agence marketing digital business plan

How to Write a Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan (with PDF Template)

agence marketing digital business plan

SEOptimer now serves over 2,000 digital agencies around the world and through the years we've had the chance to connect with many of our agency customers to understand their early days in starting their agency.

This is incredibly interesting to us because it helps us understand where and how they plan to grow so we can help build the features they need in SEOptimer.

This article is the 3rd in our series focused on starting a new digital agency. For some useful prior reading be sure to check out our previous articles:

  • How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency : a comprehensive guide covering typical agency business models, services, hiring, training, new business, day to day management and more!
  • Digital Agency Lean Canvas : a digital agency business model on a single page! The lean canvas is a popular documentation methodology borrowed from the tech startup world.

Don't be dismayed if it feels like there's a lot of other competing digital agencies in your city. This is perfectly normal. Digital marketing services like local SEO, for example, are dominated by small agencies.

Search Engine Land reported that over 50% of local SEO agencies have 10 or fewer clients. Forbes Council Member Jon Hall says, this keeps the industry "weird" - aka diverse as its not dominated by a small handful of big agencies.

Agency Business Plan PPTX

The first step in launching a new digital marketing agency is to write a plan. In this guide, we'll cover two of the more traditional ways to define a business plan document with handy downloadable templates:

  • Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Document (DOCX & PDF) Template
  • Creative Agency Business Plan Deck (PPTX) Template

What is a Digital Marketing Business Plan?

What is a Business Plan?

A digital marketing business plan outlines your strategy to attract and retain customers using digital channels. It encompasses your goals, target audience, competitive landscape, marketing tactics, and financial projections.

A well-crafted plan serves as a blueprint for your marketing efforts, ensuring you remain focused and organized. It also helps you identify potential pitfalls and areas for improvement. 

For entrepreneurs and small business owners, having a digital marketing business plan is critical. It not only helps secure funding but also ensures that all team members are aligned with the company's vision and objectives.

It also provides a framework to measure success and make data-driven decisions.

Why Do You Need a Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan?

The days of mandatory 50+ page business plans are long gone. The choice is now yours as to whether you define your digital agency business plan in an in-depth strategic document or not.

Some agency founders find it useful to brainstorm this way and document their thought process in a long-form fashion across many pages.

Other founders prefer creating shorter slide decks, others opt for a 1-page lean canvas version or some even write their plan in a wiki or business planning tool.

There is no right or wrong way to document your plan. You need to find the documentation method that suits you best. If you're unsure what suits you best, the following factors may help you decide:

Consideration #1: Who is the Audience?

Think about who this document is for. Who will read it? In some cases it will just be you and the founding team. If you are raising money, obviously your investors will be a key audience.

You might also have business partners or board members who may be an audience too. When thnking through all these different groups, work backwards from the most optimal presentation format.

Consideration #2: Seek an Unbiased Third-party Opinion

Devin Schumacher is the Founder of SEO agency SERP and says it's easy to get swept up in your own overly optimistic projections.

"Ask an experienced agency founder you trust or admire to sanity-check your plan. Seeking an objective opinion from a third-party detached from your new business is vital."

Devin Schumacher

Devin makes a great point. This type of peer review methodology is commonplace in other industries but sometimes lacking amongst agency founders.

Make sure you get at least 1 other unbiased opinion from someone who has already achieved success in your niche.

Don't fall into the trap of asking a friend or your accountant or someone you know personally to review your plan. Doing so will give you a biased opinion.

You need an unbiased opinion from someone willing to give you objective feedback.

Consideration #3: Stand your Ground

The whole point of a business plan is to take the time and effort to research the market, your competitors and potential clients. This document will distill all your insights into a strategic plan you can operationalize.

As is always the case, unexpected distractions masquerading as opportunities (rightly or wrongly) will pop up in your field of view demanding your attention.

Perhaps it's a new client opportunity with a project slightly adjacent to your niche. Perhpas a hiring opportunity for a role you didn't plan to hire yet.

Sometimes the hardest thing is to say no, when you're in the mindset of taking every opportunity for growth.

During these situations, revisit your agency business plan and remind yourself of your focus area niche and how you planned to grow within that niche.

Consideration #4: But, Be Okay With Change

Rebekah Edwards

There's no shame in pivoting.

In fact this balance between sticking to the plan and pivoting the plan needs to be navigated by every digital agency founder. It's not easy and often you will be second-guessing yourself.

"Every agency owner I know has had to massively adjust their target audience, pricing structure, competitor analysis, and service offerings based on the way they grow over the first 2-5 years."

Rebekah says that founders need to be prepared for change, afterall, digital marketing is in constant flux and evolution, so change is the norm and we need to write business plans with flexibility in mind.

Trust your performance metrics and continue to do the things that have the biggest quantifiable business impact.

Typical Business Plan structures

We mentioned previously that there's no right or wrong way to document your business plan. So with that said, let's look at some typical marketing agency business plan templates that you can use.

After considering all the factors above, choose the structure that works for you and your stakeholders best. We've outlined six of the more common options below:

Option #1: Written Business Document

This is the more traditional (and still valid) way to describe your business. A written business plan document in MS Word or Google Docs is still the most common way to document your digital marketing agency business plan.

Business Plan document

This type of business plan is considered "long-form", ie: longer in length and suited to more descriptive language. Expect to write longer rationales, longer explanations with plenty of space for evidence, research, insights and strategy.

This type of plan will likely be 30+ pages and feel comprehensive. This comprehensiveness is especially needed if external investors or business partners are involved who need to be convinced of the robustness of your plan.

Option #2: Slide Deck

The PowerPoint Presentation (or Google Slides or Keynote) has become the go-to corporate communication format.

Digital agency founders spend most of their time communicating to staff, clients and stakeholders in PowerPoint so it makes sense to use this format for the purposes of communicating the agency's overall business plan.

Business Plan PowerPoint

The fundamental difference between this option and the written document, is that a slide deck is a presentable format. So typically you might be in the room with your business partners, walking through the presentation on the screen.

Whereas in option #1, a written document is not a compelling way to present an idea. It's much more suited as a sent document to be consumed in isolation.

That's not to say that a slide deck can't be utilized this way, it's just more common that you would be presenting and talking through your plan with the slides serving as a visual backup to what you say.

There's also a good argument for doing both (ie written document AND slide deck). It comes down to who all the stakeholders are (eg investors, business partners or just you) and whether you intend to present your plan or just document your plan.

Option #3: Lean Canvas

The Lean Canvas developed by leanstack.com is a business plan on a page split into 10 boxes. This planning document has become very popular in the tech/startup world and has since been adopted in many other industries, including digital agencies.

Be sure to check out our previous article explaining how to use a Lean Canvas for your agency .

SEOptimer - Digital Agency Lean Canvas

The entire business plan fits on a single page which means you obviously need to sweat on every single world and ensure only the most important details are included.

We are big supporters of this format because this helps you prioritize and focus your efforts down to the fundamental aspects of your new business.

Option #4: Wiki

In the context of a business, a Wiki is usually an internal website with multiple interlinking articles. The biggest Wiki in the world is Wikipedia and if you want to get really meta, check out Wikipedia's wiki about wikis :

"A wiki (/wɪki/ WIK-ee) is a hypertext publication collaboratively edited and managed by its own audience directly using a web browser. A typical wiki contains multiple pages for the subjects or scope of the project."

Wiki's are generally perceived as internal knowledge bases so if your business plan has executional detail, this might be a good format for documenting processes and methodologies for staff.

Option #5: General Planning Tool

Tools like Notion and Trello have grown massively in recent years as more people are working remotely and more work in general is being done collaboratively online.

Notion Business Plan

These types of planning tools are designed to be multi-purpose and fall somewhere between a wiki and a specialized business planning tool.

How to Construct the Business Plan

Now that we've covered the typical business plan structures let's look at the specifics of how you actually go about constructing the business plan and each of the main tasks you need to perform and sections of the business plan.

Market Research Data Gathering

Customer/client research.

Rebekah Edwards, who we spoke to previously stresses the importance of market research with as many potential clients as you can. She interviewed several businesses in their target market when developing their service offerings and pricing.

Some of the questions she thought were most helpful included:

  • With no other information, what do you think X would cost from an agency? (X being the service in question.)
  • What is the biggest roadblock for you to accomplish X in-house? (X being basic content/SEO projects, such as article creation/editing/uploading or strategizing new keywords.)
  • How would you typically search for a digital marketing agency? (Referrals, social media, Google search, etc. — this helped us understand how to best market our services)
  • If you already work with a digital marketing agency of any kind, what stood out? Why did you sign on the dotted line?
  • Have there been digital marketing agencies you've specifically decided not to work with for any particular reason? What were the red flags or the issues with a fit that led you to say no?
  • What matters most to you when working with a digital marketing agency? (Examples: data/analytics, frequent communication, hitting deadlines every time, price, niche of expertise, etc.)

Answers to these questions are invaluable as they help you position and market your new digital agency based on customer insight.

Competitor Research

The importance of competitor research goes without saying. It's vital you have a good understanding of how your competitors are going to market, how they sell, who they target and what their rough price points are.

If you have a friend who owns a small business, ask them to mystery shop at a competitor so they can report back to you what the sales process was like.

Competitor types

The way you position and sell your services should be informed by a combination of both customer insights and competitor insights.

Addressing client needs whilst maintaining a unique selling proposition will set your new digital agency up for success!

Building out the Business Plan

Download our template: digital marketing agency business plan document.

To make edits to the document make sure to download our DOCX template which you can edit directly in Microsoft Word. However if you would prefer a printable PDF, we also provide this option too.

Use these templates as a starting point to help you draft your digital marketing business plan:

Business Plan DOCX

Below are some of the highlight areas of the plan:

Market Research Findings

We suggest conducting three types of research to inform your marketing agency business plan:

  • Qualitative research like one-on-one interviews, focus groups and meetings with prospective clients
  • Quantitative reserach like online surveys, mass emails and multivariate testing
  • Competitor analysis to determine their strengths and weaknesses

Market Research

Unique Selling Proposition (USP) and Service Offering

Nailing your USP will be tough especially if you are in a competitive industry / city. Use the previous market research tasks to discover where the gaps are in the market and leverage these insights to position your new agency to be competitive AND different.

Perform a SWOT analysis based on your new USP. Then you can determine your actual service offerings and pricing strategy.

USPs

Go-To-Market (GTM) Plan and Org Structure

Define your target market - the exact client types who you want to sell to and list the marketing and advertising activities that you will perform that would be most effective in reaching these types of people.

Also list your people (this might not be many on day 1!), sources of advice and support as well as the strategies you'll use to retain your staff and build their skills and knowledge.

Go To Market Plan

Goals Sales Forecasting

This marketing agency business plan template includes goal setting for the next year and goal setting for the next 3 years. This page is structured to help you set SMART goals.

SMART goals are:

  • Specific : In the '[Enter a goal]' section describe your goal clearly and ensure you attach a person responsible in the 'Who's responsible' section.
  • Measureable : Ensure the actions you list in the 'Actions to achieve goal' have an objective outcome
  • Achievable : Ensure you sense-check your goals with your team and all agree that they are attainable
  • Relevant : Ensure this is a priority goal and will help your new agency grow
  • Time-bound : Enter a due date to ensure the goal doesn't get forgotten

Use the Cash flow forecast table as a simple way to visualize cash-on-hand in your first 12 months. Add rows to estimate your monthly expenses like payroll, rent, utilities, subscriptions, insurance, fees and other ongoing costs.

Goal setting

Tools and Tech

Finally, list out all the tools and technology your new agency will likely need to run an efficient operation. We've listed SEOptimer for you already because it's one of the best, low-cost lead generation tools for your agency.

Over 2,000 digital agencies use SEOptimer to generate white label site audits and embed an audit form on their agency website to capture new lead details.

Tools & Tech

Creative Agency Business Plan Slide Deck PPTX Template

If you prefer a slide deck template, use this creative agency business plan example in PowerPoint format:

Business Plan PPTX

Sources of Funding for Your Digital Marketing Agency

Starting a digital marketing agency requires initial capital. Here are some sources of funding to consider:

Bootstrapping

Bootstrapping involves using your savings or revenue generated from the business to fund your operations. It's a common approach for entrepreneurs who want to maintain control and avoid debt.

While this method requires careful financial planning, it allows you to grow organically and reinvest profits back into the business.

Small Business Loans

Small business loans from banks or credit unions can provide the necessary capital to get your agency off the ground. These loans typically have lower interest rates compared to other financing options.

However, they may require a solid business plan and collateral. Research different lenders and compare their terms to find the best fit for your needs.

Venture Capital

If you have a scalable business model with high growth potential, venture capital (VC) funding might be an option. VCs invest in startups in exchange for equity.

While this can provide substantial funding, it also means giving up some control over your business. Make sure your goals align with those of potential investors before pursuing this route.

Crowdfunding

Platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo allow you to raise funds from a large number of people. Crowdfunding not only provides capital but also helps validate your idea and build a community of supporters.

Create a compelling campaign that clearly communicates your value proposition and the benefits of supporting your agency.

Angel Investors

AngelList

Angel investors are individuals who provide capital to startups in exchange for equity or convertible debt. They often offer mentorship and valuable industry connections.

To attract angel investors, you need a strong business plan, a clear value proposition, and evidence of your ability to execute.

Do You Need an LLC to Start a Digital Marketing Agency?

LLC IRS

A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a popular business structure for small businesses and startups. It provides personal liability protection, meaning your personal assets are shielded from business debts and lawsuits.

LLCs have the option to be taxed as a sole proprietorship, partnership, S corporation, or C corporation. This flexibility allows you to choose the best tax treatment for your situation

Having "LLC" in your business name can enhance your agency's credibility and professionalism. It signals to clients and partners that you are serious about your business and committed to its success.

That being said, you don't have to have an LLC when starting your digital marketing agency but it might be a good idea to establish an LLC for the reasons mentioned above.

Crafting a digital marketing agency business plan is essential for entrepreneurs and small business owners. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a comprehensive plan that sets your agency up for success.

Tim's background is in digital marketing working for both large and small digital agencies and diverse client types. He has a passion for tech, software and staying up to date on the latest search engine news.

agence marketing digital business plan

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How to Write a Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan in 2024

When you try to find out a thing or two about writing a digital marketing agency business plan, you are bombarded by an endless barrage of annoying acronyms for prepackaged solutions.

Various business gurus are trying to sell you these, which are supposed to work for any company, no matter what it does or how it makes its money.

Like with all prepackaged solutions, the results are, at best, mediocre.

For a digital marketing agency , due to the exceptionally fluid and innovative niche, such an approach is almost guaranteed to fail. Instead, you have to dig in, brew yourself a gigantic pot of coffee, and really get down to it.

6 Keys to Creating a Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan

You need a digital marketing business plan that fits the unique needs and goals of your agency, specifically designed for the digital marketing field, as we mentioned earlier. If you are ready, let’s learn how.

1.Who Is It for?

Inexperienced business owners almost invariably ignore the basic and eternal truth of writing a digital marketing agency business plan: focusing on the audience. 

Internal Purposes

For example, you may be coming up with a business plan that will be used mostly for internal purposes. You will be laying out your goals and means to achieve those goals for your employees. You will let them know what is expected of them and what kind of performance will be considered satisfactory. It will also let them know how the company is doing and try to convince them to stay on board.

An internally-oriented business plan is also a great way to understand where you stand realistically , which is often a problem for digital marketing agencies.

 Investors and Partners

Another kind of digital marketing agency business plan is aimed at investors and partners. This kind of business plan is intended to reinforce their trust and belief in your digital marketing agency. It goes without saying that this kind of business plan will be finance-heavy, dealing with cold, hard numbers.

Potential Customers

Finally, your digital marketing agency business plan may be aimed at your existing and potential customers. It will be a borderline marketing tactic where you will point out all of the amazing things you are planning to accomplish and the tools that you intend to use. It can also be a great way to advertise the wide array of your services and introduce new ones.

For example, if you just started expanding and are now offering digital marketing strategy services , your customer-oriented business plan is the perfect delivery mechanism for this announcement.

It should be pointed out that your digital marketing agency business plan should also start introducing certain terms and concepts that will be more effective in the future, such as AI in digital marketing , natural language processing, data analytics, account-based marketing and so on.

There is nothing wrong with being ambitious in your digital marketing agency business plan, especially if it is aimed at investors and potential customers.

2.Know Your Market Very Well

A big part of knowing whether your agency will be successful is understanding your audience. Make sure your plan is clear about the definition of your target market—who will you be selling to and how many other agencies are already selling similar services?

Your ads won’t work if they don’t appeal to what your potential customers want or need. Research and find out as much as possible about the people you want to sell to.

Many business owners fall into the trap of believing that their products or services are “for everyone”— that is, anyone would be interested in or need the products. So, you should know the digital marketing agency market size perfectly and what you should expect. But even if you define your business as a full-service digital marketing agency that appeals to a broad market of diverse consumers, you need to identify who your ideal consumer is.

3.Numbers. Numbers. Numbers.

Whether you like figures or not, having a thorough understanding of the numbers that impact your business is a crucial component of an agency business plan. You should be excruciatingly precise with your numbers. For example, your potential clients must be aware that there may be extra fees or upgrade opportunities as the project goes on. Always mention such situations to ensure that you inform your clients in the best possible way and leverage the opportunity of upselling for agencies .

When you dig deep enough, a digital marketing agency business plan is never about the words. It is about the numbers.

  • How many clients do you have at the moment?
  • How many more do you plan on attracting?
  • What are you doing to keep your clients?
  • How much does your client retention cost?
  • How much are you paying your outside partners?
  • What kind of growth rate are you expecting?
  • How do you plan on selling your services?
  • How much will it cost to sell them?
  • Are you planning on taking out a new business loan?
  • What is your employee turnover rate?
  • What are your service fees?
  • Are there any additional charges clients should be aware of?

All of this and much, much more has to be backed by numbers.

Simply put, without the numbers backing your claims, no one is going to believe you – not your employees, not your potential investors or partners, not your customers.

If you avoid numbers in your business plan , they will notice it and once they do, the first place they will go to is that you are trying to hide something.

One word of warning – this does not mean you should divulge absolutely everything about your finances. That being said, some transparency with your numbers can go a long way.

4.Focus on People

The people from the subheading above are your people, your employees.

The reason why they are making a feature in an article about a digital marketing agency business plan in 2024 is that 2024 will hopefully finally be the year when digital marketing agency owners and managers realize the value of the people in their employ.

The situation is such that employee loyalties are all but becoming a thing of the past and in an industry such as digital marketing, this is perhaps even more pronounced than in some other, “slower” industries.  In addition to this, people are finally talking about the debilitating costs of high employee turnover which occurs when companies do not value the people who work for them.

It is because of all of this that you need to feature your people heavily in your digital marketing company business plan. (Of course, this is especially true if your digital marketing agency business plan is of the internally-oriented kind.)

You should outline all the ways in which you plan on retaining your best people and help them do their jobs better and raise their job titles .

You should write down all of the investments you will make in them and in making your company a better place to work. You should flesh out a clear-cut and results-driven hiring policy, as well as an onboarding one.

Everyone who gets a hold of your plan needs to understand that you are a digital marketing agency that understands the realities of the evolving workplace and that values its employees above everything else.

5.Be Realistic and Honest

Business plans should avoid fluff, be realistic and honest. The biggest mistake entrepreneurs can make when writing a business plan is to be overly optimistic with sales and future cost estimates.

Make sure your business plan demonstrates the compelling reasons why customers need your agency’s services and how you will achieve competitive differentiation in the digital marketing industry. Make the financials realistic, and look at worst-case scenarios so you get a view of what could go wrong and what you would need to do to put things right.

Also, don’t forget to share your digital marketing agency’s organizational structure honestly. Your potential clients should be fully aware of the size of your team and understand how much workload you can handle, besides letting them know about which services you offer in-house and which ones you outsource. With this level of transparency, you can build trust and set clear expectations, ensuring clients feel confident in your agency’s capabilities.

6.Share Your Core Values

The foundation of an agency’s culture and operations is its core values. You can set yourself apart from your competitors by defining and incorporating your core values into your business plan. 

You should highlight the core values of your marketing agency to show how they shape your company culture and contribute to employee satisfaction and retention. Whether it’s pushing for new ideas, being open and honest, putting clients first, or doing the right thing, such values should shape everything you do, from the choices you make to how you interact with clients.

Must-Haves of a Solid Digital Marketing Agency  Business Plan

Your business plan is more than just pages of objectives; it’s the embodiment of your vision and commitment to navigating the intricate world of digital marketing. So, this isn’t about just “making it” but about leading, innovating, and setting benchmarks. If you’re unfamiliar with crafting a business plan or simply want to expedite the process when starting a digital marketing agency , consider leveraging artificial intelligence, editing the outputs and putting them into the final form. We offer prompts designed by ChatGPT-4 that can be utilized with GPT to maximize the advantages of AI in your planning.

1. A Comprehensive Market Analysis

Understanding the nuances of the digital marketing space is essential. Beyond just recognizing industry leaders or listing potential competitors, you should delve deep into identifying market gaps, emerging trends, and potential threats. 

Can you identify areas of innovation that haven’t been tapped into yet? What about shifts in consumer behavior due to technological advancements or global events? 

By providing detailed market analysis, you’re not only setting your agency up for a proactive approach but also showcasing to stakeholders that your strategies are rooted in research and foresight.

ChatGPT Prompt for Market Analysis:

“Provide a detailed market analysis for the digital marketing industry in 2024, focusing on emerging trends, potential threats, and untapped areas of innovation.”

agence marketing digital business plan

2. Leveraging AI for Strategic Planning

It’s 2024, and artificial intelligence isn’t just a buzzword—it’s an integral component of any forward-thinking strategy. When building your business plan, illustrate how AI will fit into your operations and service offerings. 

You can do this by showcasing how AI-driven insights can refine target audience segments, optimize ad spend, predict emerging consumer trends, or even enhance user experience on digital platforms. Think of AI as more than just a tool—it’s a collaborator that can significantly enhance your agency’s efficacy and efficiency.

ChatGPT Prompt for Strategic Planning:

“How can artificial intelligence be integrated into a digital marketing strategy in 2024? Provide insights on AI-driven tools and methodologies for audience targeting, ad optimization, and predicting consumer behavior.”

agence marketing digital business plan

3. Clearly Defined Business Goals and Objectives

Every successful journey begins with a clear destination in mind. Your business plan should resonate with this philosophy. Are you aiming to be a local leader or have aspirations to expand globally? Do you want to specialize in a niche or provide a comprehensive suite of digital marketing agency services ? 

Break down these goals into quantifiable metrics—whether it’s revenue milestones, client acquisition numbers, or expansion timelines. Then, layer this with actionable strategies, ensuring that your objectives aren’t just aspirational but also achievable.

ChatGPT Prompt for Business Goals and Objectives:

“List clear and quantifiable business goals for a digital marketing agency aiming to expand its operations in 2024. Break these down into short-term and long-term objectives, with strategies to achieve each. “

agence marketing digital business plan

4. Detailed Financial Projections and Budgeting

Transparency is key when it comes to finances. 

