“How much should I be paying myself?”

If you’re an agency owner or partner, you’ve probably asked that question more than once. In this episode of Creative Outcomes, Upsourced partners Ryan Watson and Craig Baldwin break down what partner compensation should look like in a modern agency.

We get into:

- How to think about “the maximum you can pay yourself” without starving the business

- Why cash reserves and forecasting are critical before you touch distributions

- The difference between S corps and partnerships when it comes to salary vs. distributions

- How often to run profit distribution calculations (monthly vs. quarterly vs. annually)

- Why borrowing from client prepayments or lines of credit to “pay yourself” is a huge red flag

- The tough question: “At what point am I better off just getting a job?”

- What it really means to be a partner and why sloppy equity promises are so dangerous

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re paying yourself enough, too much, or in the wrong way, this episode is for you.

Subscribe for more conversations on agency finance, profitability, and building a business that actually pays you what you’re worth.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro

1:10 – What do we mean by “partner compensation”?

3:45 – How much should I actually pay myself?

7:00 – Cash reserves and distributions

9:30 – S corp vs. partnership: how structure changes comp

17:20 – How often should I take profit distributions?

19:40 – Basis, loans, and why “extra cash” might not be profit

28:00 – When your business isn’t paying you enough

34:30 – Partner dynamics, equity, and bad cap tables

Most agencies say they want “value-based pricing.” Few actually do it—fewer do it well.

In this episode, Craig Baldwin, Partner at Upsourced, breaks down the real-world pricing models agencies use (time & materials, fixed fee, retainers/subscriptions, outcome/value-based, hybrids) and how to choose what protects margin and manages risk. The goal isn’t a perfect model; it’s a consistent 50%+ project/client margin and a healthier mix of recurring revenue so you’re not living project-to-project.

You’ll learn:

- The core pricing models and when they shine (or sink you)

- Why true value-based pricing is rare—and risky—without data

- Hybrid structures that share upside while capping downside

- How recurring revenue creates a floor (and why projects set your ceiling)

- The only metric Craig cares about: reliable margin

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Intro

01:00 The big three: time, deliverable, or outcome

04:10 Time & Materials (incl. cost-plus)

05:54 Fixed-fee/project pricing—scope risk & expectation creep

08:14 Retainers & “subscription” models (what’s the real difference?)

09:46 What strict value-based pricing actually means

12:00 Hybrid pricing (base + performance)

13:00 Other models: barter, equity—why they usually disappoint

17:24 Productized vs. bespoke retainers

19:24 Project vs. recurring revenue (floor vs. ceiling)

20:55 The hype vs. the practice of “value-based”

24:54 Yes, you’ll still estimate time under the hood

26:45 Choosing what fits your strengths

28:37 Margin targets and diagnosing shortfalls

29:40 Wrap & how to get in touch

Links:

Work with Upsourced: www.upsourcedaccounting.com

Email Craig: cbaldwin@upsourcedaccounting.com

If this helped, hit Subscribe—new episodes on building durable, profitable agencies.

In this episode of the Creative Outcomes podcast, host Craig Baldwin speaks with Garrett, Spencer, and Tucker, the partners behind Alright Studio.

They share their journey from freelancers to running a 10-person creative agency in Brooklyn, discussing the evolution of their business model, their approach to team building, financial challenges, and how they've learned to trust their intuition while building something meaningful.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - 01:10 - Introduction to the podcast and Alright Studio partners

01:10 - 06:00 - The genesis of Alright Studio and partnership formation

06:00 - 10:30 - Current state of Alright Studio and their service offerings

10:30 - 14:30 - What makes Alright distinctive and their unique approach

14:30 - 19:00 - Financial management challenges and finding upsource

19:00 - 26:45 - How accounting partnership changed their business approach

26:45 - 33:40 - Team growth, studio culture, and organizational philosophy

33:40 - 41:00 - Business ownership challenges and finding validation

41:00 - 48:30 - Long-term perspective, future outlook, and closing thoughts

For more, contact us: https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=Alright_Podcast

🔍 M&A Secrets: 10 Surprising Truths from Two-Time Sellers

From shocking valuation differences to the truth about strategic acquisitions, discover what really happens when selling your business.

