After spending 15+ years building, growing, and eventually selling a wildly successful creative services agency, boy oh boy do I have some secrets to share. I invite you to explore my proven creative agency consultant process which has worked wonders for smaller creative service agencies and other types of service-based businesses.

When I built and sold my own creative service agency, I uncovered the hidden keys to productizing the creative service industry—a discovery that not only propelled my success but also transformed the way my agency operated.

Avoid the painful mistakes I encountered along the way and accelerate your business’s success with my tried-and-true techniques and tips.

Here’s how I’ll lead you to a place of stability and freedom.

Step One: Establish Goals

My process begins with a discovery phase.

I’ll dive deep into understanding what your business does, how it does it, and who is involved in making it happen.

During this time, we’ll establish high-level goals at both the business and owner levels. We’ll discuss the successes, challenges, and areas that need improvement.

Ultimately, during this phase, my goal is to fully understand your struggles and define what both short-term and long-term success looks like for you and your business.

Creative Agency Consultant Step Two: Services, Team, and Targets

Next, I’ll conduct an in-depth review of your current services, including associated revenue and profit surrounding them, their current workflows, and the personnel responsible for delivering these services. 

Together, we will examine your current and potential customers, identifying who they are, why they need you, and where they can be reached.

We will make decisions about which services to offer moving forward based on profitability and ease of operation. We will determine which workflows need creation or refinement, and what shifts need to be made in personnel roles and responsibilities to support these services. 

This process also helps us identify and define your target audience—an insight that will greatly support your marketing efforts.

Creative Agency Consultant Step Three: Business Systems

We’ll then review all the tasks and systems that support your business operations. 

We will dissect and review any actions carried out under the realm of accounting, human resources, business development, etc. that allow your business to run smoothly. 

Our goal is to ensure every process is considered and optimized for success.

Step Four: Capacity, Utilization, and Workflows

This phase requires focus, detail, and determination. 

For each service you provide, we will develop a detailed workflow that outlines tasks, time allocation, personnel responsibilities, and sequence. This mapping helps us understand how much of a team member’s time is required for each service, how many services can be delivered annually, and how to price each service appropriately.

With this information, we can assess team capacity and utilization, determine if employees are being fully engaged, and identify opportunities to boost revenue. This analysis may also reveal if your team is overloaded, highlight inefficiencies, and show which positions might need to be added or adjusted. Armed with this clarity, we can clearly define your service offerings and set realistic targets.

Creative Agency Consultant Step Five: Revenue

Once the operational aspects are clear, we shift our focus to establishing a realistic revenue projection. 

We’ll review your current operating budget to ensure it’s organized in a way that supports operations, ongoing tracking, and those that manage the budget. 

With a comprehensive understanding of your services, resource requirements, and a well-structured budget, we can accurately project your revenue.

By exploring various service models, we will identify the mix of services required to reach your revenue goals. 

This information also informs your business development and marketing efforts. We are no longer selling any service, but we are focused, armed with the knowledge of what services we need to sell, who we are selling them to, and how many of each we need to sell to hit our projected revenue for the year. 

We will also develop a budget narrative to help all team members who interact with your operating budget understand proper allocations and maintain alignment.

Step Six: Job Descriptions

With a solid understanding of your company’s functions, we can now define the necessary roles. 

This includes establishing job positions, salary ranges, and specific responsibilities—thereby formalizing job descriptions. 

We will also assess your current team and determine how best to align everyone within these roles, and some decisions during this phase may demand personnel changes or adjustments. 

A final organizational chart reflective of your new plan for doing business will be solidified. 

Step Seven: Enhancements

At this stage, numerous improvements are most likely on the horizon. 

With a clear picture of your ideal team structure, service offerings, workflows, and compensation model, you’re well-equipped to begin to implement enhancements. 

It’s essential to communicate these changes effectively to your team, building both excitement and clarity. Doing this with equal amounts of caution, intention, and enthusiasm is a craft in and of itself.   

We will review and introduce the tools and systems necessary to support these improvements. 

This might involve implementing new project management software or modifying existing systems, developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and establishing processes to track key performance indicators (KPIs). 

Some enhancements can be implemented immediately, while others may be rolled out over a predetermined period of time.

Creative Agency Consultant Step Eight: Processes and Proposals

Next, we will work to create written processes and proposals for each service you offer. 

Clearly defined processes help internal operations run smoothly, providing clarity each step of the way. 

This also equips you and your team to clearly articulate your process to your potential customers, helping them understand how you will uncover success, and what the process will be to get there. 

When your sales pitch accurately reflects the outcomes delivered during project execution, you build trust and loyalty—fostering repeat business and turning customers into passionate brand advocates.

These processes also allow you to define the scope and limitations of each service. 

We will develop standard proposals that can be quickly customized for new business opportunities, ensuring that the process for proposal creation and deployment is well-defined and that proper lead tracking is in place. 

This clarity also supports direction in sales meetings, goal-setting, and the development of marketing collateral. 

We also review any legal requirements to ensure safe and compliant operations.

Step Nine: Marketing

With your services and revenue goals established, we will develop an annual marketing plan to support your objectives. 

Whether using traditional methods, digital advertising, or content-driven strategies, your marketing plan should be clearly defined with initiative, budget, cadence, and objective. Not only will we identify ongoing marketing activities, but we will also pinpoint any brand collateral that is needed to directly support sales. 

I’ll conduct a preliminary website audit to ensure your online presence aligns with your defined services, identifying and directing any areas that need adjustments.

Step Ten: Creative Agency Culture

Next, we will focus on establishing or enhancing your agency’s culture. 

Together, we define initiatives that reinforce your desired culture, assign budgets, and set a clear cadence for these activities. 

We will develop the processes and logistics required, and determine the best timing and methods for implementation.

Step Eleven: Customer Journey

At this stage, we map out your client journey from initial awareness to project completion to referral. 

We define each step, ensuring every touchpoint is optimized—from onboarding to offboarding and everything in between. 

Where needed, we will formalize processes to support and align those involved.

Creative Agency Consultant Step Twelve: Positioning Statement and Brand Promises

With a firm grasp on your services, we craft a positioning statement that clearly communicates what your agency offers. 

We also define your brand promises to set clear expectations for your clients and ensure that your team is fully aligned with these commitments.

Creative Agency Consultant Step Thirteen: Meeting Structure and Cadence

To keep your agency operating smoothly, we will identify the necessary recurring meetings. 

For each meeting, we will define its purpose and outline the activities needed for success. 

We will also create a scorecard to track key performance indicators, providing ongoing insight into the health of your agency. 

Additionally, we will identify essential annual tasks to ensure nothing is overlooked, unplanned, or unaccounted for.

Step Fourteen: Annual Plan for the Upcoming Year

Finally, we collaborate to create an annual plan that includes clear goals, services and offerings, marketing initiatives, and operational strategies to make the upcoming year a success. 

With a well-defined plan in place, you can implement the necessary measures to drive your business forward and achieve lasting success.

Do Not Delay—Hire Me Today

Are ready to transform your creative services agency and achieve the stability and freedom you’ve always dreamed of? With my proven creative agency consultant process, you can bypass costly mistakes and accelerate your growth with confidence.

Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by operational challenges or simply ready to take your agency to the next level, my experience and proven techniques are here to guide you every step of the way.

If you’re tired, worn down, or simply want guidance from someone who’s been there, don’t wait one second longer—reach out, and let’s change your life and your business.