Your business plan should provide crystal-clear financial forecasts, including revenue predictions, operating costs, profit margins, and potential ROI. But remember, it’s not just about showcasing profits. 

Address potential financial risks and have contingency plans in place. You can also highlight planned investments, be it in technology, talent, or infrastructure. If you’re approaching stakeholders, they should be able to understand not just the ‘how much’ but also the ‘why’ behind each financial decision.

ChatGPT Prompt for Financial Projections:

“Draft a financial projection for a digital marketing agency in 2024, detailing expected revenue, operating costs, and potential ROI. Also, highlight potential financial risks and contingency plans.”

agence marketing digital business plan

5. A Strong Emphasis on Talent Acquisition and Retention

People make businesses, and in the realm of digital marketing, this statement holds even more weight. Your plan should detail how you’ll attract top-notch talent to drive your agency’s vision. 

Think recruitment drives, partnerships with top universities, or even apprenticeship programs. However, acquisition is just one side of the coin. Retention, often overlooked, can be your competitive advantage. 

Detail out plans for continuous training, mentorship programs, competitive benefits, and perhaps even a glimpse into the agency culture you aim to cultivate. Making it clear that employees aren’t just resources, but invaluable assets will set your agency apart.

ChatGPT Prompt for Talent Acquisition and Retention:

“Provide strategies for talent acquisition and retention for a digital marketing agency aiming to establish itself as an industry leader in 2024. Include methods for recruitment, training programs, and creating a nurturing agency culture.”

agence marketing digital business plan

Wrapping Up

If you are looking for a bulletproof, step-by-step business plan template for your digital marketing agency growth , we are sorry to disappoint. The reason why this article does not fit that description is that such a template does not exist.

We aimed to provide the most important things to keep in mind when coming up with a digital marketing agency business plan for 2024. 

The rest will be up to you.

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How to Write a Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan (with PDF Template)

agence marketing digital business plan

SEOptimer now serves over 2,000 digital agencies around the world and through the years we've had the chance to connect with many of our agency customers to understand their early days in starting their agency.

This is incredibly interesting to us because it helps us understand where and how they plan to grow so we can help build the features they need in SEOptimer.

This article is the 3rd in our series focused on starting a new digital agency. For some useful prior reading be sure to check out our previous articles:

  • How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency : a comprehensive guide covering typical agency business models, services, hiring, training, new business, day to day management and more!
  • Digital Agency Lean Canvas : a digital agency business model on a single page! The lean canvas is a popular documentation methodology borrowed from the tech startup world.

Don't be dismayed if it feels like there's a lot of other competing digital agencies in your city. This is perfectly normal. Digital marketing services like local SEO, for example, are dominated by small agencies.

Search Engine Land reported that over 50% of local SEO agencies have 10 or fewer clients. Forbes Council Member Jon Hall says, this keeps the industry "weird" - aka diverse as its not dominated by a small handful of big agencies.

Agency Business Plan PPTX

The first step in launching a new digital marketing agency is to write a plan. In this guide, we'll cover two of the more traditional ways to define a business plan document with handy downloadable templates:

  • Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Document (DOCX & PDF) Template
  • Creative Agency Business Plan Deck (PPTX) Template

What is a Digital Marketing Business Plan?

What is a Business Plan?

A digital marketing business plan outlines your strategy to attract and retain customers using digital channels. It encompasses your goals, target audience, competitive landscape, marketing tactics, and financial projections.

A well-crafted plan serves as a blueprint for your marketing efforts, ensuring you remain focused and organized. It also helps you identify potential pitfalls and areas for improvement. 

For entrepreneurs and small business owners, having a digital marketing business plan is critical. It not only helps secure funding but also ensures that all team members are aligned with the company's vision and objectives.

It also provides a framework to measure success and make data-driven decisions.

Why Do You Need a Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan?

The days of mandatory 50+ page business plans are long gone. The choice is now yours as to whether you define your digital agency business plan in an in-depth strategic document or not.

Some agency founders find it useful to brainstorm this way and document their thought process in a long-form fashion across many pages.

Other founders prefer creating shorter slide decks, others opt for a 1-page lean canvas version or some even write their plan in a wiki or business planning tool.

There is no right or wrong way to document your plan. You need to find the documentation method that suits you best. If you're unsure what suits you best, the following factors may help you decide:

Consideration #1: Who is the Audience?

Think about who this document is for. Who will read it? In some cases it will just be you and the founding team. If you are raising money, obviously your investors will be a key audience.

You might also have business partners or board members who may be an audience too. When thnking through all these different groups, work backwards from the most optimal presentation format.

Consideration #2: Seek an Unbiased Third-party Opinion

Devin Schumacher is the Founder of SEO agency SERP and says it's easy to get swept up in your own overly optimistic projections.

"Ask an experienced agency founder you trust or admire to sanity-check your plan. Seeking an objective opinion from a third-party detached from your new business is vital."

Devin Schumacher

Devin makes a great point. This type of peer review methodology is commonplace in other industries but sometimes lacking amongst agency founders.

Make sure you get at least 1 other unbiased opinion from someone who has already achieved success in your niche.

Don't fall into the trap of asking a friend or your accountant or someone you know personally to review your plan. Doing so will give you a biased opinion.

You need an unbiased opinion from someone willing to give you objective feedback.

Consideration #3: Stand your Ground

The whole point of a business plan is to take the time and effort to research the market, your competitors and potential clients. This document will distill all your insights into a strategic plan you can operationalize.

As is always the case, unexpected distractions masquerading as opportunities (rightly or wrongly) will pop up in your field of view demanding your attention.

Perhaps it's a new client opportunity with a project slightly adjacent to your niche. Perhpas a hiring opportunity for a role you didn't plan to hire yet.

Sometimes the hardest thing is to say no, when you're in the mindset of taking every opportunity for growth.

During these situations, revisit your agency business plan and remind yourself of your focus area niche and how you planned to grow within that niche.

Consideration #4: But, Be Okay With Change

Rebekah Edwards

There's no shame in pivoting.

In fact this balance between sticking to the plan and pivoting the plan needs to be navigated by every digital agency founder. It's not easy and often you will be second-guessing yourself.

"Every agency owner I know has had to massively adjust their target audience, pricing structure, competitor analysis, and service offerings based on the way they grow over the first 2-5 years."

Rebekah says that founders need to be prepared for change, afterall, digital marketing is in constant flux and evolution, so change is the norm and we need to write business plans with flexibility in mind.

Trust your performance metrics and continue to do the things that have the biggest quantifiable business impact.

Typical Business Plan structures

We mentioned previously that there's no right or wrong way to document your business plan. So with that said, let's look at some typical marketing agency business plan templates that you can use.

After considering all the factors above, choose the structure that works for you and your stakeholders best. We've outlined six of the more common options below:

Option #1: Written Business Document

This is the more traditional (and still valid) way to describe your business. A written business plan document in MS Word or Google Docs is still the most common way to document your digital marketing agency business plan.

Business Plan document

This type of business plan is considered "long-form", ie: longer in length and suited to more descriptive language. Expect to write longer rationales, longer explanations with plenty of space for evidence, research, insights and strategy.

This type of plan will likely be 30+ pages and feel comprehensive. This comprehensiveness is especially needed if external investors or business partners are involved who need to be convinced of the robustness of your plan.

Option #2: Slide Deck

The PowerPoint Presentation (or Google Slides or Keynote) has become the go-to corporate communication format.

Digital agency founders spend most of their time communicating to staff, clients and stakeholders in PowerPoint so it makes sense to use this format for the purposes of communicating the agency's overall business plan.

Business Plan PowerPoint

The fundamental difference between this option and the written document, is that a slide deck is a presentable format. So typically you might be in the room with your business partners, walking through the presentation on the screen.

Whereas in option #1, a written document is not a compelling way to present an idea. It's much more suited as a sent document to be consumed in isolation.

That's not to say that a slide deck can't be utilized this way, it's just more common that you would be presenting and talking through your plan with the slides serving as a visual backup to what you say.

There's also a good argument for doing both (ie written document AND slide deck). It comes down to who all the stakeholders are (eg investors, business partners or just you) and whether you intend to present your plan or just document your plan.

Option #3: Lean Canvas

The Lean Canvas developed by leanstack.com is a business plan on a page split into 10 boxes. This planning document has become very popular in the tech/startup world and has since been adopted in many other industries, including digital agencies.

Be sure to check out our previous article explaining how to use a Lean Canvas for your agency .

SEOptimer - Digital Agency Lean Canvas

The entire business plan fits on a single page which means you obviously need to sweat on every single world and ensure only the most important details are included.

We are big supporters of this format because this helps you prioritize and focus your efforts down to the fundamental aspects of your new business.

Option #4: Wiki

In the context of a business, a Wiki is usually an internal website with multiple interlinking articles. The biggest Wiki in the world is Wikipedia and if you want to get really meta, check out Wikipedia's wiki about wikis :

"A wiki (/wɪki/ WIK-ee) is a hypertext publication collaboratively edited and managed by its own audience directly using a web browser. A typical wiki contains multiple pages for the subjects or scope of the project."

Wiki's are generally perceived as internal knowledge bases so if your business plan has executional detail, this might be a good format for documenting processes and methodologies for staff.

Option #5: General Planning Tool

Tools like Notion and Trello have grown massively in recent years as more people are working remotely and more work in general is being done collaboratively online.

Notion Business Plan

These types of planning tools are designed to be multi-purpose and fall somewhere between a wiki and a specialized business planning tool.

How to Construct the Business Plan

Now that we've covered the typical business plan structures let's look at the specifics of how you actually go about constructing the business plan and each of the main tasks you need to perform and sections of the business plan.

Market Research Data Gathering

Customer/client research.

Rebekah Edwards, who we spoke to previously stresses the importance of market research with as many potential clients as you can. She interviewed several businesses in their target market when developing their service offerings and pricing.

Some of the questions she thought were most helpful included:

  • With no other information, what do you think X would cost from an agency? (X being the service in question.)
  • What is the biggest roadblock for you to accomplish X in-house? (X being basic content/SEO projects, such as article creation/editing/uploading or strategizing new keywords.)
  • How would you typically search for a digital marketing agency? (Referrals, social media, Google search, etc. — this helped us understand how to best market our services)
  • If you already work with a digital marketing agency of any kind, what stood out? Why did you sign on the dotted line?
  • Have there been digital marketing agencies you've specifically decided not to work with for any particular reason? What were the red flags or the issues with a fit that led you to say no?
  • What matters most to you when working with a digital marketing agency? (Examples: data/analytics, frequent communication, hitting deadlines every time, price, niche of expertise, etc.)

Answers to these questions are invaluable as they help you position and market your new digital agency based on customer insight.

Competitor Research

The importance of competitor research goes without saying. It's vital you have a good understanding of how your competitors are going to market, how they sell, who they target and what their rough price points are.

If you have a friend who owns a small business, ask them to mystery shop at a competitor so they can report back to you what the sales process was like.

Competitor types

The way you position and sell your services should be informed by a combination of both customer insights and competitor insights.

Addressing client needs whilst maintaining a unique selling proposition will set your new digital agency up for success!

Building out the Business Plan

Download our template: digital marketing agency business plan document.

To make edits to the document make sure to download our DOCX template which you can edit directly in Microsoft Word. However if you would prefer a printable PDF, we also provide this option too.

Use these templates as a starting point to help you draft your digital marketing business plan:

Business Plan DOCX

Below are some of the highlight areas of the plan:

Market Research Findings

We suggest conducting three types of research to inform your marketing agency business plan:

  • Qualitative research like one-on-one interviews, focus groups and meetings with prospective clients
  • Quantitative reserach like online surveys, mass emails and multivariate testing
  • Competitor analysis to determine their strengths and weaknesses

Market Research

Unique Selling Proposition (USP) and Service Offering

Nailing your USP will be tough especially if you are in a competitive industry / city. Use the previous market research tasks to discover where the gaps are in the market and leverage these insights to position your new agency to be competitive AND different.

Perform a SWOT analysis based on your new USP. Then you can determine your actual service offerings and pricing strategy.

USPs

Go-To-Market (GTM) Plan and Org Structure

Define your target market - the exact client types who you want to sell to and list the marketing and advertising activities that you will perform that would be most effective in reaching these types of people.

Also list your people (this might not be many on day 1!), sources of advice and support as well as the strategies you'll use to retain your staff and build their skills and knowledge.

Go To Market Plan

Goals Sales Forecasting

This marketing agency business plan template includes goal setting for the next year and goal setting for the next 3 years. This page is structured to help you set SMART goals.

SMART goals are:

  • Specific : In the '[Enter a goal]' section describe your goal clearly and ensure you attach a person responsible in the 'Who's responsible' section.
  • Measureable : Ensure the actions you list in the 'Actions to achieve goal' have an objective outcome
  • Achievable : Ensure you sense-check your goals with your team and all agree that they are attainable
  • Relevant : Ensure this is a priority goal and will help your new agency grow
  • Time-bound : Enter a due date to ensure the goal doesn't get forgotten

Use the Cash flow forecast table as a simple way to visualize cash-on-hand in your first 12 months. Add rows to estimate your monthly expenses like payroll, rent, utilities, subscriptions, insurance, fees and other ongoing costs.

Goal setting

Tools and Tech

Finally, list out all the tools and technology your new agency will likely need to run an efficient operation. We've listed SEOptimer for you already because it's one of the best, low-cost lead generation tools for your agency.

Over 2,000 digital agencies use SEOptimer to generate white label site audits and embed an audit form on their agency website to capture new lead details.

Tools & Tech

Creative Agency Business Plan Slide Deck PPTX Template

If you prefer a slide deck template, use this creative agency business plan example in PowerPoint format:

Business Plan PPTX

Sources of Funding for Your Digital Marketing Agency

Starting a digital marketing agency requires initial capital. Here are some sources of funding to consider:

Bootstrapping

Bootstrapping involves using your savings or revenue generated from the business to fund your operations. It's a common approach for entrepreneurs who want to maintain control and avoid debt.

While this method requires careful financial planning, it allows you to grow organically and reinvest profits back into the business.

Small Business Loans

Small business loans from banks or credit unions can provide the necessary capital to get your agency off the ground. These loans typically have lower interest rates compared to other financing options.

However, they may require a solid business plan and collateral. Research different lenders and compare their terms to find the best fit for your needs.

Venture Capital

If you have a scalable business model with high growth potential, venture capital (VC) funding might be an option. VCs invest in startups in exchange for equity.

While this can provide substantial funding, it also means giving up some control over your business. Make sure your goals align with those of potential investors before pursuing this route.

Crowdfunding

Platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo allow you to raise funds from a large number of people. Crowdfunding not only provides capital but also helps validate your idea and build a community of supporters.

Create a compelling campaign that clearly communicates your value proposition and the benefits of supporting your agency.

Angel Investors

AngelList

Angel investors are individuals who provide capital to startups in exchange for equity or convertible debt. They often offer mentorship and valuable industry connections.

To attract angel investors, you need a strong business plan, a clear value proposition, and evidence of your ability to execute.

Do You Need an LLC to Start a Digital Marketing Agency?

LLC IRS

A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a popular business structure for small businesses and startups. It provides personal liability protection, meaning your personal assets are shielded from business debts and lawsuits.

LLCs have the option to be taxed as a sole proprietorship, partnership, S corporation, or C corporation. This flexibility allows you to choose the best tax treatment for your situation

Having "LLC" in your business name can enhance your agency's credibility and professionalism. It signals to clients and partners that you are serious about your business and committed to its success.

That being said, you don't have to have an LLC when starting your digital marketing agency but it might be a good idea to establish an LLC for the reasons mentioned above.

Crafting a digital marketing agency business plan is essential for entrepreneurs and small business owners. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a comprehensive plan that sets your agency up for success.

Tim's background is in digital marketing working for both large and small digital agencies and diverse client types. He has a passion for tech, software and staying up to date on the latest search engine news.

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How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency

Author: Aaron Agius

Aaron Agius

9 min. read

Updated February 8, 2024

Free Download:  Sample Marketing Agency Business Plan Template

It’s easier to start a digital marketing agency without funding than people might think.

In this post, I will cover starting your business on your own—with aspirations of becoming an agency. I will look at how to get your first clients and how to balance your time when finding them—when you start on your own, that is one of the toughest balancing acts.

The beauty of setting up a digital marketing agency is that you can start from virtually nothing. I know this from personal experience because my business partner and I did just that with our company, Louder.Online . If you have the expertise, then all you need to get started is a computer and a home office (or at least a space to work). There are not many businesses where that’s all you need.

You don’t need to put it all on a credit card, you don’t need to get a bank loan , you don’t need startup capital—you can just build a website , and you can be on your way. That’s what we did, and we now have a successful digital marketing agency with clients around the world.

  • Taking on your first employees

Many businesses will hire recruiting and onboarding agencies to find employees for their burgeoning digital marketing agency, but if you’re going to build an agency without funding then you need to be doing this yourself.

Beyond the fact that you won’t need the extra cash from the start to make hires, it will mean that you have control over the kind of employees that you take on. When you’re ready, you can hire the right people for the culture that you create around your business.

  • Training your team

Training your employees can be a costly business if you are not wise. When building a digital marketing agency without outside funding, you need to make sure you have a plan in place to be able to train people as and when they join you without incurring additional cost to the business.

Something we found invaluable when building our agency was to train the first few staff ourselves and educate them on everything we could. Sure, it meant that we put in some long hours at the start, but it paid off in the long run.

Training our first employees in every area we could think of prepared them to be able to train the next wave of staff. In turn, those staff members were able to teach the team members that joined after them.

As people moved up the ladder in our business, the staff that joined early on were able to train up the juniors that came in after them. Higher paid employees were able to use their time to liaise with clients and strategize rather than spending their time on training—making the business more successful and profitable, while not losing any of the vision that we had for the company or how our digital marketing client work was undertaken.

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  • Documenting your processes and making life easier

If you want to start an agency without having outside funding, you need to find ways to do things in a non-traditional manner.

If your business takes off straight away, then it is likely that you are going to be taking on staff fairly quickly to cope with demand. When you have new staff starting regularly, you need two things in place—process documentation and basic HR functions—preferably avoiding having to hire an HR person too early.

At Louder.Online we made sure that we concentrated on these very early on. We documented our processes from day one in some software called Process Street . The software lets you create checklists and workflows that any of your staff can run at any time.

We use Process Street to document things like:

  • How to answer the phone
  • What to do when you are sick
  • How to put in an expenses report
  • How to book a holiday
  • What is needed before a new employee starts
  • What is required when an employee leaves

Having these processes documented means that everyone knows what they need to do and can follow a standard protocol. They don’t have to ask their manager or other staff.

This saves time and means that the employees that you have at your agency can actually spend more time on billable work for the clients. That, in turn, makes you more profitable . You are saving money that might otherwise have had to have come from outside funding.

We also didn’t want to have to hire an HR person until we really needed to and we certainly didn’t want to outsource that to a third party. They both cost a lot of money, and we didn’t want to have to use outside funding to do that.

After some searching around in the early days, we found some software called AppogeeHR .

The software boasts:

  • Centralized employee information
  • Leave and sickness management
  • Performance and learning tracking
  • OKR management

It is simple to use, and it means that my business partner and I were able to act as HR without having to spend a lot of time on it. As earlier employees moved up, they were able to take on some of the work as well—and of course, this was all documented in a subsection of Process Street for when they needed it.

There is a saying that “necessity is the mother of invention,” and when we knew we didn’t want to use outside funding we looked for ways that we could make sure we didn’t have to.

  • Bootstrapping

If you don’t have that cash injection at the start of your businesses life, then you need to be bootstrapping .

A dictionary definition will tell you that it’s to get oneself into or out of a situation using existing resources. When you read other articles, they will talk about relying on personal income or savings, and they talk about sweat equity.

We think the definition can be a little broader than that—essentially optimizing your current situation. We did this through an intelligent choice of clients and being smart with our cash. We found these to be essential to avoid that outside funding.

Getting good clients

Bad clients bring you down. Bad clients cost you money. Bad clients suck up your time.

If you don’t want to be spending money on additional staff to cover those losses, then you need to know how to spot a good client. Taking on every client that comes your way was never an option for us.

So how do you spot a good client? Here are my tips:

  • Choose clients that will let you do your best work—stay away from the clients that overly worry about cost, because they will cost you in the long run.
  • Choose clients whose business you believe in—the synergy between your agency and their business will lead to a healthy and respectful relationship.
  • Work with clients who understand what you do—if they have some knowledge of the digital marketing landscape then they will be interested in what you do and don’t expect the world.

Being smart with your cash

This one sounds kind of obvious, right? But how many stories in the last few years have you read about businesses going under because of the inordinate amount of cash they spent on offices and perks to try and attract staff?

The employees that join your company are likely to know about these perks and want to see some of them. This is where you have to try and resist. Sure they are fun, but if you don’t want that outside funding, then you need to be sensible.

Company culture is not about the arcade machines and novelty slides from one floor to another. Company culture is about the bonds you create, the work that you do and how comfortable people feel at work.

People want to enjoy their work. When people enjoy their day to day life they produce better work, and they stay with a company longer. Combine these two together, and it cuts down the money you need to spend on recruitment and training—another way to avoid using outside funding.

  • Financial goal and milestone setting

Being smarter with your cash and spending less is one thing; financial goal and milestone setting is another. We knew we would have to create something scalable from the start and also be able to predict with some degree of accuracy what our potential revenue might be.

As we were starting a digital agency, we knew we were going to be selling hours from the very start. We knew that tracking employee time and client budgets were the way we wanted to head in. Using a project management tool like Liquid Planner or a Harvest / Basecamp combination can really help with this.

We set prices for staff, created client folders and subprojects early on. Every member of staff had tasks assigned that they accurately track time against. This allowed us to make sure we didn’t go over or under for clients and the tools turn the hours into dollars in detailed reports.

We started in a very granular way and had activities set for the different types of work that we were doing. This allowed us to accurately predict how long specific tasks would take and we could pitch accordingly—there was no finger in the air guesswork.

After we had started to collect this data we could predict how much revenue we might bring in per client. From there we created financial milestones based on the close rate of proposals and how much similar projects had cost—and whether they had come under or gone over. We found this to be an accurate way of getting solid estimates on where the business would be in six months, a year, five years and beyond. It’s strategic planning or Lean Business Planning .

  • Start small but plan for growth

That’s how we did it at Louder Online, we took a no outside funding stance from the start and made sure we looked for alternative solutions to cut costs. We started small and made sure that there was a culture in place from day one.

We made sure that we documented everything so that new employees would know what they had to do and when.

We enabled the staff to train each other as the agency grew, creating last bonds and teamwork.  

It isn’t for everyone and it was definitely hard for us at the start, but it has made us the profitable digital marketing agency that we are today and we wouldn’t change that for the world.

To launch your own digital marketing agency, start by putting together a business plan. Check out our digital marketing agency business plan example and free template for additional guidance.

