures for new agencies include:

• Sole Proprietorship
• Limited Liability Company (LLC)
• S-Corporation

A sole proprietorship requires no legal registration, but also provides no legal distinction between the owner and business, often causing issues with record keeping and liability due to the lack of separation between personal and business liability.

To open a business bank account and keep accurate records, you’ll need to establish a formal business entity like an LLC or S-Corporation. For new digital marketing agencies, an LLC is often the go-to structure due to the low cost and separation of business and personal liability. 

As you scale, you might consider transitioning to an S-Corporation , which could help you save on taxes by paying yourself as an employee.

Once your formation documents have been approved, you’ll need to apply for an employer identification number (EIN) . This number is essentially your agency’s social security number, allowing you to open a business account at nearly any credit union.

Business bank accounts allow you to separate personal and business transactions, aiding in tax reporting and liability distinction. By setting up your account before providing services, you can establish a secure foundation of record keeping with your personal and business assets separated.

With your legal and financial foundation in place, you can then move on to building, operating, and scaling your digital marketing agency.

7 Steps to Start a Digital Marketing Agency

Once your agency is recognized legally, you can begin getting recognized by clients. In this section, we’ll break down how to do this in 7 steps:

Identifying Your Target Client

• Determining Your Services & Pricing

Establishing Your Operational Processes

Acquiring clients for your agency, establishing a strong online presence, getting recognized with seo.

• Expanding Your Network and Audience 

Just like when selecting a specific service, identifying a target client will make it much easier to build knowledge and authority in your niche.

Through targeting a specific type of business, you can develop an understanding of their unique challenges and goals, which would be nearly impossible when serving all industries. 

By identifying these challenges and goals, you can craft marketing material and sales strategies that resonate with your target client. 

For example, an HVAC company and an athleisure brand face completely different struggles on a day-to-day basis. By crafting each message to speak directly to your desired client, you can ensure your content resonates with their experiences.

Beyond the benefits of targeted copywriting, serving a specific client makes it much easier to get involved with groups in the industry.

Instead of joining groups like “US Business Owners,” which are crowded by competing marketing agencies, you can join specific groups, such as “Gym Owners in Arizona.” While targeted groups have far fewer members, it’s much easier to establish yourself as an expert and become the go-to agency for that group’s members.

Whether it’s through valuable posts or insightful messages, understanding and connecting with your target client allows you to expedite your growth and boost your niche authority. 

In the How to Start an Agency masterclass, we’ll share everything you need to know to identify the optimal target persona for your digital marketing agency.

Determining Your Pricing Structure

With your service and target client in mind, the next step is to determine your pricing structure. In most cases, pricing structures fall under one or more of the following:

• Project: The price is calculated using a predetermined formula. To determine the price, estimate the total project costs, including labor, and add a margin to protect profits.
• Performance: The payment is determined by your results. This method can be unpredictable, but it is often effective for high-performing agencies. 
• Time: The total price is based on an agreed-upon hourly amount. This structure ensures the project covers your labor cost, but it is often unfavorable for large-scale projects.

By using the same pricing structure for each client, you can simplify your quotation process, improve your financial analytics, and ensure a consistent profit margin. 

However, there’s a lot more to consider than just the structure when pricing your services. Knowing this, we’ve dedicated an entire module of the How to Start an Agency course to breaking down how to find the perfect price for your services. 

With your target client and service pricing in place, you can begin onboarding your first clients. To do this, you can employ a wide variety of strategies, which you’ll also find in the How to Start an Agency course. 

However, the foundation of client acquisition is quite simple. To get your first clients, you’ll need to do the following:

• Establishing a strong online presence
• Developing a valuable content strategy
• Expanding your network and audience.

When clients are searching for a digital marketing agency, first impressions are everything. Because of this, it’s important to build a website and establish social profiles, providing relevant value to attract and engage your target client.

To build your website, some of the best website design tools include:

• Webflow (Our favorite at Slam!)
• Squarespace

It’s also helpful to establish a presence on other platforms to maximize your reach, whether it’s your Google Business profile, Clutch listing, or a local directory.

Once you’ve established your agency online, you’ll need to provide relevant value to rank, engage, and convert. 

To do this, you’ll need to understand and employ SEO strategies while designing and managing your website. This includes everything from researching and implementing specific keywords to building authority within search engines.

In Slam’s How to Start and Grow an Agency course, we break down our exact processes to design an SEO content strategy for your marketing agency.

In our resources section, you’ll also find a wealth of additional tools and templates to help you with everything from organization to optimization.

Developing a Valuable Content Strategy

To develop this strong online presence, you’ll need to employ a comprehensive content strategy. 

These strategies might include sharing informative blog articles, social media guides, and eventually, testimonials from clients who’ve found success with your services. 

Through sharing this content, you’ll establish credibility at the first touch point, saving you the hassle of proving your worth during the sales process.

To define your agency’s content strategy, implement the following 5-step process:

• Establish your brand strategy and identity
• Determine which platforms you’ll focus on
• List your target audience’s questions and challenges
• Create content for each of these queries
• Schedule and share content consistently

By implementing these steps, you’ll develop a targeted audience and position yourself as the marketing expert in their industry. A comprehensive content writing strategy also helps you expand your reach. 

When Google, or your social media platform, recognizes that you consistently provide valuable content that your target audience engages with, you’ll gain authority among both your audience and your marketing platform.

This means your content will be shown to more users, providing targeted and organic leads for your digital marketing agency.

Expanding Your Network and Audience

While inbound strategies will help you develop a consistent flow of targeted leads, proactively expanding your network will often be the quickest way to find your first clients.

By providing value to your target client and connecting with them on platforms like LinkedIn, you’ll be able to rapidly expand your network and audience.  

Networking may also include attending local events, engaging in relevant groups, or connecting directly with business owners. 

A comprehensive network will continue to provide value, often serving as the lead source of referrals for agencies. In the How to Start an Agency Masterclass, we’ll uncover Slam’s cold outreach and content strategies, allowing you to turn your LinkedIn profile into a lead-generating machine.

A scalable agency is founded on clear operations. By establishing these processes early on, you'll mitigate the growing pains that often come with a rapidly expanding client base. 

As your client base grows and you begin to hire employees, these processes will serve as a benchmark to ensure your agency retains quality at scale. 

While these processes can outline any aspect of your agency’s conduct, some of the most critical include client onboarding, communication, and project management.

Client Onboarding

From your first client interaction to establishing service terms, a consistent agency onboarding process allows you to easily identify what works and what doesn’t.

In your client onboarding operations, the basic framework includes:

• Identify client needs and goals
• Tailor an effective solution
• Agree on pricing and deliverables

Each of these operational processes should contain specific information detailing how you interact with the client at this stage . As more and more clients go through your set processes, you’ll be able to effectively collect data on where sales are lost, allowing you to continuously optimize your operations.

Communication

After the sale, communication is still a key factor in retaining clients and optimizing internal operations. An effective communication process will outline the means of communication, as well as the necessary client touch points.

For example, you might mandate that your team reach out to each client on a weekly basis to discuss challenges and opportunities. By doing so, you’ll establish a stronger relationship with your client, increasing the customer lifetime value .

These communications can go through a number of channels, such as:

While email is often sufficient for new agencies, software like Slack and Discord provide a plethora of tools, designed to streamline communication both internally and externally.

Project Management

Once you’ve onboarded your clients and established clear communication guidelines, the next key consideration is how you’ll manage your projects. 

As your client base grows, you’ll need to integrate clear guidelines detailing the organization and management of each project. This ensures that your services are scalable and that your service quality is not hindered by a surplus of clients.

For project management, you’ll likely seek one of the following tools:

• Google Sheets

By managing your projects with these tools, you can track your deliverables and deadlines, ensuring each project is on-schedule. At Slam, we use Notion to organize client accounts, project timelines, meeting notes, and any important information for a project. 

To help you format your Notion account, we’ve also developed a Notion document template to help ensure your agency remains on-task and on-time.

Financial Accounting

The final key operation is accounting. To start and scale a digital marketing agency, you must have a clear understanding of your finances, including monetary key performance indicators (KPIs) and accounting processes.

By monitoring your marketing agency KPIs , such as cost per acquisition, profit margins, and average lifetime value, you can optimize your finances and ensure your agency’s pricing is profitable and scalable.

To track and optimize your finances, the following tools are often used:

Starting off, Stripe is often the go-to solution for transactions and analysis, which can be supplemented with additional data through customized spreadsheets on Google Sheets. 

As you scale, you’ll likely seek a more comprehensive solution, like QuickBooks or Xero, to effectively monitor and analyze higher volumes of transactions.

Ready to Start a Digital Marketing Agency with Slam?

With this article, you’re well equipped to begin your journey into reaching these clients. However, this is just the foundation. 

If you’re serious about building a 7-figure digital marketing agency like Slam, you’ll need to invest time and resources into understanding each aspect of your business and services.

Fortunately, you don’t have to look too far. We’ve compiled everything we’ve learned from scaling Slam Media Lab in our How to Start an Agency Masterclass.

Each module breaks down a critical step in building a successful marketing agency, sharing over 20 agency tools, templates, and 10 hours of guides throughout the course.

• Blueprint to creating your agency
• My Journey (Slam’s Origin Story)
• The role of an agency CEO
• The company setup
• Finding your niche
• How to get your first clients
• Setting up services & pricing
• Crafting a winning proposal

Through hard work, consistency, and the implementation of these strategies, you can build, operate, and scale a digital marketing agency with confidence.

Liked this? Check out our specific guides for your agency type!

• How to Start a Content Marketing Agency 
• How to Start a Creative Agency 
• How to Start a Facebook Ad Industry 
• How to Start a PR Agency 
• How to Start a Google Ads Agency
• How to Start an SEO Agency  
• How to Start a Social Media Marketing Agency
• How to start an Email Marketing Agency
• How to grow a Digital Marketing Agency

Join our email list to be the first to know about exciting launches, new products, and tools to help you and your team grow online.

Slam Media Lab is an award-winning digital agency hyper-focused on SEO, web design, content marketing, and brand design. We help impact organizations shaping the future win online through conversion-driven design.

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How to Start a Digital Marketing Business and Immediately Win Clients [2024 Guide]

Every business needs digital marketing! Discover how to start a digital marketing business from scratch by following these helpful tips.

How to Start a SMMA Agency [10+ Resources & Course]

Discover how to start a SMMA agency with Slam's comprehensive course and resource guide. Launch your agency in 2024 with expert insights and tools.

How to Start a Business on Social Media and Earn a Full-Time Salary with Just Your Phone

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Digital marketing agency business plan template + PDF

This guide introduces a cutting-edge AI Business Plan Generator template, specifically designed for entrepreneurs aiming to kick-start or enhance their marketing agency business. It is important to note that the names and financial forecasts provided in this example are entirely fictional, serving merely to demonstrate the strategic planning process. These examples are meticulously crafted to illustrate how you can adapt your own AI-generated Marketing Agency Business Plan to overcome specific challenges and capitalize on the opportunities within your marketing agency venture.

For effortless customization, we offer a "Marketing Agency Business Plan PDF" for download. This document is crucial for entrepreneurs dedicated to devising a persuasive and effective strategy for launching or scaling their marketing agency. The 'AI Business Plan Generator' acts as an exhaustive resource, delivering deep insights into the marketing agency industry. It provides you with the indispensable tools for proficiently managing and growing your marketing agency business, leveraging AI for optimal strategic planning.

Marketing agency business plan

How this marketing agency business plan template was created.

Create your customized marketing agency business plan seamlessly with our AI Business Plan Generator. Simply click 'Generate your business plan' and answer a series of specific questions related to your marketing agency project. Our sophisticated AI technology will evaluate your responses to develop a business plan that aligns precisely with your marketing agency's objectives and requirements. This efficient and swift process typically concludes in just 5-10 minutes, yielding a comprehensive and structured plan. Our platform enables you to tailor and fine-tune your plan, ensuring it accurately mirrors your distinct vision for your marketing agency. Once finished, your plan is ready for download, offering a clear and direct guide for initiating and growing your marketing agency. Utilize our AI business plan generator, tailor-made for marketing agency ventures, to bolster your strategic planning.

Generate your custom marketing agency business plan in minutes!

Digital marketing agency business plan template, executive summary, business description, market research and analysis, swot analysis.

• Organizational Structure and Management Team

Products or Services

Marketing and sales strategy, operations plan, financial projections, risk analysis.

CreativeWave Marketing Agency, headquartered in San Francisco, California, is a burgeoning entity within the expansive marketing industry—a sector that is not only substantial in size but also pivotal for businesses seeking to navigate the transformative landscape of consumer engagement. This agency prides itself on a comprehensive suite of services that empowers small to medium-sized businesses to amplify their brand narrative, connect with their audience effectively, and elevate their commercial success through strategic marketing initiatives.

At the heart of CreativeWave resides a spirited team of seasoned professionals, each a connoisseur in their respective field. Led by Ava Johnson, our CEO with an MBA in Marketing and a prestigious tenure at Fortune 500 companies, the company has erected a bedrock of innovation and strategic acumen. Together with Michael Chen, the Creative Director with a BFA in Graphic Design, Luis Rodriguez, the strategist wielding a Master's in Market Research, Emma Wilson, the Director of Client Services with a Public Relations background, and Jake Patel, the CTO engulfed in the tech landscape, our agency’s leadership is marked by a collusive blend of expertise, creativity, and forward thinking.

CreativeWave is a formidable incubator of cutting-edge marketing solutions, including Brand Strategy, SEO/SEM, Pay-Per-Click Advertising, and more, tailored to the distinct needs of our clientele—our services are not mere tools of trade but artisan crafts that embody the bespoke uniqueness each client demands. With the utilization of these services, our clients have felt the significant impact of sustained growth, with CreativeWave propelling them towards achieving remarkable returns on their marketing investments.

The strength of CreativeWave lies in our adaptability—a business trait that is not just advantageous but necessary in a field characterized by its rapid technological developments and evolving best practices. We are uniquely positioned for growth due to our focus on ROI-driven campaigns and exceptional client servicing. This is evidenced by our robust financial projections, iterating a sales growth rate of 20% in the initial years, with the aim to expand net margins from 25% to 30% within the next five years. These projections have been calibrated with conservative estimations and backed by a business strategy balanced between ambition and financial prudence.

Understanding that our industry is not without its vicissitudes, our operations plan has been meticulously formulated to embrace flexibility and precision. We've invested in a modern office space stacked with top-tier technology, designed to incite collaboration and creativity. Our risk analysis signifies a commitment to vigilance and preparedness, navigating potential market fluctuations, operational challenges, and financial ambiguities with calculated foresight.

Our marketing and sales strategy harnesses an array of channels—both digital and interpersonal—to not only attract new clients but also to steward their journeys from prospects to partners. We have implemented a value-based pricing model to ensure our services are accessible yet reflective of their intrinsic worth. Supplementing this model is our acute focus on high-caliber customer service policies that exemplify our dedication to client satisfaction and retention.

CreativeWave's legal structure as an LLC in California lends us the flexibility required to streamline our growth trajectory. We've engaged with a diverse set of external advisors and consultants to perpetuate our standard of excellence whilst continuously learning and adapting.

In conclusion, CreativeWave Marketing Agency stands as an emblem of innovation, strategy, and client dedication in the competitive marketing domain. Our comprehensive business plan captures the essence of where we are, where we're headed, and how we plan to reach new zeniths of success, fortified by an ethos of continuous improvement and an undying zeal for our clients' triumphs.

Digital marketing agency business plan

CreativeWave Marketing Agency, strategically positioned in the dynamic and innovation-driven city of San Francisco, California, operates within the fast-paced and ever-evolving marketing industry. Our agency's aim is to offer cutting-edge marketing services tailored to small and medium-sized businesses that are hungry for growth and keen to make a lasting impression in their respective markets. We specialize in creating bespoke marketing strategies that not only underscore the unique selling points of our clients but also establish long-standing relationships with their customers.

The marketing industry, centered around understanding and influencing consumer behavior, has undergone radical changes in recent years, largely due to the explosive growth of digital platforms and the subsequent shift in consumer engagement. CreativeWave has embraced these changes, positioning itself at the forefront of digital trends and technological advancements, allowing it to navigate the complexities of the digital landscape with fines and agility.

Founded in the year 2015 by a group of passionate marketing professionals and visionaries, CreativeWave was born out of the recognition of a growing need for marketing services that seamlessly integrate traditional marketing principles with innovative digital techniques. The primary purpose of the agency was to bridge the gap for those businesses that had fallen behind due to the digital revolution, and to catapult them into the limelight using effective, data-driven marketing methods.

Our mission is to serve as the lighthouse for businesses adrift in the competitive sea of digital marketing. We aim to illuminate the path to success for our clients by providing them with unparalleled expertise, cutting-edge solutions, and a relentless commitment to achieving measurable results. We are dedicated to empowering our clients to not only thrive but to lead within their industries.

CreativeWave is formally established as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in California, offering the founders the advantage of reduced personal risks associated with the liabilities of the business operations, the tax advantages of a partnership, and the structural flexibility necessary for fast-paced growth. This legal structure also supports the Agency in attracting investment and high-caliber talent by delineating clear lines of responsibility and reward.

Looking ahead, CreativeWave Marketing Agency harbors strong ambitions. The long-term potential of the business is anchored in several core areas: the exponential expansion of the digital economy, the customization of marketing due to big data and analytics, the rising importance of brand storytelling, and the continuous necessity for businesses to differentiate themselves within saturated markets. As we reinforce our presence in these essential facets of marketing, our aim is to become an indispensable partner to our clients, guiding them through the shifting landscapes of consumer interaction and brand development.

Our vision extends to becoming an incubator for marketing innovation, fostering a strong in-house think tank, and incubating new techniques that will define the future of marketing. Additionally, we are determined to expand our footprint beyond the local market, aspiring to establish connections and serve clients on a global scale.