Key revelations:

- Valuations aren't as scientific as you think

- Even big companies are figuring it out as they go

- Your negotiating power is stronger than you realize

- How net working capital can shift your final payout

- The reality of working under new ownership

Whether you're considering selling your business or just curious about M&A, this candid discussion pulls back the curtain on what really happens behind closed doors.

Learn from those who've been through it twice!

Want help navigating your M&A journey? Connect with our experienced team at Upsourced. https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=M&A_Podcast

Learn the 5 financial metrics your agency should be tracking to unlock profitable growth.

In this session with Upsourced's Ryan Watson and Agency Builders' Logan Lyles, you'll learn:

- The 5 financial metrics successful agencies get right (from Upsourced’s analysis of dozens of agency clients)

- The Hierarchy of Financial Needs to identify the right financial metric to prioritize at your agency's current stage

- The 3-part framework known as the Margin Triangle (key to getting a handle on your agency’s gross margin)

If you have questions, please contact us for more: https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=ABWebinar

Join us in this episode of Creative Outcomes as Natalie from Fifth Third Bank's Provide division breaks down everything you need to know about SBA loans.

In this must-watch podcast, discover:

✅ When to consider an SBA loan

✅ Key qualification requirements

✅ How to use SBA loans for business growth

✅ Acquisition financing strategies

✅ Avoiding common loan application mistakes

Perfect for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and anyone looking to understand business financing options!

For more, contact us: https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=SBALoanPodcast

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Introduction

1:00 - When to Consider an SBA Loan

2:20 - Documentation Requirements for SBA Loans

3:30 - Types of SBA Loan Use Cases

5:15 - SBA Loans: Strategic Growth vs Immediate Cash Needs

6:40 - SBA Loan Qualification Criteria

8:00 - Risks and Personal Guarantees in SBA Lending

9:25 - Handling EIDL Loan Repayment Challenges

12:15 - What to Avoid with SBA Loans

13:40 - SBA Loans for Business Acquisition

15:35 - SBA Loan Benefits Compared to Conventional Financing

17:05 - Steps to Explore SBA Loan Options

19:05 - Current Lending and M&A Market Trends

21:50 - Importance of Banker Relationships

23:50 - Closing Remarks

In this episode, Anthony Armendariz, co-founder of Funsize, shares:

- The origin story of Funsize

- Inside look at Method Week

- their innovative quarterly program bringing teams together

- How they've built a lasting design agency while balancing family business dynamics

- Their evolution from a 4-day workweek to a thriving two-division studio

- The power of reinvention and authentic company culture in agency life

- Anthony's vision for the future of design consulting and creative work

Perfect for agency owners, designers, and anyone interested in building sustainable creative businesses that put people first!

For more, contact us: https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=FunsizePodcast

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Introduction & Funsize Overview

3:42 - Working with Spouse/Family Business

6:31 - Previous Agency Experience & Lessons Learned

9:37 - Leadership Role & Company Culture

15:48 - Method Week Deep Dive

24:42 - Future Vision & Dreams for Funsize

In this episode, former agency CEO and current consultant Chris DuBois shares his insights on developing the leadership skills needed to build high-performing, motivated teams.

Drawing from his experiences transitioning from an operator role to a consultancy, Chris discusses strategies for hiring the right people, managing through challenges, and fostering a dynamic agency culture that employees are excited to be a part of.

Learn how to become the type of leader your team wants to follow. For more, contact us: https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=ChrisPodcast

In this episode, Craig Baldwin interviews Karl Sakas, agency advisor and author of "Work Less, Earn More".

Karl shares insights on helping agency owners find balance, delegate effectively, and increase profitability.

Key topics include:

- The inspiration behind Karl's new book

- Frameworks for reducing owner involvement

- Balancing work reduction with agency growth

- Strategies for high-value time management

- Overcoming challenges in delegating responsibilities

- Using the "advanced retrospective" tool for goal-setting

Learn practical advice for optimizing your agency and achieving both personal and professional success.

Whether you're looking to scale, sell, or simply enjoy running your agency more, this episode offers valuable takeaways for creative business owners.

