The Agency Growth Podcast

Josh Kimmes is back on the podcast to talk about the boring, unsexy work of getting inbound leads without relying on an exhausting outbound sales machine.We break down exactly how his agency gets a steady flow of qualified prospects through highly specific industry service pages. Josh also walks us through his automated referral engine that triggers physical gifts and account credits when clients sign on. It is not about magic tricks, but building out systems that actually reward your clients for a job well done.Later in the episode, we get into the weeds on agency operations and the tech stack running behind the scenes. We discuss his onboarding flow that resets billing dates to buy time for delivery, and the reality of using AI and automation tools without falling for the hype.Building a legitimate operation takes time and heavy documentation. There are no shortcuts here, just agency owners sharing what works in the trenches. Give it a listen and see how you can apply these systems to your own agency.

[Cold open (Jake's wife was gifted an at-home lobotomy kit) ends at 03:43.]This week, we sat down with Sharon Toerek, a legal expert who actually understands the agency world because she's been in it for decades.Sharon broke down the "three legs of the stool" for agency protection: intellectual property, solid contracts, and regulatory compliance. We dug into the messy reality of AI risk management, specifically how your team's casual prompts could be breaching client confidentiality or creating copyright nightmares. It's kind of the "boring" operational stuff that determines whether you actually keep the profit you make.We also looked at why your "one-page contract" might be leaving you wide open to employee poaching or lawsuits over stock photo licenses. Sharon explained why ownership of ad accounts and assets is a major trust hurdle for clients and how to use your contract to lead those tough conversations. If you're tired of "hoping" nothing goes sideways, this episode is a reality check on professionalizing your operation.-----MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:Check out Sharon's website:https://legalandcreative.com/Or find her on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharontoerek/Jake's MarTech article, Shannon gave feedback on agencies owning ad accounts:https://martech.org/what-happens-when-ad-spend-goes-wrong/-----RESOURCES:Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools-----NEWSLETTERWant the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter!https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter-----COMMUNITYLooking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord!https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD-----CONTACTGot something to say? Send us a message:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

[Cold open (Jake Puts the McDonald's CEO to Shame) ends at 08:17.]Starting a marketing agency seems to be the cool thing to do these days. Everyone is doing it, and there is so much noise.How do you cut through it and stand out?We've noticed a trend of people trying to flex an inauthentic, crass personality as their tactic, but cutting through that noise and standing out is much easier, and you don't have to be a clown while you do it.-----RESOURCES:Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools-----NEWSLETTERWant the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter!https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter-----COMMUNITYLooking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord!https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD-----CONTACTGot something to say? Send us a message:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

[Cold open (Jake spills coffee on his keyboard and debates the utility of tablets) ends at 07:49.]Most agency advice treats every client relationship the same, but the reality is that a family-owned local shop and a VC-backed firm require entirely different "languages" to survive.In this episode, we break down how to navigate the power struggles and decision-making hierarchies of different business models. We discuss why "authenticity" can sometimes be a trap, how to manage the friction of new marketing hires, and why your reporting style needs to shift from "raw revenue" to "performative polish" depending on who is signing the checks.Listen in as we explore the nuances of private equity, franchises, and why working with the "big dogs" in publicly traded companies is a completely different game of "dance monkey".-----RESOURCES:Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools-----NEWSLETTERWant the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter!https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter-----COMMUNITYLooking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord!https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD-----CONTACTGot something to say? Send us a message:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

[Cold open ends at 07:13.]There has been a lot of buzz lately with people mentioning and starting "AI Automation Agencies", yet they have no idea how to sell or position the service.They're all operating under some expectation that businesses just inherently need or want these services, which is absolutely not the case.But that doesn't mean you can't sell it and that there isn't value for it.It all comes down to positioning.-----MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:r/agencynewbies threads:[Is this offer worth 2k monthly retainer?]https://www.reddit.com/r/agencynewbies/comments/1rkx1al/is_this_offer_worth_2k_monthly_retainer/-----RESOURCES:Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools-----NEWSLETTERWant the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter!https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter-----COMMUNITYLooking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord!https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD-----CONTACTGot something to say? Send us a message:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

In our pursuit of having an episode for every niche out there, we ran across Dante Montovano, who owns Seven Circle Media, a restaurant marketing agency.We knew restaurant marketing was unique, but we didn't realize how much we didn't actually know about the industry and what actually makes fast food places, QSRs, and fast-casual restaurants the most amount of money.Dante broke down exactly what it takes to be successful in the restaurant industry as a marketing agency and how knowing the industry is your secret weapon.-----MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:Dante Montovanohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dante-montovano-21a54370/Seven Circle Mediahttps://www.sevencirclemedia.com/-----SPONSOR:This week’s episode is sponsored by Wix Studio.-----RESOURCES:Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools-----NEWSLETTERWant the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter!https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter-----COMMUNITYLooking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord!https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD-----CONTACTGot something to say? Send us a message:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

[Cold open (Cody is back from Hawaii) ends at 05:37.]Most agencies you talk to, as well as the entire internet, will tell you that clients should own their own ad accounts, and you should work inside them.But what if we told you this is the wrong way to do it? What if we told you that you are opening yourself up to potentially huge insurance and legal issues doing it this way?Listen to this episode and find out the correct way to protect yourself and your relationships with your clients.-----RESOURCES:Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools-----NEWSLETTERWant the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter!https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter-----COMMUNITYLooking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord!https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD-----CONTACTGot something to say? Send us a message:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

