Agency Growth Diagnostic

Each agency is unique, but here’s what agency owners and executives have shared getting from the Agency Growth Diagnostic:

• Aligned their leadership team, by finally getting everyone on the same page.
• Validated their existing growth plans, while getting tips to optimize things.
• Identified “quick win” opportunities, to help improve before the end of the year.
• Helped feel more energized and confident, in having specific next steps to implement toward their long-term goals—this year and beyond.

Curious about your potential results? Get in touch, and I can share a more specific preview.

No consultant or coach can guarantee specific results—so much depends on implementation, luck, and other factors beyond my control.

That said, you’ll always get the best advice I can give you. My approach focuses on sharing the advice I’d give myself if I were in your situation, with your values, goals, and resources (VGR).

It is unique to you… but I’ve fine-tuned the process over 10+ years in my work with 600+ agencies worldwide. It’s about improving your business, but also about improving your life.

You’ll get custom advice in written, video, and Zoom form. This includes:

• Quick Wins (things you can implement now, to make an initial impact)
• Longer-term strategy (things that will take longer, but with a bigger impact)
• Validation on existing plans (including tips to help you get better results)

Yes, you’ll work directly with me on the Agency Growth Diagnostic. This ensures you get great advice while also getting attentive client service. Prospective clients often speak with my colleagues Diane Stadlen or Kate St. Cyr, as we sort out whether your agency would benefit from Karl’s help. Once you start, Kate or Diane will lead the client onboarding process, and then I’ll take it from there.

Due to current client commitments, I’m often running a backlog—but I seek to start helping you as soon as I can. Once we begin onboarding, you can expect to receive the initial Agency Growth Diagnosticdeliverable within 4-6 weeks of kickoff. Reach out to me and my team, and we can discuss your goals and timing.

You’ll get advice within about a month of our starting the Agency Growth Diagnostic project. Then, we’ll do a Q&A call to answer your questions about implementing the advice.

The total project takes 4-6 weeks. I work quickly—as the oldest of five kids from a military family, I have a high sense of urgency. My clients like that.

Plan on spending 7-10 hours (total) per stakeholder, over 4-6 weeks. Most of that is at the beginning (as you share initial data) and the end (as you review the custom-to-you advice).

All owners (one, two, or three people) need to be involved. With rare exceptions, I don’t work with agencies that have more than three owners.

If you have a hired CEO, they usually should be part of the project. If you have a COO, they likely should be included, too.

Some clients will do “owners only” for the Agency Growth Diagnostic and then include their executive team later.

the Agency Growth Diagnostic is a flat price based on the number of key stakeholders, in USD:

• $8,000 (one stakeholder) — e.g., one owner
• $10,000 (two stakeholders) — e.g., two owners, or an owner and their COO
• $13,000 (three stakeholders) — e.g., 2-3 owners, plus key executives
• $17,000 (four stakeholders) — e.g., 2-3 owners, plus key executives

Payment is due in advance, to officially schedule your Agency Growth Diagnostic project.

Clients in the U.S. pay online via ACH bank debit (aka “eCheck”), through Intuit QBO. If you’re outside the U.S., we’ll make alternative arrangements to pay via Stripe.

Yes. I’ve helped clients in 36 countries so far, on every inhabited continent. (Sorry, Antarctica.)

We do calls via Zoom. I’m in the same time zone as New York City. For clients in the Asia-Pacific region, I’m glad to schedule morning calls your time (my late-afternoon or early evening). For clients in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), I’m glad to schedule afternoon calls your time (my morning).

Calls are in English.

Most clients hire me without doing reference checks, because they’ve followed my advice for months or years or because they’ve reviewed my case studies.

If we’re a good match but you’re still on the fence, I may share a specific reference or two at the end of the sales process. Once we get to that point, let me know what info you’re seeking and I can connect you to references who’d be a good match to answer your questions. It’s important for me to respect my clients’ time.

Yes, I’m glad to recommend other agency consultants and coaches—including specialists on M&A, legal services, fractional CFO services, business development, and more. If you reach out and someone else would be a better match for you, I’ll point you to them quickly. It’s a small industry, and fit is important—I want you to find the right person to help you.

The client agreement includes a confidentiality clause—but my approach to confidentiality goes beyond any paperwork. How so? We’re in a small industry—I’d go out of business if I developed a reputation as someone who shared confidential information with other people.

• In one case, Agency B reached out for help, and I knew they were Agency A’s biggest whitelabel client. I referred the new agency owners to one of my competitors.
• In the other case, Agency C recommended me to Agency D, which did subcontracting for Agency C—so they both knew we were working together. But I didn’t share anything the other told me, and vice versa.

If I receive a referral fee, I disclose this when I make the recommendation.

The Agency Growth Diagnostic is a one-off mini-project, designed to provide custom advice based on a comprehensive review of your agency. It’s not an ongoing relationship, although you have the option to add a custom  ongoing support.

Executive Coaching is an ongoing relationship, where you get advice and accountability to reach your long-term goals. Coaching starts by doing the Agency Growth Diagnostic. After that, it’s month-to-month—but new clients typically commit 6-12 months to start. Including same-day emergency support, this is what some clients call “agency therapy” (note: I’m not a therapist).

A custom consulting project focuses on solving specific large problems. The project typically runs over a short period of time (e.g., 2-4 months).

Both Executive Coaching and custom consulting require starting with the Agency Growth Diagnostic.

We won’t solve all of your problems in 4-6 weeks, but the Agency Growth Diagnosticis more than “paid discovery.” During the project, you’ll receive custom advice (quick wins, long-term strategy, and feedback on your existing plans).

After the Agency Growth Diagnostic, you can move forward more confidently on your own—or add optional custom ongoing support to accelerate your progress.