Book: Work Less, Earn More: How to Escape the Daily Grind of Agency Ownership (https://sakasandcompany.com/lp/work-less-earn-more-book/?utm_campaign=CreativeOutcomes)

Resources: Free agency advice from Karl Sakas (https://sakasandcompany.com/free-resources-for-agencies/?utm_campaign=CreativeOutcomes)

Free Template: Visualizing your ideal agency with an Advance Retrospective (https://sakasandcompany.com/using-advance-retrospectives/?utm_campaign=CreativeOutcomes)

LinkedIn: Connect with Karl Sakas on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlsakas/)

Proven tips to master your financial and RevGen strategies at each stage of the agency life cycle.

Download The Agency Growth Roadmap: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11KeDnbqa9Z3-pWc37V0zlD--eVEYZ0vL/view?usp=drive_link

In this insightful conversation, we break down the four key stages of agency growth:

- Creating the Business (0-$1M)

- Building the Business ($1M-$3M)

- Growing the Business ($3M+)

- Scaling the Business ($10M+)

We dive deep into the challenges and opportunities at each stage, covering topics like:

- Overcoming the "cobbler's children have no shoes" problem

- Balancing short-term revenue needs with long-term growth

- The importance of time tracking and profitability analysis

- Developing repeatable revenue generation systems

- Creating organizational structures that support growth

- Professionalizing sales and marketing as you scale

Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your agency to the next level, this episode offers valuable insights and practical strategies for success. For more, contact us: https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=Agency-Growth-Roadmap-Podcast

This episode of Creative Outcomes tackles the important topic of late accounts receivable (AR) for creative agencies.

Ryan Watson and Ashley Vaughn dive deep into strategies for preventing and collecting late payments from clients.

They discuss the importance of having clear payment policies and upfront communication with clients about AR processes.

Tune in to learn more! For more, contact us: https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=Aged-AR

Learn how to find and get recurring revenue for your creative agency or services business.

Craig Baldwin from Upsourced joins to discuss:

📈 The benefits of recurring revenue like predictability, higher valuations, and improved financial health

🤺 Balancing project-based "boom" revenue with recurring "bus" revenue

💰 Specific ways to add recurring revenue streams like support/maintenance, package deals, staff augmentation, and retaining AOR status

⚖️ The impact recurring revenue has on M&A valuations

🎯 Evaluating your services and capabilities to uncover recurring revenue opportunities

💭 Why there's no silver bullet - it takes experimentation to find the right recurring model

Recurring revenue reduces risk and provides stability for agencies and creative services firms. Get practical tips on adding more predictable revenue to your business.

Are you busy all day—but not moving the ball? Ryan Watson and Craig Baldwin (Partners at Upsourced) break down “playing business”: the activities that look productive but don’t create revenue, profit, or durability.

Learn the red flags (overspending ahead of growth, shiny‑tool chasing, coach‑collecting, RFP lotteries, acquisition daydreams) and the habits of winning agencies (focus, thrift, deputies, account farming, and clear positioning).

What you’ll learn:

- Why “hire when it hurts” protects margins

- Process is greater than tools (and when software actually helps)

- How to keep less than 50% of annual revenue from existing clients

- The mindset behind 30–35% net‑margin agencies

- “Do well to do good”: profit powering purpose

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Intro & why “playing business” matters

07:50 Symptom #1: Spending ahead of growth; “hire when it hurts”

13:20 Playbooks & proxies vs. doing the work

14:20 Symptom #2: Shiny‑tool chasing (software ≠ process)

17:35 Symptom #3: Raising capital & M&A daydreams

24:05 Symptom #4: Coach‑collecting and abdicating judgment

27:00 Symptom #5: Pipeline neglect; dangers of RFP lotteries

31:00 Behavior #1: Deputies, swim lanes, and collaboration rhythms

33:00 Behavior #2: Ruthless focus; time as the scarce resource

37:00 Behavior #3: A clear calling card/positioning

38:30 Behavior #4: Account management are greater than new logos

42:00 Behavior #5: Thrift and needs‑based spending

46:30 Mission vs. profit: “Do well to do good”

51:40 Wrap & key reminder: identify candy vs. nutrition

Subscribe to our channel for more insights!