Content Author: Aaron Agius

Aaron Agius, CEO of worldwide digital agency Louder Online is, according to Forbes, among the world's leading digital marketers. Working with clients such as Salesforce, Coca-Cola, IBM, Intel, and scores of stellar brands, Aaron is a growth marketer—a fusion between search, content, social, and PR.

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Digital marketing agency business plan template + PDF

This guide introduces a cutting-edge AI Business Plan Generator template, specifically designed for entrepreneurs aiming to kick-start or enhance their marketing agency business. It is important to note that the names and financial forecasts provided in this example are entirely fictional, serving merely to demonstrate the strategic planning process. These examples are meticulously crafted to illustrate how you can adapt your own AI-generated Marketing Agency Business Plan to overcome specific challenges and capitalize on the opportunities within your marketing agency venture.

For effortless customization, we offer a "Marketing Agency Business Plan PDF" for download. This document is crucial for entrepreneurs dedicated to devising a persuasive and effective strategy for launching or scaling their marketing agency. The 'AI Business Plan Generator' acts as an exhaustive resource, delivering deep insights into the marketing agency industry. It provides you with the indispensable tools for proficiently managing and growing your marketing agency business, leveraging AI for optimal strategic planning.

How this marketing agency business plan template was created

Create your customized marketing agency business plan seamlessly with our AI Business Plan Generator. Simply click 'Generate your business plan' and answer a series of specific questions related to your marketing agency project. Our sophisticated AI technology will evaluate your responses to develop a business plan that aligns precisely with your marketing agency's objectives and requirements. This efficient and swift process typically concludes in just 5-10 minutes, yielding a comprehensive and structured plan. Our platform enables you to tailor and fine-tune your plan, ensuring it accurately mirrors your distinct vision for your marketing agency. Once finished, your plan is ready for download, offering a clear and direct guide for initiating and growing your marketing agency. Utilize our AI business plan generator, tailor-made for marketing agency ventures, to bolster your strategic planning.

Marketing agency business plan: questionnaire

Digital marketing agency business plan template

Executive summary, business description, market research and analysis, swot analysis.

  • Organizational Structure and Management Team

Products or Services

Marketing and sales strategy, operations plan, financial projections, risk analysis.

agence marketing digital business plan

CreativeWave Marketing Agency, headquartered in San Francisco, California, is a burgeoning entity within the expansive marketing industry—a sector that is not only substantial in size but also pivotal for businesses seeking to navigate the transformative landscape of consumer engagement. This agency prides itself on a comprehensive suite of services that empowers small to medium-sized businesses to amplify their brand narrative, connect with their audience effectively, and elevate their commercial success through strategic marketing initiatives.

At the heart of CreativeWave resides a spirited team of seasoned professionals, each a connoisseur in their respective field. Led by Ava Johnson, our CEO with an MBA in Marketing and a prestigious tenure at Fortune 500 companies, the company has erected a bedrock of innovation and strategic acumen. Together with Michael Chen, the Creative Director with a BFA in Graphic Design, Luis Rodriguez, the strategist wielding a Master's in Market Research, Emma Wilson, the Director of Client Services with a Public Relations background, and Jake Patel, the CTO engulfed in the tech landscape, our agency’s leadership is marked by a collusive blend of expertise, creativity, and forward thinking.

CreativeWave is a formidable incubator of cutting-edge marketing solutions, including Brand Strategy, SEO/SEM, Pay-Per-Click Advertising, and more, tailored to the distinct needs of our clientele—our services are not mere tools of trade but artisan crafts that embody the bespoke uniqueness each client demands. With the utilization of these services, our clients have felt the significant impact of sustained growth, with CreativeWave propelling them towards achieving remarkable returns on their marketing investments.

The strength of CreativeWave lies in our adaptability—a business trait that is not just advantageous but necessary in a field characterized by its rapid technological developments and evolving best practices. We are uniquely positioned for growth due to our focus on ROI-driven campaigns and exceptional client servicing. This is evidenced by our robust financial projections, iterating a sales growth rate of 20% in the initial years, with the aim to expand net margins from 25% to 30% within the next five years. These projections have been calibrated with conservative estimations and backed by a business strategy balanced between ambition and financial prudence.

Understanding that our industry is not without its vicissitudes, our operations plan has been meticulously formulated to embrace flexibility and precision. We've invested in a modern office space stacked with top-tier technology, designed to incite collaboration and creativity. Our risk analysis signifies a commitment to vigilance and preparedness, navigating potential market fluctuations, operational challenges, and financial ambiguities with calculated foresight.

Our marketing and sales strategy harnesses an array of channels—both digital and interpersonal—to not only attract new clients but also to steward their journeys from prospects to partners. We have implemented a value-based pricing model to ensure our services are accessible yet reflective of their intrinsic worth. Supplementing this model is our acute focus on high-caliber customer service policies that exemplify our dedication to client satisfaction and retention.

CreativeWave's legal structure as an LLC in California lends us the flexibility required to streamline our growth trajectory. We've engaged with a diverse set of external advisors and consultants to perpetuate our standard of excellence whilst continuously learning and adapting.

In conclusion, CreativeWave Marketing Agency stands as an emblem of innovation, strategy, and client dedication in the competitive marketing domain. Our comprehensive business plan captures the essence of where we are, where we're headed, and how we plan to reach new zeniths of success, fortified by an ethos of continuous improvement and an undying zeal for our clients' triumphs.

Digital marketing agency business plan: Executive Summary

Digital marketing agency business plan

CreativeWave Marketing Agency, strategically positioned in the dynamic and innovation-driven city of San Francisco, California, operates within the fast-paced and ever-evolving marketing industry. Our agency's aim is to offer cutting-edge marketing services tailored to small and medium-sized businesses that are hungry for growth and keen to make a lasting impression in their respective markets. We specialize in creating bespoke marketing strategies that not only underscore the unique selling points of our clients but also establish long-standing relationships with their customers.

The marketing industry, centered around understanding and influencing consumer behavior, has undergone radical changes in recent years, largely due to the explosive growth of digital platforms and the subsequent shift in consumer engagement. CreativeWave has embraced these changes, positioning itself at the forefront of digital trends and technological advancements, allowing it to navigate the complexities of the digital landscape with fines and agility.

Founded in the year 2015 by a group of passionate marketing professionals and visionaries, CreativeWave was born out of the recognition of a growing need for marketing services that seamlessly integrate traditional marketing principles with innovative digital techniques. The primary purpose of the agency was to bridge the gap for those businesses that had fallen behind due to the digital revolution, and to catapult them into the limelight using effective, data-driven marketing methods.

Our mission is to serve as the lighthouse for businesses adrift in the competitive sea of digital marketing. We aim to illuminate the path to success for our clients by providing them with unparalleled expertise, cutting-edge solutions, and a relentless commitment to achieving measurable results. We are dedicated to empowering our clients to not only thrive but to lead within their industries.

CreativeWave is formally established as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in California, offering the founders the advantage of reduced personal risks associated with the liabilities of the business operations, the tax advantages of a partnership, and the structural flexibility necessary for fast-paced growth. This legal structure also supports the Agency in attracting investment and high-caliber talent by delineating clear lines of responsibility and reward.

Looking ahead, CreativeWave Marketing Agency harbors strong ambitions. The long-term potential of the business is anchored in several core areas: the exponential expansion of the digital economy, the customization of marketing due to big data and analytics, the rising importance of brand storytelling, and the continuous necessity for businesses to differentiate themselves within saturated markets. As we reinforce our presence in these essential facets of marketing, our aim is to become an indispensable partner to our clients, guiding them through the shifting landscapes of consumer interaction and brand development.

Our vision extends to becoming an incubator for marketing innovation, fostering a strong in-house think tank, and incubating new techniques that will define the future of marketing. Additionally, we are determined to expand our footprint beyond the local market, aspiring to establish connections and serve clients on a global scale.

In summary, CreativeWave Marketing Agency stands as a beacon of innovation and strategic excellence in the marketing realm. With our blend of creative talent, strategic insight, and a solid understanding of the digital arena, we are well-positioned to navigate through the industry's challenges and capitalize on its myriad opportunities, driving us and our clients towards a thriving future.

The marketing industry is a dynamic and integral part of the global economy, shaped by continuous innovation and driven by the necessity to adapt to changing consumer behavior. In recent years, industry trends have largely gravitated towards digital marketing, with a strong emphasis on social media engagement, search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing, and data-driven decision-making. The global marketing industry is substantial, with current estimates projecting its size to exceed $1.3 trillion by the end of the year, demonstrating a resilient growth rate despite economic uncertainties.

CreativeWave Marketing Agency is strategically taking advantage of these trends, notably the digital shift that has businesses seeking expertise in navigating the online marketplace. The growth rate in the digital marketing sector specifically is surging, with annual growth rates averaging around 11%, signaling a significant potential for agencies equipped with the right tools and talent.

Our target market comprises small to medium-sized businesses across diverse industries, ranging from startups to more established companies looking to revamp their marketing strategies. These businesses typically possess annual revenues between $1 million and $50 million. Within this demographic, our most significant growth potential lies with businesses that have recognized the importance of digital marketing but lack the in-house expertise to implement effective strategies.

The needs and demands of the market are clear: businesses are looking for comprehensive, integrated marketing solutions that can be measured and analyzed for effectiveness. There is a high demand for ROI-focused campaigns, strong branding, tailored content creation, and a cohesive omnichannel marketing approach. Furthermore, companies are seeking partners who can offer insights into customer behaviors, market penetration strategies, and competitive analysis.

Within these demands, market trends and patterns are leaning towards automation, personalization, and a mobile-first approach. Engagement through video content, influencer partnerships, and interactive user experiences are becoming increasingly significant, while AI and machine learning are emerging as game changers in customer data analysis.

Competitor analysis reveals that established marketing agencies with strong reputations and extensive portfolios dominate a significant market share, presenting formidable competition. Their strengths lie in their brand credibility, comprehensive service offerings, and resources to undertake large-scale campaigns. However, these larger entities may sometimes lack the agility and personalized customer service that smaller businesses seek. Their weaknesses can be slower adoption of innovative practices and less attention to smaller accounts. CreativeWave Marketing Agency finds its competitive edge by capitalizing on these gaps, providing agile, tailored services and fostering strong client relationships.

Potential barriers to entry in the marketing industry are noteworthy. The high level of expertise required to deliver effective marketing services ensures a steep learning curve for new entrants. Additionally, building a brand reputation and a robust portfolio to compete with established agencies requires significant time and investment. Marketing is a relationship-driven industry, and thus, trust and demonstrated success are integral to acquiring and retaining clients. Evolving technological advancements also pose a constant challenge, requiring ongoing training and investment in tools to stay current and competitive.

In light of these factors, CreativeWave's market research and analysis recognize the considerable opportunity within the marketing industry for an agency that is nimble, innovative, and client-centric. By addressing the market's current needs, staying ahead of trends, and understanding the competitive landscape, CreativeWave Marketing Agency is positioned to carve out a significant market share and achieve sustained growth in the industry.

StrengthsWeaknesses
CreativeWave Marketing Agency boasts a talented and experienced management team with expertise across various facets of marketing, ensuring high-quality service delivery. The CreativeWave Marketing Agency faces challenges inherent to smaller agencies, such as limited brand recognition compared to industry giants, which may impact the ability to attract large clients. The scope of resources available is also smaller, which can impose constraints on the scale and number of concurrent campaigns managed effectively. Despite technological proficiency, budget constraints can limit access to the most advanced marketing tools and platforms, impacting the efficiency of service provision. The
OpportunitiesThreats
The agency has significant opportunities for growth within the booming digital marketing space. Continued growth in areas such as AI, machine learning, and personalized marketing opens avenues for CreativeWave to develop new, innovative offerings. There is also an opportunity to expand the The marketing industry is incredibly competitive, with new agencies frequently entering the market and established firms setting high industry standards. Rapid changes in digital marketing platforms and algorithms can also pose a threat, requiring constant upskilling and adaptability to maintain the relevance of marketing campaigns. Economic downturns directly affect marketing budgets, with companies often reducing spending in this area during financial hardships. Furthermore, changes in consumer privacy laws and data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), could limit data-driven marketing tactics and necessitate the reevaluation of strategies. Lastly, dependency on digital platforms makes the agency susceptible to threats related to cybersecurity and data breaches.

Marketing agency business plan: Market Research and Analysis

Digital agency business plan

Organizational structure and management.

CreativeWave Marketing Agency boasts a flat and flexible organizational structure, designed to foster collaboration, communication, and innovation. At the apex of the hierarchy stands the CEO, who oversees the overall operation and strategic direction of the company. Line managers serve as heads of individual departments, including Strategy, Creative, Client Services, Technology, and Market Research. These departments operate interconnectedly with teams that are assembled project-wise, ensuring dynamic exchange of expertise for bespoke marketing solutions.

The management team of CreativeWave is composed of a group of experienced professionals with diverse backgrounds. CEO Ava Johnson has an MBA in Marketing and brings invaluable leadership experience from her previous tenure at Fortune 500 companies. Her leadership style promotes creativity and data-driven decision-making across the agency's operations.

Creative Director Michael Chen, with his BFA in Graphic Design and a decade of experience, leads a talented team of designers, copywriters, and multimedia specialists. His vision shapes our creative output, ensuring it resonates with client objectives and market trends.

Luis Rodriguez, as Head of Strategy, has a Master's in Market Research and uses his analytical skills to craft targeted marketing strategies. With his crew, Luis ensures our campaigns are both innovative and effective in their approach to market challenges.

Director of Client Services Emma Wilson is in charge of managing client relationships and portfolios. Her strong background in communication and public relations has greatly contributed to our high client retention rates.

As Chief Technology Officer, Jake Patel oversees the digital infrastructure of the agency. With a Master's in Computer Science, he understands the intricate needs of a marketing company in the digital era and ensures that our technological resources are cutting-edge and reliable.

Currently, the staffing needs consist of a blend of full-time employees and specialized contractors, which provides operational flexibility and expertise on demand. As CreativeWave looks to the future, the aim is to expand our full-time staff, particularly in the areas of digital advertising, data analytics, and client account management, in line with anticipated growth.

CreativeWave's human resources policies center around an inclusive and employee-focused culture. We believe in continuous professional development and therefore offer regular training sessions, workshops, and educational reimbursements. Given the nature of our industry, a work-life balance is encouraged with flexible work hours, the opportunity for remote work, and an open-door policy for addressing work concerns.

To ensure that we remain on the forefront of industry standards and technological advancements, we engage with external advisors and consultants in specialized areas such as international marketing laws, advanced analytics, and emerging digital advertising platforms. They provide critical insights and recommendations that allow our team to make informed decisions and maintain an edge over competitors.

In summary, the organizational structure and management style of CreativeWave Marketing Agency are shaped with the intention of maintaining a nimble and adaptive business capable of leading in the competitive marketing industry. Our strategic investment in human capital, both in nurturing internal talent and in seeking external expertise, is aligned with our long-term business objectives of expansion and innovation. Our collaborative culture not only fuels our creative approach to marketing but also ensures that we attract and retain top industry talent.

CreativeWave Marketing Agency offers a comprehensive suite of marketing services designed to bridge the gap between businesses and their potential customers through strategic communication and cutting-edge digital tactics. Our service offerings are constructed to cater to the nuanced needs of small to medium-sized businesses in a diverse range of industries seeking to enhance their brand presence, engage effectively with their audiences, and drive tangible sales results.

Our product and service lineup is extensive and includes Brand Strategy, Social Media Management, SEO and SEM Services, Content Creation, Email Marketing, Pay-Per-Click Advertising, Market Research and Analysis, and Website Design and Development. Each service is delivered with a customized approach that aligns with the client’s specific objectives, brand voice, and target market demographics.

The unique selling points of CreativeWave rest in our ability to integrate these services cohesively to form a unified marketing front. Moreover, our data-driven strategies are designed to not only captivate the target audience but are also structured for traceable ROI - a competitive advantage that allows our clients to clearly observe the efficacy of their marketing expenditures. CreativeWave’s agility to adapt and grow within the ever-shifting landscape of digital marketing, coupled with our emphasis on personal client relationships, forms the bedrock of our competitive edge.

Currently, our services are fully operational and consistently evolving to incorporate the latest industry trends and technologies. Future plans involve investing in AI-driven market analysis tools and expanding our capabilities in voice search optimization and programmatic advertising—frontiers poised for substantial growth.

In terms of intellectual property status, CreativeWave is vigilant in protecting its brand and the unique methodologies it employs. While our service offerings, as standard within the industry, cannot be patented, we safeguard our original content, branded materials, and proprietary tools under copyright and trademark laws. Names of unique processes and designs are trademarked to secure brand distinction.

To deliver our various services, the production process involves a collaborative workflow that synchronizes the multi-disciplinary expertise of our team members. For a service like Website Design and Development, this begins with market research, followed by strategizing and wireframing by the Strategy team, actual design work by the Creative team, and coding by the Development team, with continuous Client Service team input for client feedback integration.

Supplier information is relevant to services like Content Creation and Social Media Management, where we occasionally outsource specific tasks to trusted freelance creative professionals and production facilities to ensure that the final deliverables meet high-quality standards within an efficient timeframe. These partnerships are chosen based on a rigorous vetting process and a proven track record of reliability and excellence.

In summary, the suite of products and services offered by CreativeWave Marketing Agency is comprehensive, contemporary, and customized to meet and exceed our clients’ unique marketing goals. We pride ourselves on being at the vanguard of marketing innovation, bringing unparalleled value to our clients' investments through our services. Our plans for growth and development are ambitious and reflective of our commitment to staying ahead in the face of a rapidly evolving industry, securing our place as a thought leader and trusted marketing partner for our clients.

Marketing agency business plan: Organizational Structure and Management

Marketing agency business plan template

CreativeWave Marketing Agency employs a comprehensive marketing strategy that leverages both traditional and digital marketing channels to promote our services. Our approach revolves around key positioning as a boutique agency that combines the personal touch of a smaller firm with the expertise and results-driven focus of a larger corporation. Through a mix of content marketing, thought leadership, targeted online advertising, and strategic partnerships, we aim to reach potential clients precisely at their point of need.

Our content marketing strategy includes publishing insightful articles, whitepapers, and case studies showcasing our knowledge and successful client outcomes. This will be complemented by speaking engagements at industry conferences and webinars to establish thought leadership. We will utilize targeted online advert campaigns on platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Google to reach businesses actively seeking marketing services. Strategic partnerships with complementary service providers, like web hosting companies and business consultants, will help cross-promote our offerings to a larger audience.

For our sales strategy, we maintain a dedicated team trained in solution selling to understand each prospective client's unique challenges and align our service offerings to meet their goals effectively. Our sales tactics pivot upon building relationships and offering tailored consultations, leveraging CRM tools to nurture leads through the sales funnel. The sales team will engage in direct outreach activities, such as networking events, trade shows, and local business meet-ups, bolstering our visibility and forging personal connections with potential clients.

CreativeWave's pricing strategy is centered around value-based pricing. We understand that each client comes with a unique set of expectations and budget limitations. Prices for our services are therefore determined following a thorough analysis of the client’s requirements, the scope of work, and the anticipated ROI, allowing us to offer competitive yet profitable rates. Package deals and retainer-based services are also available to provide cost-effective solutions for long-term clients.

Distribution channels for our services are primarily direct-to-consumer through our business development team. Engagements typically begin with an in-depth discovery meeting, either in person or virtually, allowing us to best align with our clients’ needs. Our website serves as a vital tool for distributing content, capturing leads, and providing information on our services, with SEO strategies in place to ensure high visibility to those seeking marketing assistance.

Our promotion and advertising plans are multifaceted, including targeted digital campaigns, event sponsorships, and an assertive public relations approach to secure media coverage. We actively participate and contribute to industry blogs and forums to continually engage with the community and keep CreativeWave top of mind.

At CreativeWave, we understand that exceptional customer service is pivotal in retaining clients and fostering word-of-mouth business. Our customer service policies involve responsive communication, regular reporting, and feedback systems to measure client satisfaction and service quality. We offer a flexible approach to account management, with each client having a dedicated point of contact available to address any concerns or adapt strategies as business needs evolve.

This comprehensive marketing and sales strategy is designed to attract and retain our target clients effectively. It integrates our strengths in industry knowledge, positions our extensive range of services in the marketplace, and emphasizes the importance of building long-term client relationships grounded in exceptional service and impressive results.

CreativeWave Marketing Agency’s operations plan has been meticulously designed to support the efficient and effective delivery of top-tier marketing services. The operational workflow is geared towards preciseness, efficacy, and adaptability to cater to our clients' evolving marketing needs.

Daily operations begin with departmental briefings to synchronize on project statuses, client feedback, and deadline management. Cross-functional teams are essential to our workflow, with strategists, creatives, and technologists collaborating regularly. This holistic approach allows us to pivot quickly and ensures that every piece of content, campaign, or strategic plan is cohesive and aligns with the clients’ objectives.

Our service delivery processes are client-centric and follow a structured path from onboarding to completion. Initially, a comprehensive intake assessment gathers all necessary information about the client’s business, competitors, and market positioning. The strategic planning team then churns this information to craft tailored marketing strategies, which are implemented by the respective service delivery teams.

Quality control measures are imposed at every stage of our service delivery. We employ regular internal reviews and utilize a range of performance metrics to ensure the highest standards are met. All outputs are assessed against client requirements and industry best practices before client presentations. Post-delivery, we solicit client feedback to identify areas for improvement and ensure their satisfaction.

Inventory management does not form a typical part of operations for a marketing agency. However, CreativeWave maintains a catalog of digital assets, content inventory, and promotional materials used across client projects. A digital asset management system is in place to organize, store, and retrieve these assets efficiently, ensuring they are readily accessible to all team members and that their usage is tracked for licensing and copyright purposes.

Supply chain management is crucial for CreativeWave, particularly regarding our partnerships with external vendors and freelancers who augment our service provision. We manage these relationships stringently to ensure quality, punctuality, and confidentiality. Vendor performance is monitored and reviewed regularly to maintain a reliable network of partners who meet our high service delivery expectations.

CreativeWave's facilities and equipment needs are centered around a conducive work environment conducive to creativity and productivity. Our main workspace is a modern open-concept office designed to encourage collaboration, with meeting rooms equipped for presentations and client meetings. Cutting-edge computers, industry-standard software suites, and project management tools are integral to our operation. The agency also invests in high-speed internet and cybersecurity measures to maintain robustness in our digital operations and client data protection.

In anticipation of growth and as part of our commitment to sustainability, we are also incorporating remote work capabilities into our operational plan. This shift not only supports our staff in maintaining a healthy work-life balance but also reduces overhead costs and carbon footprint.

In summary, CreativeWave Marketing Agency's operations plan is carefully crafted to uphold the highest service quality while ensuring efficient and seamless delivery. Our workflow and processes foster accountability, excellence, and responsiveness, which are hallmarks of our service and pillars on which our reputation is built. Our facilities and technology infrastructure enable our talent to produce their best work and drive our mission of helping our clients succeed in the ever-changing digital landscape.

