Small full-service marketing agency

Growing small and mid-sized businesses that want a team handling their marketing for them.

Monthly retainers of a few thousand dollars per client, plus project fees. Margins depend on how well you price against staff or freelancer costs.

• Managing clients and deadlines
• Campaign planning and reporting
• Hiring and managing freelancers or staff

• Check state rules on hiring employees versus contractors, since misclassifying workers can be costly
• Workers' compensation insurance is likely needed once you hire, so check your state's requirements
• Get general liability and professional liability insurance
• Check local business license and sales tax rules for your services, as these differ by state
• Cash flow can be tight if clients pay late while you pay your team
• Losing one large client can hit revenue hard

Estimates typically run around $2,000 to $10,000 to start, depending on whether you rent an office or coworking space, how many freelancers or staff you bring in, and your insurance. Treat this as an estimate.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on your client count, pricing and team size. Cash flow can be tight if clients pay late, and losing one large client can hit revenue hard.

Things to check: state rules on hiring employees versus contractors, workers' compensation requirements once you hire, general and professional liability insurance, and local business license and sales tax rules for your services, which differ by state.