In summary, CreativeWave Marketing Agency stands as a beacon of innovation and strategic excellence in the marketing realm. With our blend of creative talent, strategic insight, and a solid understanding of the digital arena, we are well-positioned to navigate through the industry's challenges and capitalize on its myriad opportunities, driving us and our clients towards a thriving future.

The marketing industry is a dynamic and integral part of the global economy, shaped by continuous innovation and driven by the necessity to adapt to changing consumer behavior. In recent years, industry trends have largely gravitated towards digital marketing, with a strong emphasis on social media engagement, search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing, and data-driven decision-making. The global marketing industry is substantial, with current estimates projecting its size to exceed $1.3 trillion by the end of the year, demonstrating a resilient growth rate despite economic uncertainties.

CreativeWave Marketing Agency is strategically taking advantage of these trends, notably the digital shift that has businesses seeking expertise in navigating the online marketplace. The growth rate in the digital marketing sector specifically is surging, with annual growth rates averaging around 11%, signaling a significant potential for agencies equipped with the right tools and talent.

Our target market comprises small to medium-sized businesses across diverse industries, ranging from startups to more established companies looking to revamp their marketing strategies. These businesses typically possess annual revenues between $1 million and $50 million. Within this demographic, our most significant growth potential lies with businesses that have recognized the importance of digital marketing but lack the in-house expertise to implement effective strategies.

The needs and demands of the market are clear: businesses are looking for comprehensive, integrated marketing solutions that can be measured and analyzed for effectiveness. There is a high demand for ROI-focused campaigns, strong branding, tailored content creation, and a cohesive omnichannel marketing approach. Furthermore, companies are seeking partners who can offer insights into customer behaviors, market penetration strategies, and competitive analysis.

Within these demands, market trends and patterns are leaning towards automation, personalization, and a mobile-first approach. Engagement through video content, influencer partnerships, and interactive user experiences are becoming increasingly significant, while AI and machine learning are emerging as game changers in customer data analysis.

Competitor analysis reveals that established marketing agencies with strong reputations and extensive portfolios dominate a significant market share, presenting formidable competition. Their strengths lie in their brand credibility, comprehensive service offerings, and resources to undertake large-scale campaigns. However, these larger entities may sometimes lack the agility and personalized customer service that smaller businesses seek. Their weaknesses can be slower adoption of innovative practices and less attention to smaller accounts. CreativeWave Marketing Agency finds its competitive edge by capitalizing on these gaps, providing agile, tailored services and fostering strong client relationships.

Potential barriers to entry in the marketing industry are noteworthy. The high level of expertise required to deliver effective marketing services ensures a steep learning curve for new entrants. Additionally, building a brand reputation and a robust portfolio to compete with established agencies requires significant time and investment. Marketing is a relationship-driven industry, and thus, trust and demonstrated success are integral to acquiring and retaining clients. Evolving technological advancements also pose a constant challenge, requiring ongoing training and investment in tools to stay current and competitive.

In light of these factors, CreativeWave's market research and analysis recognize the considerable opportunity within the marketing industry for an agency that is nimble, innovative, and client-centric. By addressing the market's current needs, staying ahead of trends, and understanding the competitive landscape, CreativeWave Marketing Agency is positioned to carve out a significant market share and achieve sustained growth in the industry.

Digital agency business plan

Organizational structure and management.

CreativeWave Marketing Agency boasts a flat and flexible organizational structure, designed to foster collaboration, communication, and innovation. At the apex of the hierarchy stands the CEO, who oversees the overall operation and strategic direction of the company. Line managers serve as heads of individual departments, including Strategy, Creative, Client Services, Technology, and Market Research. These departments operate interconnectedly with teams that are assembled project-wise, ensuring dynamic exchange of expertise for bespoke marketing solutions.

The management team of CreativeWave is composed of a group of experienced professionals with diverse backgrounds. CEO Ava Johnson has an MBA in Marketing and brings invaluable leadership experience from her previous tenure at Fortune 500 companies. Her leadership style promotes creativity and data-driven decision-making across the agency's operations.

Creative Director Michael Chen, with his BFA in Graphic Design and a decade of experience, leads a talented team of designers, copywriters, and multimedia specialists. His vision shapes our creative output, ensuring it resonates with client objectives and market trends.

Luis Rodriguez, as Head of Strategy, has a Master's in Market Research and uses his analytical skills to craft targeted marketing strategies. With his crew, Luis ensures our campaigns are both innovative and effective in their approach to market challenges.

Director of Client Services Emma Wilson is in charge of managing client relationships and portfolios. Her strong background in communication and public relations has greatly contributed to our high client retention rates.

As Chief Technology Officer, Jake Patel oversees the digital infrastructure of the agency. With a Master's in Computer Science, he understands the intricate needs of a marketing company in the digital era and ensures that our technological resources are cutting-edge and reliable.

Currently, the staffing needs consist of a blend of full-time employees and specialized contractors, which provides operational flexibility and expertise on demand. As CreativeWave looks to the future, the aim is to expand our full-time staff, particularly in the areas of digital advertising, data analytics, and client account management, in line with anticipated growth.

CreativeWave's human resources policies center around an inclusive and employee-focused culture. We believe in continuous professional development and therefore offer regular training sessions, workshops, and educational reimbursements. Given the nature of our industry, a work-life balance is encouraged with flexible work hours, the opportunity for remote work, and an open-door policy for addressing work concerns.

To ensure that we remain on the forefront of industry standards and technological advancements, we engage with external advisors and consultants in specialized areas such as international marketing laws, advanced analytics, and emerging digital advertising platforms. They provide critical insights and recommendations that allow our team to make informed decisions and maintain an edge over competitors.

In summary, the organizational structure and management style of CreativeWave Marketing Agency are shaped with the intention of maintaining a nimble and adaptive business capable of leading in the competitive marketing industry. Our strategic investment in human capital, both in nurturing internal talent and in seeking external expertise, is aligned with our long-term business objectives of expansion and innovation. Our collaborative culture not only fuels our creative approach to marketing but also ensures that we attract and retain top industry talent.

Marketing agency business plan template

CreativeWave Marketing Agency offers a comprehensive suite of marketing services designed to bridge the gap between businesses and their potential customers through strategic communication and cutting-edge digital tactics. Our service offerings are constructed to cater to the nuanced needs of small to medium-sized businesses in a diverse range of industries seeking to enhance their brand presence, engage effectively with their audiences, and drive tangible sales results.

Our product and service lineup is extensive and includes Brand Strategy, Social Media Management, SEO and SEM Services, Content Creation, Email Marketing, Pay-Per-Click Advertising, Market Research and Analysis, and Website Design and Development. Each service is delivered with a customized approach that aligns with the client’s specific objectives, brand voice, and target market demographics.

The unique selling points of CreativeWave rest in our ability to integrate these services cohesively to form a unified marketing front. Moreover, our data-driven strategies are designed to not only captivate the target audience but are also structured for traceable ROI - a competitive advantage that allows our clients to clearly observe the efficacy of their marketing expenditures. CreativeWave’s agility to adapt and grow within the ever-shifting landscape of digital marketing, coupled with our emphasis on personal client relationships, forms the bedrock of our competitive edge.

Currently, our services are fully operational and consistently evolving to incorporate the latest industry trends and technologies. Future plans involve investing in AI-driven market analysis tools and expanding our capabilities in voice search optimization and programmatic advertising—frontiers poised for substantial growth.

In terms of intellectual property status, CreativeWave is vigilant in protecting its brand and the unique methodologies it employs. While our service offerings, as standard within the industry, cannot be patented, we safeguard our original content, branded materials, and proprietary tools under copyright and trademark laws. Names of unique processes and designs are trademarked to secure brand distinction.

To deliver our various services, the production process involves a collaborative workflow that synchronizes the multi-disciplinary expertise of our team members. For a service like Website Design and Development, this begins with market research, followed by strategizing and wireframing by the Strategy team, actual design work by the Creative team, and coding by the Development team, with continuous Client Service team input for client feedback integration.

Supplier information is relevant to services like Content Creation and Social Media Management, where we occasionally outsource specific tasks to trusted freelance creative professionals and production facilities to ensure that the final deliverables meet high-quality standards within an efficient timeframe. These partnerships are chosen based on a rigorous vetting process and a proven track record of reliability and excellence.

In summary, the suite of products and services offered by CreativeWave Marketing Agency is comprehensive, contemporary, and customized to meet and exceed our clients’ unique marketing goals. We pride ourselves on being at the vanguard of marketing innovation, bringing unparalleled value to our clients' investments through our services. Our plans for growth and development are ambitious and reflective of our commitment to staying ahead in the face of a rapidly evolving industry, securing our place as a thought leader and trusted marketing partner for our clients.

CreativeWave Marketing Agency employs a comprehensive marketing strategy that leverages both traditional and digital marketing channels to promote our services. Our approach revolves around key positioning as a boutique agency that combines the personal touch of a smaller firm with the expertise and results-driven focus of a larger corporation. Through a mix of content marketing, thought leadership, targeted online advertising, and strategic partnerships, we aim to reach potential clients precisely at their point of need.

Our content marketing strategy includes publishing insightful articles, whitepapers, and case studies showcasing our knowledge and successful client outcomes. This will be complemented by speaking engagements at industry conferences and webinars to establish thought leadership. We will utilize targeted online advert campaigns on platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Google to reach businesses actively seeking marketing services. Strategic partnerships with complementary service providers, like web hosting companies and business consultants, will help cross-promote our offerings to a larger audience.

For our sales strategy, we maintain a dedicated team trained in solution selling to understand each prospective client's unique challenges and align our service offerings to meet their goals effectively. Our sales tactics pivot upon building relationships and offering tailored consultations, leveraging CRM tools to nurture leads through the sales funnel. The sales team will engage in direct outreach activities, such as networking events, trade shows, and local business meet-ups, bolstering our visibility and forging personal connections with potential clients.

CreativeWave's pricing strategy is centered around value-based pricing. We understand that each client comes with a unique set of expectations and budget limitations. Prices for our services are therefore determined following a thorough analysis of the client’s requirements, the scope of work, and the anticipated ROI, allowing us to offer competitive yet profitable rates. Package deals and retainer-based services are also available to provide cost-effective solutions for long-term clients.

Distribution channels for our services are primarily direct-to-consumer through our business development team. Engagements typically begin with an in-depth discovery meeting, either in person or virtually, allowing us to best align with our clients’ needs. Our website serves as a vital tool for distributing content, capturing leads, and providing information on our services, with SEO strategies in place to ensure high visibility to those seeking marketing assistance.

Our promotion and advertising plans are multifaceted, including targeted digital campaigns, event sponsorships, and an assertive public relations approach to secure media coverage. We actively participate and contribute to industry blogs and forums to continually engage with the community and keep CreativeWave top of mind.

At CreativeWave, we understand that exceptional customer service is pivotal in retaining clients and fostering word-of-mouth business. Our customer service policies involve responsive communication, regular reporting, and feedback systems to measure client satisfaction and service quality. We offer a flexible approach to account management, with each client having a dedicated point of contact available to address any concerns or adapt strategies as business needs evolve.

This comprehensive marketing and sales strategy is designed to attract and retain our target clients effectively. It integrates our strengths in industry knowledge, positions our extensive range of services in the marketplace, and emphasizes the importance of building long-term client relationships grounded in exceptional service and impressive results.

Business plan for marketing agency

CreativeWave Marketing Agency’s operations plan has been meticulously designed to support the efficient and effective delivery of top-tier marketing services. The operational workflow is geared towards preciseness, efficacy, and adaptability to cater to our clients' evolving marketing needs.

Daily operations begin with departmental briefings to synchronize on project statuses, client feedback, and deadline management. Cross-functional teams are essential to our workflow, with strategists, creatives, and technologists collaborating regularly. This holistic approach allows us to pivot quickly and ensures that every piece of content, campaign, or strategic plan is cohesive and aligns with the clients’ objectives.

Our service delivery processes are client-centric and follow a structured path from onboarding to completion. Initially, a comprehensive intake assessment gathers all necessary information about the client’s business, competitors, and market positioning. The strategic planning team then churns this information to craft tailored marketing strategies, which are implemented by the respective service delivery teams.

Quality control measures are imposed at every stage of our service delivery. We employ regular internal reviews and utilize a range of performance metrics to ensure the highest standards are met. All outputs are assessed against client requirements and industry best practices before client presentations. Post-delivery, we solicit client feedback to identify areas for improvement and ensure their satisfaction.

Inventory management does not form a typical part of operations for a marketing agency. However, CreativeWave maintains a catalog of digital assets, content inventory, and promotional materials used across client projects. A digital asset management system is in place to organize, store, and retrieve these assets efficiently, ensuring they are readily accessible to all team members and that their usage is tracked for licensing and copyright purposes.

Supply chain management is crucial for CreativeWave, particularly regarding our partnerships with external vendors and freelancers who augment our service provision. We manage these relationships stringently to ensure quality, punctuality, and confidentiality. Vendor performance is monitored and reviewed regularly to maintain a reliable network of partners who meet our high service delivery expectations.

CreativeWave's facilities and equipment needs are centered around a conducive work environment conducive to creativity and productivity. Our main workspace is a modern open-concept office designed to encourage collaboration, with meeting rooms equipped for presentations and client meetings. Cutting-edge computers, industry-standard software suites, and project management tools are integral to our operation. The agency also invests in high-speed internet and cybersecurity measures to maintain robustness in our digital operations and client data protection.

In anticipation of growth and as part of our commitment to sustainability, we are also incorporating remote work capabilities into our operational plan. This shift not only supports our staff in maintaining a healthy work-life balance but also reduces overhead costs and carbon footprint.

In summary, CreativeWave Marketing Agency's operations plan is carefully crafted to uphold the highest service quality while ensuring efficient and seamless delivery. Our workflow and processes foster accountability, excellence, and responsiveness, which are hallmarks of our service and pillars on which our reputation is built. Our facilities and technology infrastructure enable our talent to produce their best work and drive our mission of helping our clients succeed in the ever-changing digital landscape.

CreativeWave Marketing Agency's financial projections are grounded in a comprehensive analysis of our historical performance, current market trends, and strategic positioning within the marketing industry. They reflect a forward-looking vision aimed at scaling operations and maximizing profitability.

Sales Forecast

Our sales forecast for the next five years is optimistic, based on the expansion of digital marketing services demand and the strategic initiatives to capture a broader share of the market. Year-over-year, we project a sales growth rate of 20% for the first two years, with a subsequent 15% growth in the following years as the company matures and the rate of acquiring new contracts normalizes.

Profit and Loss Projection

The profit and loss projection indicates that CreativeWave will maintain a steadily improving net margin. Given our scalable operational model, the majority of our costs are variable and linked directly to service delivery, keeping fixed costs relatively stable. We anticipate increasing staff and marketing expenses as we grow, but these will be outpaced by revenue growth, resulting in a higher net profit margin. We project a net profit margin of 25% in year one, with an aim to expand this to 30% by year five through strict cost management and service optimization.

Cash Flow Projection

Cash flow is the lifeline of our operations, and as such, we are projecting cash flows to be positive and increase annually. We will tighten receivables collection, elongate payables without deteriorating relationships with suppliers, and manage our expenditure prudently to ensure a robust cash position. We anticipate a significant reinvestment of cash generated to support business growth and infrastructure development.

Balance Sheet Projection

Assets on our balance sheet are projected to grow in line with our sales forecasts. Investments in technology and software will increase our fixed assets, while keeping liquidity solid through prudent management of current assets. Liabilities such as accounts payable will also reflect our controlled growth strategy. We aim to retain equity as the prominent source of our balance sheet strength, reaffirming our commitment to financial stability.

Break-even Analysis

Our break-even analysis indicates that CreativeWave will reach its break-even point within the first year of operation. As we keep fixed costs relatively stable and our variable costs scale with service delivery, the break-even point will remain a critical indicator of our financial health and guide pricing strategies and sales targets.

Financial Assumptions and Considerations

The financial projections are based on several key assumptions. We assume economic stability will support the current growth rates in the marketing industry, and that there will be no significant disruption to the digital platforms which constitute our primary service channels. The projections also consider the increasing competition in the industry and our continuing investment in marketing and sales to secure new clients.

All revenue projections are based on contracts already secured and a conservative estimate of new business, which is calculated based on historical conversion rates of proposals to sales. Our model also assumes an annual client retention rate of 85%, thanks to our exceptional client service and results-driven approach.

Given the fluid nature of the marketing industry, we have accounted for potential fluctuations in demand and economic conditions by maintaining a strong cash reserve. This will mitigate risks associated with the variability in client marketing budgets and safeguard against unforeseen events or market shifts.

CreativeWave's financial planning is optimized for resilience and growth, ensuring that we remain financially robust, capable of reinvestment, and strategically agile in the face of the industry's dynamic nature. Our financially informed strategies signify a prudent approach to long-term success, capitalizing on opportunities, and navigating challenges.

Marketing agency business plan example

To ensure the long-term stability and success of CreativeWave Marketing Agency, it is essential to thoroughly assess potential risks that could impact the business. The risk analysis conducted breaks down into market, operational, financial, and other risk categories, and outlines strategies to mitigate these risks, along with comprehensive contingency plans.

Market Risks

Market risks include fluctuations in demand for marketing services due to economic downturns, changes in digital marketing platforms' policies, and evolving consumer behaviors. To mitigate these risks, CreativeWave intends to diversify its customer base across various industries and continuously evolve its service offerings to adapt to market changes. We will also invest in market research to stay ahead of trends and adjust our strategies proactively.

Operational Risks

Operational risks at CreativeWave stem from potential issues such as data breaches, loss of key personnel, and failure or delays in project delivery. Our mitigation strategies include implementing robust cybersecurity measures and a comprehensive IT policy, instituting a talent retention program with competitive benefits and professional development opportunities, and incorporating project management methodologies that emphasize efficiency and risk management into our processes. Regular training and cross-training of staff will also ensure service continuity.