Marketing agency business plan: Marketing and Sales Strategy

Business plan for marketing agency

CreativeWave Marketing Agency's financial projections are grounded in a comprehensive analysis of our historical performance, current market trends, and strategic positioning within the marketing industry. They reflect a forward-looking vision aimed at scaling operations and maximizing profitability.

Sales Forecast

Our sales forecast for the next five years is optimistic, based on the expansion of digital marketing services demand and the strategic initiatives to capture a broader share of the market. Year-over-year, we project a sales growth rate of 20% for the first two years, with a subsequent 15% growth in the following years as the company matures and the rate of acquiring new contracts normalizes.

Profit and Loss Projection

The profit and loss projection indicates that CreativeWave will maintain a steadily improving net margin. Given our scalable operational model, the majority of our costs are variable and linked directly to service delivery, keeping fixed costs relatively stable. We anticipate increasing staff and marketing expenses as we grow, but these will be outpaced by revenue growth, resulting in a higher net profit margin. We project a net profit margin of 25% in year one, with an aim to expand this to 30% by year five through strict cost management and service optimization.

Cash Flow Projection

Cash flow is the lifeline of our operations, and as such, we are projecting cash flows to be positive and increase annually. We will tighten receivables collection, elongate payables without deteriorating relationships with suppliers, and manage our expenditure prudently to ensure a robust cash position. We anticipate a significant reinvestment of cash generated to support business growth and infrastructure development.

Balance Sheet Projection

Assets on our balance sheet are projected to grow in line with our sales forecasts. Investments in technology and software will increase our fixed assets, while keeping liquidity solid through prudent management of current assets. Liabilities such as accounts payable will also reflect our controlled growth strategy. We aim to retain equity as the prominent source of our balance sheet strength, reaffirming our commitment to financial stability.

Break-even Analysis

Our break-even analysis indicates that CreativeWave will reach its break-even point within the first year of operation. As we keep fixed costs relatively stable and our variable costs scale with service delivery, the break-even point will remain a critical indicator of our financial health and guide pricing strategies and sales targets.

Financial Assumptions and Considerations

The financial projections are based on several key assumptions. We assume economic stability will support the current growth rates in the marketing industry, and that there will be no significant disruption to the digital platforms which constitute our primary service channels. The projections also consider the increasing competition in the industry and our continuing investment in marketing and sales to secure new clients.

All revenue projections are based on contracts already secured and a conservative estimate of new business, which is calculated based on historical conversion rates of proposals to sales. Our model also assumes an annual client retention rate of 85%, thanks to our exceptional client service and results-driven approach.

Given the fluid nature of the marketing industry, we have accounted for potential fluctuations in demand and economic conditions by maintaining a strong cash reserve. This will mitigate risks associated with the variability in client marketing budgets and safeguard against unforeseen events or market shifts.

CreativeWave's financial planning is optimized for resilience and growth, ensuring that we remain financially robust, capable of reinvestment, and strategically agile in the face of the industry's dynamic nature. Our financially informed strategies signify a prudent approach to long-term success, capitalizing on opportunities, and navigating challenges.

Marketing agency business plan: Financial Projections

Marketing agency business plan example

To ensure the long-term stability and success of CreativeWave Marketing Agency, it is essential to thoroughly assess potential risks that could impact the business. The risk analysis conducted breaks down into market, operational, financial, and other risk categories, and outlines strategies to mitigate these risks, along with comprehensive contingency plans.

Market Risks

Market risks include fluctuations in demand for marketing services due to economic downturns, changes in digital marketing platforms' policies, and evolving consumer behaviors. To mitigate these risks, CreativeWave intends to diversify its customer base across various industries and continuously evolve its service offerings to adapt to market changes. We will also invest in market research to stay ahead of trends and adjust our strategies proactively.

Operational Risks

Operational risks at CreativeWave stem from potential issues such as data breaches, loss of key personnel, and failure or delays in project delivery. Our mitigation strategies include implementing robust cybersecurity measures and a comprehensive IT policy, instituting a talent retention program with competitive benefits and professional development opportunities, and incorporating project management methodologies that emphasize efficiency and risk management into our processes. Regular training and cross-training of staff will also ensure service continuity.

Financial Risks

Financial risks revolve around cash flow issues, unexpected increases in operational costs, and potential loss of clients which would impact revenue. To combat these risks, CreativeWave maintains a strict financial control system with regular reviews and real-time reporting. A reserve fund has been established to manage cash flow fluctuations, and variable costs are carefully managed to scale with the business. Rigorous credit control procedures ensure timely client payments, and diversified revenue streams reduce the dependency on any single client.

Legal and Compliance Risks

Legal and compliance risks are related to changes in advertising regulations, intellectual property disputes, and contract liabilities. To mitigate these, CreativeWave entrusts compliance to a dedicated legal team that keeps abreast of all relevant regulations and ensures that we adhere fully. We also employ comprehensive contracts with clients, freelancers, and partners to protect our work and maintain clear terms of engagement.

Insurance Considerations

Appropriate insurance policies are integral to our risk management strategy. CreativeWave has acquired general liability insurance, professional indemnity insurance, cyber liability insurance, and property insurance, providing broad coverage against various business risks. This coverage is regularly reviewed and adjusted to reflect the changing scale and scope of our operations.

Contingency Plans

Our contingency plans include strategies for swift responses to different kinds of risk. In case of a significant downturn in the market, CreativeWave is prepared to pivot marketing services towards in-demand sectors. Should key personnel leave, a succession plan is in place to promote from within and minimize disruption. Financial contingency plans include a line of credit to manage short-term cash flow issues and investment in liquid assets.

Risk Analysis Follow-up

To maintain relevance and effectiveness, this risk analysis, along with corresponding mitigation strategies and contingency plans, will be reviewed and updated regularly. The business landscape is ever-changing, and CreativeWave will adapt its approaches to risk management in accordance with shifts in the broader environment.

Overall, CreativeWave Marketing Agency recognizes the importance of ongoing risk analysis and proactive risk management in safeguarding the operation and ensuring business continuity. By embedding a culture of risk awareness and preparedness across the organization, CreativeWave can navigate potential challenges, sustain its growth trajectory, and continue delivering exceptional value to its clients.

Marketing agency business plan: Risk Analysis

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Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

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Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Template

If you want to start a new Digital Marketing Agency or expand your current Digital Marketing Agency, you need a business plan.

The following business plan template gives you the key elements to include in a winning plan for your own digital marketing company. This digital marketing business plan can be used for a full-service digital marketing agency, social media marketing agency, email marketing agency, creative agency, or another type of agency that provides marketing and/or advertising services. In addition to this template, conducting market research for your target market will help you identify potential market trends and customer segments to better understand the viability of your digital marketing agency.

You can download our Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Example

I. executive summary, business overview.

[Company Name], located in [insert location here], is a full service digital marketing agency that helps businesses attain their marketing and sales goals. The Company focuses on branding, lead generation, customer acquisition, and customer retention. From SEO to social media management, the Company creates custom digital marketing solutions and strategies that perfectly fit its client’s businesses and industry. The Company’s goal is to become one of the leading digital marketing agency brands and compete with the leaders in the industry.

[Company Name] will provide a variety of services to its clients. Its services include:

  • Search engine optimization (SEO)
  • Video advertising
  • Lead generation
  • Email marketing
  • Digital display advertising
  • Social media management
  • Other related digital marketing advisory and consulting services

Customer Focus

[Company Name] will primarily serve entrepreneurs and start-ups, corporate organizations, as well as small businesses within a 100-mile radius of the business location. The demographics of these customers are as follows:

  • 510,000 corporations and small businesses
  • Average income of $80,000
  • 50% in Mgt./Professional occupations

Management Team

[Company Name] is led by [Founder’s name], who has been in the digital marketing industry for [x] years. [Founder] is a certified and licensed digital marketing expert. He has extensive experience working for leading digital marketing agencies prior to starting his own digital marketing agency. He will have the help and support of his business partner, [Insert Name], who will handle the admin tasks for the company.

Success Factors

[Company Name] is qualified to succeed due to the following reasons:

  • There is currently a high demand for digital marketing services in the community. In addition, the company surveyed the local population and received highly positive feedback pointing towards an explicit demand for the services, supporting the business after launch.
  • There has been significant growth in digital marketing over the past few years. Those who cater to this market have been thriving.
  • The management team has a track record of success in the digital marketing business.
  • The digital marketing business is a proven, successful business in the United States.

Financial Highlights

[Company Name] is currently seeking $190,000 to launch a digital marketing agency. Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:

  • Office build-out and Startup costs: $100,000
  • Working capital: $90,000 to pay for marketing, equipment and salaries.
Financial SummaryFY 1FY 2FY 3FY 4FY 5
Revenue$560,401 $782,152 $1,069,331 $1,379,434 $1,699,644
Total Expenses$328,233 $391,429 $552,149 $696,577 $776,687
EBITDA$232,168 $390,722 $517,182 $682,858 $922,956
Depreciation$7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000
EBIT$225,168 $383,722 $510,182 $675,858 $915,956
Interest$6,016 $5,264 $4,512 $3,760 $3,008
Pre Tax Income$219,152 $378,458 $505,670 $672,098 $912,948
Income Tax Expense$76,703 $132,460 $176,985 $235,234 $319,532
Net Income$142,449 $245,998 $328,686 $436,864 $593,416
Net Profit Margin25%31%31%32%35%

II. Company Overview

Who is [company name], [company name]’s history.

[Founder’s Name] is an entrepreneur with a passion for digital marketing who seeks to provide a one-of-a-kind upscale marketing experience. [Company Name] will become a well-known digital marketing company in [Location].

[Founder’s Name] has selected an initial location and is currently undergoing due diligence on each property and the local market to assess the most desirable location for the digital marketing agency.

Since incorporation, the company has achieved the following milestones:

  • Developed the company’s name, logo, and website
  • Determined the list of services to be offered
  • Determined equipment requirements
  • Began recruiting key employees with experience

[Company Name]’s Services

The Company will be offering the following products and services:

III. Industry Analysis

[Company Name] competes against small, individually owned digital marketing agencies and major regional or national chains. There are 5,523 digital marketing agencies businesses in the U.S. The number of businesses in the digital marketing agencies industry in the U.S. has grown 13.7% per year on average over the last five years.

The primary positive factor affecting this industry is the demand driven by the target audience to market and promote their content, products, and services online, which in turn is driving the growth of the digital marketing industry. The rising number of end-users in North America for online shopping is also projected to open wider opportunities for advertisers to promote their products online, thereby increasing regional market growth.

IV. Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

[Company Name] will serve entrepreneurs and start-ups, corporate organizations, as well as small businesses in the [Location] area. Over time, the company expects that it will gain regional and national recognition.

The precise demographics of the town in which the retail location resides is as follows:

Total Businesses38,124
Forestry, Fishing, Hunting, and Agriculture Support0.29%
Mining0.35%
Utilities0.23%
Construction9.64%
Manufacturing4.16%
Wholesale Trade5.62%
Retail Trade14.54%
Transportation and Warehousing2.83%
Information1.81%
Finance and Insurance6.56%
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing4.75%
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services11.36%
Management of Companies and Enterprises0.69%
Admin, Support, Waste Mgt, Remediation Services5.15%
Educational Services1.20%
Health Care and Social Assistance10.80%
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation1.66%
Accommodation and Food Services8.59%
Other Services (Except Public Administration)9.78%

Customer Segmentation

The Company will primarily target the following customer segments:

  • Entrepreneurs and Start-Ups: This segment will need a different approach to digital marketing as it is one thing to market and promote an established corporation and a totally different one to do the same for a start-up.
  • Corporate Organization: The Company will be looking forward to serving corporate organizations to help them increase their brand awareness and generate new business leads.
  • Small Businesses: Small businesses that need to increase their reach in the local, national and international markets will make an important market segment for the company.

V. Competitive Analysis

Direct & indirect competitors.

H2 Marketing H2 Marketing is the city’s most well-known digital marketing company and has been in business for xx years. H2 Marketing specializes in transforming mission-driven organizations through marketing and digital communications. H2 Marketing offers quality social media, content, and video advertising services. H2 Marketing works with both small and large businesses to help them enhance their business and optimize their bottom lines.

Digital Media Pros Digital Media Pros has been in the industry since 2010, catering to various groups of customers. Digital Media Pros focuses on both organic and paid marketing to enhance the growth of its clients. Digital Media Pros is dedicated to bringing customers’ business visions to life through its knowledge and experience.

DigiStars DigiStars was established in 2012 and is known for its transparent work and real-time results for its clients. DigiStars mainly focuses on lead generation, sales strategy, and business growth, but also provides ancillary services.

Competitive Advantage

[Company Name] enjoys several advantages over its competitors. These advantages include:

  • Management: The Company’s management team has x years of digital marketing experience that allows them to serve customers in an improved and sophisticated manner than the competitors.
  • Relationships: Having lived in the community for xx years, [Founder’s Name] knows all of the local leaders, media, and other influencers. Furthermore, he will be able to draw from his existing personal and professional relationships to develop an initial client base.
  • Location: [Company Name]’s location is near the center of town, giving the company access to budding artists, corporate organizations, entrepreneurs, and small businesses.

VI. Marketing Plan

The [company name] brand.

[Company name] seeks to position itself as a respectable, upper-middle-market competitor in the digital marketing industry. Customers can expect a good-quality marketing experience for their brands.

The [Company Name] brand will focus on the Company’s unique value proposition:

  • Convenient location.
  • Offering a wide variety of high-quality services to entrepreneurs, corporate organizations, and small businesses.
  • Providing excellent customer service and customer experiences with high-quality marketing services.

Promotions Strategy

[Company Name] expects its target market to be the entrepreneurs and start-ups, independent celebrities, corporate organizations, and small businesses. The Company’s promotions strategy to reach the audience includes:

Pre-Opening Events Before opening the digital marketing company, [Company Name] will organize pre-opening events designed for prospective customers and press contacts. These events will create buzz and awareness for [Company Name] in the area.

Advertisement Advertisements in print publications like newspapers, magazines, etc., are an excellent way for businesses to connect with their audience. The Company will advertise its company offerings in popular magazines and news dailies. Obtaining relevant placements in industry magazines and journals will also help in increasing brand visibility.

Public Relations [Company Name] will hire an experienced PR agency/professional(s) to formulate a compelling PR campaign to boost its brand visibility among the target audience. It will look to garner stories about the company and its services in various media outlets like podcasts, television stations, radio shows, etc.

Social Media Marketing Social media is one of the most cost-effective and practical marketing methods for improving brand visibility. The Company will use social media to develop engaging content and post customer reviews that will increase audience awareness and loyalty.

Word of Mouth Marketing [Company name] will encourage word-of-mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients. The Company will use recommendations and word-of-mouth marketing to grow the customer base through the network of its existing customers.

Pricing Strategy

[Company Name]’s pricing will be moderate, so customers feel they receive great value when availing of the digital marketing services. The customer can expect to receive quality services at a more affordable price than what they pay at an ultra-premium digital marketing company.

VII. Operations Plan

Functional roles.

To execute on [Company Name]’s business model, the company needs to perform many functions, including the following:

Service Functions

  • Business Development
  • Ad executive
  • Creative executive
  • Administrative assistant

Administrative Functions

  • General & administrative functions including legal, marketing, bookkeeping, etc.
  • Hiring and training staff
DateMilestone
[Date 1]Finalize lease agreement
[Date 2]Design and build out [Company Name]
[Date 3]Hire and train initial staff
[Date 4]Kickoff of promotional campaign
[Date 5]Launch [Company Name]
[Date 6]Reach break-even

VIII. Management Team

Management team members.

[Company Name] is led by [Founder’s name], who has been in the digital marketing industry for [x] years. [Founder] is a certified and licensed digital marketing expert. While [Founder] has never run a digital marketing business himself, he has been active in the industry as he has worked for leading digital marketing companies as a digital marketing expert and managed it for xx years.

[Founder] graduated from the University of ABC, where he majored in digital marketing.

Hiring Plan

[Founder] will serve as the CEO. In order to launch the digital marketing agency, the company will need to hire the following personnel:

  • Creative Director
  • Digital Marketing Specialist
  • Human Resources Manager
  • Web Designer
  • Content Creator
  • Sales Executive

IX. Financial Plan

Revenue and cost drivers.

[Company Name]’s revenues will come from:

The major costs for the company will be staff salaries. In the initial years, the company’s marketing spend will be high, as it establishes itself in the market. [Company Name].

Capital Requirements and Use of Funds

[Company Name] is currently seeking $190,000 to set up its digital marketing agency. The capital will be used for funding capital expenditures and location build-out, hiring initial employees, marketing expenses, and working capital. Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:

Key Assumptions

Average Number of Clients
FY 142
FY 263
FY 396
FY 4162
FY 5243
Annual Rent$36,000.00

  5 Year Annual Income Statement

Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5
Revenues
Product/Service A$151,200 $333,396 $367,569 $405,245 $446,783
Product/Service B$100,800 $222,264 $245,046 $270,163 $297,855
Total Revenues$252,000 $555,660 $612,615 $675,408 $744,638
Expenses & Costs
Cost of goods sold$57,960 $122,245 $122,523 $128,328 $134,035
Lease$60,000 $61,500 $63,038 $64,613 $66,229
Marketing$20,000 $25,000 $25,000 $25,000 $25,000
Salaries$133,890 $204,030 $224,943 $236,190 $248,000
Other Expenses$3,500 $4,000 $4,500 $5,000 $5,500
Total Expenses & Costs$271,850 $412,775 $435,504 $454,131 $473,263
EBITDA($19,850)$142,885 $177,112 $221,277 $271,374
Depreciation$36,960 $36,960 $36,960 $36,960 $36,960
EBIT($56,810)$105,925 $140,152 $184,317 $234,414
Interest$23,621 $20,668 $17,716 $14,763 $11,810
PRETAX INCOME($80,431)$85,257 $122,436 $169,554 $222,604
Net Operating Loss($80,431)($80,431)$0$0$0
Income Tax Expense$0$1,689 $42,853 $59,344 $77,911
NET INCOME($80,431)$83,568 $79,583 $110,210 $144,693
Net Profit Margin (%)-15.00%13.00%16.30%19.40%
Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5
ASSETS
Cash$16,710 $90,188 $158,957 $258,570 $392,389
Accounts receivable$0$0$0$0$0
Inventory$21,000 $23,153 $25,526 $28,142 $31,027
Total Current Assets$37,710 $113,340 $184,482 $286,712 $423,416
Fixed assets$246,450 $246,450 $246,450 $246,450 $246,450
Depreciation$36,960 $73,920 $110,880 $147,840 $184,800
Net fixed assets$209,490 $172,530 $135,570 $98,610 $61,650
TOTAL ASSETS$247,200 $285,870 $320,052 $385,322 $485,066
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Debt$317,971 $272,546 $227,122 $181,698 $136,273
Accounts payable$9,660 $10,187 $10,210 $10,694 $11,170
Total Liabilities$327,631 $282,733 $237,332 $192,391 $147,443
Share Capital$0$0$0$0$0
Retained earnings($80,431)$3,137 $82,720 $192,930 $337,623
Total Equity($80,431)$3,137 $82,720 $192,930 $337,623
TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY$247,200 $285,870 $320,052 $385,322 $485,066
Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS
Net Income (Loss)($80,431)$83,568 $79,583 $110,210 $144,693
Change in working capital($11,340)($1,625)($2,350)($2,133)($2,409)
Depreciation$36,960 $36,960 $36,960 $36,960 $36,960
Net Cash Flow from Operations($54,811)$118,902 $114,193 $145,037 $179,244
CASH FLOW FROM INVESTMENTS
Investment($246,450)$0$0$0$0
Net Cash Flow from Investments($246,450)$0$0$0$0
CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING
Cash from equity$0$0$0$0$0
Cash from debt$317,971 ($45,424)($45,424)($45,424)($45,424)
Net Cash Flow from Financing$317,971 ($45,424)($45,424)($45,424)($45,424)
SUMMARY
Net Cash Flow$16,710 $73,478 $68,769 $99,613 $133,819
Cash at Beginning of Period$0$16,710 $90,188 $158,957 $258,570
Cash at End of Period$16,710 $90,188 $158,957 $258,570 $392,389

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Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Starting a digital marketing agency is an exciting endeavor requiring commitment and planning, and having a comprehensive business plan template and guidebook is essential for entrepreneurs to succeed. The #1 Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Template & Guidebook is an invaluable resource designed to help turn your dreams into reality, offering detailed instructions on everything from naming your business to managing revenue. Get ready to hit the ground running with this comprehensive roadmap to success!

agence marketing digital business plan

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  • How to Start a Profitable Digital Marketing Agency Business [11 Steps]

How to Write a Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan in 7 Steps:

1. describe the purpose of your digital marketing agency business..

The first step to writing your business plan is to describe the purpose of your digital marketing agency business. This includes describing why you are starting this type of business, and what problems it will solve for customers. This is a quick way to get your mind thinking about the customers’ problems. It also helps you identify what makes your business different from others in its industry.

It also helps to include a vision statement so that readers can understand what type of company you want to build.

Here is an example of a purpose mission statement for a digital marketing agency business:

Our mission at [Digital Marketing Agency] is to provide professional and innovative digital marketing solutions that create significant value to our clients, promote their businesses and increase their online visibility. We strive to be the leading digital marketing agency in [geographic area], offering our clients the best possible customer service with results-driven solutions.

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2. Products & Services Offered by Your Digital Marketing Agency Business.

The next step is to outline your products and services for your digital marketing agency business. 

When you think about the products and services that you offer, it's helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

  • What is my business?
  • What are the products and/or services that I offer?
  • Why am I offering these particular products and/or services?
  • How do I differentiate myself from competitors with similar offerings?
  • How will I market my products and services?

You may want to do a comparison of your business plan against those of other competitors in the area, or even with online reviews. This way, you can find out what people like about them and what they don’t like, so that you can either improve upon their offerings or avoid doing so altogether.

Image of Zenbusiness business formation

3. Build a Creative Marketing Stratgey.

If you don't have a marketing plan for your digital marketing agency business, it's time to write one. Your marketing plan should be part of your business plan and be a roadmap to your goals. 

A good marketing plan for your digital marketing agency business includes the following elements:

Target market

  • Who is your target market?
  • What do these customers have in common?
  • How many of them are there?
  • How can you best reach them with your message or product?

Customer base 

  • Who are your current customers? 
  • Where did they come from (i.e., referrals)?
  • How can their experience with your digital marketing agency business help make them repeat customers, consumers, visitors, subscribers, or advocates for other people in their network or industry who might also benefit from using this service, product, or brand?

Product or service description

  • How does it work, what features does it have, and what are its benefits?
  • Can anyone use this product or service regardless of age or gender?
  • Can anyone visually see themselves using this product or service?
  • How will they feel when they do so? If so, how long will the feeling last after purchasing (or trying) the product/service for the first time?

