Blog
Insights on agency profitability, operations, and growth.
How to Build a More Profitable Retainer Model for Your Agency, with Carson Pierce — Ep.198
About this Episode In this episode of the Agency Profit Podcast, Marcel is joined once again by operations expert Carson Pierce to unpack one of the most misunderstood but critical revenue models in the agency world: retainers. Together they trace the history of retainers from professional services to modern digital agencies and explain why the […]
Achieving More Freedom as a Creative, with Matt Essam — Ep. 197
About this Episode In this episode of the Agency Profit Podcast, Marcel is joined by Matt Essam, founder of The Creative Life and bestselling author of Create and Prosper, to unpack how top-level creatives can build businesses that actually serve their lives rather than drain them. Drawing from his own journey from agency work to […]
The Hidden Cost of Utilization, with Carson Pierce — Ep. 196
About this Episode In this episode of the Agency Profit Podcast, Marcel is joined once again by Carson Pierce to unpack one of the trickiest dynamics in running a service business: utilization. While many agency owners understand the surface-level math of underutilization, Carson and Marcel dig into the hidden and often overlooked costs that come […]
Operationalizing and De-Risking Positioning, with Mike Grinberg–Ep.195
About this Episode In this episode of the Agency Profit Podcast, Marcel is joined by Mike Grinberg, founder of Proofpoint Marketing, to dig into one of the most misunderstood levers of agency success: positioning. Drawing on his experience helping boutique firms stand out against industry giants, Mike introduces a risk-based lens for positioning and shows […]
Insights from Europe on Global Competition, Talent, and AI, with Carson Pierce — Ep.194
About this Episode In this episode of the Agency Profit Podcast, Marcel is joined Parakeeto’s Operations Consultant – Carson Pierce to unpack insights from Marcel’s recent trip to Web Summer Camp in Croatia, a gathering of highly technical agencies from across Europe. Drawing from conversations with founders in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, they explore […]
The Untapped Lever: Maximizing Agency Value Through People & Leadership, with James Friel — Ep. 193
About this Episode In this episode of the Agency Profit Podcast, Marcel is joined by serial entrepreneur and leadership expert James P. Friel to explore one of the most overlooked levers in agency growth: building high-performing teams through better leadership. Drawing from his background in corporate strategy and years of advising founders, James breaks down […]
The Most Common Agency Pricing Mistakes, with Kristen Kelly –Ep. 192
About This Episode In this episode of the Agency Profit Podcast, Marcel is joined once again by agency operations expert Kristen Kelly to break down one of the most misunderstood and impactful levers in agency profitability—pricing. Together, they uncover the six most common pricing mistakes agencies make, from “vibe-based” guesswork and undercharging, to choosing the […]
Recurring Revenue, More Freedom: Navigating the SaaS Trap for Agencies, with Stephen Neville –Ep. 191
About this Episode In this episode of the Agency Profit Podcast, Marcel is joined by Stephen Neville, CEO of BugHerd, to unpack the fantasy many agency owners entertain: trading their service-based business model for the greener grass of software. Drawing from Stephen’s journey from running a digital agency to scaling a SaaS product, they explore […]
Fractional COO vs. Operational Intelligence: What Agencies Actually Need, with Kristen Kelly. –Ep. 190
About this Episode In this episode of the Agency Profit Podcast, Marcel is joined by returning guest and Parakeeto team member Kristen Kelly to demystify a common crossroads for growing agencies: hiring a fractional COO versus building operational intelligence. They dig into the million-dollar revenue inflection point, where founders often feel the pressure to “fix […]
Going from Solo Consultant to Firm Builder, with Michael Zipursky — Ep. 189
About this Episode In this episode of the Agency Profit Podcast, Marcel is joined by Michael Zipursky—founder of Consulting Success and a leading voice in the world of consulting—to explore how solo consultants can scale their businesses without losing their freedom or profitability. They unpack the key differences between staying lean as a high-earning “super […]
How to Choose the Right Project Management Tool for Your Agency, with Carson Pierce — Ep.188
About this Episode In this episode of the Agency Profit Podcast, Marcel chats with Carson Pierce from the Parakeeto team to demystify the chaos around choosing project management tools in the agency world. With hundreds of platforms flooding the market—many promising to do it all—they unpack why tool selection matters far less than you think. […]
The 3 Key Financial Metrics for Agency Success, with Jon Morris– Ep. 187
About this Episode In this episode of the Agency Profit Podcast, Marcel chats with Jon Morris—CEO of Fiscal Advocate and creator of EngineBI—about the three most critical financial metrics every agency owner should monitor: cash reserves, profit margin, and year-over-year revenue growth. They break down how having strong cash positions creates strategic optionality (like M&A […]