Financial Risks

Financial risks revolve around cash flow issues, unexpected increases in operational costs, and potential loss of clients which would impact revenue. To combat these risks, CreativeWave maintains a strict financial control system with regular reviews and real-time reporting. A reserve fund has been established to manage cash flow fluctuations, and variable costs are carefully managed to scale with the business. Rigorous credit control procedures ensure timely client payments, and diversified revenue streams reduce the dependency on any single client.

Legal and Compliance Risks

Legal and compliance risks are related to changes in advertising regulations, intellectual property disputes, and contract liabilities. To mitigate these, CreativeWave entrusts compliance to a dedicated legal team that keeps abreast of all relevant regulations and ensures that we adhere fully. We also employ comprehensive contracts with clients, freelancers, and partners to protect our work and maintain clear terms of engagement.

Insurance Considerations

Appropriate insurance policies are integral to our risk management strategy. CreativeWave has acquired general liability insurance, professional indemnity insurance, cyber liability insurance, and property insurance, providing broad coverage against various business risks. This coverage is regularly reviewed and adjusted to reflect the changing scale and scope of our operations.

Contingency Plans

Our contingency plans include strategies for swift responses to different kinds of risk. In case of a significant downturn in the market, CreativeWave is prepared to pivot marketing services towards in-demand sectors. Should key personnel leave, a succession plan is in place to promote from within and minimize disruption. Financial contingency plans include a line of credit to manage short-term cash flow issues and investment in liquid assets.

Risk Analysis Follow-up

To maintain relevance and effectiveness, this risk analysis, along with corresponding mitigation strategies and contingency plans, will be reviewed and updated regularly. The business landscape is ever-changing, and CreativeWave will adapt its approaches to risk management in accordance with shifts in the broader environment.

Overall, CreativeWave Marketing Agency recognizes the importance of ongoing risk analysis and proactive risk management in safeguarding the operation and ensuring business continuity. By embedding a culture of risk awareness and preparedness across the organization, CreativeWave can navigate potential challenges, sustain its growth trajectory, and continue delivering exceptional value to its clients.

Business plan for digital marketing agency

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How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency

Starting a digital marketing agency can be very profitable. With proper planning, execution and hard work, you can enjoy great success. Below you will learn the keys to launching a successful digital marketing agency.

Importantly, a critical step in starting a digital marketing agency is to complete your business plan. To help you out, you should download Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template here .

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here

14 Steps To Start a Digital Marketing Agency :

• Choose the Name for Your Digital Marketing Agency
• Develop Your Digital Marketing Business Plan
• Choose the Legal Structure for Your Digital Marketing Agency
• Secure Startup Funding for Your Digital Marketing Agency (If Needed)
• Secure a Location for Your Business
• Register Your Digital Marketing Agency with the IRS
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
• Get Business Insurance for Your Digital Marketing Agency
• Buy or Lease the Right Digital Marketing Agency Equipment
• Develop Your Digital Marketing Agency Marketing Materials
• Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Digital Marketing Agency
• Open for Business

1. Choose the Name for Your Digital Marketing Agency

The first step to starting a digital marketing agency business plan is to choose your business’ name.  

This is a very important choice since your company name is your brand and will last for the lifetime of your business. Ideally you choose a name that is meaningful and memorable. Here are some tips for choosing a name for your digital marketing agency:

• Make sure the name is available . Check your desired name against trademark databases and your state’s list of registered business names to see if it’s available. Also check to see if a suitable domain name is available.
• Keep it simple . The best names are usually ones that are easy to remember, pronounce and spell.
• Think about marketing . Come up with a name that reflects the desired brand and/or focus of your digita digital marketing agency.

2. Develop Your Digital Marketing Agency Plan

One of the most important steps in starting a digital marketing agency is to develop your digital marketing agency business plan . The process of creating your plan ensures that you fully understand your market and your business strategy. The plan also provides you with a roadmap to follow and if needed, to present to funding sources to raise capital for your business.

To enhance your planning process, incorporating insights from a  sample digital marketing agency business plan  can be beneficial. This can provide you with a clearer perspective on industry standards and effective strategies, helping to solidify your own business approach.

Your business plan should include the following sections:

• Executive Summary – this section should summarize your entire business plan so readers can quickly understand the key details of your digital marketing agency business.
• Company Overview – this section tells the reader about the history of your digital marketing agency and what type of digital marketing agency you operate. For example, are you a Search engine optimization (SEO) firm, Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising agencies, or Social media marketing (SMM) agencies. Each type of agency specializes in a different area of online marketing.
• Industry Analysis – here you will document key information about the digital marketing industry. Conduct market research and document how big the industry is and what market trends are affecting it.
• Customer Analysis – in this section, you will document who your ideal or target customers are and their demographics. For example, how old are they? Where do they live? What do they find important when purchasing services like the ones you will offer?
• Competitive Analysis – here you will document the key direct and indirect competitors you will face and how you will build competitive advantage.
• Marketing Plan – your marketing plan should address the 4Ps: Product, Price, Promotions and Place.
• Product : Determine and document what products/services you will offer 
• Prices : Document the prices of your products/services
• Place : Where will your business be located and how will that location help you increase sales?
• Promotions : What promotional methods will you use to attract customers to your digital marketing agency? For example, you might decide to use pay-per-click advertising, public relations, search engine optimization and/or social media marketing.
• Operations Plan – here you will determine the key processes you will need to run your day-to-day operations. You will also determine your staffing needs. Finally, in this section of your plan, you will create a projected growth timeline showing the milestones you hope to achieve in the coming years.
• Management Team – this section details the background of your company’s management team.
• Financial Plan – finally, the financial plan answers questions including the following:
• What startup costs will you incur?
• How will your digital marketing agency make money?
• What are your projected sales and expenses for the next five years?
• Do you need to raise funding to launch your business?

3. Choose the Legal Structure for Your Digital Marketing Agency

Next you need to choose a legal structure for your digital marketing agency and register it and your business name with the Secretary of State in each state where you operate your business.

Below are the five most common legal structures:

1) Sole proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is a business entity in which the owner of the digital marketing agency and the business are the same legal person. The owner of a sole proprietorship is responsible for all debts and obligations of the business. There are no formalities required to establish a sole proprietorship, and it is easy to set up and operate. The main advantage of a sole proprietorship is that it is simple and inexpensive to establish. The main disadvantage is that the owner is liable for all debts and obligations of the business.

2) Partnerships

A partnership is a legal structure that is popular among small businesses. It is an agreement between two or more people who want to start a digital marketing agency together. The partners share in the profits and losses of the business. 

The advantages of a partnership are that it is easy to set up, and the partners share in the profits and losses of the business. The disadvantages of a partnership are that the partners are jointly liable for the debts of the business, and disagreements between partners can be difficult to resolve.

3) Limited Liability Company (LLC)

A limited liability company, or LLC, is a type of business entity that provides limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners of an LLC are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The advantages of an LLC for a digital marketing agency include flexibility in management, pass-through taxation (avoids double taxation as explained below), and limited personal liability. The disadvantages of an LLC include lack of availability in some states and self-employment taxes.

4) C Corporation

A C Corporation is a business entity that is separate from its owners. It has its own tax ID and can have shareholders. The main advantage of a C Corporation for a digital marketing agency is that it offers limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The disadvantage is that C Corporations are subject to double taxation. This means that the corporation pays taxes on its profits, and the shareholders also pay taxes on their dividends.

5) S Corporation

An S Corporation is a type of corporation that provides its owners with limited liability protection and allows them to pass their business income through to their personal income tax returns, thus avoiding double taxation. There are several limitations on S Corporations including the number of shareholders they can have among others.

Once you register your digital marketing agency, your state will send you your official “Articles of Incorporation.” You will need this among other documentation when establishing your banking account (see below). We recommend that you consult an attorney in determining which legal structure is best suited for your company.

4. Secure Startup Funding for Your Digital Marketing Agency (If Needed)

In developing your digital marketing business plan , you might have determined that you need to raise funding to launch your business. 

If so, the main sources of funding for a digital marketing agency to consider are personal savings, family and friends, credit card financing, bank loans, crowdfunding and angel investors. Angel investors are individuals who provide capital to early-stage businesses. Angel investors typically will invest in a digital marketing agency that they believe has high potential for growth.

5. Secure a Location for Your Business

Having the right space can be important for your digital marketing agency, particularly if you’d like to meet clients there.

To find the right space, consider:

• Driving around to find the right areas while looking for “for lease” signs
• Contacting a commercial real estate agent
• Doing commercial real estate searches online
• Telling others about your needs and seeing if someone in your network has a connection that can help you find the right space

6. Register Your Digital Marketing Agency with the IRS

Next, you need to register your business with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which will result in the IRS issuing you an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Most banks will require you to have an EIN in order to open up an account. In addition, in order to hire employees, you will need an EIN since that is how the IRS tracks your payroll tax payments.

Note that if you are a sole proprietor without employees, you generally do not need to get an EIN. Rather, you would use your social security number (instead of your EIN) as your taxpayer identification number.

7. Open a Business Bank Account

It is important to establish a bank account in your digital marketing agency’ name. This process is fairly simple and involves the following steps:

• Identify and contact the bank you want to use
• Gather and present the required documents (generally include your company’s Articles of Incorporation, driver’s license or passport, and proof of address)
• Complete the bank’s application form and provide all relevant information
• Meet with a banker to discuss your business needs and establish a relationship with them

8. Get a Business Credit Card

You should get a business credit card for your digital marketing agency to help you separate personal and business expenses.

You can either apply for a business credit card through your bank or apply for one through a credit card company.

When you’re applying for a business credit card, you’ll need to provide some information about your business. This includes the name of your business, the address of your business, and the type of business you’re running. You’ll also need to provide some information about yourself, including your name, Social Security number, and date of birth.

Once you’ve been approved for a business credit card, you’ll be able to use it to make purchases for your business. You can also use it to build your credit history which could be very important in securing loans and getting credit lines for your business in the future.

9. Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits

To start a digital marketing agency, you’ll need to obtain the following licenses and permits:

• Business license: A business license is required to operate any type of business. Contact your local government office for more information.
• Sales tax permit: A sales tax permit is required to collect sales tax from customers. Contact your local government office for more information.
• Worker’s compensation insurance: Worker’s compensation insurance is required to protect employees in the event of an accident or injury on the job. Contact your local insurance agent for more information.
• Professional liability insurance: Professional liability insurance protects you in the event that a client sues you for professional negligence. Contact your local insurance agent for more information.

10. Get Business Insurance for Your Digital Marketing Agency

Other business insurance policies that you should consider for your digital marketing agency include:

• General liability insurance : This covers accidents and injuries that occur on your property. It also covers damages caused by your employees or products.
• Workers’ compensation insurance : If you have employees, this type of policy works with your general liability policy to protect against workplace injuries and accidents. It also covers medical expenses and lost wages.
• Business interruption insurance : This covers lost income and expenses if your business is forced to close due to a covered event.
• Professional liability insurance : This protects your business against claims of professional negligence.

Find an insurance agent, tell them about your business and its needs, and they will recommend policies that fit those needs. 

11. Buy or Lease the Right Digital Marketing Agency Equipment

A computer and an internet connection are essential for any digital marketing business. You’ll also need some software, such as word processing and spreadsheet software, to create marketing materials and track data. Graphic design software can also be helpful for creating website graphics or designing marketing emails.

12. Develop Your Digital Marketing Agency Marketing Materials

Marketing materials will be required to attract and retain customers to your digital marketing agency.

The key marketing materials you will need are as follows:

• Logo : Spend some time developing a good logo for your digital marketing agency. Your logo will be printed on company stationery, business cards, marketing materials and so forth. The right logo can increase customer trust and awareness of your brand.
• Website : Likewise, a professional digital marketing agency business website provides potential customers with information about the products and/or services you offer, your company’s history, and contact information. Importantly, remember that the look and feel of your website will affect how customers perceive you.
• Social Media Accounts : establish social media accounts in your company’s name. Accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and/or other social media platforms will help customers and others find and interact with your digital marketing agency.

13. Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Digital Marketing Agency

You need to have a computer with internet access and some digital marketing software. The most important software is a web browser, such as Firefox or Chrome, and an email client, such as Outlook or Gmail. You will also need some digital marketing tools, such as a search engine optimization tool, a social media management tool, and a website builder.

14. Open for Business

You are now ready to open your digital marketing agency. If you followed the steps above, you should be in a great position to build a successful business. Below are answers to frequently asked questions that might further help you.

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How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency FAQs

Is it hard to start a digital marketing agency.

No, it's not hard to start a digital marketing agency. However, there are some key steps you need to take to ensure your business is successful.

First, you need to decide what services you want to offer. There are many different types of digital marketing services, so you need to find a niche that you're interested in and knowledgeable about. Next, create a website and/or blog that promotes your services. Make sure your website is professional and easy to navigate. You should also include testimonials from clients on your website.

Once your website is up and running, start actively marketing your services online. reach out to prospective clients through social media, email campaigns, or telemarketing. You can also offer free consultations or white papers on digital marketing topics on your website or blog to attract attention from potential clients.

Finally, make sure you have a clear pricing structure for your services. You don't want to undercharge or overcharge for your services, so be sure to do your research on pricing before setting your rates.

How can I start a digital marketing agency with no experience?

There are a few key things you need to do in order to start a digital marketing business with no experience. First, you need to research the industry and learn about the different types of digital marketing. Then, you need to create a business plan and determine your target market. Next, you need to set up your marketing infrastructure, including a website and social media accounts. Finally, you need to market your business and create leads.

What type of digital marketing agency is most profitable?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the profitability of a digital marketing agency will vary depending on the services it offers and the markets it targets. However, some types of digital marketing agencies are more profitable than others.

For example, agencies that specialize in search engine optimization (SEO) and paid search advertising (PPC) tend to be more profitable than those that offer only web design and development services. This is because SEO and PPC are more complex and expensive to execute than other forms of online marketing, such as website design and development.

Another type of digital marketing agency that is typically more profitable is one that specializes in social media marketing. This is because social media is a rapidly growing channel, and businesses are increasingly turning to social media to reach new customers and grow their businesses.

How much does it cost to start a digital marketing agency?

That depends on a lot of factors, such as the size of your agency, the services you offer, and the location of your business. However, on average, you can expect to spend between $10,000 and $30,000 to get your business up and running.

There are a few things you'll need to get started:

• A website - This is where your customers will go to learn more about your business and services.
• A logo - This will help your customers remember who you are and what you do.
• Business cards - When meeting potential clients, you'll want to have something to hand out with your contact information.
• A marketing plan - This will outline your marketing strategy and how you plan to attract new customers.

What are the ongoing expenses for a digital marketing agency?

The ongoing expenses for a digital marketing agency can vary depending on the size of the company, the services offered, and the location. However, some of the most common expenses include:

• Web hosting: This is typically a monthly expense and is necessary to host a company's website.
• Domain name registration: A domain name is the web address of a company's website and needs to be registered annually.
• Marketing software: This can be a monthly or annual expense and includes software like Photoshop, InDesign, and Dreamweaver.
• Website design: A professional website design can cost several thousand dollars, but it's an important investment for any marketing agency.
• Employee salaries: Depending on the size of the agency, salaries for employees can range from a few hundred dollars per month to several thousand dollars per month.

How does a digital marketing agency make money?

Digital marketing agencies make money through a variety of services that they offer to their clients. These services can include things like website development, SEO, social media marketing, and PPC advertising. Many agencies also offer consulting services, which can help businesses with overall marketing strategy and planning. Additionally, many agencies partner with other companies to offer more comprehensive services that include both digital and traditional marketing strategies.

Is owning a digital marketing agency profitable?

There is no one definitive answer to this question. Whether or not a digital marketing agency is profitable depends on a number of factors, including the size and location of the agency, the services it provides, and the competition in the market. However, digital marketing is a growing industry, and there are opportunities for agencies that are well-managed and provide high-quality services.

Why do digital marketing agencies fail?

Digital marketing agencies can fail for a number of reasons, but the most common are a lack of experience, poor planning, and not having a niche. A lack of experience can be detrimental because it means the agency doesn't have the knowledge or skillset to carry out successful campaigns. Poor planning typically results in inefficient use of resources and can lead to missed opportunities. And finally, not having a niche can make it difficult for an agency to stand out from the competition.

Where Can I Download a Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan PDF?

You can download our digital marketing agency business plan PDF template here. This is a business plan template you can use in PDF format.

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Digital Marketing Agency business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their digital marketing agencies.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Digital Marketing Agency business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Trending Next is a startup digital marketing agency located in Atlanta, Georgia. The company is founded by Michelle Taylor, an experienced digital marketer who has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and has worked for several years for a prominent marketing agency based in New York. Now that Michelle has gained the education and experience in managing a digital marketing agency, she is ready to start her own company, Trending Next. Michelle is confident that her digital marketing and communication skills will enable her to run a profitable digital marketing agency of her own. Michelle is recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day-to-day complexities of running a digital marketing firm – sales and marketing, customer support, technology management, customer relations, administration, and finance.

Trending Next will provide a full suite of digital marketing services for businesses of all sizes throughout the United States. The company will be the go-to digital marketing firm in Atlanta for innovative marketing strategies using the latest technology and tools. Trending Next will create and launch digital marketing campaigns through a variety of channels from SEO and email to content and video marketing. The company will be the ultimate choice for customer service while guaranteeing expertly developed personalized marketing solutions for each client.

Product Offering

The following are the services that Trending Next will provide:

• Social media
• Content marketing
• Email marketing
• SMS marketing
• Sponsored content
• Native advertising
• Marketing automation
• Affiliate marketing

Customer Focus

Trending Next will target businesses of all sizes and industries in the United States. No matter the customer, Trending Next will deliver the best communication, service, and effective digital marketing campaigns.