Competitive analysis

  • Which companies are competing with yours today (and why)? 
  • Which ones may enter into competition with yours tomorrow if they find out about it now through word-of-mouth advertising; social media networks; friends' recommendations; etc.)
  • What specific advantages does each competitor offer over yours currently?

Marketing channels

  • Which marketing channel do you intend to leverage to attract new customers?
  • What is your estimated marketing budget needed?
  • What is the projected cost to acquire a new customer?
  • How many of your customers do you instead will return?

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agence marketing digital business plan

4. Write Your Operational Plan.

Next, you'll need to build your operational plan. This section describes the type of business you'll be running, and includes the steps involved in your operations. 

In it, you should list:

  • The equipment and facilities needed
  • Who will be involved in the business (employees, contractors)
  • Financial requirements for each step
  • Milestones & KPIs
  • Location of your business
  • Zoning & permits required for the business

What equipment, supplies, or permits are needed to run a digital marketing agency business?

  • Computer and other tech equipment
  • Internet connection
  • Office space and furnishing
  • Digital marketing software and tools
  • Accounting and bookkeeping software
  • Business licenses and permits (if applicable)
  • Advertising budget for paid campaigns

5. Management & Organization of Your Digital Marketing Agency Business.

The second part of your digital marketing agency business plan is to develop a management and organization section.

This section will cover all of the following:

  • How many employees you need in order to run your digital marketing agency business. This should include the roles they will play (for example, one person may be responsible for managing administrative duties while another might be in charge of customer service).
  • The structure of your management team. The higher-ups like yourself should be able to delegate tasks through lower-level managers who are directly responsible for their given department (inventory and sales, etc.).
  • How you’re going to make sure that everyone on board is doing their job well. You’ll want check-ins with employees regularly so they have time to ask questions or voice concerns if needed; this also gives you time to offer support where necessary while staying informed on how things are going within individual departments too!

6. Digital Marketing Agency Business Startup Expenses & Captial Needed.

This section should be broken down by month and year. If you are still in the planning stage of your business, it may be helpful to estimate how much money will be needed each month until you reach profitability.

Typically, expenses for your business can be broken into a few basic categories:

Startup Costs

Startup costs are typically the first expenses you will incur when beginning an enterprise. These include legal fees, accounting expenses, and other costs associated with getting your business off the ground. The amount of money needed to start a digital marketing agency business varies based on many different variables, but below are a few different types of startup costs for a digital marketing agency business.

Running & Operating Costs

Running costs refer to ongoing expenses related directly with operating your business over time like electricity bills or salaries paid out each month. These types of expenses will vary greatly depending on multiple variables such as location, team size, utility costs, etc.

Marketing & Sales Expenses

You should include any costs associated with marketing and sales, such as advertising and promotions, website design or maintenance. Also, consider any additional expenses that may be incurred if you decide to launch a new product or service line. For example, if your digital marketing agency business has an existing website that needs an upgrade in order to sell more products or services, then this should be listed here.

7. Financial Plan & Projections

A financial plan is an important part of any business plan, as it outlines how the business will generate revenue and profit, and how it will use that profit to grow and sustain itself. To devise a financial plan for your digital marketing agency business, you will need to consider a number of factors, including your start-up costs, operating costs, projected revenue, and expenses. 

Here are some steps you can follow to devise a financial plan for your digital marketing agency business plan:

  • Determine your start-up costs: This will include the cost of purchasing or leasing the space where you will operate your business, as well as the cost of buying or leasing any equipment or supplies that you need to start the business.
  • Estimate your operating costs: Operating costs will include utilities, such as electricity, gas, and water, as well as labor costs for employees, if any, and the cost of purchasing any materials or supplies that you will need to run your business.
  • Project your revenue: To project your revenue, you will need to consider the number of customers you expect to have and the average amount they will spend on each visit. You can use this information to estimate how much money you will make from selling your products or services.
  • Estimate your expenses: In addition to your operating costs, you will need to consider other expenses, such as insurance, marketing, and maintenance. You will also need to set aside money for taxes and other fees.
  • Create a budget: Once you have estimated your start-up costs, operating costs, revenue, and expenses, you can use this information to create a budget for your business. This will help you to see how much money you will need to start the business, and how much profit you can expect to make.
  • Develop a plan for using your profit: Finally, you will need to decide how you will use your profit to grow and sustain your business. This might include investing in new equipment, expanding the business, or saving for a rainy day.

agence marketing digital business plan

Frequently Asked Questions About Digital Marketing Agency Business Plans:

Why do you need a business plan for a digital marketing agency business.

A business plan is essential for the success of a digital marketing agency business. It helps owners, investors, and potential clients determine the direction, goals, and procedures of the business. It outlines the plans for how the agency will operate and grow, as well as its financial projections. A business plan also serves as a roadmap for how to structure, manage, and track different aspects of the business.

Who should you ask for help with your digital marketing agency business plan?

You should seek advice and assistance from a trusted business advisor or consultant who has experience in creating digital marketing agency business plans. Additionally, there are many resources available online that can provide guidance on how to create a successful business plan.

Can you write a digital marketing agency business plan yourself?

Writing a business plan is a complex process and while it is certainly possible to write a digital marketing agency business plan without professional help, it can be beneficial to get input from experts in the field. This can help ensure that the business plan outlines a comprehensive strategy for success. Additionally, if you are applying for funding from an investor or financial institution, it may be necessary to have a professional business plan in order to be eligible for the loan or funding.

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How to Write a Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan in 2023

Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan

Table of Contents

Attention all digital marketers! Are you ready to take your skills and expertise to the next level and start your very own digital marketing agency? Well, you will need to learn to write a digital marketing agency business plan first.

Why do you need a digital marketing agency business plan?

It’s simple.

Before you dive headfirst into the world of entrepreneurship, it’s essential to have a solid business plan in place.

Don’t worry, we’re not talking about your average, boring business plan. We’re talking about a plan that’s so impressive, well-crafted, and so downright awesome that it’ll make investors, clients, and competitors sit up and take notice.

So buckle up and get ready to learn the ins and outs of crafting a digital marketing agency business plan that’s not just good but truly great.

Building your business plan

Creating a comprehensive business plan is essential for any entrepreneur starting a new venture, and a digital marketing agency is no exception.

Here are some key reasons why you need a digital marketing agency business plan:

  • Establishing clear objectives: A well-crafted business plan helps you define your agency’s proof of concept and goals, identify your target market, and establish clear objectives that you can work towards. It’s essential to have a roadmap that outlines what you want to achieve and how you plan to get there.
  • Identifying potential challenges: A business plan forces you to consider potential challenges you may face and helps you develop strategies to overcome them. It’s always better to be prepared and have a plan in place, rather than being caught off guard and scrambling to react.
  • Finding advanced tools and solutions: An effective business plan for a digital marketing agency remains incomplete without the latest tools and technologies. They help businesses nurture leads, manage marketing campaigns, streamline business processes, and analyze overall business performance. Using these tools, you can offer not only an enhanced customer experience but also make insightful decisions for the growth of your business. Advanced industrial tools like Kommo can make your job easier. Kommo is a powerful CRM platform that can help you automate and optimize your marketing campaigns. Besides, its exclusive features like automated ad creation, dynamic product feeds, and real-time reporting simplify running effective digital marketing campaigns. Thus, to be successful in the digital marketing industry, you must be equipped with such efficient tools.
  • Securing financing: A solid business plan is critical if you plan to secure financing from investors or lenders. It shows them that you have a well-thought-out strategy and that you’re serious about your business.
  • Guiding decision-making: A business plan serves as a guide for making important decisions about your agency. It helps you stay focused on your goals and make informed decisions about where to allocate resources and how to grow your business.

Overall, a digital marketing agency business plan is a crucial tool for any entrepreneur looking to start a successful and sustainable agency in today’s fast-paced digital landscape.

Formats and structures for a Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan

What you say is as important as how you say it.

That’s why you need to decide on a format and structure for your business plan.

You can use several business plan formats and structures to create a comprehensive digital marketing agency business plan.

Here are some options to consider:

  • Traditional Business Plan: This format includes a standard set of sections, including an executive summary, company description, market analysis, products/services, marketing and sales strategies, organizational structure, and financial projections.
  • Lean Business Plan: This format is a simplified version of the traditional business plan, focusing on the most critical elements of your agency’s strategy. It includes sections on key partnerships, value propositions, key metrics, and customer segments.
  • One-Page Business Plan: As the name suggests, this format condenses your entire business plan onto a single page. It includes key elements like your vision, mission statement, target market, marketing and sales strategies, and financial projections.
  • Pitch Deck: This format is a visual presentation that includes key information about your agency, such as its vision, value proposition, target market, and financial projections. A pitch deck is often used to pitch your agency to potential investors or clients.

Please Note

No matter which business plan template or format you choose, the structure of your digital marketing agency business plan should include sections that cover your agency’s goals, target market, marketing and sales strategies, team and organizational structure, financial projections, and business process automation initiatives . The specific information and level of detail you include in each section will depend on your agency’s unique needs and goals.

Tools for Creating a Business Plan

There are several tools available to help you create a digital marketing agency business plan.

Here are some popular options to consider:

  • LivePlan: LivePlan is an all-in-one business planning software that helps you create a comprehensive digital marketing agency business plan. It includes templates, step-by-step guidance, financial forecasting, and collaboration tools.
  • BizPlan: BizPlan is a cloud-based business planning tool that offers templates, financial forecasting, and collaboration features. It also includes a pitch builder, so you can create a pitch deck to present your agency to potential investors or clients.
  • Enloop: Enloop is a free online business planning tool that helps you create a digital marketing agency business plan. It includes financial forecasting, analysis, and collaboration features. A paid version also offers more features, such as custom branding.
  • Canva: Canva is a graphic design tool that includes templates and design elements to help you create a visually appealing pitch deck or one-page business plan . It’s an excellent option if you want to create a professional-looking plan but don’t have design skills.
  • Google Docs or Microsoft Word: You can also create your digital marketing agency business plan using a word processing software like Google Docs or Microsoft Word. These tools offer templates and collaboration features, making working with others on your plan easy.
  • Upmetrics: Upmetrics is an intuitive platform that helps you create your digital marketing agency business plan. With its templates, financial forecasting tools, AI assistance, and collaborative features, Upmetrics simplifies the planning process, ensuring that your plan is actionable.

Remember. The tools you use will depend on your preferences, budget, and level of expertise. It’s always a good idea to explore multiple options to find the one that works best for you. According to SmallBusinessHQ article, a right business formulation agency can also help you to frame a business plan.

How to Compose a Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan

Now we come to the part to start writing content for our digital marketing services.

Your document should include these things as part of a business plan:

Executive Summary

The executive summary briefly summarizes your digital marketing agency business plan. As a new digital marketing agency, your document should highlight the plan’s key points, including your agency’s mission, target market, services, and unique selling proposition. The executive summary should be written last but at the beginning of your plan. You can also mention if your business will be a sole proprietorship or a partnership .

Company Description

The company description should provide an overview of your digital marketing agency, including its history, ownership structure, operating agreement , and legal status. This section should also explain your agency’s values, goals, and vision for the future.

Market Analysis

The market analysis should include a detailed assessment of your target market, competition, industry trends, and customer behavior. It should also include information on the size and growth of the digital marketing industry.

Services and Pricing

In this section, you should describe the service offerings of your agency and how you price them. You should also explain how your pricing strategy compares to your competitors and why your pricing is justified based on the value your agency provides.

As a digital marketing agency, your services could include:

  • social media marketing over multiple social media platforms
  • digital marketing strategies – competitor research, native advertising, SEO digital marketing agency, etc.
  • content marketing – for small businesses, big multinationals, etc.

Sales and Marketing Strategy

The sales and marketing strategy (also called a financial plan) should outline your tactics for generating leads and converting them into clients. It should also include a plan for building brand awareness , identifying and targeting your ideal clients, and differentiating your agency from competitors. This is where you outline your sales process and expected business expenses .

Go-To-Market Plan and Organization Structure

Your Go-To-Market Plan outlines your strategies for reaching your target market, including your marketing channels and messaging. It’s essential to include this in your business plan , as it helps you to focus on the most effective ways to promote your agency’s services. Additionally, your organization structure outlines your team and their roles, along with the legal structure, so you can ensure that you have the right people to execute your Go-To-Market Plan. Lastly, include in your plan how your developers should use Docker and what resources your design team may need.

Goals and Sales Forecast

Your business plan should include specific goals for your digital marketing agency, such as revenue targets, client acquisition goals, and growth targets. It’s also essential to include a sales forecast to help you determine how much revenue you can generate based on your pricing, target market, and projected sales volume. This is the place where you include your financial projections.

Unique Selling Proposition

Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is what sets your digital marketing agency apart from the competition. It’s the key benefit that you offer to your clients that no one else can match. Including your USP in your business plan helps you to articulate your agency’s service offerings, value proposition and to communicate it to potential clients.

Market Research Findings

Market research is critical to understanding your target market and how to reach them effectively. Your business plan should include detailed market research findings that inform your Go-To-Market Plan, pricing strategy, and messaging. This research should include competitor analysis, customer profiling, and industry trends to target customers.

Tools and Technology to Run Your Business

Digital marketing agencies rely heavily on technology to manage campaigns, communicate with clients, and track results. Your business plan should outline the tools and technology you need to run your business effectively, including social media management tools and email marketing platforms to analytics software and project management software, which could even be free project management software to start with. Similarly, staying abreast of digital trends in financial services is crucial for a digital marketing agency, as it enables the creation of targeted strategies that resonate with the evolving needs of the fintech sector, ensuring effective and innovative marketing solutions. Budgeting for these tools and technology and including them in your financial projections is essential.

Including these elements in your digital marketing agency business plan helps to ensure that you have a clear understanding of your market, strategies, and resources needed to execute your plan successfully. It also helps to communicate your vision and goals to potential investors, partners, and clients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is market research important in a digital marketing agency business plan.

Market research is essential in a digital marketing agency business plan because it provides insight into your target market, competitors, industry trends, and customer behavior. This information helps you to develop effective marketing strategies, differentiate your agency from competitors, and create a clear value proposition for potential clients. It should be part of your business plans.

How should I structure my financial projections in my digital marketing agency business plan?

Your financial projections should include detailed revenue and expense forecasts for the next three to five years and assumptions and analyses supporting your projections. You should also include break-even analysis, cash flow projections, and profit and loss statements . It’s essential to use realistic assumptions and to update your projections regularly as your agency grows and changes.

What is a unique selling proposition, and why is it essential in a digital marketing agency business plan?

A unique selling proposition (USP) is a statement that identifies the key benefit that your agency offers to clients that no one else can match. Including your USP in your business plan is crucial because it helps you differentiate your agency from competitors and communicate your value proposition to potential clients. Your USP should be based on your strengths and the needs of your target market.

How do I determine the appropriate pricing strategy for my digital marketing agency?

Several pricing strategies are to be considered, including value-based pricing, cost-plus pricing, and competitive pricing. Your chosen pricing strategy should be based on your agency’s fees , value proposition, and target market. It’s essential to do market research and understand the competitive landscape to set competitive and profitable pricing.

How can I measure the success of my digital marketing agency business plan?

There are several key performance indicators (KPIs) to consider when measuring the success of your digital marketing agency business plan, including revenue growth, client retention, conversion rates, and return on investment (ROI). You should track and analyze these KPIs regularly to evaluate the effectiveness of your marketing and sales strategies, adjust your tactics as needed, and make informed decisions for your agency’s growth.

Creating a digital marketing agency business plan is essential for building a successful agency. It serves as a roadmap for your business, outlining your strategies, goals, and resources needed to achieve your clear vision. A well-crafted business plan helps you to identify potential customers and opportunities, set realistic expectations for growth, and make informed decisions. You know all the elements required to create a digital agency business plan.

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Digital Marketing Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your digital marketing agency business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their digital marketing agencies.

Sample Business Plan for a Digital Marketing Agency

Below is a business plan example to help you create each section of your own digital marketing business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Trending Next is a startup digital marketing agency located in Atlanta, Georgia. The company is founded by Michelle Taylor, an experienced digital marketer who has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and has worked for several years for a prominent marketing agency based in New York. Now that Michelle has gained the education and experience in managing a digital marketing agency, she is ready to start her own company, Trending Next. Michelle is confident that her digital marketing and communication skills will enable her to run a profitable digital marketing agency of her own. Michelle is recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day-to-day complexities of running a digital marketing firm – sales and marketing, customer support, technology management, customer relations, administration, and finance.

Trending Next will provide a full suite of digital marketing services for businesses of all sizes throughout the United States. The company will be the go-to digital marketing firm in Atlanta for innovative marketing strategies using the latest technology and tools. Trending Next will create and launch digital marketing campaigns through a variety of channels from SEO and email to content and video marketing. The company will be the ultimate choice for customer service while guaranteeing expertly developed personalized marketing solutions for each client.

Product Offering

The following are the services that Trending Next will provide:

  • Social media
  • Content marketing
  • Email marketing
  • SMS marketing
  • Sponsored content
  • Native advertising
  • Marketing automation
  • Affiliate marketing

Customer Focus

Trending Next will target businesses of all sizes and industries in the United States. No matter the customer, Trending Next will deliver the best communication, service, and effective digital marketing campaigns.

Management Team

Trending Next will be owned and operated by Michelle Taylor. Michelle is a graduate of New York University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She has over five years of experience working as a digital marketing manager for a prestigious marketing agency based in New York. Now, Michelle aims to bring her digital marketing skills to work in her new location in Atlanta, Georgia. She will be the company’s chief executive officer and will oversee the digital marketing staff and help develop and implement the company’s digital marketing service offerings.

Michelle has recruited an experienced business manager, Joshua Anderson, to be the company’s chief operating officer and help oversee the business operations. He has a master’s degree in business administration from Georgia University and over 15 years of experience managing his own company. Joshua will handle the day-to-day operations, including project management, customer relationships, and logistics.

Success Factors

Trending Next will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

  • Skilled team of digital marketing experts who will work with each client to develop and implement personalized marketing campaigns tailored to their specific needs and goals.
  • Trending Next will continuously seek out and incorporate the newest trends in digital marketing to ensure the best marketing efforts for each client.
  • The company offers competitive pricing and discounts for regular customers.

Financial Highlights

Trending Next is seeking $300,000 in debt financing to launch its digital marketing business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the office and purchasing office equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff and marketing expenses. The breakout of the funding is below:

  • Office build-out: $90,000
  • Equipment, supplies, and materials: $60,000
  • Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, utilities): $130,000
  • Marketing costs: $10,000
  • Working capital: $10,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Trending Next.

financial projection for digital marketing business

Company Overview

Who is trending next.

Trending Next is a newly established digital marketing company in Atlanta, Georgia. Trending Next will provide a full suite of digital marketing services for businesses of all sizes throughout the United States. The company will be the go-to digital marketing firm in Atlanta for innovative marketing strategies using the latest digital marketing technology and tools. Trending Next will create and launch digital marketing campaigns through a variety of channels from SEO and email to content and video marketing. The company will be the ultimate choice for customer service while guaranteeing expertly developed personalized marketing solutions for each client.

Trending Next will be able to guarantee the effectiveness of its digital marketing strategies thanks to the latest and most innovative digital marketing technology and expertise of its leadership team. The company’s team of highly qualified professionals experienced in digital marketing will ensure each client’s marketing campaign is tailored to meet their specific needs and goals.

Trending Next History

Trending Next is owned and operated by Michelle Taylor, an experienced digital marketer who has gained valuable knowledge during her five-year tenure working as a digital marketing manager at a premier digital marketing agency in New York. Now that Michelle has gained the experience and knowledge of how to manage a digital marketing agency, she is ready to start one of her own. Michelle has begun recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day to day complexities of running a digital marketing firm –  – sales and marketing, customer support, technology management, customer relations, administration, and finance.

Since incorporation, Trending Next has achieved the following milestones:

  • Registered Trending Next, LLC to transact business in the state of Georgia
  • Has signed a letter of intent to lease the office space
  • Reached out to numerous contacts to include previous employees, colleagues, and experienced digital marketing professionals to begin building a team of experts for the company’s management team
  • Began recruiting a staff of operational positions including accountants, administrative personnel, and sales representative to work at Trending Next

Trending Next Services

Industry analysis.

The digital marketing industry in the United States is valued at approximately $30.6B and is forecasted to grow by 3.7% this year. The digital marketing industry comprises several different marketing channels: SEO, PPC, social media marketing, content marketing, email marketing, mobile marketing, marketing analytics, inbound marketing, sponsored content, native advertising, marketing automation, and affiliate marketing. Digital marketing agencies can choose to specialize in some combination of these channels or all of the above.

One of the major demand drivers for digital marketing is the increase in internet traffic volume. As this volume increases due to more consumers using smartphones, tablets, and computers to make purchases, more businesses will need marketing services to expand their online presence.

The primary challenge for new digital marketing agency operators is the high level of competition present in the industry. Another challenge is the speed at which digital channels evolve. Industry operators must keep up with the latest digital marketing trends, channels, and technologies to remain competitive.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

The precise demographics for the United States are:

TotalPercentMale PercentFemale Percent
Total population327,167,439(X)(X)(X)
AGE
Under 5 years19,646,3156.00%6.20%5.80%
5 to 9 years19,805,9006.10%6.30%5.80%
10 to 14 years21,392,9226.50%6.80%6.30%
15 to 19 years21,445,4936.60%6.80%6.30%
20 to 24 years21,717,9626.60%6.90%6.40%
25 to 29 years23,320,7027.10%7.40%6.90%
30 to 34 years22,023,9726.70%6.90%6.60%
35 to 39 years21,571,3026.60%6.70%6.50%
40 to 44 years19,927,1516.10%6.10%6.00%
45 to 49 years20,733,4406.30%6.40%6.30%
50 to 54 years20,871,8046.40%6.40%6.40%
55 to 59 years21,624,5416.60%6.50%6.70%
60 to 64 years20,662,8216.30%6.10%6.50%
65 to 69 years17,107,2885.20%5.00%5.50%
70 to 74 years13,464,0254.10%3.90%4.40%
75 to 79 years9,378,5122.90%2.60%3.10%
80 to 84 years6,169,4411.90%1.60%2.20%
85 years and over6,303,8481.90%1.40%2.50%

Customer Segmentation

Trending Next will primarily target the following customer profiles:

  • Small businesses (less than 100 employees)
  • Mid-sized businesses (101-500 employees)
  • Large businesses (over 500 employees)

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Trending Next will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Perfect SEO

Perfect SEO is one of the largest digital marketing firms in Atlanta, Georgia. The company was established as a traditional marketing agency (Perfect Marketing) in 1990 and has since grown to 30 offices throughout the country. As digital marketing has become the norm, the company has transitioned to a more digital mindset and changed its name to Perfect SEO. The company still provides traditional paid advertising activities in addition to its digital marketing offerings. As the name specifies, the company’s digital marketing expertise centers on search engine optimization (SEO) in particular. Perfect SEO aims to deliver high-quality services through its innovative digital marketing process. Perfect SEO’s team of experienced digital marketing professionals are experts in SEO and able to provide business clients with effective marketing solutions.