Content-based networking, the shift from the "how" to the "who" economy, and the importance of building trust through personalized outreach.

Logan Lyles, from the evangelism and content marketing team at Teamwork.com, shares insights on effective marketing strategies for agencies and service-based businesses.

Hear about his experience leveraging LinkedIn and podcasting to drive growth, and learn how to create a tight feedback loop to power your marketing efforts. For more, contact us: https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us/?utm_campaign=loganpodcast

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - The Personalization Playbook: Secrets to Supercharge Your Agency Growth

0:45 - Stepping into the Growth Lead Role: Lessons from an Agency Insider

3:30 - The Shift from "How" to "Who": Leveraging LinkedIn's Personal Profiles

6:45 - Tightening the Feedback Loop: Capturing Insights to Power Your Marketing

11:20 - The Power of Face-to-Face: Strengthening Client Relationships 15:05 - Content-Based Networking: Turning Prospects into Collaborators

20:15 - Personalization and Trust: Keys to Cutting Through the Noise

23:45 - Resources and Next Steps: Connect with Logan and Explore More

Running an agency can seem like your entire life, but how do you maintain a work-life balance?

You hear people say, 'Always be available for your clients, even outside of work hours; that's the best customer service.' But how can I manage that along with my family life?

The main solution: build and sell your trust.

You aren't just selling a service; you want your clients to trust that you've got them covered. Tune in to hear Tyler from Lone Fir Creative and Jimmy from Upsourced dive deeper into this topic on this episode of Creative Outcomes.

For additional help, contact us: www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us

There is no one size fits all strategy for building your agency's sales team. Dive into the different options with Ryan and Meredith as they discuss how to take your sales efforts to the next level. For additional help, contact us: https://upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us/

On this episode of Creative Outcomes, agency coach Rob Da Costa talks to us about his journey from starting his own agency, to selling his agency, to finding his passion in agency coaching. This podcast dives into the real emotions surrounding selling your agency and trying to find your true passion. For more information, contact us at upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us

Join us as we interview Steve Guberman from Agency Outsight. Having previously started and sold his creative shop, Steve now takes those lessons learned and helps coach agency owners. Tune in to learn about his journey. For additional help, contact us at https://upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us/

What can agency owners and client managers do to increase their pricing power? This podcast will walk you through how to price your services to align with the value of your work. Need more information? Contact us here: https://upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us/

Learn how to prevent burnout as an agency owner. Owners often find themselves wearing multiple hats when it comes to running the business, but how can you dial that back so you can focus on specific areas of your agency? Tune in with special guest Kenny Lange to learn how to scale your agency and promote growth. Kenny Lange (kenny@kennylange.com) special promotion: https://kennylange.com/upsourced-podcast-coaching-offer-kenny-lange-coaching For more information or additional help, contact us here: https://upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us/

Discover the importance of both financial and non-financial metrics when analyzing the health of your agency with Marcel Petitpas.

When it comes to evaluating the success and performance of an agency, the focus is historically on financial data. It’s all people want to look at while spending little to no attention to non-financial data, even though they’re key factors in diagnosing your agency’s problems. Dive further into this topic by listening to Ryan and Marcel!

For more information, reach out to us here: https://upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us/

Your agency should be tracking employee utilization. What's a good utilization rate? Why should you be tracking it? How do you get your team to start tracking their time? These are all topics discussed in this podcast episode. Need more information? Contact us: https://upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us/

This is the third part to our Creative Agency Survival Guide: Recession Edition (guide: https://hubs.ly/Q01rFvjq0). In this episode we're going to focus on how to manage expenses and how to create a contingency plan.

What happens when an established creative agency transitions into a worker-owned co-op?

In this episode of Creative Outcomes, Craig Baldwin sits down with Farra Trompeter, Co-Director and Worker-Owner at Big Duck, to explore:

- Why Big Duck made the leap to a cooperative model

- The cultural and financial shifts that came with it

- How co-op ownership changes business development and client relationships

- Lessons for agencies looking to build more sustainable, mission-driven teams

If you’ve ever wondered about alternative ownership structures—or how to empower your team with true agency—this episode is a must-listen.

Subscribe to our channel for more!

It's not easy to keep money coming in during a recession. Let's dive into the key risks and how you can prepare.