Management Team

Trending Next will be owned and operated by Michelle Taylor. Michelle is a graduate of New York University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She has over five years of experience working as a digital marketing manager for a prestigious marketing agency based in New York. Now, Michelle aims to bring her digital marketing skills to work in her new location in Atlanta, Georgia. She will be the company’s chief executive officer and will oversee the digital marketing staff and help develop and implement the company’s digital marketing service offerings.

Michelle has recruited an experienced business manager, Joshua Anderson, to be the company’s chief operating officer and help oversee the business operations. He has a master’s degree in business administration from Georgia University and over 15 years of experience managing his own company. Joshua will handle the day-to-day operations, including project management, customer relationships, and logistics.

Success Factors

Trending Next will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Skilled team of digital marketing experts who will work with each client to develop and implement personalized marketing campaigns tailored to their specific needs and goals.
• Trending Next will continuously seek out and incorporate the newest trends in digital marketing to ensure the best marketing tactics for each client.
• The company offers competitive pricing and discounts for regular customers.

Financial Highlights

Trending Next is seeking $300,000 in debt financing to launch its digital marketing business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the office and purchasing office equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff and marketing expenses. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Office build-out: $90,000
• Equipment, supplies, and materials: $60,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, utilities): $130,000
• Marketing costs: $10,000
• Working capital: $10,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Trending Next.

Company Overview

Who is trending next.

Trending Next is a newly established digital marketing company in Atlanta, Georgia. Trending Next will provide a full suite of digital marketing services for businesses of all sizes throughout the United States. The company will be the go-to digital marketing firm in Atlanta for innovative marketing strategies using the latest digital marketing technology and tools. Trending Next will create and launch digital marketing campaigns through a variety of channels from SEO and email to content and video marketing. The company will be the ultimate choice for customer service while guaranteeing expertly developed personalized marketing solutions for each client.

Trending Next will be able to guarantee the effectiveness of its digital marketing strategies thanks to the latest and most innovative digital marketing technology and expertise of its leadership team. The company’s team of highly qualified professionals experienced in digital marketing will ensure each client’s marketing campaign is tailored to meet their specific needs and goals.

Trending Next History

Trending Next is owned and operated by Michelle Taylor, an experienced digital marketer who has gained valuable knowledge during her five-year tenure working as a digital marketing manager at a premier digital marketing agency in New York. Now that Michelle has gained the experience and knowledge of how to manage a digital marketing agency, she is ready to start one of her own. Michelle has begun recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day to day complexities of running a digital marketing firm –  – sales and marketing, customer support, technology management, customer relations, administration, and finance.

Since incorporation, Trending Next has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered Trending Next, LLC to transact business in the state of Georgia
• Has signed a letter of intent to lease the office space
• Reached out to numerous contacts to include previous employees, colleagues, and experienced digital marketing professionals to begin building a team of experts for the company’s management team
• Began recruiting a staff of operational positions including accountants, administrative personnel, and sales representative to work at Trending Next

Trending Next Services

Industry analysis.

The digital marketing industry in the United States is valued at approximately $30.6B and is forecasted to grow by 3.7% this year. The digital marketing industry comprises several different marketing channels: SEO, PPC, social media marketing, content marketing, email marketing, mobile marketing, marketing analytics, inbound marketing, sponsored content, native advertising, marketing automation, and affiliate marketing. Digital marketing agencies can choose to specialize in some combination of these channels or all of the above.

One of the major demand drivers for digital marketing is the increase in internet traffic volume. As this volume increases due to more consumers using smartphones, tablets, and computers to make purchases, more businesses will need digital marketing services to expand their online presence.

The primary challenge for new digital marketing agency operators is the high level of competition present in the industry. Another challenge is the speed at which digital channels evolve. Industry operators must keep up with the latest digital marketing trends, channels, and technologies to remain competitive.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

The precise demographics for the United States are:

Customer Segmentation

Trending Next will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Small businesses (less than 100 employees)
• Mid-sized businesses (101-500 employees)
• Large businesses (over 500 employees)

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Trending Next will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Perfect SEO Digital Marketing

Perfect SEO Digital Marketing is one of the largest digital marketing firms in Atlanta, Georgia. The company was established as a traditional marketing agency (Perfect Marketing) in 1990 and has since grown to 30 offices throughout the country. As digital marketing has become the norm, the company has transitioned to a more digital mindset and changed its name to Perfect SEO Digital Marketing. The company still provides traditional advertising services in addition to its digital marketing offerings. As the name specifies, the company’s digital marketing expertise centers on search engine optimization (SEO) in particular. Perfect SEO Digital Marketing aims to deliver high quality digital marketing services through its innovative digital marketing process. Perfect SEO Digital Marketing’s team of experienced digital marketing professionals are experts in SEO and able to provide business clients with effective marketing solutions.

Grow Your Business Fast Digital Marketing Agency

Grow Your Business Fast Digital Marketing Agency is a small digital marketing agency catering to local businesses in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas. Grow Your Business Fast Digital Marketing Agency provides a variety of digital marketing services including the development and deployment of social media campaigns, website advertising, SEO, content marketing, video marketing, email/SMS marketing, and PPC. The company is owned and operated by experienced marketing professionals with over three decades of experience in creating and managing marketing campaigns for companies of all sizes.

Innovation Online Digital Marketing

Innovation Online Digital Marketing is a trusted Atlanta, Georgia-based digital marketing firm that provides superior digital marketing services to business clients throughout the United States. The company is able to provide a wide variety of services using the latest digital marketing strategies and tools. Innovation Online Digital Marketing specializes in creating innovative social media marketing and cohesive digital marketing strategies for businesses in a range of industries, with retail being the most well-known. The company has been recognized for creating the most popular marketing campaigns for some of the largest retailers in the country.

Competitive Advantage

Trending Next will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

• Trending Next will continuously seek out and incorporate the newest trends and tools in digital marketing to ensure the best marketing tactics for each client.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Trending Next will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Trending Next is as follows:

Social Media Marketing

As a digital marketing agency, Trending Next will lead by example. The company’s marketing director will create engaging accounts on social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. He will ensure Trending Next maintains an active social media presence with regular updates and fun content to provide an example of what the company is capable of creating for clients.

Professional Associations and Networking

Trending Next will become a member of professional associations such as the Digital Marketing Association, American Marketers Society, and the Georgia Marketing Association. The leadership team will focus their networking efforts on expanding the company’s client network.

Email/SMS Marketing

Trending Next will use email marketing and SMS marketing to target potential business clients by sending them targeted emails, newsletters, and promotional updates to incentivize them to engage with the company.

Website/SEO Marketing

Trending Next will utilize the in-house marketing director that designed the social media campaign to also design the company website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all the services that Trending Next is able to provide. The website will also provide testimonials from satisfied clients.

The marketing director will also manage the company’s website presence with SEO marketing tactics so that when someone types in a search engine “Atlanta digital marketing agency” or “digital marketing firm near me”, Trending Next will be listed at the top of the search results.

The pricing of Trending Next will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing the company’s services.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Trending Next.

Operation Functions:

• Michelle Taylor will be the chief executive officer and will oversee the digital marketing staff and be the creative driver for new marketing tools and tactics. Michelle has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
• Joshua Anderson – Chief operating officer who will manage the day-to-day operations, budgeting, client relationships, and logistics.
• Daniel Moore – Accountant/bookkeeper who will provide all accounting, tax payments, and monthly financial reporting.
• Paul Wilson – Marketing director who will oversee all marketing strategies for the company and manage the website, social media, and outreach.

Milestones:

Trending Next will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.

12/1/2022 – Finalize lease on the office space

12/15/2022 – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts for the Trending Next management team

1/1/2023 – Begin build-out of the office, purchase equipment, and start networking

1/15/2023 – Begin implementing the marketing campaign

2/15/2023 – Finalize contracts for digital marketing professionals to work at Trending Next

3/15/2023 – Trending Next officially opens for business

Trending Next will be owned and operated by Michelle Taylor. Michelle is a graduate of New York University with a Bachelor’s degree in marketing. She has over five years of experience working as a digital marketing manager for a prestigious marketing agency based in New York. Now, Michelle aims to bring her digital marketing skills to work in her new location in Atlanta, Georgia. She will be the company’s chief executive officer and will oversee the digital marketing staff and help develop and implement the company’s digital marketing service offerings.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Trending Next are the fees charged to customers in exchange for the company’s services. The company charges fees on a per-project basis and offers monthly retainers for ongoing marketing management.

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff a digital marketing agency. The expenses will be the payroll cost, utilities, office equipment and supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Average number of accounts per month: 10
• Average fees per month: $50,000
• Overhead costs per year: $700,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, digital marketing agency business plan faqs, what is a digital marketing agency business plan.

A digital marketing agency business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your digital marketing agency business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your Digital Marketing Agency business plan using our Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Digital Marketing Agencies?

There are a number of different kinds of digital marketing agencies , some examples include: Full Service Digital Marketing Agency, SEO Digital Marketing Agency, Social Media Digital Marketing Agency, and Web Design Digital Marketing Agency.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Digital Marketing Business Plan?

Digital Marketing Agencies are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding. This is true for a digital marketing business plan, advertising agency business plan and a marketing agency startup business plan.

What are the Steps To Start a Digital Marketing Agency Business?

Starting a digital marketing agency business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed digital marketing agency business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your digital marketing agency business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your digital marketing agency business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Digital Marketing Agency Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your digital marketing agency business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your digital marketing agency business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Digital Marketing Agency Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your digital marketing agency business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your digital marketing agency business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful digital marketing agency business:

• How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency Business

Where Can I Get a Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free digital marketing agency business plan template PDF here . This is a sample digital marketing agency business plan template you can use in PDF format.

Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Starting a digital marketing agency is an exciting endeavor requiring commitment and planning, and having a comprehensive business plan template and guidebook is essential for entrepreneurs to succeed. The #1 Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Template & Guidebook is an invaluable resource designed to help turn your dreams into reality, offering detailed instructions on everything from naming your business to managing revenue. Get ready to hit the ground running with this comprehensive roadmap to success!

Get worry-free services and support to launch your business starting at $0 plus state fees.

• How to Start a Profitable Digital Marketing Agency Business [11 Steps]

How to Write a Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan in 7 Steps:

1. describe the purpose of your digital marketing agency business..

The first step to writing your business plan is to describe the purpose of your digital marketing agency business. This includes describing why you are starting this type of business, and what problems it will solve for customers. This is a quick way to get your mind thinking about the customers’ problems. It also helps you identify what makes your business different from others in its industry.

It also helps to include a vision statement so that readers can understand what type of company you want to build.

Here is an example of a purpose mission statement for a digital marketing agency business:

Our mission at [Digital Marketing Agency] is to provide professional and innovative digital marketing solutions that create significant value to our clients, promote their businesses and increase their online visibility. We strive to be the leading digital marketing agency in [geographic area], offering our clients the best possible customer service with results-driven solutions.

2. Products & Services Offered by Your Digital Marketing Agency Business.

The next step is to outline your products and services for your digital marketing agency business. 

When you think about the products and services that you offer, it's helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my business?
• What are the products and/or services that I offer?
• Why am I offering these particular products and/or services?
• How do I differentiate myself from competitors with similar offerings?
• How will I market my products and services?

You may want to do a comparison of your business plan against those of other competitors in the area, or even with online reviews. This way, you can find out what people like about them and what they don’t like, so that you can either improve upon their offerings or avoid doing so altogether.

3. Build a Creative Marketing Stratgey.

If you don't have a marketing plan for your digital marketing agency business, it's time to write one. Your marketing plan should be part of your business plan and be a roadmap to your goals. 

A good marketing plan for your digital marketing agency business includes the following elements:

Target market

• Who is your target market?
• What do these customers have in common?
• How many of them are there?
• How can you best reach them with your message or product?

Customer base 

• Who are your current customers? 
• Where did they come from (i.e., referrals)?
• How can their experience with your digital marketing agency business help make them repeat customers, consumers, visitors, subscribers, or advocates for other people in their network or industry who might also benefit from using this service, product, or brand?

Product or service description

• How does it work, what features does it have, and what are its benefits?
• Can anyone use this product or service regardless of age or gender?
• Can anyone visually see themselves using this product or service?
• How will they feel when they do so? If so, how long will the feeling last after purchasing (or trying) the product/service for the first time?

Competitive analysis

• Which companies are competing with yours today (and why)? 
• Which ones may enter into competition with yours tomorrow if they find out about it now through word-of-mouth advertising; social media networks; friends' recommendations; etc.)
• What specific advantages does each competitor offer over yours currently?

Marketing channels

• Which marketing channel do you intend to leverage to attract new customers?
• What is your estimated marketing budget needed?
• What is the projected cost to acquire a new customer?
• How many of your customers do you instead will return?

Form an LLC in your state!

4. Write Your Operational Plan.

Next, you'll need to build your operational plan. This section describes the type of business you'll be running, and includes the steps involved in your operations. 

In it, you should list:

• The equipment and facilities needed
• Who will be involved in the business (employees, contractors)
• Financial requirements for each step
• Milestones & KPIs
• Location of your business
• Zoning & permits required for the business

What equipment, supplies, or permits are needed to run a digital marketing agency business?

• Computer and other tech equipment
• Internet connection
• Office space and furnishing
• Digital marketing software and tools
• Accounting and bookkeeping software
• Business licenses and permits (if applicable)
• Advertising budget for paid campaigns

5. Management & Organization of Your Digital Marketing Agency Business.

The second part of your digital marketing agency business plan is to develop a management and organization section.

This section will cover all of the following:

• How many employees you need in order to run your digital marketing agency business. This should include the roles they will play (for example, one person may be responsible for managing administrative duties while another might be in charge of customer service).
• The structure of your management team. The higher-ups like yourself should be able to delegate tasks through lower-level managers who are directly responsible for their given department (inventory and sales, etc.).
• How you’re going to make sure that everyone on board is doing their job well. You’ll want check-ins with employees regularly so they have time to ask questions or voice concerns if needed; this also gives you time to offer support where necessary while staying informed on how things are going within individual departments too!

6. Digital Marketing Agency Business Startup Expenses & Captial Needed.

This section should be broken down by month and year. If you are still in the planning stage of your business, it may be helpful to estimate how much money will be needed each month until you reach profitability.

Typically, expenses for your business can be broken into a few basic categories:

Startup Costs

Startup costs are typically the first expenses you will incur when beginning an enterprise. These include legal fees, accounting expenses, and other costs associated with getting your business off the ground. The amount of money needed to start a digital marketing agency business varies based on many different variables, but below are a few different types of startup costs for a digital marketing agency business.

Running & Operating Costs

Running costs refer to ongoing expenses related directly with operating your business over time like electricity bills or salaries paid out each month. These types of expenses will vary greatly depending on multiple variables such as location, team size, utility costs, etc.

Marketing & Sales Expenses

You should include any costs associated with marketing and sales, such as advertising and promotions, website design or maintenance. Also, consider any additional expenses that may be incurred if you decide to launch a new product or service line. For example, if your digital marketing agency business has an existing website that needs an upgrade in order to sell more products or services, then this should be listed here.

7. Financial Plan & Projections

A financial plan is an important part of any business plan, as it outlines how the business will generate revenue and profit, and how it will use that profit to grow and sustain itself. To devise a financial plan for your digital marketing agency business, you will need to consider a number of factors, including your start-up costs, operating costs, projected revenue, and expenses. 

Here are some steps you can follow to devise a financial plan for your digital marketing agency business plan:

• Determine your start-up costs: This will include the cost of purchasing or leasing the space where you will operate your business, as well as the cost of buying or leasing any equipment or supplies that you need to start the business.
• Estimate your operating costs: Operating costs will include utilities, such as electricity, gas, and water, as well as labor costs for employees, if any, and the cost of purchasing any materials or supplies that you will need to run your business.
• Project your revenue: To project your revenue, you will need to consider the number of customers you expect to have and the average amount they will spend on each visit. You can use this information to estimate how much money you will make from selling your products or services.
• Estimate your expenses: In addition to your operating costs, you will need to consider other expenses, such as insurance, marketing, and maintenance. You will also need to set aside money for taxes and other fees.
• Create a budget: Once you have estimated your start-up costs, operating costs, revenue, and expenses, you can use this information to create a budget for your business. This will help you to see how much money you will need to start the business, and how much profit you can expect to make.
• Develop a plan for using your profit: Finally, you will need to decide how you will use your profit to grow and sustain your business. This might include investing in new equipment, expanding the business, or saving for a rainy day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Digital Marketing Agency Business Plans:

Why do you need a business plan for a digital marketing agency business.

A business plan is essential for the success of a digital marketing agency business. It helps owners, investors, and potential clients determine the direction, goals, and procedures of the business. It outlines the plans for how the agency will operate and grow, as well as its financial projections. A business plan also serves as a roadmap for how to structure, manage, and track different aspects of the business.

Who should you ask for help with your digital marketing agency business plan?

You should seek advice and assistance from a trusted business advisor or consultant who has experience in creating digital marketing agency business plans. Additionally, there are many resources available online that can provide guidance on how to create a successful business plan.

Can you write a digital marketing agency business plan yourself?

Writing a business plan is a complex process and while it is certainly possible to write a digital marketing agency business plan without professional help, it can be beneficial to get input from experts in the field. This can help ensure that the business plan outlines a comprehensive strategy for success. Additionally, if you are applying for funding from an investor or financial institution, it may be necessary to have a professional business plan in order to be eligible for the loan or funding.

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I'm Nick, co-founder of newfoundr.com, dedicated to helping aspiring entrepreneurs succeed. As a small business owner with over five years of experience, I have garnered valuable knowledge and insights across a diverse range of industries. My passion for entrepreneurship drives me to share my expertise with aspiring entrepreneurs, empowering them to turn their business dreams into reality.

Through meticulous research and firsthand experience, I uncover the essential steps, software, tools, and costs associated with launching and maintaining a successful business. By demystifying the complexities of entrepreneurship, I provide the guidance and support needed for others to embark on their journey with confidence.

