My Experience Scaling An Agency & How To Scale Any Business
Scaling an agency can be an exhilarating yet challenging endeavor, but with the right strategies and mindset, you can unlock new opportunities for growth and success. In ‘Build You Digital Community’ Episode 69, our host Kristina pulls from her own experience of scaling The Social Snippet, exploring practical tips, strategies, and insights to help you navigate this exciting phase.
The Agency Model
Agencies can come in many different forms. However, the traditional agency model involves other people working under you.
For example, if you own a personal training agency, you could bring on new team members who could help with your workload where you're not necessarily trading your own time for money.
When Is It Time To Scale?
Knowing when to scale can be tricky for small businesses, especially if it is your full-time job.
We encourage you to ask yourself these questions: Do you have the volume of work that you can pay another person to do? What do you want to be doing with your time? Where are your gifts best used?
Hiring the Right People
Finding people that you are able to outsource to is a large task, but it's ultimately about choosing the right person. Take your time and hire slowly. It is more productive (and less expensive) to choose carefully than it is to make hiring mistakes.
People are some of the biggest expenses you can have in business - if not the biggest - and it doesn’t end at an employee’s hourly rate. You pay to interview, train, and onboard them.
Onboarding & Training
Ensure that you train and address any gaps in your staff’s knowledge. Ask yourself: Is working with this person from a client’s perspective an easy, seamless, and consistent experience? Identify the key skills that people require to be successful with your clients and for them to be able to move the needle forward in your business.
During training, remember to ask your new employee: What else do you feel like you need to know to be successful? What would make you feel more comfortable? Following up with these types of questions ensures that you can do better for the next client and employee.
Mistakes Will Happen
Everyone loves when things go well the first time around. However, sometimes they do not and you need to be prepared for that. Try different methods of approaching things and find the right fit for you. Don’t be afraid to hit reset if you need to start from scratch on something. Things can move so quickly in an agency model, so it is helpful when you are prepared to pivot and try something new.
Common mistakes could be hiring the wrong person, not setting a person up for success in training/onboarding, adopting systems or structures that aren’t a good fit, or assuming someone possesses knowledge or a skill. You must learn to identify in advance what people need to be successful in your company and encourage them to speak up and ask for it.
Other Ways To Scale Your Business
Offering new services
Adopting new skills / tech
Taking on new clients
Increasing your prices
Hiring a fractional CFO
Tell us about your experience with scaling your business in the comments below!