Karl Sakas advises agency founders who are preparing for their next chapter—whether that means scaling sustainably, stepping back from daily operations, or planning a profitable exit. He’s worked with hundreds of agencies across six continents to increase margins, eliminate owner bottlenecks, and empower leadership teams to run the business independently.
With a calm, strategic approach, Karl helps owners regain control of their time, make smarter decisions faster, and move confidently toward what’s next. Clients often say he’s the one person who can keep the owner accountable and ensure that the big ideas actually get done.
Karl is the author of four books on agency leadership and growth, including Work Less, Earn More and Calm the Chaos.
My Story
I’ve been working with agency owners since I first learned HTML back in 1997. One of my first web design projects was for a marketing agency that needed a website.
Although I ultimately realized I wasn’t a great designer, I found I loved working with marketing agencies. Agency owners typically love marketing, design, or development—but running the business side of their agency doesn’t come naturally to them.
As a fourth-generation business owner, I grew up talking about client service and strategic planning. That helped me quickly climb the ranks at two agencies, serving as the owner’s right-hand and confidante while leading project management and becoming the head of business operations.
Today I bring 25+ years of consulting experience to our work together, including more than 600 agencies in 36 countries on every inhabited continent. And I share hundreds of free or low-cost resources, including articles and my books about managing agencies.
What I can do for you:
Candid Advice – I’ll tell you what you need to hear, even when it’s not what you want to hear—but I’ll do it diplomatically and help you to understand why it’s important based on your goals for your agency. I don’t judge you for your past choices; instead, it’s about what to do going forward.
Actionable Insights – I’ll tell you how to do it. Drawing on my agency operations background, I know that advice is only good if you can actually implement it.
Confidential Sounding Board – When it’s time to make a business decision at your agency, you don’t have to do it alone. I can share what’s worked (and what hasn’t) for other agencies and help you decide what’s best for your business, based entirely on your unique vision for your agency. And I’ll keep it 100% confidential.