From assessing market viability and formulating business plans to selecting the right technology and navigating the financial landscape, I am dedicated to helping fellow entrepreneurs overcome challenges and unlock their full potential. As a steadfast advocate for small business success, my mission is to pave the way for a new generation of innovative and driven entrepreneurs who are ready to make their mark on the world.

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How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency: A Comprehensive Guide

Sudarshan Somanathan

Head of Content

February 14, 2024

Every nine-to-fiver in the digital marketing industry dreams of starting a digital marketing agency. After handling all the various aspects of digital marketing, the logical next step is to start something of your own.

But is starting a digital marketing company easy, or is it a pipe dream?

The answer may surprise you.

Learn how to start a digital marketing agency and build your business from scratch—using this guide as a starting point.

Understanding the Digital Marketing Agency Business

What is a digital marketing agency, the demand for digital marketing services in 2024, assessing the profitability of a digital marketing agency, 1. define your digital marketing agency’s niche, 2. build the right team for your digital marketing agency, clickup calendar view for a 360-degree perspective on what’s happening where, clickup gantt charts for an easy understanding of the team’s workload, clickup goals for setting objectives in real-time, clickup docs for getting all your work—in one place, clickup marketing templates for keeping your business running smoothly, start your digital marketing agency today, common faqs.

Online marketing is a tough nut to crack, especially if you’re a first-time entrepreneur in the digital marketing landscape. 

But that’s the thing about entrepreneurship—giving up is never in the cards, right?

And digital marketers are constantly suited up, fighting the good fight.

The proof of the pudding is in the latest Gartner survey, which claims that for:

• 35% of respondents, finding potential clients is the top business challenge in 2024
• 32%, training and upskilling employees in digital marketing skills is the second biggest hurdle
• 29%, achieving marketing and business objectives is difficult

Despite the complexities, digital marketing shows no signs of slowing down. The digital ad spending is expected to reach $667.58 billion by 2024—an increase of 11% from 2023:

Every brand, big or small, needs to have a digital presence.

But getting a digital marketing campaign up and running is not for everyone—lack of resources, holistic digital marketing skills, and a poorly-researched business plan are to blame.

This is where a digital agency steps in.

A digital marketing agency helps you reach your target market online using:

• Digital marketing channels
• Market research
• Email marketing
• Influencer marketing
• Social media marketing
• Content marketing services
• Pay-per-click advertising, including Google ads
• SEO services

Collectively, these services help you build a solid social media presence, generate more leads, and get more potential clients.

All you need is a well-conceived business strategy for client acquisition.

But before we get into that, let’s address the elephant in the room.

Is Starting a Digital Marketing Agency Worth It?

They say if you survive 100 days as an entrepreneur and your business survives the first 1000 days of its existence, then both have proved their mettle to each other.

But hanging in there and enjoying the hustle seems easier said than done.

The point we’re getting at: Is digital marketing worth it?

The short answer? Yes. 

Get this: People are spending 145 minutes on social media every day. Meeting where your customers are makes business and financial sense.

The first step in evaluating the demand for your digital agency is understanding the different types of digital agency business models and which one you’d like to go for.

Common digital agency models include:

• Full-service digital agency: This kind of digital agency handles all digital marketing services, including search engine optimization, social media management, content marketing, keyword research for search engines, lead generation, email marketing, and so on
• Single channel agencies: Single channel agencies have specialists on board that tackle a specific aspect of digital marketing services and focus on dominating one marketing channel
• Multi-channel digital agency: A mix of single-channel agencies and full-service agencies, a multi-channel digital agency offers complementary services such as social media management and social media ads or SEO services and keyword research

Additionally, the profitability of having your digital marketing agency also depends on the profitability analysis of the following:

• Your location (do you want to set up a remote, onsite, or hybrid agency?)
• Services offered (do you want to focus on one niche or go all out?)
• The way you generate leads (will you leverage the services of a lead gen expert or go the DIY route?)
• Costs involved (what  equipment, tools, software, and resources will you need?)
• Allocation and optimization of resources (how will you drive optimal resource management?)
• Target market, projects, and potential clients (what does your ideal target audience want?)
• Approach for building relationships (how will you drive client relationship-building?)
• Level of marketing insights used (how will you extract valuable marketing insights for your clients?)
• Performance evaluation (how will you measure the success of your agency?)

Once you have a granular understanding of all these elements, you’ll be more confident to start your digital marketing journey.

Steps to Starting a Digital Marketing Agency

The biggest advantage for self-employed digital marketing agency owners is 100% freedom to do things the way they want to—whether it’s deciding:

• Who their ideal target audience and prospective clients should be
• What kind of marketing strategy to use
• What kind of services to offer as a digital marketing consultant
• How to set up a dream digital marketing team 
• What the pricing model and business model will look like
• What type of office space to invest in

Even so, use these marketing strategies to set up a full-service digital advertising firm that other agencies will admire.

The decision to select a specific niche should stem from whether or not there is a demand for said niche.

Once you’ve identified a genuine demand, follow these tips to get ideas on a popular niche:

Assess your strengths

Start by looking at what your digital marketing business will focus on—will it be SEO, social media marketing, email marketing, content marketing, keyword research, Google ads, and so on? The idea is to identify your top skills and create a marketing roadmap template for teams to look at when things get chaotic (as they will in time)

Research the market

Find out what’s in demand by looking for gaps where your skills fill a need. To get a better understanding, check out what your competition is doing and assess where you can stand out.

Know your target audience

Figure out who your ideal clients are by considering factors such as the digital marketing industry, size, and location.

Define your unique selling point (USP)

Think long and hard about what makes you different. Maybe it’s your approach, a unique skill, or a laser focus on a particular industry—your USP will be your brand personality.

Refine your services

Based on your strengths and market research, fine-tune your services to focus on what your niche audience needs most—and build your offerings around that

There’s no denying that building the right team is the bedrock of a successful agency.

Your team-building efforts must start with creating a skilled and motivated team—one that’s aligned with your agency’s goals. 

Leverage these tips to create a strong and capable team from scratch:

Identify your needs

Determine the specific roles and skills you need in your team and add them to your business plan. Consider areas such as content marketing, lead generation, web design, PPC advertising, analytics, and project management.

Define your ideal team members

Create profiles based on the skills, experience, and personality traits needed for each role. Consider how each team member will fit into your agency’s culture and work environment.

Nail your recruitment strategy

Develop a recruitment strategy outlining where and how you’ll find potential candidates, including job boards, social media accounts, your website, networking events, etc.

Spend time on your job descriptions

Write clear and detailed job descriptions that outline the responsibilities, qualifications, and expectations for each role. Highlight what makes your agency a great place to work and why candidates should be excited about joining your team.

Do thorough screening

Screen resumes and portfolios to shortlist candidates who meet your criteria by:

• Conducting thorough interviews to assess their skills, experience, and cultural fit
• Using behavioral interview questions to understand how they’ve handled situations relevant to the role
• Driving skills assessments to evaluate each candidate’s practical abilities
• Considering how each new hire will fit into your existing team dynamics

Develop an effective onboarding process

Help new team members integrate smoothly into your agency by arming them with the necessary training, online digital marketing courses, resources, and support to set them up for success.

Encourage feedback and recognition

Encourage ongoing learning and development for your team by:

• Offering opportunities for skill enhancement, industry certifications, and professional growth to keep your team ahead of the curve
• Establishing a culture of feedback and recognition where team members are encouraged to give and receive feedback openly

Focus on team-building for happier employees

Whether you have full-time or part-time employees, you must understand the legal, training, and management aspects of handling employees. You must also drive initiatives to check for your team’s mental and emotional well-being regularly.

Key Tools for Running a Successful Digital Marketing Agency

Setting up a robust digital marketing business means constantly worrying about getting new clients through the door while maintaining high work quality. 

Why not invest in content marketing software , inbound marketing tools , or marketing agency software to accelerate output without compromising your client’s expectations?

Another tool worth looking into is the ClickUp marketing project management software, which enables digital marketing agencies to work hard without breaking into a sweat.

Here’s a quick overview of all the valuable features to help marketing teams get started:

As a marketing agency, creating a business plan for more clients is one part of the puzzle; keeping your work on schedule is another part that needs balancing skills.

ClickUp Calendar View is a great option for marketing managers looking to organize projects, plan timelines, and visualize the team’s work.

Complement your tasks with ClickUp Content Calendar Templates and plan your blogs, articles, and other content for the entire year.

A profitable business gets new clients based on the ideal target market.

But a customer-first agency allows the team to keep tabs on what’s happening at every juncture of the marketing strategy. This is where ClickUp Gantt Charts shine:

Everyone is as involved as the executive team.

Another functionality that works swimmingly well for driving profitability, productivity, and workload management across your agency is ClickUp agency resources:

Get instant access to productivity guides, ClickUp templates, and workflows, on-demand webinars from agency experts, how-to articles, and best practices at your fingertips.

Your marketing agency is only as good as your marketing goals .

Mind you, there’s more to goal-setting than zeroing in on the pricing model.

Use digital marketing apps to keep track of current digital marketing trends, consolidate tasks, streamline your digital marketing campaigns, write a case study, and more.

Using the right mix of marketing tools elevates your agency’s ability to produce results at a greater ROI.

The degree to which you stick to your business plan starts with the level of documentation your team can follow. To get things kickstarted on a speedier note and get the team on the same page, use ClickUp Docs :

Add subpages, share the Docs link, format the document as needed, and connect it to your existing workflows:

ClickUp Docs helps your team put their ideas into words and remove blind spots for your marketing campaigns.

Social media managers have to track—and exceed—the expectations of their target audience, potential clients, and the business model outlined by the agency.

With so many moving parts, creating a separate document for each becomes a cumbersome affair.

Enter: ClickUp Marketing Agency Business Template

Social media marketing agencies looking for a helping hand to build a marketing strategy must consider using custom Marketing Plan Templates.

These templates offer a roadmap for your marketing campaigns, from setting goals to selecting the right cross-channel mix.

Your digital marketing agency business should not be treated as an afterthought.

Sure, getting more clients is every agency’s North Star. However, loving what you do matters more. Your passion will translate into your marketing campaigns, and the profits will follow.

Plus, there’s the bonus of immense job satisfaction as an agency owner. To make the most of your time, investment, and work, invest in ClickUp marketing project management software .

Double down on your digital marketing needs, reach high-quality potential clients, and build a profitable business—with ClickUp as your trusted digital marketing platform.

1. How much does it cost to start a digital marketing agency?

Setting up your digital marketing business can cost anywhere between $730 to $30,000 (and upwards). This includes the costs of hiring the right talent, creating your digital marketing agency website for promotion, office space, equipment, staff salaries, and so on.

2. Can you start a digital marketing agency with no experience?

Yes, starting digital agencies without experience is possible, but it will be challenging. There’s plenty to consider, such as generating leads, driving your agency’s promotion on social media platforms, researching marketing insights and digital marketing trends, creating a business plan with a pricing model, and more.

To put yourself in a more advantageous position, think about starting as a freelancer or getting a job in the digital marketing field in any capacity. There’s no substitute for hands-on experience. 

3. What types of services do digital marketing agencies offer?

The most common services digital marketing agencies offer include email marketing, content marketing, search engine optimization, paid digital advertising, web design, etc.

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How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency

Aaron Agius

9 min. read

Updated February 8, 2024

Free Download:  Sample Marketing Agency Business Plan Template

It’s easier to start a digital marketing agency without funding than people might think.

In this post, I will cover starting your business on your own—with aspirations of becoming an agency. I will look at how to get your first clients and how to balance your time when finding them—when you start on your own, that is one of the toughest balancing acts.

The beauty of setting up a digital marketing agency is that you can start from virtually nothing. I know this from personal experience because my business partner and I did just that with our company, Louder.Online . If you have the expertise, then all you need to get started is a computer and a home office (or at least a space to work). There are not many businesses where that’s all you need.

You don’t need to put it all on a credit card, you don’t need to get a bank loan , you don’t need startup capital—you can just build a website , and you can be on your way. That’s what we did, and we now have a successful digital marketing agency with clients around the world.

• Taking on your first employees

Many businesses will hire recruiting and onboarding agencies to find employees for their burgeoning digital marketing agency, but if you’re going to build an agency without funding then you need to be doing this yourself.

Beyond the fact that you won’t need the extra cash from the start to make hires, it will mean that you have control over the kind of employees that you take on. When you’re ready, you can hire the right people for the culture that you create around your business.

• Training your team

Training your employees can be a costly business if you are not wise. When building a digital marketing agency without outside funding, you need to make sure you have a plan in place to be able to train people as and when they join you without incurring additional cost to the business.

Something we found invaluable when building our agency was to train the first few staff ourselves and educate them on everything we could. Sure, it meant that we put in some long hours at the start, but it paid off in the long run.

Training our first employees in every area we could think of prepared them to be able to train the next wave of staff. In turn, those staff members were able to teach the team members that joined after them.

As people moved up the ladder in our business, the staff that joined early on were able to train up the juniors that came in after them. Higher paid employees were able to use their time to liaise with clients and strategize rather than spending their time on training—making the business more successful and profitable, while not losing any of the vision that we had for the company or how our digital marketing client work was undertaken.

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• Documenting your processes and making life easier

If you want to start an agency without having outside funding, you need to find ways to do things in a non-traditional manner.

If your business takes off straight away, then it is likely that you are going to be taking on staff fairly quickly to cope with demand. When you have new staff starting regularly, you need two things in place—process documentation and basic HR functions—preferably avoiding having to hire an HR person too early.

At Louder.Online we made sure that we concentrated on these very early on. We documented our processes from day one in some software called Process Street . The software lets you create checklists and workflows that any of your staff can run at any time.

We use Process Street to document things like:

• How to answer the phone
• What to do when you are sick
• How to put in an expenses report
• How to book a holiday
• What is needed before a new employee starts
• What is required when an employee leaves

Having these processes documented means that everyone knows what they need to do and can follow a standard protocol. They don’t have to ask their manager or other staff.

This saves time and means that the employees that you have at your agency can actually spend more time on billable work for the clients. That, in turn, makes you more profitable . You are saving money that might otherwise have had to have come from outside funding.

We also didn’t want to have to hire an HR person until we really needed to and we certainly didn’t want to outsource that to a third party. They both cost a lot of money, and we didn’t want to have to use outside funding to do that.

After some searching around in the early days, we found some software called AppogeeHR .

The software boasts:

• Centralized employee information
• Leave and sickness management
• Performance and learning tracking
• OKR management

It is simple to use, and it means that my business partner and I were able to act as HR without having to spend a lot of time on it. As earlier employees moved up, they were able to take on some of the work as well—and of course, this was all documented in a subsection of Process Street for when they needed it.

There is a saying that “necessity is the mother of invention,” and when we knew we didn’t want to use outside funding we looked for ways that we could make sure we didn’t have to.

• Bootstrapping

If you don’t have that cash injection at the start of your businesses life, then you need to be bootstrapping .

A dictionary definition will tell you that it’s to get oneself into or out of a situation using existing resources. When you read other articles, they will talk about relying on personal income or savings, and they talk about sweat equity.

We think the definition can be a little broader than that—essentially optimizing your current situation. We did this through an intelligent choice of clients and being smart with our cash. We found these to be essential to avoid that outside funding.

Getting good clients

Bad clients bring you down. Bad clients cost you money. Bad clients suck up your time.

If you don’t want to be spending money on additional staff to cover those losses, then you need to know how to spot a good client. Taking on every client that comes your way was never an option for us.

So how do you spot a good client? Here are my tips:

• Choose clients that will let you do your best work—stay away from the clients that overly worry about cost, because they will cost you in the long run.
• Choose clients whose business you believe in—the synergy between your agency and their business will lead to a healthy and respectful relationship.
• Work with clients who understand what you do—if they have some knowledge of the digital marketing landscape then they will be interested in what you do and don’t expect the world.

Being smart with your cash

This one sounds kind of obvious, right? But how many stories in the last few years have you read about businesses going under because of the inordinate amount of cash they spent on offices and perks to try and attract staff?

The employees that join your company are likely to know about these perks and want to see some of them. This is where you have to try and resist. Sure they are fun, but if you don’t want that outside funding, then you need to be sensible.

Company culture is not about the arcade machines and novelty slides from one floor to another. Company culture is about the bonds you create, the work that you do and how comfortable people feel at work.

People want to enjoy their work. When people enjoy their day to day life they produce better work, and they stay with a company longer. Combine these two together, and it cuts down the money you need to spend on recruitment and training—another way to avoid using outside funding.

• Financial goal and milestone setting

Being smarter with your cash and spending less is one thing; financial goal and milestone setting is another. We knew we would have to create something scalable from the start and also be able to predict with some degree of accuracy what our potential revenue might be.

As we were starting a digital agency, we knew we were going to be selling hours from the very start. We knew that tracking employee time and client budgets were the way we wanted to head in. Using a project management tool like Liquid Planner or a Harvest / Basecamp combination can really help with this.

We set prices for staff, created client folders and subprojects early on. Every member of staff had tasks assigned that they accurately track time against. This allowed us to make sure we didn’t go over or under for clients and the tools turn the hours into dollars in detailed reports.

We started in a very granular way and had activities set for the different types of work that we were doing. This allowed us to accurately predict how long specific tasks would take and we could pitch accordingly—there was no finger in the air guesswork.

After we had started to collect this data we could predict how much revenue we might bring in per client. From there we created financial milestones based on the close rate of proposals and how much similar projects had cost—and whether they had come under or gone over. We found this to be an accurate way of getting solid estimates on where the business would be in six months, a year, five years and beyond. It’s strategic planning or Lean Business Planning .

• Start small but plan for growth

That’s how we did it at Louder Online, we took a no outside funding stance from the start and made sure we looked for alternative solutions to cut costs. We started small and made sure that there was a culture in place from day one.

We made sure that we documented everything so that new employees would know what they had to do and when.

We enabled the staff to train each other as the agency grew, creating last bonds and teamwork.  