Free Guide: https://hubs.ly/Q01rFvjq0

If you’re an agency owner wondering how you should be preparing your business for a recession, you’re in the right place. The first thing you should be focused, and what we’re going to help you think about, is cash. How much do you need, and where can you get more of it?

Use this link to get the guide: https://bit.ly/3zeB6nK

A B-corp is a certification. The not-for-profit - B Lab - created a set of ESG standards (environmental, social, and governance) that they believe every business should follow.

Profit Sharing - a discretionary annual bonus based loosely (or sometimes strictly) on annual profits. Tune in to learn the ins and outs of this incentive compensation plan with special guest Tony Cox!

Sales commission is variable compensation tied to incremental revenue. Tune in to find out when you should use this incentive compensation strategy.

SHOW MORE

Phantom Equity (Phantom Stock) is a cost-effective way to give someone a raise or a promotion without shelling out any cash. Tune in to learn more about this incentive compensation strategy.

Revenue forecasting is essential but often overlooked by agencies. What is revenue forecasting, exactly? Tune in to find out!

Are you leaving extra revenue on the line? Learn how time tracking can improve your business and lead to better decision making!

Meredith and Ryan explore the ins and outs of finding an acquirer, negotiating a deal, and buying other agencies with prolific agency operator, Dave Bunce.

The Upsourced team breaks down Profit First - what it is, who it's for, and why it's the wrong answer for a scaling agency on a path to liquidity.

Ben Ostrower, founder and CEO of Wide Eye, joins us to share the origin story of his agency — from freelancing out of his kitchen to building a nationally recognized creative studio for progressive causes.

We talk about:

- What it takes to build a values-driven agency

- How Wide Eye chooses mission-aligned clients

- Balancing creative integrity with business growth

- The evolution from solo freelancer to leading a purpose-fueled team

Whether you're starting your own creative shop or rethinking your agency’s direction, Ben’s journey offers a grounded look at what it really takes to build with conviction.

Don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations with creative agency leaders.

Having worked through dozens of M&A deals - both personally and with clients - the Upsourced team has compiled its list of the TOP 4 LESSONS LEARNED when selling an agency. Must listen for any owner thinking about selling now or in the future.

Get under the hood about a lesser known, but really interesting avenue for selling your marketing agency - Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). They just might provide the best combination of money in your pocket and a lasting culture for your team.

Thinking about selling your agency? Let us guide you through 5 tips on how you can find the right person to buy it.

The best outcomes happen to agencies who have been building and scaling with the end in mind, even if the owners didn’t initially have any real plans to sell. Ryan and Meredith share the 5 attributes we’ve seen in our clients with the best M&A outcomes and the things all agency owners should begin focusing on regardless of their plans to sell.

Utilization is the amount of an employee’s available time that is productive and billable. Is your agency being as efficient as possible while preventing burn out?

SHOW MORE

Should your agency hire an Account Manager or a Project Manager? Or both? In this episode of Creative Outcomes, we break down the crucial differences between AMs and PMs — and why getting this structure right can be a game-changer for your agency’s profitability, client satisfaction, and team sanity.

We cover:

✅ Why creative agencies often blur the lines between AM and PM

✅ The financial implications of misaligned roles

✅ How to structure roles for scale and efficiency

✅ Utilization, comp strategy, and margin impact

✅ When (and how) to transition client relationships from sales to delivery

Whether you're a small agency wearing multiple hats or scaling fast and thinking about team structure, this episode is packed with practical takeaways.

🎧 Listen in, and subscribe for more insights on growing your creative agency smartly.

🔗 Learn more at: https://upsourcedaccounting.com

📺 Subscribe for more agency finance tips: @upsourced

The brutal truth about agency sales that nobody wants to hear 🎯

Most agency owners are making the same expensive mistake: thinking they can hire their way out of a sales problem.

In this deep-dive episode, we break down the real numbers behind successful agencies and reveal why the $10 million rule could save you from a costly hiring mistake.