Grow Your Business Fast

Grow Your Business Fast is a small digital marketing agency catering to local businesses in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas. Grow Your Business Fast provides a variety of online marketing services including the development and deployment of social media campaigns, website advertising, technical SEO, content marketing, video marketing, email/SMS marketing, and PPC. The company is owned and operated by experienced marketing professionals with over three decades of experience in creating and managing marketing campaigns for companies of all sizes.

Innovation Online

Innovation Online is a trusted Atlanta, Georgia-based digital marketing firm that provides superior digital marketing services to business clients throughout the United States. The company is able to provide a wide variety of services using the latest digital marketing strategies and tools. Innovation Online specializes in creating innovative social media marketing and cohesive digital marketing strategies for businesses in a range of industries, with retail being the most well-known. The company has been recognized for creating the most popular marketing campaigns for some of the largest retailers in the country.

Competitive Advantage

Trending Next will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

  • Trending Next will continuously seek out and incorporate the newest trends and tools in digital marketing to ensure the best marketing tactics for each client.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Trending Next will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Trending Next is as follows:

Social Media Marketing

As a digital marketing agency, Trending Next will lead by example. The company’s marketing director will create engaging accounts on social media sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. He will ensure Trending Next maintains an active social media presence with regular updates and fun content to provide an example of what the company is capable of creating for clients.

Professional Associations and Networking

Trending Next will become a member of professional associations such as the Digital Marketing Association, American Marketers Society, and the Georgia Marketing Association. The leadership team will focus their networking efforts on expanding the company’s client network.

Email/SMS Marketing

Trending Next will use email and SMS marketing to target potential business clients by sending them targeted emails, newsletters, and promotional updates to incentivize them to engage with the company.

Website/SEO Marketing

Trending Next will utilize the in-house marketing director that designed the social media campaign to also design the company website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all the services that Trending Next is able to provide. The website will also provide testimonials from satisfied clients.

The marketing director will also manage the company’s website presence with SEO marketing tactics so that when someone types in a search engine “Atlanta digital marketing agency” or “digital marketing firm near me”, Trending Next will be listed at the top of the search results.

Pricing Strategy

The pricing of Trending Next will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing the company’s services.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Trending Next.

Operation Functions:

  • Michelle Taylor will be the chief executive officer and will oversee the digital marketing staff and be the creative driver for new marketing tools and tactics. Michelle has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
  • Joshua Anderson – Chief operating officer who will manage the day-to-day operations, budgeting, client relationships, and logistics.
  • Daniel Moore – Accountant/bookkeeper who will provide all accounting, tax payments, and monthly financial reporting.
  • Paul Wilson – Marketing director who will oversee all marketing strategies for the company and manage the website, social media, and outreach.

Milestones:

Trending Next will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.

12/1/2022 – Finalize lease on the office space

12/15/2022 – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts for the Trending Next management team

1/1/2023 – Begin build-out of the office, purchase equipment, and start networking

1/15/2023 – Begin implementing the marketing campaign

2/15/2023 – Finalize contracts for digital marketing professionals to work at Trending Next

3/15/2023 – Trending Next officially opens for business

Trending Next will be owned and operated by Michelle Taylor. Michelle is a graduate of New York University with a Bachelor’s degree in marketing. She has over five years of experience working as a digital marketing manager for a prestigious marketing agency based in New York. Now, Michelle aims to bring her digital marketing skills to work in her new location in Atlanta, Georgia. She will be the company’s chief executive officer and will oversee the staff and help develop and implement the agency’s services.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Trending Next are the fees charged to customers in exchange for the company’s services. The company charges fees on a per-project basis and offers monthly retainers for ongoing marketing management.

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff a digital marketing agency. The expenses will be the payroll cost, utilities, office equipment and supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

  • Average number of accounts per month: 10
  • Average fees per month: $50,000
  • Overhead costs per year: $700,000

Financial Projections

Income statement.

FY 1FY 2FY 3FY 4FY 5
Revenues
Total Revenues$360,000$793,728$875,006$964,606$1,063,382
Expenses & Costs
Cost of goods sold$64,800$142,871$157,501$173,629$191,409
Lease$50,000$51,250$52,531$53,845$55,191
Marketing$10,000$8,000$8,000$8,000$8,000
Salaries$157,015$214,030$235,968$247,766$260,155
Initial expenditure$10,000$0$0$0$0
Total Expenses & Costs$291,815$416,151$454,000$483,240$514,754
EBITDA$68,185 $377,577 $421,005 $481,366 $548,628
Depreciation$27,160$27,160 $27,160 $27,160 $27,160
EBIT$41,025 $350,417 $393,845$454,206$521,468
Interest$23,462$20,529 $17,596 $14,664 $11,731
PRETAX INCOME$17,563 $329,888 $376,249 $439,543 $509,737
Net Operating Loss$0$0$0$0$0
Use of Net Operating Loss$0$0$0$0$0
Taxable Income$17,563$329,888$376,249$439,543$509,737
Income Tax Expense$6,147$115,461$131,687$153,840$178,408
NET INCOME$11,416 $214,427 $244,562 $285,703 $331,329

Balance Sheet

FY 1FY 2FY 3FY 4FY 5
ASSETS
Cash$154,257$348,760$573,195$838,550$1,149,286
Accounts receivable$0$0$0$0$0
Inventory$30,000$33,072$36,459$40,192$44,308
Total Current Assets$184,257$381,832$609,654$878,742$1,193,594
Fixed assets$180,950$180,950$180,950$180,950$180,950
Depreciation$27,160$54,320$81,480$108,640 $135,800
Net fixed assets$153,790 $126,630 $99,470 $72,310 $45,150
TOTAL ASSETS$338,047$508,462$709,124$951,052$1,238,744
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Debt$315,831$270,713$225,594$180,475 $135,356
Accounts payable$10,800$11,906$13,125$14,469 $15,951
Total Liability$326,631 $282,618 $238,719 $194,944 $151,307
Share Capital$0$0$0$0$0
Retained earnings$11,416 $225,843 $470,405 $756,108$1,087,437
Total Equity$11,416$225,843$470,405$756,108$1,087,437
TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY$338,047$508,462$709,124$951,052$1,238,744

Cash Flow Statement

FY 1FY 2FY 3FY 4FY 5
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS
Net Income (Loss)$11,416 $214,427 $244,562 $285,703$331,329
Change in working capital($19,200)($1,966)($2,167)($2,389)($2,634)
Depreciation$27,160 $27,160 $27,160 $27,160 $27,160
Net Cash Flow from Operations$19,376 $239,621 $269,554 $310,473 $355,855
CASH FLOW FROM INVESTMENTS
Investment($180,950)$0$0$0$0
Net Cash Flow from Investments($180,950)$0$0$0$0
CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING
Cash from equity$0$0$0$0$0
Cash from debt$315,831 ($45,119)($45,119)($45,119)($45,119)
Net Cash Flow from Financing$315,831 ($45,119)($45,119)($45,119)($45,119)
Net Cash Flow$154,257$194,502 $224,436 $265,355$310,736
Cash at Beginning of Period$0$154,257$348,760$573,195$838,550
Cash at End of Period$154,257$348,760$573,195$838,550$1,149,286

Free Digital Marketing Business Plan PDF

You can download our free digital marketing agency business plan template PDF here . This is a sample digital marketing agency business plan template you can use in PDF format. You can easily complete your Digital Marketing Agency business plan using our Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Template here .

Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan FAQs

What is a digital marketing agency business plan.

A digital marketing agency business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your digital marketing agency business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target audience , presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

What are the Steps To Start a Digital Marketing Agency?

Starting a digital marketing agency can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your business goals and get started faster.

1. Develop a Digital Marketing Business Plan – The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed digital marketing business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include market research to determine potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  

2. Choose Your Legal Structure – It’s important to select an appropriate legal entity for your digital marketing business . This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your digital marketing business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Business – Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your marketing business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options – It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your digital marketing agency business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location – Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees – There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Digital Marketing Agency Equipment & Supplies – In order to start your marketing agency , you’ll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business – Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your digital marketing agency. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective digital marketing strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful digital marketing agency:

How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency

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Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Template

Trusted by 700+ Downloaders

What You Get

  • A compelling & detailed pre-written Digital Marketing Agency business plan template in WORD
  • A full & automatic Digital Marketing Agency financial plan model in EXCEL you can easily customize
  • Customized text tailored to your Digital Marketing Agency
  • The ability to paste advanced charts and tables within a click
  • No accounting or specialized financial knowledge needed
  • A cost-effective solution saving you time and money

Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Template Description

Digital marketing agency business plan template

Are you looking to open a digital marketing agency? Are you a digital marketer seeking to establish your own business? If yes, then our ready-made digital marketing agency business plan package is your perfect solution. It includes a pre-written business plan in Word and an automatic financial plan in Excel tailored to the digital marketing services sector, and which you can easily customize to fit your own project. Save tons of time and money and download our investor-grade Digital Marketing Agency business plan template, no financial or accounting expertise required. Check the full content below.

agence marketing digital business plan

Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Document in Word: 

Our ready-made Digital Marketing Agency business plan template is in Word format and includes 23 pages. The document is divided into multiple sections. Each section contains the essential points that are necessary to effectively present your Digital Marketing Agency project. Each section and sub-section offers you a sample text that you can easily customize to make your business plan unique. Below is a small excerpt of the ready made digital marketing business plan document in Word.

Digital marketing agency business plan in Word

Automatic Digital Marketing Agency Financial Plan in Excel

Our pre-populated financial model is in Excel format and includes multiples worksheets. You can easily edit the model’s inputs including changing costs and revenue assumptions to generate pro-forma financial forecasts including P&L, Cash flows and Balance Sheets. Below is a small extract of the automatic digital marketing financial plan in Excel.

Digital marketing agency financial plan Excel

This Ready-Made Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan is For

  • Entrepreneurs wishing to start a Digital Marketing Agency
  • Digital marketers who want to create a business plan fast and easy
  • Digital marketers who wish to pitch their project to investors
  • Businesspeople who wish to better understand the potential of the opportunity

Immediate Delivery by Email

  • Once you complete the order, you will receive an email with links to download your documents
  • Your order will contain the full pre-written business plan in Word
  • Your order will contain the full customizable financial model in Excel

Your Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Content

Executive Summary:  Our Digital Marketing Agency business plan template starts with a compelling Executive Summary. This key section is very important as it summarizes in 1 page your Digital Marketing Agency concept. It will introduce your business model, the key people behind the project as well as the unique selling proposition offered by your Digital Marketing Agency. This section will also mention how market conditions and consumer trends are favorable for launching your project.

The Problem Opportunity:  Next, your ready-made Digital Marketing Agency business plan will list a number of problems experienced by your prospects in your target market and will show how this presents a unique opportunity for your Digital Marketing Agency. These can include issues such as lack of a particular type of Digital Marketing service in a certain location, low or average quality of service offered by existing players, undifferentiated offering by current actors in the market…etc.

The Solution:  This section explains how your Digital Marketing Agency will take advantage of the current problems in the market and will detail your innovative solutions.

Mission & Vision:  Your mission will explain in a couple of sentences your Digital Marketing Agency business ethos. In other words, it will summarize your unique value proposition and will explain how you are different than the competition. Your vision will explain the long-term plans for your Digital Marketing Agency. Are you planning to start with one branch today and expand to a multi-branch business model? Are you looking to penetrate new geographies in the future?…etc.

Business Model:  This section details your Digital Marketing Agency concept using the business model canvas method. In a visually appealing table, we will detail your Digital Marketing Agency’s key partners, activities, resources, value proposition, customer segments, customer relationship plan, marketing channels, cost structure and revenue streams.

Products & Services:  Next, we will talk in detail about your various Digital Marketing services. We will describe your various types of online marketing services including PPC, SEO…etc. We will also provide information about your pricing by type of service.

Market Analysis:  This important section describes the various market statistics and consumer trends in the Digital Marketing Agency industry and explains how they support your own project. The purpose of this section is to show that the market conditions are favorable for launching your new Digital Marketing Agency.

Global Market Trends:  In this sub-section of the market analysis, we will discuss the latest global market trends in the Digital Marketing Agency industry. We will look at the global industry size, growth rate, growth diving factors and customer trends.

Local Market Trends:  This sub-section explains the local market trends that are relevant to your specific Digital Marketing Agency in its area of operation.

Target Clients:  In this section, we will describe your various customer profiles by providing information about their demographics, behavior and purchasing habits.

Competitive Analysis:  We will analyze key competitors active in your target market and provide insights about their strengths and weaknesses.

Competitive Advantages:  After looking at the competitive landscape, we will then show how your Digital Marketing Agency is differentiating itself from the competition through a number of key advantages.

SWOT Analysis:  This section features a 4-quadrant table with explanations about how your Digital Marketing Agency intends to leverage its key strengths, mitigate weaknesses, capture opportunities and thwart any future threats.

Marketing Plan : This chapter provides detailed information about your go-to-market strategy.

Branding & Awareness:  We will describe in this sub-section your choice of key marketing channels to build branding and awareness.

Customer Acquisition:  We will describe in this sub-section your choice of key marketing channels to acquire customers and increase sales.

Operating Plan:  This chapter provides information about your Digital Marketing Agency’s opening hours, internal processes and describes the interactions between various key departments and teams.

Management Team:  It is very important to present the key people behind your Digital Marketing Agency and thus we have dedicated a section for this very purpose. It is also important to talk here about the founder’s vision, his past education and professional experience.

Hiring Plan:  No business can succeed without having on board the right team. This section lists all the key positions you plan to hire with information about their salaries and expected start dates.

Key Milestones:  To be able to launch and execute your Digital Marketing Agency project, you need to follow a set of actionable tasks with target deadlines. This section serves this purpose.

Financial Plan:  Without a robust financial plan, your Digital Marketing Agency business plan would be an incomplete document. This important section provides crucial information about your pro-forma financial projections and shows that you have really done your homework. The data mentioned in this and the following sections will be provided by the dynamic Excel financial model accompanying your Digital Marketing Agency business plan.

Projected Revenue:  This module shows your Digital Marketing Agency’s revenue projections over the next three years.

Projected Profit and Loss:  This module shows your Digital Marketing Agency’s income statement (also called profit and loss statement) over the next three years. Your income statement includes detailed projections about your sales and expenses and shows how your Digital Marketing Agency’s revenue is converted into a net profit.

Projected Cash Flows:  This module shows your Digital Marketing Agency’s cash flow projections over the next three years. The first year of operation is even detailed on a monthly basis. Your cash flow statement will detail the various cash inflows your Digital Marketing Agency will generate from its day to day operations and from funding sources, as well as the various cash outflows required to pay for operating expenses and business investments.

Projected Balance Sheet : This module shows your Digital Marketing Agency’s balance sheet projections over the next three years. The balance sheet will provide a summary of your Digital Marketing Agency’s short term and long term assets in addition to your short term and long term liabilities and capital.

Profitability Analysis:  In this section, we will provide information about your gross margin, net margin and discuss the profitability of your Digital Marketing Agency.

Funding Requirement:  This module states the amount of funding your need to be able to comfortably launch your Digital Marketing Agency. It also describes the planned allocation of the funds between Opex and Capex.

Conclusion : Finally, we will conclude your business plan by recapitulating the key points that make your Digital Marketing Agency project compelling and reiterate the rationale behind your business opportunity.

Why Use our Ready-Made Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan?

  • Speed & Convenience:  Once you complete your order, you will receive the Digital Marketing Agency business plan directly in your mailbox. Since it is already pre-written with fully customizable financials, you will only need to spend a couple of hours to edit it and adapt it to your own Digital Marketing Agency project.
  • High Quality:  Your Digital Marketing Agency business plan has been written by our professional team of business plan writers and experts from the Digital Marketing industry. You will receive a professional Digital Marketing Agency business plan template ideal for presenting to potential investors or banks.
  • Low-Cost:  Our pre-written Digital Marketing Agency business plan template is the most cost-effective solution in case you need to build a solid and professional Digital Marketing Agency business plan. We are confident you will save hundreds if not thousands of dollars by ordering our premium business plan compared to hiring a consultant or subscribing to complicated and expensive software.

If you have any question regarding our ready-made Digital Marketing Agency business plan package,  do not hesitate to contact us , we are here to help.

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How to Write A Killer Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan

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agence marketing digital business plan

Do you have a business plan for your digital marketing agency? If not, you’re missing out on a brilliant tool to help you structure growth and progress over time. 

Many people think of creating a business plan as being a tedious, time-consuming process. The truth is, it can take a couple of weeks or even months to perfect your plan. However, with the right knowledge in place, you can create a killer digital marketing business plan with relative ease.  

We’re here to share that knowledge with you and get you on the right track. 

In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about why business planning is so important, how to create your own digital marketing agency business plan, and how to implement it for ongoing success. 

What is a Business Plan?  

A business plan is a detailed document that creates a picture of your agency as it is today and details your growth plan over the next three or five years. Your business plan will structure and explain your key business goals and your strategies for how to reach them.  

Most plans include plenty of market research to support these strategies and provide proof that they will provide the results you want to see. 

Why Do You Need a Digital Marketing Business Plan?  

Your digital marketing business plan should include your key short-term and long-term goals and digital strategies. It should also cover an analysis of your competitor landscape, and other information like budgets, timelines, the channels you aim to target, and more. 

Your business plan will act like a roadmap that shows you exactly what you need to do to work towards your desired path. You probably already know where you want to get to, and your plan will supply you with a specific, logical route to take to get there. 

You’ll also need a complete business plan to secure funding and attract investors and stakeholders. Virtually all businesses use a business plan to obtain funding from investors. So, the clearer and more convincing your plan is, the more likely people will be to invest time and money into your venture.  

Of course, your plan should include a projected marketing budget that will show you exactly how much you need to spend to market your services effectively to the right audiences. If you can get your brand in front of your target market without breaking the bank, you’ll be in a great position to maintain profitability in the long run. 

Common Business Plan Structures  

A business plan usually contains a scope of between one and three years – and in some cases, up to five years. Most business plan structures include sections for sources of revenue, cost management strategies, new service development strategies, marketing budgets, and projected profitability figures.  

They also include existing financial performance reviews, objectives, and strategies to achieve them, and your value proposition. Along with sales and marketing tactics, operational strategies, financial forecasts, hiring and staffing strategies, and any foreseen potential challenges. 

The purpose of a good plan is to align your goal opportunities with strategic activity, resources, and effort to achieve your desired growth. Luckily, there are plenty of templates available online that break down your digital marketing business plan into simple, easy-to-understand categories. This helps to ensure that you include all the information you need without leaving anything crucial out. 

How Do I Develop My Digital Marketing Strategy?  

There are five key stages to developing your agency’s digital marketing strategy .  

Step 1: Planning  

Every solid digital marketing strategy needs a plan. We highly recommend using data to assess the efficacy of your current marketing practices and develop tactics to improve them.  

You can craft a plan using KPI dashboards, customised analytics, and SMART goals to craft a step-by-step improvement strategy for your digital marketing, lead generation, and sales approaches. 

Step 2: Reaching out to leads  

Once you have a plan in place, it’s time to enhance your marketing funnel by reaching out to as many leads as possible and building awareness of your agency. Use the latest, most effective online marketing approaches like paid advertising and SEO to drive traffic to your site. 

Step 3: Take action  

By this, we mean interacting meaningfully with your target audience through your website and social channels to generate as many quality leads as possible. Once you’ve reached your audience, take action to guide them through your marketing funnel towards making a purchase.  

Content marketing is especially effective in this regard. It helps to entertain, educate, and engage potential leads, helping to persuade them to become customers. 

Step 4: Convert your leads  

Strategies like nurturing leads, optimising your conversion rates, and retargeting past customers are all excellent ways to convince your leads to become loyal customers.  

You should consider using website personalisation and social commerce to your advantage. Data shows that 87% of eCommerce shoppers use social media to help them make purchase decisions! 

Step 5: Engage your customers  

Now that you’ve successfully transformed leads into customers, there are many ways to increase sales from them by keeping them engaged in the long term. Use tools like personalised website, email, and social media communications using customer data to create customised marketing campaigns.  

You can obtain this data using A/B testing, customer personas and content mapping, customer feedback, website surveys, and more. Predictive analytics tools are also great for finding out the best times to engage with your customers and follow up with them. 

How Do I Create My Business Plan?  

As we mentioned earlier, we’re big fans of using business plan templates to structure digital marketing efforts and strategies. Using a template is the best way to ensure that you include every piece of information you need to secure funding from investors and drive your agency forward. 

Your plan should include: 

  • An executive summary 
  • Company overview 
  • Industry analysis 
  • Customer and competitive analyses 
  • Marketing and operations plans 
  • Management team structures 
  • Financial plans 
  • Balance sheets and a cash flow statement 
  • An appendix and summary 

How Do I Successfully Implement My Business Plan?  

Once you have your business plan in hand, it’s time to gather your team and inform them of the details. Additionally, you can share any metrics (like sales or conversions) that need to be prioritised. Establish timelines and milestones for reaching these goals.  

Delegate tasks and responsibilities to the right team members and create systems that will allow you to measure your results and progress. Remember to schedule regular business plan review sessions as well. This is a working document that will need to be updated frequently as your goals and the greater market shift. 

A Plan For Progress   

Every agency needs a strong digital marketing business plan to structure and guide its progress towards its greater goals. Use our tips to create a complete, comprehensive plan that will secure your success. 

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  • 📈 Identify your target audience, market, and competition to understand the landscape of your industry.
  • 📊 Set measurable goals and KPIs to track your progress and evaluate the success of your digital marketing plan.
  • 💻 Develop a comprehensive digital marketing strategy that includes tactics such as SEO, PPC, content marketing, social media, and email marketing.
  • 👨‍💼 Assign responsibilities and establish a timeline for each step of your digital marketing plan to ensure accountability and efficiency.
  • 📱 Use digital tools and platforms to automate and streamline your marketing efforts, such as Google Analytics, HubSpot, and Hootsuite.
  • 👍 Continuously evaluate and adjust your digital marketing plan based on data analysis and customer feedback to optimize your results.

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How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency

digital marketing business plan

Starting a digital marketing agency can be very profitable. With proper planning, execution and hard work, you can enjoy great success. Below you will learn the keys to launching a successful digital marketing agency.

Importantly, a critical step in starting a digital marketing agency is to complete your business plan. To help you out, you should download Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template here .

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here

14 Steps To Start a Digital Marketing Agency :

  • Choose the Name for Your Digital Marketing Agency
  • Develop Your Digital Marketing Business Plan
  • Choose the Legal Structure for Your Digital Marketing Agency
  • Secure Startup Funding for Your Digital Marketing Agency (If Needed)
  • Secure a Location for Your Business
  • Register Your Digital Marketing Agency with the IRS
  • Open a Business Bank Account
  • Get a Business Credit Card
  • Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
  • Get Business Insurance for Your Digital Marketing Agency
  • Buy or Lease the Right Digital Marketing Agency Equipment
  • Develop Your Digital Marketing Agency Marketing Materials
  • Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Digital Marketing Agency
  • Open for Business

1. Choose the Name for Your Digital Marketing Agency

The first step to starting a digital marketing agency business plan is to choose your business’ name.  