It isn’t for everyone and it was definitely hard for us at the start, but it has made us the profitable digital marketing agency that we are today and we wouldn’t change that for the world.

To launch your own digital marketing agency, start by putting together a business plan. Check out our digital marketing agency business plan example and free template for additional guidance.

Clarify your ideas and understand how to start your business with LivePlan

Aaron Agius, CEO of worldwide digital agency Louder Online is, according to Forbes, among the world's leading digital marketers. Working with clients such as Salesforce, Coca-Cola, IBM, Intel, and scores of stellar brands, Aaron is a growth marketer—a fusion between search, content, social, and PR.

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How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency From Scratch

A complete step-by-step guide on how to start your own digital marketing business without having prior experience.

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Is Digital Marketing a Good Business to Start?

How to start a digital marketing agency, key learnings.

Starting a digital marketing agency from the beginning with no experience is difficult but not impossible. There is a long process from nothing to having an established digital marketing business with clients and employees.

It’s not easy, but nothing stops you from making it a reality and entering the exciting world of digital marketing as a service provider.

I started my digital marketing company in 2012 after ten years as a part-time SEO freelancer. The transition from a part-time freelancer to a full-time business owner created many challenges and opportunities.

During the process, I made many mistakes, but I’ve also learned some valuable lessons that helped me improve my processes and offerings and get to the point of having a healthy and successful online marketing business.

I wrote this guide to help you start your own digital marketing agency from scratch and possibly avoid my mistakes, minimize your risks, and maximize your chances of getting it right the first time.

Before we get into the specifics, let me briefly explain why a digital marketing agency is a good business to start.

There is a high demand for digital marketing services – The number of businesses that move their operations online is increasing daily, and so does the competition. More competition means more demand for digital marketing services.

You can operate a digital marketing agency from home using remote teams – One of the advantages of starting a digital marketing agency is that you don’t need to have a physical business presence.

All operations can be performed remotely using email and Skype. As a business owner, you can also minimize your costs by working from home and hiring remote teams to assist you.

You don’t need to have prior experience – Although having prior experience with SEO and digital marketing is definitely an advantage, you can gradually build your digital marketing skills using an online course and practice on your own websites before offering services to clients.

Be your own boss – If you want to escape the 9:00 to 17:00 and start your own business, becoming a digital marketing manager is a great choice.

It’s a scalable business – You can start your business by providing the services yourself and then as you get more clients you can hire more people and grow your business.

It’s a low-cost business to start – You don’t have to make a big investment from the beginning. All you need is an Internet connection, subscriptions to a couple of tools, and a website. Anything else (office space, employees, etc.) can come later as the business grows.

The fastest way to start a digital marketing business is to build your skills using a proven step-by-step training course. The Digital Marketing Full Course will teach you how digital marketing works and prepare you for starting your own agency.

Get Started

These are the key steps to follow when starting your own digital marketing agency.

• Build Your Digital Marketing Skills And Self-Confidence
• Decide What Kind of Services To Offer
• Decide How You Plan To Operate Your Business
• Register Your Business
• Establish Your Web Presence
• Showcase Your Experience And Expertise
• Choose The Right Tools
• Define Your Business Model
• Get Your First Client
• Start a Digital Marketing Blog
• Build Your Portfolio
• Create Your Processes
• Build Your Digital Marketing Team

1. Build Your Digital Marketing Skills And Self-Confidence

The first step is to build the skills and self-confidence necessary to run a digital marketing agency. This can be broken down into three areas:

• Digital marketing technical skills
• Business management skills
• Self-confidence skills

Digital Marketing Skills

Obviously, if you want to start a digital marketing agency, you need to build your digital marketing skills.

This means you need to know what digital marketing is , how it works, and how to run campaigns to increase your client’s traffic and sales using one or more digital marketing channels.

Digital marketing has a lot of components, and while you don’t have to know everything from day one, you need to have good knowledge of the following:

• Google Advertising
• Facebook Marketing
• Social Media Marketing
• Content Marketing
• Email Marketing

As your agency grows, you can build your digital marketing team and hire experts, but if you’re starting now with no experience and money, it is crucial to know how to execute these tasks yourself.

This is a critical success factor. In the early stages of your business, you need to minimize your costs and dependency on other people.

You need to have hands-on experience with the various digital marketing processes so that, eventually, you’ll figure out what works well (in terms of money and clients) and where you’ll need help.

The best way to master a skill is to learn the theory and best practices from established experts and do a lot of practice.

Digital marketing is a highly practical discipline, and it’s not enough to know the basics you need to gain the necessary experience by practicing digital marketing.

You can use the resources below to learn digital marketing and build your skills.

• Digital Marketing Ultimate Bundle – Everything you need to know about digital marketing. A complete course for beginners and advanced users.
• Digital Marketing Specialist – How to become a digital marketing specialist.
• Digital Marketing Certificate Programs – Best digital marketing certifications to pursue.

Business Management Skills

Since your goal is to start an online business and not work as a freelancer, you need to learn the basics of running a business.

You don’t necessarily need to have a degree in Business Management, but you need to build some skills related to:

• Project management
• Time management
• Invoicing and billing
• HR management

As a business owner, you’ll have to do these things from the beginning and probably for a long period until you reach a point where you can hire dedicated people or outsource to professionals.

Self-Confidence Skills

You cannot run a business if you’re not willing to take some risks. To take risks, you need to have self-confidence, and to gain self-confidence in the digital marketing industry, you need to have faith in your skills.

If you start this business without knowing exactly what steps to take to improve a website’s ranking or how to use advertising to get more customers for your clients, you’ll fail.

So, before you start serving clients (as a digital marketing freelancer or agency), you need to have working experience either in an established agency or on your own websites.

Once you get to a point where you can utilize digital marketing techniques to achieve real measurable results, you’ll know that you’re ready to become a service provider.

Don’t forget that there are thousands of digital marketing professionals and agencies in the market. Clients will probably get multiple proposals and do several interviews before making a hiring decision.

Confidence will help you stand out from the crowd, so make sure you equip yourself with the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience before making the big step.

2. Decide What Kind of Services To Offer

The next step is deciding what kind of digital marketing services to offer your potential clients. A full-service digital marketing agency typically offers the following services:

• Web design and Development
• SEO Services
• PPC Services (Google Ads, Bing Ads, Facebook Ads, etc.)
• Content marketing services (content writing included)
• Social media marketing services
• Email marketing services
• Conversion optimization services

As a startup, it will be very difficult to offer all these services from the beginning, so it’s better to choose the ones that match your skills.

For example, If you’re an SEO expert , you can start by providing SEO services only, and then as you grow your client base and get more money, you can add more services to your offering.

Remember that your goal at this stage is to keep your costs low and depend on your skills. If you try to go full-service from day one, there is a big chance that you’ll get lost in the process.

From my experience, the services that can generate more revenue for you are the ones that provide real monetary value to clients: SEO and PPC services.

3. Decide How You Plan To Operate Your Business

The next decision to make is how you plan to operate your business.

You have three choices:

• As a virtual company from home and hiring remote teams
• As a ‘traditional business’ with an office and local employees
• A combination of both

All three options have pros and cons, and your decision has to consider the costs and the location of your potential clients.

For example, if you plan to serve clients in a specific city, having a physical presence in the area will help you establish your brand and get more local clients.

If you plan on serving clients anywhere worldwide, having a physical office will only increase your monthly costs.

As a matter of fact, one of the advantages of starting your own digital marketing agency is that you can operate your business from home with remote employees. Many online and SaaS companies follow this model, and it’s the future of business.

As you grow your digital marketing portfolio, you may consider hiring local employees, but they can also work from their home offices, so there is no need to pay for rent and other office expenses at this stage.

What you need to do, though, is find a place in your home and set up your home office. This can be a separate room or an area in your house that you’ll use to work. Also, since you’ll be working online, you must ensure you have the best internet connection possible.

4. Register Your Business

Before proceeding with the next steps, it’s time to make it official. And by this, I mean to:

• Decide the name of your business
• Register your domain name
• Design your logo
• Register your business legal entity with the relevant authorities
• Get a toll-free number
• Find an accountant and auditor
• Find a lawyer
• Create business cards

It’s necessary to do this now and put all the pieces together even if you don’t use all of them from the beginning.

5. Establish Your Web Presence

The first actionable step in the list is establishing your online presence, starting with creating a website for your business.

The website is your agency business’s ‘front door’, so you must ensure it accurately represents your brand.

Your website needs to look professional and give potential clients all the information they need to decide whether they should hire your company.

Besides explaining who you are and what you do, make sure that you explain the benefits clients will gain by hiring you. Don’t make your website about you but about them.

Create dedicated landing pages for all your services and make sure that it’s easy for potential clients to contact you without asking too many questions or having them complete complex signup forms.

Your goal is to get as many leads as possible, filter them, and concentrate on the ones with more chances of becoming clients.

Besides creating a website, you must secure your brand name on all major platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, etc) and create business pages.

Don’t omit this step because clients will check your Facebook page and research more about your company before hiring, so you need to make sure that everything looks good and professional.

Additionally, register your business with websites like Crunchbase and other organizations (local, government) that can help prove your legal existence.

• Digital Marketing For Startups – tips and advice on establishing a brand for your startup business.
• How to Make a Website – a step-by-step guide on how to create a website for your business.

6. Showcase Your Experience And Expertise

As we’ll see below (step 9), finding new clients is one of the most difficult aspects of running a digital marketing agency. But, an equally important aspect is to be in a position to convince prospective clients to work with you.

The best way to do this is by demonstrating your experience and expertise.

Practically this means:

• An ‘about us’ page that tells your story and achievements
• Success stories
• Case studies
• Academic credentials
• Known companies you’ve worked for
• Previous working experience
• Customer testimonials
• Partnership agreements
• Certifications
• Mentions from other websites

If you’re starting out now with no experience, it’s normal that some of the above items may not apply to you, but do keep them on your to-do list and try to achieve them gradually.

For example, do some work on a friend’s business website and ask them to send you a review or get a couple of digital marketing certifications from reputable companies.

Use the results achieved by working on your own websites and showcase them as case studies on your business website.

Do some guest posting on reputable websites and mention that on your homepage.

Be honest about your working experience and only publish real reviews and case studies. Starting a business relationship with a client based on fake reviews is not the way to establish a successful business.

7. Choose The Right Tools

To run your digital agency efficiently, you’ll eventually need a lot of tools. In fact, paying for tools licenses will be your second largest expense after paying for salaries.

You’ll need tools to help you optimize your digital marketing campaigns, create reports for the clients, invoicing, accounting, and many more.

There are many digital marketing tools in the market to choose from, but what you need to have in mind is to select tools that offer features you’ll actually use and not features that are nice to have.

It’s very common for businesses to pay for software features they will never use, so choose wisely.

Don’t forget that you should sign up for tools you can use not only on your website but also on your client’s websites, so take that into account when comparing the licensing cost of each tool.

The first tool you’ll need is a digital marketing platform like Semrush, Ahrefs, Hubspot, or Moz.

These platforms have tools that can help you with SEO, content marketing, social media marketing, and PPC campaign management.

I’m using Semrush because it’s a superb all-in-one platform with great features and reasonable pricing, but the other tools mentioned above are good for the job.

Other paid tools you’ll need are:

Lead generation software – I’m using OptinMonster to grow my email list and improve conversion rates. It’s very easy to use with a lot of features.

Email marketing solution – I’m using MailChimp for my website and many client websites, but there are other good solutions like Drip, Constant Contact, Klayvio, and many more.

Grammarly – A must-have tool for all online businesses. It helps you avoid spelling and grammar mistakes in anything you write online (including emails, proposals, etc.).

Canva – Sooner or later, you’ll need a tool to create nice-looking graphics and presentations, and Canva is a great choice.

Social media management platform – I’m using SocialPilot , but other good tools include Sprout Social, Buffer, and Hootsuite.

Online Chat Software – I’m using LiveChat , but other good options include Tidio and Jivo Chat.

Other free tools you’ll need are:

• Google Analytics
• Google Tag Manager
• Google Search Console
• Google Looker Studio
• Google Keyword Planner
• Google Docs
• Google Slides
• Google Forms

My recommendation is to decide which tools you’ll use and spend some time learning how to use them and what features they offer. Once you start working with clients, your time will be limited, so it’s better to familiarize yourself with these tools in advance.

8. Define Your Business Model

The next step in the process is to define your business model, i.e., to decide how you’ll charge for your services.

The most popular business models for digital marketing agencies are:

• Per project
• Monthly fee

Per hour – You charge an hourly fee for your services. The rate varies from $30 to $120 per hour, depending on your experience, the client’s location, the type of business, the type of services you provide, and the complexity of the work.

Per project – You agree with the client on a fixed amount to complete the project. If your estimations are correct, you make a profit, but if you make wrong estimations, you may make a loss.

Monthly fee – The client pays a monthly retainer for the agreed services. This usually applies to monthly SEO services, PPC management, and social media management.

The most profitable model is the ‘monthly fee’, and the least profitable is the ‘per hour’.

For new agencies, I recommend starting with the ‘per hour’ or ‘per project’ model. It’s not the most profitable model, but your goal at this stage is to get new clients and build your portfolio fast, and the ‘per hour’ model allows you to adjust your hourly rate to attract new clients.

9. Get Your First Client

So far, we have discussed how to prepare the ground for your startup agency, but you need clients to become a real business. A business with no clients is just an idea and not a business.

So, how do you get your first digital marketing client? Here are some ideas that worked for me in the beginning.

Friends and family – It’s very likely that your friends and family members have a business or work for a business that can use digital marketing services.

Reach out to them and offer to help them with their digital marketing efforts. Take a look at their website and their marketing tactics and come up with a plan on how you can help them get more clients, improve their search presence, and, in general, make more sales.

Since this is your first ‘official proposal,’ try to make it as detailed as possible with specific goals.

Explain to them why they need to invest some money in improving their website, why they need to have active social media pages, how they can benefit from Google ads, the missing opportunities from not using email marketing, and anything else needed to convince them to hire you as their digital marketing consultant.

Make sure that your pricing at this stage is attractive to them. Your goal is not to start making a profit but to build your portfolio.

The lessons learned from working with your first client will be invaluable, and they will help you tremendously when working with your first real client.

Online job boards – another way to get your first client is to use job search websites like Upwork and PeoplePerHour . These websites have hundreds of job postings related to digital marketing and can be a good starting point.

Here are a few pointers to help you out:

• When replying to a job request, ensure you answer ALL questions raised in the posting. Read the job description carefully and explain your plan of action.
• Reply fast. A job posting on those websites gets a lot of responses in a matter of hours, and usually, the work is assigned to those who reply first.
• Be honest and make realistic promises.
• Keep your prices low.

10. Start a Digital Marketing Blog

While working on your first client, you should find some time to start your own blog. A good blog with helpful content is by far the BEST lead generation tool for a digital marketing agency.

It’s the most efficient way to get new leads and, at the same time, convince your potential clients that you know what you’re doing,

When clients find you on Google search, you don’t have to ‘sell yourself’; they already know that you’re capable of ranking websites high in Google, which helps a lot with the signup process.

When creating content for your blog, try to target keywords related to the type of services you are currently offering and that potential clients may search for.

To give you an idea of how powerful this technique is, blogging has been my agency’s main source of leads for the last 15 years. We managed to work with hundreds of clients worldwide without paying a dollar for advertising.

As a matter of fact, growing your blog should be your top priority because as your blog grows, so does your agency. Not relying on advertising will also help you quickly turn your company into a profitable business.

11. Build Your Portfolio And Customer Testimonials

Once you reach this point, your goal should be to continue building your portfolio and customer testimonials.

To build your portfolio fast, you will still have to provide services at a low cost, but getting testimonials and positive reviews from customers will help you sign up more and bigger customers in the future.

The reason I’m insisting on this point is that while it’s easy to get new clients with low marketing budgets to secure clients with big budgets that can generate good profit, you need to have a decent portfolio and reviews from past customers.

I know from experience that this will take time, so don’t get disappointed, but take it step-by-step, one client at a time.

12. Create Your Processes

As you grow your digital marketing agency and get more clients, you’ll get to a point where you’ll not be able to handle all projects by yourself.

That’s the time to consider hiring people to help you, but before you do, you’ll need to set up your processes.

By processes, we mean to have a set of SOPs (standard operating procedures) to document all the steps you take to perform a specific task. This includes the client onboarding process and all the services you’re offering.

It’s important to do this now before you get new people on board otherwise, you’ll lose a lot of valuable time explaining to your team how you want them to handle client work.

Use your current experience working with clients and spend some time creating email templates, proposal templates, custom reports, and checklists that anyone can follow to perform a specific task.

Keep things simple, and don’t overcomplicate things. You can create your processes using Google Docs and Gmail and organize them in folders.

13. Build Your Digital Marketing Team

When you get to the point of hiring new people, it means that you already have some clients, are already making a profit, and your processes are in place.

If you’re not at this stage yet, I recommend not hiring people now unless you have the funds to take the risk.

Building a digital marketing team to replace yourself is tricky and something that many digital marketing agency owners (including me) had difficulties executing initially.

Some tips to help you with this process:

Start by hiring people for tasks that are easy to execute – Explain to your employees what you expect them to do and document all steps. Refine your processes (created in the previous step) to be up-to-date and relevant.

Start by hiring freelancers instead of full-time employees – This will help you keep your costs low and give you more flexibility. You can use the extra help when needed and on a per-project basis.

Give them a pilot project to work on – It’s not always easy to understand what skills a freelancer has, so the best way to find out if they are a good fit for your team is to hire them for a pilot project before proceeding to a full-time hire. This will save you a lot of money and frustration from hiring the wrong people.

A digital marketing agency is a great business to start. You can provide services from the comfort of your own home, you can be your own boss, and it’s a business that can scale without much capital.

While this sounds fantastic, there are a few things to consider before becoming a digital marketing service provider.

The first thing is that you need to know what you’re doing. If you’re new to digital marketing, then before rushing into creating a business, you first need to build your skills and gain working experience.

