Pricing & Investment

How Much Does Good Agency Cost?

The real question is not what marketing costs. The real question is what it costs to do nothing.

Most growing businesses should invest 5-15% of annual revenue in marketing. Use the calculator below to see what that looks like for your company.

Calculate Your Marketing Budget

This includes everything: salaries, ad spend, agency fees, software, and content production.

Annual Revenue$2,500,000

$1M$50M

Budget Percentage5%

Conservative (1%)Aggressive (20%)

Recommended Year 1 Budget

Foundation + active marketing

$175,000

7% of revenue

Recommended Year 2+ Budget

Scale what works (steady-state)

$125,000

5% of revenue

Get Your Marketing Strategy Free Quiz: AI-Powered Marketing Score

What Is the Cost of Not Taking Action?

Every month you spend without a clear message, a strategy that aligns marketing with sales, and systems that track ROI is a month your competitors are pulling ahead.

Most founder-led businesses we meet have already spent tens of thousands of dollars on marketing that didn't work. Scattered campaigns, misaligned messaging, and vendors who couldn't explain where the leads were coming from.

The cost of inaction is not zero. It is the compounding loss of leads, revenue, and market share that stacks up every quarter you delay.

Lost Leads

Prospects who visit your site, don't understand what you do, and leave for a competitor.

Wasted Spend

Ad dollars, agency fees, and internal time with no measurable return.

Stalled Growth

Revenue plateaus because your marketing can't scale without a system.

Common Objections About Working With an Agency

We hear these concerns often. Here is how we think about each one.

"We tried an agency before, and it didn't work."

Most agencies focus on tactics without first clarifying your message. We start with StoryBrand messaging and a revenue strategy so every tactic is aligned to a clear plan. That is why our approach produces results where others have failed.

"We can't afford an agency right now."

The question is whether you can afford not to invest. If unclear messaging is losing you even a handful of deals a quarter, the cost of doing nothing far exceeds the investment in getting it right. Our Blueprint starts at $5,000 and typically pays for itself within the first quarter.

"We just need someone to run our ads."

Ads without a clear message and a conversion-optimized website are like pouring gasoline on wet wood. We build the foundation first, then amplify with paid channels so your ad dollars actually convert.

"Our industry is different."

We have delivered results for SaaS companies, medical practices, construction firms, nonprofits, and classical schools. The StoryBrand framework works because it is built on how every human brain processes information, regardless of industry.

"We already have a marketing person in-house."

Great. We work alongside internal teams regularly. A Fractional CMO or strategy engagement gives your team senior-level direction, a proven framework, and a 12-month plan they can execute with confidence.

Ongoing Partnerships

Year 1 vs. Year 2: What to Expect

Year one is about building the right foundation, then activating marketing on top of it. Year two is about scaling what we learn.

Year 1

Foundation + Activation

Budget 12-15% of annual revenue.

The first 3-5 months focus on foundational work: messaging, website, video, and brand assets. Once the foundation is in place, we activate marketing with SEO, paid advertising, email campaigns, and content. This is where leads start flowing.

Foundational Work (Months 1-5)

StoryBrand messaging and brand strategy
Professional video production
New website design and development
Updated collateral and sales materials
New logo and brand identity (if needed)
CRM setup and sales process design

Active Marketing (Months 4-12)

SEO and content marketing
Paid advertising (Google, LinkedIn, social)
Email nurture sequences
Revenue operations and reporting

Year 2

Scale What Works

Drop to 6-8% of revenue.

With the foundation built in Year 1, your budget shifts entirely to growth. We double down on the channels producing results, cut what isn't working, and optimize for lower cost-per-acquisition. No more foundational spend means your marketing dollars go further.

Growth Activities

Scale paid advertising on proven channels
Advanced SEO and content expansion
Email automation and lifecycle marketing
Conversion rate optimization
Quarterly strategy reviews and pivots
Campaign testing and iteration
Revenue reporting and forecasting

The Next Step

So Where Should You Start?

Every engagement begins the same way.

Start below.

Start Here

The Revenue Blueprint

A one-day workshop and 12-month plan that turns scattered marketing into predictable revenue. This is where every client engagement begins.

What You Receive

StoryBrand BrandScript and one-liner

Explanatory paragraph that captures your unique value

Full homepage wireframe based on your messaging

Comprehensive 12-month marketing roadmap

Revenue-aligned budget recommendations

2-hour implementation strategy session

Follow-up strategy call for ongoing guidance

Investment

$5,000–$10,000

Based on company size and scope

Why the range?

The investment depends on the size of your organization and whether we focus solely on foundational messaging and positioning or develop a comprehensive 12-month active marketing plan. We right-size the engagement so you get exactly what you need.

100% Satisfaction Guarantee

If you don't see the value at the end of our session together, we'll refund you on the spot. No questions asked.

Immediate ROI

Conversion rates increase as soon as clear messaging is implemented across your marketing and sales collateral, website, video, and more. It becomes easier for prospects to understand how to do business with you and why you are qualified to solve their problem.

Get Your Marketing Strategy

Ready to Stop Guessing?

The process is simple. Book a call, and we will walk you through exactly what an engagement looks like for a company like yours.