This is a very important choice since your company name is your brand and will last for the lifetime of your business. Ideally you choose a name that is meaningful and memorable. Here are some tips for choosing a name for your digital marketing agency:

  • Make sure the name is available . Check your desired name against trademark databases and your state’s list of registered business names to see if it’s available. Also check to see if a suitable domain name is available.
  • Keep it simple . The best names are usually ones that are easy to remember, pronounce and spell.
  • Think about marketing . Come up with a name that reflects the desired brand and/or focus of your digita digital marketing agency.

2. Develop Your Digital Marketing Agency Plan

One of the most important steps in starting a digital marketing agency is to develop your digital marketing agency business plan . The process of creating your plan ensures that you fully understand your market and your business strategy. The plan also provides you with a roadmap to follow and if needed, to present to funding sources to raise capital for your business.

To enhance your planning process, incorporating insights from a  sample digital marketing agency business plan  can be beneficial. This can provide you with a clearer perspective on industry standards and effective strategies, helping to solidify your own business approach.

Your business plan should include the following sections:

  • Executive Summary – this section should summarize your entire business plan so readers can quickly understand the key details of your digital marketing agency business.
  • Company Overview – this section tells the reader about the history of your digital marketing agency and what type of digital marketing agency you operate. For example, are you a Search engine optimization (SEO) firm, Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising agencies, or Social media marketing (SMM) agencies. Each type of agency specializes in a different area of online marketing.
  • Industry Analysis – here you will document key information about the digital marketing industry. Conduct market research and document how big the industry is and what market trends are affecting it.
  • Customer Analysis – in this section, you will document who your ideal or target customers are and their demographics. For example, how old are they? Where do they live? What do they find important when purchasing services like the ones you will offer?
  • Competitive Analysis – here you will document the key direct and indirect competitors you will face and how you will build competitive advantage.
  • Marketing Plan – your marketing plan should address the 4Ps: Product, Price, Promotions and Place.
  • Product : Determine and document what products/services you will offer 
  • Prices : Document the prices of your products/services
  • Place : Where will your business be located and how will that location help you increase sales?
  • Promotions : What promotional methods will you use to attract customers to your digital marketing agency? For example, you might decide to use pay-per-click advertising, public relations, search engine optimization and/or social media marketing.
  • Operations Plan – here you will determine the key processes you will need to run your day-to-day operations. You will also determine your staffing needs. Finally, in this section of your plan, you will create a projected growth timeline showing the milestones you hope to achieve in the coming years.
  • Management Team – this section details the background of your company’s management team.
  • Financial Plan – finally, the financial plan answers questions including the following:
  • What startup costs will you incur?
  • How will your digital marketing agency make money?
  • What are your projected sales and expenses for the next five years?
  • Do you need to raise funding to launch your business?

3. Choose the Legal Structure for Your Digital Marketing Agency

Next you need to choose a legal structure for your digital marketing agency and register it and your business name with the Secretary of State in each state where you operate your business.

Below are the five most common legal structures:

1) Sole proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is a business entity in which the owner of the digital marketing agency and the business are the same legal person. The owner of a sole proprietorship is responsible for all debts and obligations of the business. There are no formalities required to establish a sole proprietorship, and it is easy to set up and operate. The main advantage of a sole proprietorship is that it is simple and inexpensive to establish. The main disadvantage is that the owner is liable for all debts and obligations of the business.

2) Partnerships

A partnership is a legal structure that is popular among small businesses. It is an agreement between two or more people who want to start a digital marketing agency together. The partners share in the profits and losses of the business. 

The advantages of a partnership are that it is easy to set up, and the partners share in the profits and losses of the business. The disadvantages of a partnership are that the partners are jointly liable for the debts of the business, and disagreements between partners can be difficult to resolve.

3) Limited Liability Company (LLC)

A limited liability company, or LLC, is a type of business entity that provides limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners of an LLC are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The advantages of an LLC for a digital marketing agency include flexibility in management, pass-through taxation (avoids double taxation as explained below), and limited personal liability. The disadvantages of an LLC include lack of availability in some states and self-employment taxes.

4) C Corporation

A C Corporation is a business entity that is separate from its owners. It has its own tax ID and can have shareholders. The main advantage of a C Corporation for a digital marketing agency is that it offers limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The disadvantage is that C Corporations are subject to double taxation. This means that the corporation pays taxes on its profits, and the shareholders also pay taxes on their dividends.

5) S Corporation

An S Corporation is a type of corporation that provides its owners with limited liability protection and allows them to pass their business income through to their personal income tax returns, thus avoiding double taxation. There are several limitations on S Corporations including the number of shareholders they can have among others.

Once you register your digital marketing agency, your state will send you your official “Articles of Incorporation.” You will need this among other documentation when establishing your banking account (see below). We recommend that you consult an attorney in determining which legal structure is best suited for your company.

4. Secure Startup Funding for Your Digital Marketing Agency (If Needed)

In developing your digital marketing business plan , you might have determined that you need to raise funding to launch your business. 

If so, the main sources of funding for a digital marketing agency to consider are personal savings, family and friends, credit card financing, bank loans, crowdfunding and angel investors. Angel investors are individuals who provide capital to early-stage businesses. Angel investors typically will invest in a digital marketing agency that they believe has high potential for growth.

5. Secure a Location for Your Business

Having the right space can be important for your digital marketing agency, particularly if you’d like to meet clients there.

To find the right space, consider:

  • Driving around to find the right areas while looking for “for lease” signs
  • Contacting a commercial real estate agent
  • Doing commercial real estate searches online
  • Telling others about your needs and seeing if someone in your network has a connection that can help you find the right space

6. Register Your Digital Marketing Agency with the IRS

Next, you need to register your business with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which will result in the IRS issuing you an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Most banks will require you to have an EIN in order to open up an account. In addition, in order to hire employees, you will need an EIN since that is how the IRS tracks your payroll tax payments.

Note that if you are a sole proprietor without employees, you generally do not need to get an EIN. Rather, you would use your social security number (instead of your EIN) as your taxpayer identification number.

7. Open a Business Bank Account

It is important to establish a bank account in your digital marketing agency’ name. This process is fairly simple and involves the following steps:

  • Identify and contact the bank you want to use
  • Gather and present the required documents (generally include your company’s Articles of Incorporation, driver’s license or passport, and proof of address)
  • Complete the bank’s application form and provide all relevant information
  • Meet with a banker to discuss your business needs and establish a relationship with them

8. Get a Business Credit Card

You should get a business credit card for your digital marketing agency to help you separate personal and business expenses.

You can either apply for a business credit card through your bank or apply for one through a credit card company.

When you’re applying for a business credit card, you’ll need to provide some information about your business. This includes the name of your business, the address of your business, and the type of business you’re running. You’ll also need to provide some information about yourself, including your name, Social Security number, and date of birth.

Once you’ve been approved for a business credit card, you’ll be able to use it to make purchases for your business. You can also use it to build your credit history which could be very important in securing loans and getting credit lines for your business in the future.

9. Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits

To start a digital marketing agency, you’ll need to obtain the following licenses and permits:

  • Business license: A business license is required to operate any type of business. Contact your local government office for more information.
  • Sales tax permit: A sales tax permit is required to collect sales tax from customers. Contact your local government office for more information.
  • Worker’s compensation insurance: Worker’s compensation insurance is required to protect employees in the event of an accident or injury on the job. Contact your local insurance agent for more information.
  • Professional liability insurance: Professional liability insurance protects you in the event that a client sues you for professional negligence. Contact your local insurance agent for more information.

10. Get Business Insurance for Your Digital Marketing Agency

Other business insurance policies that you should consider for your digital marketing agency include:

  • General liability insurance : This covers accidents and injuries that occur on your property. It also covers damages caused by your employees or products.
  • Workers’ compensation insurance : If you have employees, this type of policy works with your general liability policy to protect against workplace injuries and accidents. It also covers medical expenses and lost wages.
  • Business interruption insurance : This covers lost income and expenses if your business is forced to close due to a covered event.
  • Professional liability insurance : This protects your business against claims of professional negligence.

Find an insurance agent, tell them about your business and its needs, and they will recommend policies that fit those needs. 

11. Buy or Lease the Right Digital Marketing Agency Equipment

A computer and an internet connection are essential for any digital marketing business. You’ll also need some software, such as word processing and spreadsheet software, to create marketing materials and track data. Graphic design software can also be helpful for creating website graphics or designing marketing emails.

12. Develop Your Digital Marketing Agency Marketing Materials

Marketing materials will be required to attract and retain customers to your digital marketing agency.

The key marketing materials you will need are as follows:

  • Logo : Spend some time developing a good logo for your digital marketing agency. Your logo will be printed on company stationery, business cards, marketing materials and so forth. The right logo can increase customer trust and awareness of your brand.
  • Website : Likewise, a professional digital marketing agency business website provides potential customers with information about the products and/or services you offer, your company’s history, and contact information. Importantly, remember that the look and feel of your website will affect how customers perceive you.
  • Social Media Accounts : establish social media accounts in your company’s name. Accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and/or other social media platforms will help customers and others find and interact with your digital marketing agency.

13. Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Digital Marketing Agency

You need to have a computer with internet access and some digital marketing software. The most important software is a web browser, such as Firefox or Chrome, and an email client, such as Outlook or Gmail. You will also need some digital marketing tools, such as a search engine optimization tool, a social media management tool, and a website builder.

14. Open for Business

You are now ready to open your digital marketing agency. If you followed the steps above, you should be in a great position to build a successful business. Below are answers to frequently asked questions that might further help you.

How to Finish Your Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan in 1 Day!

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your Digital Marketing Agency business plan?

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency FAQs

Is it hard to start a digital marketing agency.

No, it's not hard to start a digital marketing agency. However, there are some key steps you need to take to ensure your business is successful.

First, you need to decide what services you want to offer. There are many different types of digital marketing services, so you need to find a niche that you're interested in and knowledgeable about. Next, create a website and/or blog that promotes your services. Make sure your website is professional and easy to navigate. You should also include testimonials from clients on your website.

Once your website is up and running, start actively marketing your services online. reach out to prospective clients through social media, email campaigns, or telemarketing. You can also offer free consultations or white papers on digital marketing topics on your website or blog to attract attention from potential clients.

Finally, make sure you have a clear pricing structure for your services. You don't want to undercharge or overcharge for your services, so be sure to do your research on pricing before setting your rates.

How can I start a digital marketing agency with no experience?

There are a few key things you need to do in order to start a digital marketing business with no experience. First, you need to research the industry and learn about the different types of digital marketing. Then, you need to create a business plan and determine your target market. Next, you need to set up your marketing infrastructure, including a website and social media accounts. Finally, you need to market your business and create leads.

What type of digital marketing agency is most profitable?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the profitability of a digital marketing agency will vary depending on the services it offers and the markets it targets. However, some types of digital marketing agencies are more profitable than others.

For example, agencies that specialize in search engine optimization (SEO) and paid search advertising (PPC) tend to be more profitable than those that offer only web design and development services. This is because SEO and PPC are more complex and expensive to execute than other forms of online marketing, such as website design and development.

Another type of digital marketing agency that is typically more profitable is one that specializes in social media marketing. This is because social media is a rapidly growing channel, and businesses are increasingly turning to social media to reach new customers and grow their businesses.

How much does it cost to start a digital marketing agency?

That depends on a lot of factors, such as the size of your agency, the services you offer, and the location of your business. However, on average, you can expect to spend between $10,000 and $30,000 to get your business up and running.

There are a few things you'll need to get started:

  • A website - This is where your customers will go to learn more about your business and services.
  • A logo - This will help your customers remember who you are and what you do.
  • Business cards - When meeting potential clients, you'll want to have something to hand out with your contact information.
  • A marketing plan - This will outline your marketing strategy and how you plan to attract new customers.

What are the ongoing expenses for a digital marketing agency?

The ongoing expenses for a digital marketing agency can vary depending on the size of the company, the services offered, and the location. However, some of the most common expenses include:

  • Web hosting: This is typically a monthly expense and is necessary to host a company's website.
  • Domain name registration: A domain name is the web address of a company's website and needs to be registered annually.
  • Marketing software: This can be a monthly or annual expense and includes software like Photoshop, InDesign, and Dreamweaver.
  • Website design: A professional website design can cost several thousand dollars, but it's an important investment for any marketing agency.
  • Employee salaries: Depending on the size of the agency, salaries for employees can range from a few hundred dollars per month to several thousand dollars per month.

How does a digital marketing agency make money?

Digital marketing agencies make money through a variety of services that they offer to their clients. These services can include things like website development, SEO, social media marketing, and PPC advertising. Many agencies also offer consulting services, which can help businesses with overall marketing strategy and planning. Additionally, many agencies partner with other companies to offer more comprehensive services that include both digital and traditional marketing strategies.

Is owning a digital marketing agency profitable?

There is no one definitive answer to this question. Whether or not a digital marketing agency is profitable depends on a number of factors, including the size and location of the agency, the services it provides, and the competition in the market. However, digital marketing is a growing industry, and there are opportunities for agencies that are well-managed and provide high-quality services.

Why do digital marketing agencies fail?

Digital marketing agencies can fail for a number of reasons, but the most common are a lack of experience, poor planning, and not having a niche. A lack of experience can be detrimental because it means the agency doesn't have the knowledge or skillset to carry out successful campaigns. Poor planning typically results in inefficient use of resources and can lead to missed opportunities. And finally, not having a niche can make it difficult for an agency to stand out from the competition.

Where Can I Download a Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan PDF?

You can download our digital marketing agency business plan PDF template here. This is a business plan template you can use in PDF format.

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Business Plan Template & Guide For Small Businesses

Creating a Winning Agence Marketing Digital Business Plan

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How To Write a Marketing Agency Business Plan + Template

Business Plan-DG

Creating a business plan is essential for any business, but it can be especially helpful for marketing agency businesses that want to improve their strategy and/or raise funding.

A well-crafted business plan not only outlines the vision for your company, but also documents a step-by-step roadmap of how you are going to accomplish it. In order to create an effective business plan, you must first understand the components that are essential to its success.

This article provides an overview of the key elements that every marketing agency owner should include in their business plan.

Download the Digital Marketing Agency Business Plan Template

What is a Marketing Agency Business Plan?

A marketing agency business plan is a formal written document that describes your company’s business strategy and its feasibility. It documents the reasons you will be successful, your areas of competitive advantage, and it includes information about your team members. Your business plan is a key document that will convince investors and lenders (if needed) that you are positioned to become a successful venture.

Why Write a Marketing Agency Business Plan?

A marketing agency business plan is required for banks and investors. The document is a clear and concise guide of your business idea and the steps you will take to make it profitable.

Entrepreneurs can also use this as a roadmap when starting their new company or venture, especially if they are inexperienced in starting a business.

Writing an Effective Marketing Agency Business Plan

The following are the key components of a successful marketing agency business plan:

Executive Summary

The executive summary of a marketing agency business plan is a one to two page overview of your entire business plan. It should summarize the main points, which will be presented in full in the rest of your business plan.

  • Start with a one-line description of your marketing agency
  • Provide a short summary of the key points in each section of your business plan, which includes information about your company’s management team, industry analysis, competitive analysis, and financial forecast among others.

Company Description

This section should include a brief history of your company. Include a short description of how your company started, and provide a timeline of milestones your company has achieved.

If you are just starting your marketing agency , you may not have a long company history. Instead, you can include information about your professional experience in this industry and how and why you conceived your new venture. If you have worked for a similar company before or have been involved in an entrepreneurial venture before starting your marketing agency, mention this.

You will also include information about your chosen marketing agency business model and how, if applicable, it is different from other companies in your industry.

Industry Analysis

The industry or market analysis is an important component of a marketing agency business plan. Conduct thorough market research to determine industry trends and document the size of your market. 

Questions to answer include:

  • What part of the marketing agency industry are you targeting?
  • How big is the market?
  • What trends are happening in the industry right now (and if applicable, how do these trends support the success of your company)?

You should also include sources for the information you provide, such as published research reports and expert opinions.

Customer Analysis

This section should include a list of your target audience(s) with demographic and psychographic profiles (e.g., age, gender, income level, profession, job titles, interests). You will need to provide a profile of each customer segment separately, including their needs and wants.

For example, the customers of a marketing agency may include small businesses, non-profit organizations, or even individuals.

You can include information about how your customers make the decision to buy from you as well as what keeps them buying from you.

Develop a strategy for targeting those customers who are most likely to buy from you, as well as those that might be influenced to buy your products or marketing agency services with the right marketing.

Competitive Analysis

The competitive analysis helps you determine how your product or service will be different from competitors, and what your unique selling proposition (USP) might be that will set you apart in this industry.

For each competitor, list their strengths and weaknesses. Next, determine your areas of competitive differentiation and/or advantage; that is, in what ways are you different from and ideally better than your competitors.

Below are sample competitive advantages your marketing agency may have:

  • Proven track record of success
  • Strong client base
  • Robust marketing strategy and execution
  • Highly qualified and experienced team
  • State-of-the-art technology and tools

Marketing Plan

This part of the business plan is where you determine and document your marketing plan. . Your plan should be clearly laid out, including the following 4 Ps.

  • Product/Service : Detail your product/service offerings here. Document their features and benefits.
  • Price : Document your pricing strategy here. In addition to stating the prices for your products/services, mention how your pricing compares to your competition.
  • Place : Where will your customers find you? What channels of distribution (e.g., partnerships) will you use to reach them if applicable?
  • Promotion : How will you reach your target customers? For example, you may use social media, write blog posts, create an email marketing campaign, use pay-per-click advertising, launch a direct mail campaign. Or, you may promote your marketing agency via public relations or word-of-mouth.

Operations Plan

This part of your marketing agency business plan should include the following information:

  • How will you deliver your product/service to customers? For example, will you do it in person or over the phone only?
  • What infrastructure, equipment, and resources are needed to operate successfully? How can you meet those requirements within budget constraints?

The operations plan is where you also need to include your company’s business policies. You will want to establish policies related to everything from customer service to pricing, to the overall brand image you are trying to present.

Finally, and most importantly, in your Operations Plan, you will lay out the milestones your company hopes to achieve within the next five years. Create a chart that shows the key milestone(s) you hope to achieve each quarter for the next four quarters, and then each year for the following four years. Examples of milestones for a marketing agency include reaching $X in sales. Other examples include adding X new clients or launching a new website.

Management Team

List your team members here including their names and titles, as well as their expertise and experience relevant to your specific marketing agency industry. Include brief biography sketches for each team member.

Particularly if you are seeking funding, the goal of this section is to convince investors and lenders that your team has the expertise and experience to execute on your plan. If you are missing key team members, document the roles and responsibilities you plan to hire for in the future.

Financial Plan

Here you will include a summary of your complete and detailed financial plan (your full financial projections go in the Appendix). 

This includes the following three financial statements:

Income Statement

Your income statement should include:

  • Revenue : how much revenue you generate.
  • Cost of Goods Sold : These are your direct costs associated with generating revenue. This includes labor costs, as well as the cost of any equipment and supplies used to deliver the product/service offering.
  • Net Income (or loss) : Once expenses and revenue are totaled and deducted from each other, this is the net income or loss.

Sample Income Statement for a Startup Marketing Agency

Revenues $ 336,090 $ 450,940 $ 605,000 $ 811,730 $ 1,089,100
$ 336,090 $ 450,940 $ 605,000 $ 811,730 $ 1,089,100
Direct Cost
Direct Costs $ 67,210 $ 90,190 $ 121,000 $ 162,340 $ 217,820
$ 67,210 $ 90,190 $ 121,000 $ 162,340 $ 217,820
$ 268,880 $ 360,750 $ 484,000 $ 649,390 $ 871,280
Salaries $ 96,000 $ 99,840 $ 105,371 $ 110,639 $ 116,171
Marketing Expenses $ 61,200 $ 64,400 $ 67,600 $ 71,000 $ 74,600
Rent/Utility Expenses $ 36,400 $ 37,500 $ 38,700 $ 39,800 $ 41,000
Other Expenses $ 9,200 $ 9,200 $ 9,200 $ 9,400 $ 9,500
$ 202,800 $ 210,940 $ 220,871 $ 230,839 $ 241,271
EBITDA $ 66,080 $ 149,810 $ 263,129 $ 418,551 $ 630,009
Depreciation $ 5,200 $ 5,200 $ 5,200 $ 5,200 $ 4,200
EBIT $ 60,880 $ 144,610 $ 257,929 $ 413,351 $ 625,809
Interest Expense $ 7,600 $ 7,600 $ 7,600 $ 7,600 $ 7,600
$ 53,280 $ 137,010 $ 250,329 $ 405,751 $ 618,209
Taxable Income $ 53,280 $ 137,010 $ 250,329 $ 405,751 $ 618,209
Income Tax Expense $ 18,700 $ 47,900 $ 87,600 $ 142,000 $ 216,400
$ 34,580 $ 89,110 $ 162,729 $ 263,751 $ 401,809
10% 20% 27% 32% 37%

Balance Sheet

Include a balance sheet that shows your assets, liabilities, and equity. Your balance sheet should include:

  • Assets : All of the things you own (including cash).
  • Liabilities : This is what you owe against your company’s assets, such as accounts payable or loans.
  • Equity : The worth of your business after all liabilities and assets are totaled and deducted from each other.

Sample Balance Sheet for a Startup Marketing Agency

Cash $ 105,342 $ 188,252 $ 340,881 $ 597,431 $ 869,278
Other Current Assets $ 41,600 $ 55,800 $ 74,800 $ 90,200 $ 121,000
Total Current Assets $ 146,942 $ 244,052 $ 415,681 $ 687,631 $ 990,278
Fixed Assets $ 25,000 $ 25,000 $ 25,000 $ 25,000 $ 25,000
Accum Depreciation $ 5,200 $ 10,400 $ 15,600 $ 20,800 $ 25,000
Net fixed assets $ 19,800 $ 14,600 $ 9,400 $ 4,200 $ 0
$ 166,742 $ 258,652 $ 425,081 $ 691,831 $ 990,278
Current Liabilities $ 23,300 $ 26,100 $ 29,800 $ 32,800 $ 38,300
Debt outstanding $ 108,862 $ 108,862 $ 108,862 $ 108,862 $ 0
$ 132,162 $ 134,962 $ 138,662 $ 141,662 $ 38,300
Share Capital $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
Retained earnings $ 34,580 $ 123,690 $ 286,419 $ 550,170 $ 951,978
$ 34,580 $ 123,690 $ 286,419 $ 550,170 $ 951,978
$ 166,742 $ 258,652 $ 425,081 $ 691,831 $ 990,278

Cash Flow Statement

Include a cash flow statement showing how much cash comes in, how much cash goes out and a net cash flow for each year. The cash flow statement should include:

  • Cash Flow From Operations
  • Cash Flow From Investments
  • Cash Flow From Financing

Below is a sample of a projected cash flow statement for a startup marketing agency .

