Small marketing agency with a part-time team

Small and medium businesses, franchises and local organisations that want a full marketing service without hiring staff.

Monthly retainers and project fees charged above the cost of the contractors or staff doing the work, plus fees for campaign set-up.

• Selling and managing client relationships
• Planning campaigns across channels
• Managing freelancers and deadlines
• Budgeting and pricing

• Check whether a company or sole trader structure suits you, and talk to an accountant about GST
• Check whether contractors are genuinely independent or count as employees under your state's rules
• Workers compensation insurance is generally needed once you hire staff, so check your state scheme
• Consider professional indemnity and public liability insurance
• Cash flow can be tight if clients pay late while you pay contractors, so agree payment terms upfront
• Check advertising, privacy and spam rules for client campaigns

Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your setup, tools and whether you work from home or a shared space. These are estimates, so build your own budget before committing.

Monthly revenue is typically around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on how many clients you win and how much work you outsource. Cash flow can be tight if clients pay late while you pay contractors, so agree payment terms upfront.

Check whether contractors are genuinely independent or count as employees under your state's rules. Workers compensation insurance is generally needed once you hire staff, so check your state scheme. Also talk to an accountant about GST and your business structure.