Start by doing digital marketing on your own sites and try different techniques until you have clear in your mind what is working and what is not.

Once you reach a point where you have some real results, you’ll also have the confidence to offer your services to other people.

Start slow, don’t try to offer all services from day one, and don’t expand too fast. Build your portfolio step-by-step, one client at a time.

When it’s time to hire new people, make sure that your processes are already in place and build your team gradually. Hiring remote employees is not easy, and you may have to try a number of candidates until you find people who can work with you as a team.

Building and growing a blog should always be your top priority. Blogging will help you get new clients without paying for advertising, generating huge advantages for your business.

Lastly, don’t forget the motto ‘the customer is always right’. Give your clients the attention they deserve and turn them into repeat clients. This way, you’ll minimize the cost of acquiring new customers, increase your profit, and scale your business faster.

Alex Chris is a digital marketing consultant, author, and instructor. He has more than 18 years of practical experience with SEO and digital marketing. Alex holds an MSc Degree in eCommerce and has consulted with Fortune 500 companies in different industries. He blogs regularly about SEO and Digital marketing, and his work has been referenced by leading marketing websites. Connect with Alex on Twitter and LinkedIn .

39 Comments

April 24, 2020 at 2:09 am

Hi Alex, many thanks for the insight into the world of Digital Marketing.

At the moment I’m doing a free fundamentals course with Google to put the feelers out with the Business and find out what it’s all about.

A lot of the terms and techniques I’ve come across in the past so it’s not quite alien to me, but.

I am really impressed with the content of your full course so once I’ve completed the Google one, I’ll be purchasing your course then.

Best of luck,

Stephen Hughes.

August 5, 2020 at 10:06 am

Thanks a lot for your comment. Yes, having a good understanding of how digital marketing works is a crucial first step for starting your own agency.

All the best Alex

June 20, 2020 at 11:26 pm

Nice Alex. For a young agency like mine this is great and thorough info that helps me organize the thoughts in my head! Also helps me build confidence.

Making the decision on what exactly I’m going to do was huge. So many options and so many needs to fill. But, I want to keep my services geographically close and work one-on-one with local businesses. That left me needing to narrow it down and focus. It ended up being quite the process.

I appreciate what you put together here. Thanks for your time.

August 5, 2020 at 10:10 am

Thanks for your comment.

For new agencies it is true that there is a lot to do in the beginning. Narrowing down your niche and working one-on-one with local businesses, it’s a good decission. This will give you the chance to gain experiences and optimize your processes to eventually grow globally and get more clients.

All the best with your digital marketing efforts. Alex

August 7, 2020 at 9:15 am

This is one of the most comprehensive guides that I’ve come across. I can use this as my new agency playbook even. I’ve bookmarked this article and have taken notes. I’ll come back to it to refer to it as a guide.

Also, you can tell that you’ve written this article out of your experience. Thank you so much for this guide. You’re the man!

November 6, 2020 at 6:42 pm

Thanks a lot, glad I could help you with my article.

September 24, 2020 at 1:44 am

This was a very detailed article. I love that you talk about getting a blog and how important that is in helping you become an expert. It really solidified it for me since that is something I’ve been putting off. I’ve heard great things about up work, I just have yet to hunt for jobs on there. Thanks for all the great tips!

November 6, 2020 at 6:41 pm

Hi Heiner Thanks for your comment. Yes, having a blog about digital marketing should be your first priority. It can make a huge difference when it comes to acquiring clients and establishing your online authority.

November 6, 2020 at 2:58 pm

Hi Alex, This article is perfectly written. I started my career by providing social media marketing services & then extended to Content marketing & SEO. I got my first client from Instagram. It’s true that one has to be consistent & build an online presence to land clients. Cheers!

November 6, 2020 at 6:40 pm

Thanks for your valuable feedback. Good luck with your digital marketing agency business.

February 22, 2021 at 7:57 am

Wow. Very detailed and full information. As a digital marketing agency owner, I find it very helpful.

March 15, 2021 at 10:54 pm

Very comprehensive content.

May 20, 2021 at 11:00 am

For people who are confused about their field or still deciding between what to choose, This blog will help them get a good clarity on what to expect from The Digital Marketing Field per se. A very helpful blog Alex, thanks for sharing!

May 24, 2021 at 7:47 pm

I just recently started with digital marketing and this blog will really help me get a proper insight into the field! Thank you so much for sharing this Alex.

August 12, 2021 at 11:01 pm

Thank you very much Alex for this awesome guide. I am looking into getting into the Digital Marketing space, but I just want to do proper research. I really like the way you explained everything, it was really great. Please Sir, is there anyway at all we can connect and talk one on one? There are so many things I really want to know

October 8, 2021 at 10:30 am

Hi Alex, It article is very informative. Thanks for sharing. I am in the digital marketing field for the last 8 months. Will it be ok for me to start my own Digital Marketing Agency?

October 8, 2021 at 11:57 am

Thanks for your comment. If you feel confident in your digital marketing skills then go for it. If you’re not sure yet how to handle client campaigns, practice on your own website first, get some good results and then start working with clients.

I hope this helps Alex

February 8, 2022 at 7:24 pm

Hi Alex Great, it is really a masterpiece of detailed information on digital marketing, SEO, Blogs & Designing the Website, and Bussiness with much more in one Article. Hope you keep providing us with more information on digital marketing & Social Media Marketing

October 27, 2022 at 3:16 pm

April 28, 2022 at 11:11 pm

Hello, This is a great informative article I read about digital marketing agencies. Currently, I am also starting my agency so this blog helps me develop my agency from scratch and it is valuable content. Thanks

Thanks a lot!

May 2, 2022 at 9:30 am

Thanks for sharing this amazing piece of the blog it’s really helpful for people who are unsure about their area of interest or expecting something different from the Digital Marketing field in general. Keep posting!

Thanks a lot for your nice comment.

August 20, 2022 at 9:16 am

Thanks for your meaningful post 🙂

It’s helpful to me in growing my newly opened Digital Marketing company. There are many points that I’ll use to grow my agency.

October 27, 2022 at 3:15 pm

That’s great, thanks for letting us know.

October 7, 2022 at 7:04 pm

Thanks for very useful information and guide for starting digital marketing agency. Thanks for step by step information. Very useful for me.

Hi Jatinder

Thanks for your nice comment! Glad I could help you figure out how to start your own digital marketing business.

January 19, 2023 at 1:13 pm

Alex, thank you so much for putting this together. I’ll be subscribing to your course once I finish my google certification. I intend to start small by working closely with small business owners and local brands. Cheers!

October 16, 2023 at 8:01 pm

Starting small with local clients is a good approach. As you gain more clients and start making money, you can expand your services and grow your agency.

April 16, 2023 at 7:34 pm

First of all, English is my second language and being new in the digital marketing world, the two don’t go together! I have been searching on Google for the last 6 months and have read many articles, content, and blogs. I haven’t found half of the understanding I have discovered from your blog. Excuse my bad English and Grammar. Thank you for your outstanding and clear explanation about digital marketing; connecting and understanding your blog was super easy.

I will purchase your digital marketing course as a beginner.

October 16, 2023 at 8:02 pm

Thanks a lot for your comment; I’m glad I was able to help you.

May 11, 2023 at 2:54 am

Great read regarding aspects of putting up a digital marketing agency and its benefits for continued business success. Thanks for this.

October 16, 2023 at 8:03 pm

September 26, 2023 at 7:45 pm

Starting a digital marketing agency is exciting, but it requires expertise. Begin small, expand services gradually, and build a satisfied client base. Hire carefully, establish strong processes, use blogging for client acquisition, and prioritize client satisfaction to boost your agency’s growth.

Very well said! I agree with your approach 100%.

November 9, 2023 at 7:36 am

The reminder that “the customer is always right” is a classic but crucial piece of advice. Customer satisfaction and repeat business are at the core of any successful agency. Your insights on turning clients into loyal customers are right on the money. Thanks for sharing this wisdom!

November 9, 2023 at 8:41 am

Thanks for your comment. Keeping customers happy is the key ingredient for building a successful digital marketing agency.

December 28, 2023 at 6:38 am

The first crucial step is knowing the ropes. If you’re new to digital marketing, resist the urge to jump straight into business mode. Take the time to build your skills and gather hands-on experience.

December 28, 2023 at 10:09 am

That’s correct. Building the right skills and experience is crucial for the success of your business.

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How To Start And Run a Digital Marketing Agency Business in 2024

Picture a business realm that is continuously growing each year with no doubt; without slowing down. Yes, we are talking about the digital marketing agency business.

The digital marketing agency business is expected to grow in the coming years. According to a report by Statista, the global digital advertising market is predicted to reach $1 trillion by 2027. That’s also making 2023 a great time to start your own agency. But with so many digital marketing agencies out there (including AI agencies ), how do you make yours stand out?

Read on to discover how to break into the marketing world and watch those big checks fly in. 

New in Town: How to Start a Successful Digital Marketing Agency?

Ready to join a rapidly growing industry with a lot of potential? Rule one: Starting a new business is never easy, and the digital marketing industry is no exception.

Just after deciding you will set your heart on it, the first thing you need to consider is what type of digital marketing services you want to offer. What industries do you want to work with? It’s a quite crucial step to successfully define your niche early & focus your marketing efforts and attract the right clients. If you are interested in starting an influencer agency , for example, don’t waste any time with other fields of marketing.

Next step? Keep reading.

Quick Tips for Success

From carving out your niche to mastering the art of online marketing, you may need some tips before setting up your own digital agency . In other words, before diving in, it’s crucial to cross your T’s and dot your I’s by conducting thorough research and crafting a well-thought-out business plan .

Let’s make it together.

• Tip #1: Educate Yourself

Before leaping, it’s undoubtedly important to lay a solid basis of knowledge and understanding. Much like some of the most prosperous people in the world, who never quit learning, you may want to prioritize your professional knowledge via education.

At this point, it’s a good call to begin by immersing yourself in the world of digital marketing for agencies . Explore online courses & resources offered by well-known institutions to enhance your digital skills plus industry know-how. Investing your resources in continuous learning and grasping the nuances of this dynamic industry will pay off handsomely in your journey ahead.

• Tip #2: Conduct A Competitive Analysis

As you already know, having a clear picture of where you stand compared to your competitors is like having a detailed map to drive your entire journey. When you analyze your competitors, you are discovering how to keep pace and leap ahead.

For a complete competitor analysis, focusing on the keywords required for your business’s online presence is a good call. Think of these keywords as the markers that direct customers to your business & those of your competitors. For instance, in case you’re in the e-commerce sector, consider how often keywords like “online shopping” or “best deals” appear in your competitors’ content.

@shopify want more eyes on your biz on TikTok? get more exposure with these 3 quick SEO tips: strong keywords, user searches, and trends. you can also include keywords in your voiceover, on-screen text, or captions. #TikTokSEO #smallbusinessowner #businesstips #ecommercebusiness #entrepreneur ♬ original sound – Shopify

While doing that analysis, do not hesitate to narrow your focus to about 10-15 key competitors which share the same digital landscape with you. In the same manner, diving into how your competitors generate their income provides you with detailed insights. So much so that, by dissecting their monetization strategies, you gain an insider’s view of what’s driving their success.

Some examples of monetization methods are:

• Donation, commission, coaching,
• Selling a digital or physical product,
• Lead generation, affiliate sales, advertising.

Once you unravel authorized competitors’ tactics, the next step is to uncover their content marketing strategy. Check out their blog posts, social media accounts, and SEO efforts. Are they using podcasts, blogs, or videos to connect with their audience?

Following that, study their communication style with their customer base. Are they adopting a friendly and informal tone, or do they maintain a more professional style? This analysis will give you a sense of how they build relationships with their current & target audience. Take Hubspot as an example when it comes to bold content strategy:

@hubspot It’s not magic. It’s HubSpot. #hubspot #goodbossenergy #corporatetok ♬ Keyboard_typing sound(894890) – keiichiro Akamine

• #Tip 3: Set a Business Model 

When it comes to billing your clients, there are various methods to consider, and the choice is yours. One option is the hourly rate, which is good for one-off tasks. However, as your business scales up, managing this billing method can become more complicated.

Another pricing model is the balanced retainer, where you charge a fixed monthly fee; it’s important to set clear terms, especially regarding early terminations or adjustments in client requirements.

Alternatively, you might opt for a percentage-based model, tying your compensation to your client’s spending. This approach ensures that your digital agency is rewarded for your efforts. To determine which pricing model suits your business best, you can also refer to our digital agency pricing guide for more insights.

How to Run a Digital Marketing Agency?

Let us start with a fact about running a digital agency: Keeping clients happy and engaged over the long term. So, the efforts to fix it are the actual answer to how to run a digital agency in 2023.

As we mentioned before, the digital marketing industry is extremely competitive, with many agencies vying for the same clients. In this section, we’ll be focusing on the best practices.

• Network with Potential Clients

Since the very first stages of marketing & sales, networking has been a great way to meet new people and build relationships and position your agency as a thought leader in the industry. It’s still true.

As a “new” agency owner, networking gives you a chance to share your expertise and insights with potential clients. This can also help you position your agency as a thought leader in the industry and attract more high-quality clients. Attending industry events , joining online communities, delivering valuable content resonating with your target audience, and reaching out to potential clients directly are just a few ways of networking.

• Offer Free Talks

When compared to networking, giving free talks (consultation) is a more indirect way to communicate with prospects; however, it also works!

While running a digital agency, the ultimate goal is to position yourself as a thought leader in the industry and attract new leads. Giving free talks through webinars and other trendy educational content is a great way to do this.

• Expand Your Service Offerings

As the entire marketing ecosystem knows, prospects and current clients demand a “one-stop shop” for all of their digital marketing needs. By offering a wider range of services, you can meet their needs while differentiating yourself/your agency from the competition.

Expanding your services also helps you increase your revenue potential. At that point, remember that trying to offer a wide range of services can be tricky if you do not have an extended team of professionals.

• Benefit from Resources for Digital Marketing Agency Owners

Taking advantage of valuable resources for digital marketing agency owners is another great approach to growing your business. In 2023, fortunately, there are several numbers of platforms and associations offering a variety of resources, including the American Marketing Association (AMA), the Digital Marketing Association (DMA), and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB).

Additionally, you can find online communities (like our platform, Digital Agency Network – DAN) and industry publications to learn new skills and stay ahead of the curve.

How to Develop a Winning Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan

In addition to building a team of experienced professionals, focusing on a niche market, and deciding on digital marketing tools and tech that will be used, opening and running an agency requires a clear vision and a solid business plan.

In this section, we will provide you with all the information you need to develop a winning digital marketing agency business plan.

What are the Key Challenges Facing Digital Marketing Agencies in 2023?

(and how can they be overcome through a business plan ).

First thing first: An all-around business plan for digital agencies must address the following components: Vision and mission, target market, competition analysis, objectives, financial plan, team composition, technology infrastructure, and essential tools. Each of these also is linked to the various challenges within the digital marketing industry.

And challenges which digital marketing agencies are up against?

First off, it’s a crowded field, with lots of agencies all going after the same clients. Don’t forget that digital marketing trends and tech are always evolving, and it requires keeping up to stay in the game. Plus, figuring out the ROI for the marketing campaigns can be like solving a puzzle. And yes, measuring ROI is not a picnic; it can be tricky sometimes. However, it is possible to track the progress closely by setting clear goals for each marketing campaign published and using various metrics like website traffic, lead generation, sales conversions, and so on.

When it comes to data privacy and security (another bold challenge in the digital realm), having a bold policy in place and making sure handling data safely is a good call.

Having a well-built business plan helps you find out who your target audience is and how to reach them most suitably and effectively. In the same manner, defining your unique selling points and clients’ pain points sets you apart from the competition. While doing that, it is also important to set realistic and measurable objectives and manage your finances effectively.

And finally, your marketing plan outlines your strategies for reaching new clients, which is vital in a constantly changing landscape. So, with a well-thought-out business plan, you can be better equipped to face the challenges and thrive in the world of digital marketing.

How to Deliver High-Quality Services

Time to dive into tips for delivering high-quality digital marketing services.

• Staying up-to-date on The Digital Marketing Trends and Best Practices

It’s a no-brainer for agencies to stay in the know about digital marketing trends & best practices, and the reasons are crystal clear. Firstly, the digital marketing arena is in a state of flux, with fresh technologies, tools, and trends emerging. For agencies, keeping a finger on the pulse of these developments is a surefire way to attract new customers. Secondly, prospects today expect their agencies to be not just service providers but also knowledgeable partners who can help them achieve their marketing goals.

Keeping pace with marketing trends also helps you generate leads wisely. For instance, starting a YouTube channel is a great way to generate leads – if it resonates with your target audience (no doubt that you’ll want to have your  target customer  in mind.) In case you have a YouTube channel, make sure to regularly publish video content to generate leads; some publishing ideas are case studies, hot marketing topics, how-to’s, and reviews from clients. 

Another method is to do affiliate marketing. When you partner with affiliates, you can then expand your network and find potential prospects. You can also do cold emails, but be careful with this method so you don’t come off as spam. 

If you consider all those above mentioned and start generating leads, before things get complicated, you should implement an agency management solution into your system to run your operations more effectively. We have made a good selection of the best agency management software for your agency.

• Developing a Process for Delivering Services

Creating a smooth service delivery process is another must for digital marketing agencies. This well-structured process ensures that customers receive consistent, high-quality services, no matter who’s handling the project.

Starting by identifying the necessary steps for each service you offer is a good call. After deciding on what tasks are essential to provide top-notch service, try to document each step in detail so that everyone on your team knows what needs to be done and how to do it.

You can also assign specific roles to your team members and develop a timeline for each step to expectations for completion. Additionally, you may want to put quality control measures in place to make sure the work meets your agency’s standards.

• Communicating regularly with clients and providing updates on progress

Speaking of building trust and ensuring everyone’s on the same page, regular communication with clients is a must for digital marketing agencies.