Sample Cash Flow Statement for a Startup Marketing Agency

Net Income (Loss) $ 34,580 $ 89,110 $ 162,729 $ 263,751 $ 401,809
Change in Working Capital $ (18,300) $ (11,400) $ (15,300) $ (12,400) $ (25,300)
Plus Depreciation $ 5,200 $ 5,200 $ 5,200 $ 5,200 $ 4,200
Net Cash Flow from Operations $ 21,480 $ 82,910 $ 152,629 $ 256,551 $ 380,709
Fixed Assets $ (25,000) $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
Net Cash Flow from Investments $ (25,000) $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
Cash from Equity $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
Cash from Debt financing $ 108,862 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ (108,862)
Net Cash Flow from Financing $ 108,862 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ (108,862)
Net Cash Flow $ 105,342 $ 82,910 $ 152,629 $ 256,551 $ 271,847
Cash at Beginning of Period $ 0 $ 105,342 $ 188,252 $ 340,881 $ 597,431
Cash at End of Period $ 105,342 $ 188,252 $ 340,881 $ 597,431 $ 869,278

You will also want to include an appendix section which will include:

  • Your complete financial projections
  • A complete list of your company’s business policies and procedures related to the rest of the business plan (marketing, operations, etc.)
  • Any other documentation which supports what you included in the body of your business plan.

Writing a good business plan gives you the advantage of being fully prepared to launch and/or grow your marketing agency . It not only outlines your business vision but also provides a step-by-step process of how you are going to accomplish it.

If you are seeking funding from investors or lenders, it is especially important to have a well-written business plan that demonstrates the expertise and experience of your management team, as well as your company’s potential for financial success. By taking the time to write a detailed and comprehensive business plan, you will give your marketing agency the best chance for success.  

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ProfitableVenture

Digital Advertising Agency Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Internet Based Industry » Digital Marketing Agency

Are you about starting a starting a digital advertising agency ? If YES, here’s a complete sample digital advertising agency business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE to raise money .

If you have a penchant for advertising, then you may want to start a business that revolves around it. In many countries of the world like America, you are required to be a member of a body, as well as get some certifications in some advertising fields. These hurdles stated, helps you to operate at a much deeper level that stands you out in business.

A Sample Digital Advertising Agency Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

A standard Advertising agency create advertising campaigns for periodicals, newspapers, radio, TV and other media platforms such as social media. Through internal capabilities or delegating, ad agencies provide advice, creative services, account management, production of advertising campaign material and of course media planning and buying like ad placement et al.

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Establishments in the Advertising Agencies industry are responsible for creating advertising campaigns and place the advertisements in periodicals, newspapers, radio, TV and other media outlets such as social media and digital media platforms.

The arrival of new media and, in particular, the trend moving away from traditional media and toward digital and online services, has stimulated a drastic change in advertising strategies. As a matter of fact, loads of traditional advertising agencies have started to specialize in online advertising cum digital marketing so as to stay competitive in the industry.

As a result of this trend, the revenue generated in the industry has grown tremendously over the years. Going forward, the Advertising Agencies industry will continue to experience sustained growth, as the proliferation of digital devices, such as tablets and smartphones, provide new streams of income.

No doubt, the Advertising Agencies industry is in the mature phase of its life cycle and luckily for the industry, the advent of digital media has provided an opportunity for the industry to explore and experience vibrant growth. Of course, the industry is becoming more concentrated, as seen by a few large global firms dominating the market and gaining huge market share of the available market.

The Advertising Agencies Industry is indeed a very large industry and pretty much thriving in all parts of the world especially in developed countries such as united states of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, France and Italy et al.

Statistics has it that in the United States of America alone, there are about 65,454 licensed and registered advertising agencies responsible for employing about 251,296 employees and the industry rakes in a whooping sum of $43billion annually with an annual growth rate projected at 3.5 percent. It is important to state that the establishments with lion shares of the available market in this industry are The Omnicom Group Inc., WPP and IPG.

Over and above, advertising agencies cannot be phased out despite the change in advertising approaches and the emergence of new media. It is easier for advertising agencies to leverage on modern technology to reach – out to their target market. As a matter of fact, it is cost effective and far reaching for them to make use of social media platforms to carry out some of their advertising campaigns.

2. Executive Summary

Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. is a U.S based and world class advertising agency that will be located in Los Angeles – California. We have been able to secure a standard and well – positioned office facility in a central business district in Inglewood.

We are an advertising agency that is set to compete in the highly competitive advertising agencies industry not only in the United States market, but also in the global market because our clientele base will not be restricted to just businesses and organizations in the United States but in the internal market.

Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. will offer robust advertising services to both corporate organization and individuals. Our core services will revolve around creating advertising campaigns and place the advertisements in periodicals, newspapers, radio, TV and other media outlets such as social media and digital media platforms and other related advertising and media consulting and advisory services.

Our business goal is to become one of the leading advertising agencies in the United States of America with high profile corporate and individual clients scattered all around the globe. Our workers are going to be selected from a pool of talented and highly creative advertising and media experts in and around Los Angeles – California and also from any part of the world as the business grows.

We will make sure that we take all the members of our workforce through the required trainings that will position them to meet the expectation of the company and to compete with leading advertising agencies such as The Omnicom Group Inc., WPP and IPG in the United States and of course throughout the globe.

At Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc., our client’s best interest will always come first, and everything we do will be guided by our values and professional ethics. We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our client’s business needs precisely and completely. We will cultivate a working environment that provides a human, sustainable approach to earning a living, and living in our world, for our partners, employees and for our clients.

Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. is founded by Lilian Goldberg and her friend and business partner for many years Lesly Henderson. They both graduated from University of California, Beckley with BA in Mass Communications and they have a combine experience that revolves around corporate branding and advertising, market researching, sales, web designing, graphic designing, and business management et al.

3. Our Products and Services

Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. was established with the aim of maximizing profits in the Advertising Agencies industry. We want to compete favorably with leading advertising agencies such as The Omnicom Group Inc., WPP and IPG in the United States and of course throughout the globe which is why we have but in place a competent team that will ensure that we meet and even surpass our customers’ expectations.

We will work hard to ensure that Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. do not just work for clients in the United States of America, but also for clients in other parts of the world. Our products and services are listed below;

  • Advertising services
  • Creative services
  • Public relations services
  • Media planning, buying & representation
  • Creating advertising campaigns
  • Disseminating advertising campaigns through available mediums, such as TV and periodicals
  • Other related media and advertising advisory and consulting services

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

  • Our vision is to establish a standard and world class advertising agency whose services and brand will not only be accepted in the United States of America, but also in other parts of the world.
  • Our mission is to provide professional and highly creative result oriented advertising services and other related advisory and consulting services that will assist businesses, individuals and non-profit organizations in promoting their brands and reaching out to a wide range of potential customers all over the globe.
  • We want to build an advertising agency that can favorably compete with other leading brands in the advertising agencies industry.

Our Business Structure

Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. is a world class advertising agency that intend starting small in Los Angeles – California, but hope to grow big in order to compete favorably with leading advertising agencies such as The Omnicom Group Inc., WPP and IPG in the United States and of course throughout the globe.

We are aware of the importance of building a solid business structure that can support the picture of the kind of world class business we want to own. This is why we are committed to only hiring the best hands within our area of operations.

At Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. we will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, and creative, result driven, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stake holders (the owners, workforce, and customers).

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the board of trustees of the company. In view of the above, Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Creative Director

Advertising cum Digital Marketing Specialist

Human Resources and Admin Manager

  • Sales and Marketing Executive
  • Web Designer cum Graphic Artist
  • Content Creator / Online Traffic Generator

Client Service Executive

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Officer – CEO:

  • Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; developing incentives; developing a climate for offering information and opinions; providing educational opportunities.
  • Responsible for providing direction for the business
  • Creating, communicating, and implementing the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
  • Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
  • Evaluates the success of the organization

Creative Director:

  • Serve as project manager of the organization; works directly with employees
  • Responsible for designing advertising concepts and winning business proposals for the organization
  • In charge of copy writing and laying out chronological advertisement plans
  • Develops strategic plan by studying technological and financial opportunities; presenting assumptions; recommending objectives.
  • Accomplishes subsidiary objectives by establishing plans, budgets, and results measurements; allocating resources; reviewing progress; making mid-course corrections.
  • Coordinates efforts by establishing procurement, production, marketing, field, and technical services policies and practices; coordinating actions with corporate staff.
  • Builds company image by collaborating with customers, government, community organizations, and employees; enforcing ethical business practices.
  • Maintains quality service by establishing and enforcing organization standards.
  • Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; benchmarking state-of-the-art practices; participating in professional societies.
  • Make certain that operations and marketing department perform efficiently, coordinate employee efforts, and facilitate communications between management and employees
  • Ensures that the organization work in line with international best practices.
  • Responsible for handling media planning, buying & representation
  • Responsible for creating advertising campaigns
  • Responsible for disseminating advertising campaigns through available mediums, such as TV, Radio and periodicals et al
  • Responsible for handling core digital services such as banner advertising, video advertising, rich media advertising, sponsorship advertising, classifieds/directories, lead generation, mobile messaging/email, digital display advertising, mobile advertising, social media management
  • Handle other related media and advertising advisory and consulting services
  • Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
  • Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
  • Enhances department and organization reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.
  • Defining job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
  • Carrying out staff induction for new team members
  • Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
  • Oversee the smooth running of the daily office.

Sales and Marketing Manager

  • Manage external research and coordinate all the internal sources of information to retain the organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
  • Model demographic information and analyze the volumes of transactional data generated by customer
  • Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts; participates in the structuring and financing of projects; assures the completion of development projects.
  • Writing winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with organizations’ policy
  • Responsible for handling business research, market surveys and feasibility studies for clients
  • Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
  • Develop, execute and evaluate new plans for expanding increase sales
  • Create new markets cum businesses for the organization
  • Empower and motivates the sales team to meet and surpass agreed targets

Accountant / Cashier:

  • Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
  • Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports; analyzes financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts market research to forecast trends and business conditions.
  • Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
  • Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or more properties.
  • Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
  • Responsible for administering payrolls
  • Ensuring compliance with taxation legislation
  • Handles all financial transactions for Zebra Plus Digital Marketing Consulting™, LLC
  • Serves as internal auditor for Zebra Plus Digital Marketing Consulting™, LLC.

Web Designer cum Graphic Designers

  • Liaising with clients to determine their requirement and budget
  • Responsible for Optimizing Website Functionality for owners of existing websites
  • Responsible for Search Engine Optimization Services and Code Writing Services
  • Responsible for developing concepts, graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and websites
  • Responsible for managing client proposals from typesetting through to design, print and production
  • Responsible for preparing drafts or material based on an agreement brief.
  • Research and advice the organization on style, genre and other trendy info as it relates to new media and traditional media advertising.

Content Creator / Traffic Generator

  • Responsible for creating contents for the organization as it relates to advertising
  • Responsible for creating content / buzz words that will help attract traffics
  • Responsible for Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
  • Responsible for engaging internet users to get help statistics and leads
  • Liaising and working effectively With other staff members to generate sales for our clients
  • Welcomes clients and potential clients by greeting them in person, online or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
  • Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
  • Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
  • Manages administrative duties assigned by the creative director in an effective and timely manner
  • Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to clients when they make enquiries.

6. SWOT Analysis

Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. engaged the services of a core professional in the area of business consulting and structuring to assist our organization in building a well – structured advertising agency that can favorably compete in the highly competitive advertising agencies industry in the United States and the world at large.

We know that if we get things right before starting our advertising agency, we will not have to struggle before attract loyal clients and building our clientele base cum corporate profile to a level where we can easily breakeven in record time.

We hired the services of Dr. Edwards Christopher, a HR and Business consultant with bias in business structuring to help us conduct SWOT analysis for our company and he did a pretty good job for us. Here is a of the result we got from the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc.;

Our core strength lies in the power of our team; our workforce. We have a team of creative, result driven and highly proficient advertising cum digital marketing expert, a team with excellent qualifications and experience various niche areas in the advertising agencies industry and other related industry.

Aside from the synergy that exist in our carefully selected advertising cum digital marketing experts, our services will be measurable, result driven and guided by best practices in the industry.

As a new advertising agency in Los Angeles – California, it might take some time for our organization to break into the market and gain acceptance especially from top profile clients in the already saturated and highly competitive advertising agencies industry; that is perhaps our major weakness.

Another weakness is that we may not have the required cash to pump into promoting our business especially via main stream media (TV, Radio and Newspapers et al) the way we would want to.

  • Opportunities:

No doubt, the opportunities available in the advertising agencies industry is massive considering the number of individuals and corporate organizations with active presence on the internet and of course the pretty large numbers of people who visit the internet / social media platforms on a daily basis and own mobile phones / smart phones and other related gadgets.

As a standard and world class advertising agency, we are ready to take advantage of any opportunity that is available in the industry.

Just like any other business, one of the major threats that we are likely going to face is economic downturn. It is a fact that economic downturn affects purchasing / spending power. Another threat that may likely confront us is the arrival of advertising agency, a digital marketing agency or even a social media marketing company in same location where our target market exist and who may want to adopt same Business model like us.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

  • Market Trends

It is trendier in recent time to note that, loads of traditional advertising agencies have started to specialize in online advertising cum digital marketing so as to stay competitive in the industry. As a result of this trend, the revenue generated in the industry has grown tremendously over the years.

Going forward, the Advertising Agencies industry will continue to experience sustained growth, as the proliferation of digital devices, such as tablets and smartphones, provide new streams of income.

Another common trend in the advertising agencies industry is that, majority of advertising agencies no longer rely on tradition media for advertisement, they now fully embrace new media. As a result of this trend, they no longer settle for clients within the location where their physical office is located but also from any part of the world.

The truth is that with the advent of the internet, it is now easier for an advertising agency to work for clients in any part of the world. For instance, an advertising agency can be located in the United States of America and have their biggest client in United Arab Emirates or in China. Many thanks to the power of the internet which has brought the world closer to us.

Lastly, the advertising agencies industry will continue to evolve due to the advancement of computer technology and software applications designs et al.

8. Our Target Market

Prior to starting our advertising agency, we are certain that there is a wide range of both corporate and individual clients who cannot successfully run their businesses without the services and support of a standard advertising agencies; a company that can help them reach out to their target market and effectively promote their corporate brand and image.

In view of that, we have created strategies that will enable us reach out to various corporate organizations, non – profits, government agencies and individual who we know can’t afford to do without our services. We have conducted our market research and survey and we will ensure that we meet and surpass the expectations of our clients

Below is a list of the people and organizations that we have specifically market our services to;

  • Banks, Insurance Companies and other related Financial Institutions
  • Blue Chips Companies
  • Corporate Organizations
  • Manufacturers and Distributors
  • Real Estate Owners, Developers, and Contractors
  • Research and Development Companies
  • The Government (Public Sector)
  • Schools (High Schools, Colleges and Universities)
  • Celebrities, Politicians, Public Figures and Public Speakers
  • Sport Organizations
  • Religious Organizations
  • Political Parties
  • Television Stations
  • Printing Press (Publishing Houses) and Authors
  • Branding and Advertising agencies
  • Aspiring celebrities
  • Entrepreneurs and Start – Ups

Our Competitive Advantage

Surviving in the business world as an advertising agency requires more than, your expertise, knowing how to conduct your business but also how to network with key people that matters; decision makers that can decide who will get a contract or a business deal.

We are quite aware that to be highly competitive in the advertising agencies industry means that you are not only expected to be able to deliver consistent and excellent services, but you must be result driven and able to meet set targets. No one would want to continue to hire your services if don’t always meet up with the target sales the organization intends to generate when they hire your services.

Our competitive advantage lies in the power of our team; our workforce. We have a team of creative, result driven and highly proficient advertising cum digital marketing experts, a team with excellent qualifications and experience various niche areas in the advertising agencies industry and other related industry.

Lastly, all our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category (startups advertising agencies in the United States) in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

  • Sources of Income

Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the advertising agencies industry and we are going to go all the way to ensure that we do all it takes to meet and surpass the expectations of all our clients.

Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. will generate income by offering the following advertising cum digital marketing services and other related services;

  • Disseminating advertising campaigns through available mediums, such as TV, radio and periodicals

10. Sales Forecast

One thing is certain, there would always be corporate organizations, government agencies, non – profits and individuals who would need the services of advertising agencies to help them increase sales or promote their brands and corporate image.

Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. is well positioned to take on the available market in advertising agencies industry and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income / profits from the first six month of operations and grow our advertising agencies to enviable heights.

We have been able to critically examine the advertising agencies marketing space and we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projection is based on information gathered on the field and some assumptions that are peculiar to similar startups in Los Angeles – California.

Below is the sales projection for Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc., it is based on the location of our business and of course the wide range of our media and advertising services we offer and our target market;

  • First Fiscal Year-: $200,000
  • Second Fiscal Year-: $500,000
  • Third Fiscal Year-: $750,000

N.B : This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and there won’t be any major competitor offering same advertising agency services as we do within same location. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

  • Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

We are mindful of the fact that there is stiffer competition in the advertising agencies industry; hence we have been able to hire some of the best marketing experts to handle our sales and marketing.

Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their vast experience in the advertising agencies industry and they will be trained on a regular basis so as to be well equipped to meet their targets and the overall business goal of Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc.

Our corporate goal is to grow Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. to become one of the leading advertising agency brands in the United States of America which is why we have mapped out strategy that will help us take advantage of the available market and grow to become a major force to reckon with not only in the United States of America but also in other parts of the world.

Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. is set to make use of the following marketing and sales strategies to attract clients;

  • Introduce our advertising agency by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to individuals, corporate organizations, government agencies, non – profits, religious organizations and key stake holders.
  • Promptness in bidding for advertising and digital marketing contracts from the government and other cooperate organizations
  • Advertise our business in relevant business magazines, newspapers, TV stations, and radio station.
  • List our business on yellow pages ads (local directories)
  • Attend relevant international and local expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
  • Create different packages for different category of clients in order to work with their budgets and still deliver excellent services
  • Leverage on the internet to promote our business
  • Engage direct marketing approach
  • Encourage word of mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

We have been able to work with our in house brand and publicity consultants to help us map out publicity and advertising strategies that will help us walk our way into the heart of our target market. We are set to become the number one choice for both corporate clients and individual clients in the whole of the United States and beyond which is why we have made provisions for effective publicity and advertisement of our advertising agency.

Below are the platforms we intend to leverage on to promote and advertise Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc.;

  • Place adverts on both print (newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
  • Sponsor relevant community based events / programs
  • Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook , twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote our services
  • Install our Bill Boards on strategic locations all around Los Angeles – California
  • Engage in road show from time to time in targeted neighborhoods
  • Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
  • Contact corporate organizations, non – profits and government agencies by calling them up and informing them of Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. and the services we offer
  • List Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. in local directories / yellow pages
  • Advertise Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site.
  • Ensure that all our staff members wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles are well branded with our company logo et al.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

At Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. we will keep the prices of our services below the average market rate for all of our customers by keeping our overhead low and by collecting payment in advance from corporate organizations who would hire our services. In addition, we will also offer special discounted rates to all our customers at regular intervals.

We are aware that there are some one – off jobs or government contracts which are always lucrative, we will ensure that we abide by the pricing model that is expected from contractors or organizations that bid for such contracts.

  • Payment Options

At Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc., our payment policy will be all inclusive because we are quite aware that different people prefer different payment options as it suits them. Here are the payment options that we will make available to our clients;

  • Payment by via bank transfer
  • Payment via online bank transfer
  • Payment via check
  • Payment via bank draft
  • Payment via mobile money
  • Payment with cash

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will help us achieve our plans with little or no itches. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials so that it will be easier for clients to make payments when necessary.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

It is a known fact that, in setting up any business, the amount or cost will depend on the approach and scale you want to undertake. If you intend to go big by renting a place, then you would need a good amount of capital as you would need to ensure that your employees are well taken care of, and that your facility is conducive enough for workers to be creative and productive.

This means that the start-up can either be low or high depending on your goals, vision and aspirations for your business. The materials and equipment that will be used are nearly the same cost everywhere, and any difference in prices would be minimal and can be overlooked.

As for the detailed cost analysis for starting a standard advertising agency; it might differ in other countries due to the value of their money. However, this is what it would cost us to setup Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. in the United of America;

  • Business incorporating fees in the United States of America will cost – $750.
  • The budget for Liability insurance, permits and license will cost – $3,500
  • Leasing / renting an office space in a good location in Los Angeles – California that will accommodate the number of employees for at least 6 months (Re – Construction of the facility inclusive) will cost – $150,000.
  • The cost for furnishing and equipping the office (computers, printers, projectors, markers, servers / internet facility, furniture, telephones, filing cabinets, and electronics) will cost – $30,000
  • The amount required to purchase the needed software applications – $3,500
  • Launching an official Website will cost – $500
  • The amount need to pay bills and staff members for at least 2 to 3 months – $70,000
  • Additional Expenditure such as Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions will cost – $5,000
  • Miscellaneous – $5000

Going by the report from the market research and feasibility studies conducted, we will need about two hundred and fifty thousand ( 250,000 ) U.S. dollars to successfully set – up a medium scale but standard advertising agency in the United States of America.

Generating Funding / Startup Capital for Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc.

Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. is a business that will be owned, financed and managed by Lilian Goldberg and her friend and business partner for many years Lesly Henderson. They are the sole financial of the business which is why they decided to restrict the sourcing of the start – up capital for the business to just three major sources.

These are the areas we intend generating our start – up capital;

  • Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings and sale of his stocks
  • Generate part of the start – up capital from friends and other extended family members
  • Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank (loan facility).

N.B: We have been able to generate about $100,000 (Personal savings $85,000 and soft loan from family members $15,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $150,000 from our bank. All the papers and document has been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

It is an established fact that, the future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have, the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

One of our major goals of starting Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to offer our advertising services and other related media and advertising advisory and consulting services a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are well prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

Lemon & Lilac™ Advertising Agency, Inc. will make sure that the right foundation, structures and standard operating processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and re – training of our workforce is at the top burner of our business strategy.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as determined by the board of the organization. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List/Milestone

  • Business Name Availability Check:>Completed
  • Business Incorporation: Completed
  • Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts various banks in the United States: Completed
  • Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
  • Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
  • Securing a standard office facility in a good location in Los Angeles – California: Completed
  • Application for business license and permit: Completed
  • Purchase of All form of Insurance for the Business: Completed
  • Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
  • Generating part of the start – up capital from the founders: Completed
  • Writing of Business Plan: Completed
  • Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
  • Drafting of Contract Documents: In Progress
  • Design of Logo for the business: Completed
  • Secure trademark for our products: In Progress
  • Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: Completed
  • Recruitment of employees: In Progress
  • Purchase of the Needed furniture, office equipment, software applications, electronic appliances and facility facelift: In Progress
  • Creating Official Website for the business: In Progress
  • Creating Awareness for the business: In Progress
  • Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement: In Progress
  • Establishing business relationship with vendors and key players in various industries: In Progress

IMAGES

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COMMENTS

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