What you'll discover:

- Why 70% of your revenue should come from existing clients

- The exact percentage you should spend on sales & marketing (hint: it's not what you think)

- When to hire your first full-time salesperson (spoiler: probably later than you planned)

- The 6-12 month reality of sales hiring that most owners ignore

- Why lead generation isn't your real problem

Key Timestamps:

0:00 - The state of agency sales in 2025

5:23 - The 70/30 revenue split explained

12:04 - Sales vs. marketing budget breakdown

20:35 - The 3-month rule for sales activities

26:12 - Why founders must own sales until $10M

35:01 - Building a repeatable sales system

Perfect for agency owners, consultants, and anyone running a professional services business who's tired of the feast-or-famine cycle.

Subscribe to our channel for more insights

Join host Ryan Watson for an inspiring conversation with David Shultz, founder of Sans Serif, as he shares his remarkable entrepreneurial journey from near-bankruptcy to building a thriving design and marketing strategy firm.

This episode dives deep into the realities of agency ownership, the psychology of entrepreneurial optimism, and the key decisions that transformed a struggling startup into a successful business.

Key Themes:

- Entrepreneurial Psychology: The blessing and curse of being an eternal optimist

- Crisis Management: How to navigate financial struggles and dark moments as a founder

- Team Building & Leadership Evolution: Learning to delegate and trust your team

- Client Relationships: The power of treating clients as partners, not just customers

- Industry Adaptation: Embracing AI and new technologies while maintaining human value

- Specialization Strategy: Finding your blue ocean through niche expertise

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction and guest background

01:58 - Founding story: From employee to entrepreneur

03:22 - The motivation to leave a safe job

04:42 - Taking the leap without guaranteed clients

07:33 - Early financial struggles and dark moments

12:35 - The conversation with his wife about quitting

15:56 - Understanding entrepreneurial optimism and its dangers

22:26 - Evolution of leadership role and delegation

29:07 - The secret to Sans Serif's success

34:00 - Lessons learned and what he'd do differently

35:43 - AI's impact on the creative industry

40:34 - Advice for starting an agency in 2025

This episode is essential listening for current and aspiring agency owners who want to understand both the challenges and rewards of building a creative business from the ground up. Subscribe to our channel for more insights!

In this episode of Creative Outcomes, we tackle a challenge many businesses face: the dreaded mid-year sales lull.

If your pipeline is looking empty and your revenue targets seem increasingly out of reach, this episode is for you.

Our host, Craig Baldwin, Partner at Upsourced, shares practical, actionable strategies to jumpstart your sales pipeline, including:

- Proven tactics to motivate your sales team when they need it most

- How to approach price increase conversations effectively - What to do when deals keep getting pushed or budgets get pulled

- Where to find quick wins when your back is against the wall

- How to distinguish between market problems vs. internal issues

Remember: outcome lags effort by about three months. What you do today will impact your results in August, so don't wait until you're desperate to take action! Subscribe to our channel for more insights.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction and episode overview

01:31 - Controlling what you can in sales

03:20 - Strategies to motivate your sales team

05:00 - The three-month lag principle

06:35 - Three sources for quick revenue wins

11:00 - Why marketing campaigns aren't the quick answer

15:53 - Navigating price increase conversations

17:26 - What to do when deals stall or budgets get pulled

19:39 - Moving beyond "hope and pray" strategies

23:13 - Finding your path forward 24:42 - Closing thoughts and contact information

In this episode of Creative Outcomes, Craig Baldwin sits down with Prentice Howe, owner of Door No. 3, for a candid conversation about the realities of running a creative agency.

Prentice shares a pivotal moment in his career - sneaking into his own office at midnight to steal his own financial records - that became a turning point in how he approached business leadership.

From his transition from award-winning creative director to agency owner, Prentice reveals the challenges of managing a team, maintaining motivation, and staying true to your values even when it means walking away from money.

This conversation tackles:

0:00 - Introduction and background

13:35 - The financial breaking point that changed everything

17:20 - Building and empowering a leadership team

21:50 - Maintaining motivation after a decade of ownership

30:10 - Embracing AI in the agency model

36:15 - The value of outside perspective

40:25 - Standing by your values when money is on the line

If you're an agency owner or creative leader feeling the weight of responsibility, this conversation offers both practical insights and the comfort of knowing you're not alone in your struggles.

Subscribe to our channel for more insights!