I work with founders of small agencies – usually businesses where the founder is still close to the direction, decisions, and delivery.
At this stage the problem is rarely ideas or ambition. It’s that everything competes for the founder’s time and attention at once. Decisions feel heavier than they should. Effort doesn’t always turn into progress. The agency works, but running it is more demanding, and less satisfying, than it ought to be.
What I help with
Most of my work comes down to two things: improving the speed and quality of your decisions, and bringing the business into line with what you actually want it to support. In practice that looks like:
- Clearer priorities, and honest trade-offs between them
- Untangling the problems that have been circling for too long
- Carrying less of it alone
- A business that’s calmer and more predictable to run
- Effort that translates into clear progress, not just activity
It isn’t about motivation, pressure, or growth for its own sake. It’s about thinking clearly, choosing deliberately, and staying with the consequences of those choices. That suits founders who want a thinking partner for building something sustainable, rather than a cheerleader promising a quick exit.
How I work
The shape varies, but it’s usually a combination of regular conversation and focused attention on whatever matters most at the time. Sometimes that means stepping back to make sense of the bigger picture. Sometimes it’s getting specific and practical about a problem that needs resolving, drawing on direct experience to clear a roadblock. In some cases it’s a more formal role with board-level discussion.
What doesn’t change is the nature of the involvement: independent perspective, informed challenge, and enough continuity to hold the context over time.
I bring close to three decades in agencies, including building and exiting my own. But the value isn’t in me telling you what to do. It’s in helping you see situations more clearly, make better decisions, and align the business with the outcomes you care about, inside and outside work.
Where I add most value
I’ve worked with agencies from solo operators to teams of 200-plus. My sweet spot is the small, independent agency where the founder is still the engine of the business — usually established and mature, still the main decision-maker and sales lead, and finding that the business doesn’t yet run as smoothly as they know it could.
This is a specific stage, and it needs a specific kind of support: practical, affordable, and focused on the transition rather than scaling for its own sake. These agencies are typically under 15 people, with a UK presence.
“As a lone agency founder, Mat has saved me from my ‘lonely at the top’ existence. Working with him has allowed me to bounce ideas and questions and benefit from his experience, insights and ability to get me to the core of an issue with (mostly) gentle questioning!”
– Duncan Davidson, Rohallion
Where we start
We just start. Two online meetings in the diary each month from day one, and we begin by working out where the business is and isn’t serving you, forming the plan as we go. I ask for a loose three-month minimum, but it’s deliberately non-contracted. I wouldn’t hold a founder to it if they weren’t feeling the benefit in that time.
I set aside half a day a month per client as a minimum. Many choose to book more as momentum builds.
What does it cost?
Price is based on agency size, so the service stays affordable for the smallest agencies. For simplicity I base it on FTE headcount, founders included.
- 1-4 FTE £600/month
- 5-10 FTE £800/month
- 11+ FTE £1000/month
My business is more about helping and having impact over maximising my own revenue. With this in mind, I do offer a lighter-touch option for the smallest agencies (1-2 FTE) without the budget for a full engagement. This is based on monthly cadence at £400/month.
I fix your price for at least 12 months, so you know where you stand. There’s no minimum term beyond the loose three months above. Prices are subject to VAT
“I’d been looking for external support for ages but never quite felt right about anyone. After a few meetings with Mat I trusted his judgement, and working together has been one of the best things I’ve done for the agency. He holds me to account in a nice way and helps me see the wood for the trees.”
– Richard Michie, The Marketing Optimist
A sensible next step
If this way of working sounds relevant, the next step is just to start a conversation. The aim of that call is clarity, and to work out whether we’re a good fit for each other, rather than any kind of sales pressure.
Start the conversation by getting in touch.