To develop a regular dialogue, starting by setting clear expectations with clients from the outset is a good approach. In the initial discussions, discover how often clients would like to receive updates and what specific info they prefer to be kept abreast of.

Waiting for clients to request updates is far from ideal; instead, take the initiative to reach out regularly, providing insights into the project’s progress. In case any problems or delays rear their heads, it’s paramount to convey these to clients as soon as they emerge. Honesty is the best policy here.

Absolute Must: Taking Advantage of AI While Running Your Digital Agency

It’s high time to discuss how AI in digital marketing delivers high-quality services. We will cover a variety of topics, including personalization, automation, insights, and creativity.

The talk of the town, AI is a great helper to deliver high-quality digital marketing services. From personalizing campaigns to automating tasks, AI can improve the results and achieve your business objectives.

As an owner of a digital agency, you (and your team) can use AI use to revolutionize your marketing strategy – personalize marketing campaigns and messaging, making them more relevant and effective for individual customers. In addition to the ability to recommend services to customers based on their past behaviors, via AI, you can segment email lists, create personalized landing pages, and more.

What’s more, AI frees up your time by giving you a chance to automate repetitive tasks, such as social media posting and email marketing. As a result, you can focus on more strategic tasks, such as developing creative campaigns and analyzing data.

Speaking of analyzing data, AI also generates insights into customer behavior and market trends. This information can be used to develop more effective marketing strategies.

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How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency | Business Plans and Documents PDF | USA 2022

Hi everyone, welcome to WMB ( W hat is M arketing in B usiness) . In this article, you will exact steps to start a digital marketing agency and how to grow and scale up the digital marketing business. You also need a digital marketing agency business plans, it is a document that contains all the execution plans and strategy to be used in agency. 

Table of Contents

Digital Marketing Agency

Digital marketing is an area of marketing where the business or brand’s product and services are advertised over the internet on the digital devices like desktops, laptops, mobiles or any digital media.

A digital marketing agency is an online advertising marketing company that promote your brand and generates leads for business, product and services in the digital world.

How to Start Online/Internet/Digital Marketing Agency

If you want to start a digital marketing agency, then you need to do following steps. 

Step 1 : Develop Your Necessary Skills

This is the first step of how to start online marketing . If you want to start a digital marketing agency or company, then first of all you need to develop your skills which are necessary for digital marketing for a business. You can develop your technical skills you can join any online or offline courses and study related tutorials on web. Some of the important skills are WordPress Website Development, Content Writing Skills, PPC, SEO, Email Marketing, Creating Online Funnels etc.

Step 2 : Find Your Niche

This is the second step of how to run a digital marketing agency . Since competition is everywhere, so you don’t need to target all the businesses. You need to target only a specific audience. For this, you need to decide your niche and focus only smaller audience. For example, you can do digital marketing for restaurant only, for educational institutions etc.

Step 3 : List Digital Marketing Services

This is the third step of how to start an online marketing agency . In digital marketing, there are a lot of services that can be provide to the client. It may be website development and maintenance, SEO, SEM, SMM, PPC etc. You need specify your digital marketing services for your digital marketing agency. There are following digital marketing services. 

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
• SEM (Search Engine Marketing)
• Website Designing and Development
• SMM (Social Media Marketing)
• Email Marketing
• Remarketing
• Content Developing
• Content Marketing
• Link Building
• Affiliate Marketing
• PPC (Pay Per Click)
• Video Marketing
• ORM (Online Reputation Management)
• Amazon Marketing Services
• Ecommerce Marketing

Step 4 : Competitor Research

This is the fourth step of how to start your own marketing company . In starting any business, you need to do research on your competitors. You need to collect what the offers provided by them to business owners, what the keywords using in their contents are etc. You need to do research at least 10 to 15 competitors. And, finally research their monetizing methods used in their businesses.

Step 5 : Do Freelancer Digital Projects

This is the fifth step of how to run a marketing agency . Before starting an online or digital marketing agency, you must to do some freelance work. You can take any digital projects from a reputed agency and gain some experience in digital marketing. Deliver all the complete project to their client so that the client and agency owner gain profit in their business. By doing this, you have great connection with your professionals and they will provide you some projects for your digital marketing agency business in future.

Step 6 : Launch Your Website

This is the sixth step of how to start internet marketing agency . For any business online, you need a website. A digital marketing agency must have a website. To build a website, you need a domain and web hosting and then develop your site using any website building CMS (Content Management Services) tool like WordPress, Joomla, Bootstrap etc. But before all of this, you must written your websites contents, created your images etc.

Step 7 : Build Your Portfolio

This is the seventh step of how to set up a marketing agency . After launching your website, you need to get some reviews and positive response of your services so that your potential customers can trust on your business. For this, you need to build some portfolios. In portfolios, it must have in-depth case studies, client testimonials, attracting headlines, upcoming goals etc. Collect these portfolios and share them on social media platforms.

Step 8 : Setting Business Models

This is the eighth step of how to start an online marketing company . When a client is coming to you to do the digital marketing business for their company, then you need to set your strategy how you will proceed for this. After that, you need to decide how to charge for your business clients. It is an hourly basis, monthly basis, target basis etc. It totally depends on you.

Step 9 : Make Social Media Presence

This is the ninth step of how to start a social media agency . To start a digital marketing agency, you need to be present on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc. These platforms have billions of traffic and they have millions of audience account profile. If you present on social media everywhere, you can target your potential customers by sharing your business proposal on these social media networking sites.

Step 10 : Choose Digital Tools

This is the tenth step of how to get started in digital marketing . Now, you have learn all the digital skills that are required for running a digital marketing agency. In internet world, there are a lot of digital tools for website analytics, image creation, content creation, SEO, PPC, SMM etc. It is time to select your favorite digital tools which you are comfortable to use them and gain some experience on using these tools.

Step 11 : Generate Leads

This is the eleventh step of how to create a digital marketing agency . Now, for doing a business in your digital marketing agency, you need leads. There are many methods to generate leads such as creating a Facebook page and share an engaging image on daily, starting a YouTube channels and upload a video daily etc. The images or video content may be any tutorial, case studies etc. so that your potential customers might be interested in your digital marketing agency services. Now, you must provide them a free eBook, free PDF, free webinar etc. in return they will provide their email id and contact detail. And then, you need to educate them by following up.

Step 12 : Convert Leads into Clients

This is the twelfth step of how to create a digital marketing agency . Now, you have some leads for you digital marketing agency. Your next task would be convert them into paying clients. It will be done by sharing your previous client’s feedback and testimonials etc. You need to provide some free offers or some special seasons discounts etc.

Step 13 : Provides Service to Clients

This is the thirteen step of how to start a digital marketing agency . When you have paying clients for your digital marketing business, now you need to provide digital marketing services to their businesses. The services may be from website building to running paid campaigns, it depends on their business requirements.

Step 14 : Track Results Analytics

This is the fourteen step of how to run digital marketing agency . After running paid campaigns, you need to analyze the ads performance and edit your ads according to the analysis reports. A digital marketing companies share this analytics report to business owners.

Step 15 : Scale Digital Marketing Agency

This is the fifteen step of how to run a successful digital marketing agency . If you have some high ticket paying clients for you digital marketing services and have a sum of money, then you need to scale you digital marketing agency to get more and more paying client. For this, you need to reinvest in your agency to grow your business. You need to run a lot paid campaigns for trial which ads setting is working or not.

Step 16 : Build Your Digital Skilled Team

This is the sixteen step of how to start a digital marketing business . It is very true that a startup or a new business has only one employee which do all the works in digital marketing agency and a successful companies has a lot of experts in their digital tools. So, if you want to scale your digital marketing agency, then you need to make a good and high skilled team members who are experts in their fields. Therefore, you need to hire some skilled employee and make them as family members of your company.

Step 17 : Register Your Business

This is the seventeen step of how to start an online advertising business . This is not a mandatory step at the time of starting any business. It will compulsory after your small business become a brand. You can do this after some years of establishing your business. Registering your business means taking the copyrights of your business ideas, business name, logo etc. By doing this, no one can copy your name, logo etc. If someone is copying your business name and logo, then you can take a legal action against them. 

Digital Marketing Agency Business Plans and Documents PDF

A digital marketing agency business plan is a document that has full details of executing your business strategy. In this document, all the current level of a business and future plan of business is mentioned.

A digital marketing agency owner and executive make this business plans document for providing the digital marketing services. In this PDF, it has all the operational steps that are required to execute the strategy of their clients.

Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Components

A digital marketing agency business plan has following components: 

Executive Summary

In this digital marketing agency business plan component, a summary of entire business and marketing plans of this document is mentioned. It covers all the main facts, strategies and budgets of the business and executive’s details.

Marketing Objective Statement

In this digital marketing agency business plan component, a marketing objective contains mission and vision of company. The company core values and its future plan is mentioned.

Marketing Analysis by SWOT

A market analysis is an overall assessment of a market. The assessment of a market is considered in terms of marketing trends, size etc. The marketing analysis is done by SWOT method.

S for Strength :

It defines the strength of a business. This is identified the following questioners. 

For example:

• What is your quality of your products?
• What makes you unique?
• What is your value of product and services?

W for Weakness :

It defines the weakest point of a business. This is identified the following questioners.

• What are the some areas you need to improve?
• What are lack of information required to beat the competition?

O for Opportunity :

It defines the trends in the current market so that the business can adapt it to grow. This is identified the following questioners.

• What are current trends in market?
• What are the lifestyles choices of the audience?

T for Threats :

It defines some facts that do negative impact in the business. This is identified the following questioners.

• What are some negative aspects of your targeted market?
• What are price fluctuating in the market?

Competitor Analysis

In this digital marketing agency business plan component, the competitors details like their marketing strategies, how they are planning to achieve their goals.

Target Market/Buyer Personas

In this digital marketing agency business plan component, the buyer personas are listed. It includes their demographics, interest, purchasing behaviors. The specific problems of your targeted customers and their solutions is mentioned.

Pricing Strategy

In this digital marketing agency business plan component, the pricing of new launching product or services are defined. The pricing for the business product or services are based various facts like what the cost of production, price in market, what the customer’s financial etc.

Growth Strategy

In this digital marketing agency business plan component, all the business growth strategies are included like what the planning for marketing is considered, how to use paid media campaigns, what the content strategy etc.

Digital Marketing Channels

In this digital marketing agency business plan component, the digital marketing channels are fixed on which the paid promotion of the business or product are run. You need to select your paid campaigns platforms like Facebook Ads, Google Ad, etc.

Investments/Budgets

In this digital marketing agency business plan component, the total budget required in running the paid campaigns or using other digital resources are calculated.

Team Members

In this digital marketing agency business plan component, some of the team members of your digital marketing agency are included with their names, contact details, their expertise etc. These experts execute all the strategies that is mentioned here is execute.

Actions Plans

In this digital marketing agency business plan component, the list of tasks or actions of the team members are assigned with their business marketing objectives.

Digital Marketing Agency Business Plans Documents PDF

There are following two digital marketing agency business plans document PDF developed by other company:

Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Document PDF 1: 

Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Document PDF 2: 

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How To Write a Marketing Agency Business Plan + Template

Creating a business plan is essential for any business, but it can be especially helpful for marketing agency businesses that want to improve their strategy and/or raise funding.

A well-crafted business plan not only outlines the vision for your company, but also documents a step-by-step roadmap of how you are going to accomplish it. In order to create an effective business plan, you must first understand the components that are essential to its success.

This article provides an overview of the key elements that every marketing agency owner should include in their business plan.

Download the Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Template

What is a Marketing Agency Business Plan?

A marketing agency business plan is a formal written document that describes your company’s business strategy and its feasibility. It documents the reasons you will be successful, your areas of competitive advantage, and it includes information about your team members. Your business plan is a key document that will convince investors and lenders (if needed) that you are positioned to become a successful venture.

Why Write a Marketing Agency Business Plan?

A marketing agency business plan is required for banks and investors. The document is a clear and concise guide of your business idea and the steps you will take to make it profitable.

Entrepreneurs can also use this as a roadmap when starting their new company or venture, especially if they are inexperienced in starting a business.

Writing an Effective Marketing Agency Business Plan

The following are the key components of a successful marketing agency business plan:

Executive Summary

The executive summary of a marketing agency business plan is a one to two page overview of your entire business plan. It should summarize the main points, which will be presented in full in the rest of your business plan.

• Start with a one-line description of your marketing agency
• Provide a short summary of the key points in each section of your business plan, which includes information about your company’s management team, industry analysis, competitive analysis, and financial forecast among others.

Company Description

This section should include a brief history of your company. Include a short description of how your company started, and provide a timeline of milestones your company has achieved.

If you are just starting your marketing agency , you may not have a long company history. Instead, you can include information about your professional experience in this industry and how and why you conceived your new venture. If you have worked for a similar company before or have been involved in an entrepreneurial venture before starting your marketing agency, mention this.

You will also include information about your chosen marketing agency business model and how, if applicable, it is different from other companies in your industry.

Industry Analysis

The industry or market analysis is an important component of a marketing agency business plan. Conduct thorough market research to determine industry trends and document the size of your market. 

Questions to answer include:

• What part of the marketing agency industry are you targeting?
• How big is the market?
• What trends are happening in the industry right now (and if applicable, how do these trends support the success of your company)?

You should also include sources for the information you provide, such as published research reports and expert opinions.

Customer Analysis

This section should include a list of your target audience(s) with demographic and psychographic profiles (e.g., age, gender, income level, profession, job titles, interests). You will need to provide a profile of each customer segment separately, including their needs and wants.

For example, the customers of a marketing agency may include small businesses, non-profit organizations, or even individuals.

You can include information about how your customers make the decision to buy from you as well as what keeps them buying from you.

Develop a strategy for targeting those customers who are most likely to buy from you, as well as those that might be influenced to buy your products or marketing agency services with the right marketing.

Competitive Analysis

The competitive analysis helps you determine how your product or service will be different from competitors, and what your unique selling proposition (USP) might be that will set you apart in this industry.

For each competitor, list their strengths and weaknesses. Next, determine your areas of competitive differentiation and/or advantage; that is, in what ways are you different from and ideally better than your competitors.

Below are sample competitive advantages your marketing agency may have:

• Proven track record of success
• Strong client base
• Robust marketing strategy and execution
• Highly qualified and experienced team
• State-of-the-art technology and tools

Marketing Plan

This part of the business plan is where you determine and document your marketing plan. . Your plan should be clearly laid out, including the following 4 Ps.

• Product/Service : Detail your product/service offerings here. Document their features and benefits.
• Price : Document your pricing strategy here. In addition to stating the prices for your products/services, mention how your pricing compares to your competition.
• Place : Where will your customers find you? What channels of distribution (e.g., partnerships) will you use to reach them if applicable?
• Promotion : How will you reach your target customers? For example, you may use social media, write blog posts, create an email marketing campaign, use pay-per-click advertising, launch a direct mail campaign. Or, you may promote your marketing agency via public relations or word-of-mouth.

Operations Plan

This part of your marketing agency business plan should include the following information:

• How will you deliver your product/service to customers? For example, will you do it in person or over the phone only?
• What infrastructure, equipment, and resources are needed to operate successfully? How can you meet those requirements within budget constraints?

The operations plan is where you also need to include your company’s business policies. You will want to establish policies related to everything from customer service to pricing, to the overall brand image you are trying to present.

Finally, and most importantly, in your Operations Plan, you will lay out the milestones your company hopes to achieve within the next five years. Create a chart that shows the key milestone(s) you hope to achieve each quarter for the next four quarters, and then each year for the following four years. Examples of milestones for a marketing agency include reaching $X in sales. Other examples include adding X new clients or launching a new website.

Management Team

List your team members here including their names and titles, as well as their expertise and experience relevant to your specific marketing agency industry. Include brief biography sketches for each team member.

Particularly if you are seeking funding, the goal of this section is to convince investors and lenders that your team has the expertise and experience to execute on your plan. If you are missing key team members, document the roles and responsibilities you plan to hire for in the future.

Financial Plan

Here you will include a summary of your complete and detailed financial plan (your full financial projections go in the Appendix). 

This includes the following three financial statements:

Income Statement

Your income statement should include:

• Revenue : how much revenue you generate.
• Cost of Goods Sold : These are your direct costs associated with generating revenue. This includes labor costs, as well as the cost of any equipment and supplies used to deliver the product/service offering.
• Net Income (or loss) : Once expenses and revenue are totaled and deducted from each other, this is the net income or loss.

Sample Income Statement for a Startup Marketing Agency

Balance sheet.

Include a balance sheet that shows your assets, liabilities, and equity. Your balance sheet should include:

• Assets : All of the things you own (including cash).
• Liabilities : This is what you owe against your company’s assets, such as accounts payable or loans.
• Equity : The worth of your business after all liabilities and assets are totaled and deducted from each other.

Sample Balance Sheet for a Startup Marketing Agency

Cash flow statement.

Include a cash flow statement showing how much cash comes in, how much cash goes out and a net cash flow for each year. The cash flow statement should include:

• Cash Flow From Operations
• Cash Flow From Investments
• Cash Flow From Financing

Below is a sample of a projected cash flow statement for a startup marketing agency .

Sample Cash Flow Statement for a Startup Marketing Agency

You will also want to include an appendix section which will include:

• Your complete financial projections
• A complete list of your company’s business policies and procedures related to the rest of the business plan (marketing, operations, etc.)
• Any other documentation which supports what you included in the body of your business plan.

Writing a good business plan gives you the advantage of being fully prepared to launch and/or grow your marketing agency . It not only outlines your business vision but also provides a step-by-step process of how you are going to accomplish it.

If you are seeking funding from investors or lenders, it is especially important to have a well-written business plan that demonstrates the expertise and experience of your management team, as well as your company’s potential for financial success. By taking the time to write a detailed and comprehensive business plan, you will give your marketing agency the best chance for success.  

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Wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your marketing agency business plan?

With our Ultimate Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

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