[Cold Open (Professional paintball & 2-star reviews) ends at 16:31]In this episode, we talk about scaling with simple services.We break down why the things that actually grow an agency are often the least exciting to sell, how chasing trendy or “innovative” offers can create complexity instead of leverage, and what has actually worked for us as we’ve grown. We also discuss AI automation, local service ads, retention, and why repeatability matters more than sophistication.This episode is about focus. What makes a service scalable, why simple does not mean easy, and how choosing the right offers can change the trajectory of your agency.-----RESOURCES:Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools-----NEWSLETTERWant the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter!https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter-----COMMUNITYLooking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord!https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD-----CONTACTGot something to say? Send us a message:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

[Cold Open (Jake's Migraine) ends at 6:07]What if the best PR strategy for your agency has nothing to do with your own website? This week, we talk about how to build massive authority and get clients by leveraging established platforms that already have your target audience.We explain why building an audience from scratch is the slow way around. We share our lessons on using niche publications to build instant credibility and why we often prioritize these external sites over our own blog.We also dive into the new reality of AI search. We discuss why ranking number one on Google is no longer enough and what you need to do to ensure ChatGPT actually recommends your agency.-----RESOURCES:Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools-----NEWSLETTERWant the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter!https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter-----COMMUNITYLooking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord!https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD-----CONTACTGot something to say? Send us a message:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

[Cold open (Cody's in Hawaii and why he's there ) ends at 14:28.]For the 4th year in a row, it's that time of year when we cover our annual finances for our agency. Where we grew, what we're spending more money on, and what challenges we're starting to see at our new stages of growth.-----RESOURCES:Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools-----NEWSLETTERWant the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter!https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter-----COMMUNITYLooking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord!https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD-----CONTACTGot something to say? Send us a message:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

[Cold open (Busy Days, Zapier Debates, and Community Growing Pains) ends at 17:15.]In this episode, we talk through our goals for 2026.We break down what we want to focus on with the agency and the podcast, what’s changed in how we think about growth, and why being selective matters more now than ever. We also touch on audience expectations, visibility, and the trade-offs that come with putting opinions out publicly.This episode is about being intentional. What we are committing to, what we are stepping away from, and how those choices shape 2026.-----RESOURCES:Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools-----NEWSLETTERWant the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter!https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter-----COMMUNITYLooking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord!https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD-----CONTACTGot something to say? Send us a message:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

[Cold open [Jakes barber shop is obsessed with Peaky Blinders] ends at 08:16.]The Agency Growth Podcast officially has a new website!And it's built on Wix Studio. We kept our promise after our initial conversation with Kobi Gamliel, Head of Wix Studio, 2 years ago in episode 112.We dove in and put our first site on Wix Studio and so far, like it a lot.But... there are still some issues.There are some things that are no-brainers for agencies to want to use Wix Studio, but there are also some deal breakers depending on who you are and what your agency requires.One thing we really like about Wix is their ability to take criticism and feedback and actually do something about it.This episode serves as just that.-----RESOURCES:Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools-----NEWSLETTERWant the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter!https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter-----COMMUNITYLooking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord!https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD-----CONTACTGot something to say? Send us a message:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

[Cold open [Best gift cards // Is ad blocker piracy?] ends at 12:52.]Cesar is back by popular demand for the 3rd time because we need updates!Last we spoke, everything was on fire at his agency. He was stressed and dealing with over 100 clients with a small team. Employees weren't working out, clients were churning, and to make matters more complicated, he had a baby on the way.Something had to change.On this episode, Cesar gives us an update on how the agency is doing and what directions he's moving in to fix the holes in his agency's ship.-----RESOURCES:Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools-----NEWSLETTERWant the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter!https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter-----COMMUNITYLooking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord!https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD-----CONTACTGot something to say? Send us a message:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

We are big fans of the productized service model and equate our rate to a set hourly limitation and internal billable rate. This isn't a secret. We've had multiple episodes on why knowing your internal hourly rate is crucial.Then we received an email from Jonathan Stark's team wanting to tell us why hourly billing and fixation on hourly tracking is "nuts".For an hour and a half, Jonathan steps into the ring with us to challenge the idea of hourly billing and time tracking with his value-based pricing model.Does he convince us his way is better? Or do we make him see the error of his value-based ways?-----Check out Jonathan at his website:https://jonathanstark.com/Learn more about his book, "Hourly Billing is Nuts":https://jonathanstark.com/hbin-----RESOURCES:Want the tools and resources we recommend for agencies? Check them out here:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/tools-----NEWSLETTERWant the show in your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter!https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/newsletter-----COMMUNITYLooking to join a community of agency owners? Join our Discord!https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD-----CONTACTGot something to say? Send us a message:https://www.agencygrowthpod.com/contact

Every big agency has a CFO but what does a CFO really do? When do you need one?We sit down with Jody Grunden, a virtual CFO for creative and marketing agencies to explain in detail.Jody has been a fractional CFO for business and agencies for over 20 years. We sit down and talk to him to learn why an agency might want a CFO and the difference between a fractional one versus an internal one.Jody talks about the "messy" range between $1.5m and $5m where operations and finances start breaking for most agencies and how to get through it.We also press him on tips and strategies agencies can start doing today to avoid the chaos of hitting that range and falling into plummeting profitability as most agencies begin to scale.-----Find Jody online:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodygrundenhttps://anderscpa.com/Email Jody at:[email protected] THE FREE DISCORDhttps://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRDOur recommended agency tools:everbrospodcast.com/recommended-tools/----------------------------------⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐As always, if you enjoyed this episode or this podcast in general and want to leave us a review or rating, head over to Apple and let us know what you like! It helps us get found and motivates us to keep producing this free content.----------------------------------Want to connect with us? Reach out to us on the everbrospodcast.com website, subscribe to us on YouTube, or connect with us on socials:YouTube: @agencygrowthpodcastTwitter/X: @theagency_uLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/agencypodcastFacebook: facebook.com/theagencyuInstagram: @theagencyuReddit: r/agency & u/JakeHundleyTikTok: @agency.u