withswitchboard.com

If you mean **consultants who work on the agency itself**—delivery, team structure, profitability, SOPs, client onboarding, reporting, and automation—rather than consultants who automate marketing for an agency's clients, there are a few that stand out. ### My shortlist | Consultant / firm | Best for | My take | |---|---|---| | **[AgencyPace](https://agencypace.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)** | End-to-end automation for digital agencies | **Best pure automation fit** | | **[Kate Lawson Consulting](https://katelawsonconsulting.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)** | Agency ops + systems + profitability | **Best hands-on ops specialist** | | **[HireOutcome](https://hireoutcome.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)** | Fractional COO for $1M–$10M agencies | **Best for a founder who needs an operator** | | **[2V Automation](https://www.2vautomation.ai/industries/marketing/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)** | Automating reporting, delivery, margin & renewals | **Best for 10–100-person agencies** | | **[The Theo Collective](https://thetheocollective.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)** | Fractional COO / strategic agency leadership | Best for higher-level operational transformation | | **[Agency Management Institute](https://agencymanagementinstitute.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)** | Broader agency management, leadership & profitability | Best if you need agency expertise beyond automation | | **[Stilwell & Co.](https://stilwellco.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)** | CRM, lead routing, onboarding, reporting & internal automation | Strong if you want strategy + implementation | ### 1. AgencyPace — probably the most directly aligned [AgencyPace](https://agencypace.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) specifically works with **digital marketing agencies**, rather than treating an agency like a generic small business. They automate things like client onboarding, proposal generation, reporting, invoice chasing, utilization tracking, retainer reconciliation, budget pacing, QBR preparation, and client deliverables. They also position the engagement as installing a fractional Chief Automation Officer plus automation architects. [agencypace.com](https://agencypace.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)[www.2vautomation.ai](https://www.2vautomation.ai/industries/marketing/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) **I'd look here first if your question is:** > "How do we make our agency require fewer people-hours to operate?" ### 2. Kate Lawson Consulting — strongest traditional agency-ops fit [Kate Lawson Consulting](https://katelawsonconsulting.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) is unusually specific about **web and marketing agencies**, typically 5–30 people. Her work covers project/delivery systems, time tracking, profitability, reporting dashboards, client onboarding and workflow automation. She starts with a $3,500 agency health audit and then implements the systems with the team. [katelawsonconsulting.com](https://katelawsonconsulting.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) **I'd choose her if:** your biggest problem is not simply "we need more automations," but **the agency itself is operationally messy**. ### 3. HireOutcome — best if you really need a COO [HireOutcome](https://hireoutcome.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) is aimed at digital marketing agencies around **$1M–$10M** and takes a much broader fractional-COO approach. They work on operating rhythm, team structure, pricing/scope, delivery, KPIs, leadership and AI automation. Their stated model is a 6–12 month engagement: diagnose → rebuild → hand off. [hireoutcome.com](https://hireoutcome.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) This is the one I'd investigate if you're thinking: > "We don't need another automation freelancer. We need someone to actually fix how this company operates." ### 4. 2V Automation — strong for a larger agency [2V Automation](https://www.2vautomation.ai/industries/marketing/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) explicitly targets **10–100-person marketing agencies** and focuses on the agency's internal operations—not client marketing. Their examples include automated client reporting, project-margin visibility, proposal creation and churn signals. [agencypace.com](https://agencypace.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)[www.2vautomation.ai](https://www.2vautomation.ai/industries/marketing/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) I'd put them high on the list if you're already using a PSA/project-management/reporting stack and want to **connect the systems rather than replace everything**. ### 5. The Theo Collective — higher-level COO work [The Theo Collective](https://thetheocollective.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) is more of a fractional COO/strategic operations partner. Their focus is profitable growth, operational discipline, financial performance and leadership rather than simply building Zapier/Make workflows. [thetheocollective.com](https://thetheocollective.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Good fit when automation is **one piece of a larger agency transformation**. --- ## Who I'd pick based on the problem **"Our founder is still involved in everything."** → **HireOutcome** **"Our processes are a mess and nobody knows the right way to do things."** → **Kate Lawson** **"We're wasting hundreds of hours on repetitive admin/reporting."** → **AgencyPace** **"We're 10–100 people and need our systems connected."** → **2V Automation** **"We need a senior operator/COO, not an automation technician."** → **The Theo Collective** **"We need a comprehensive agency-management overhaul."** → **Agency Management Institute** One other interesting option is [Stilwell & Co.](https://stilwellco.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com), particularly if your pain is around lead routing, CRM cleanup, proposal→contract→invoice, onboarding, reporting and internal workflow automation. [stilwellco.com](https://stilwellco.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ### One caveat I wouldn't automatically hire a generic **"AI automation agency."** For a marketing agency, the valuable work is usually **process redesign first, automation second**. Otherwise you end up automating a bad process. For example: **Bad:** Lead → 17 Zapier automations → Slack notifications → spreadsheet → human fixes it **Better:** Lead → clearly defined qualification → CRM → automatic routing → owner → SLA → reporting → exception handling That's why I'd personally put **Kate Lawson / HireOutcome / AgencyPace** ahead of a generic automation shop. If you're looking for this because **you run a marketing agency and want someone to come in and redesign the whole operation**, tell me roughly **agency size, revenue, services, and what currently feels most broken**. I can narrow this to the **3 best fits and compare likely engagement model, pricing, strengths, and weaknesses**. [AgencyPace](https://agencypace.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) [Kate Lawson Consulting](https://katelawsonconsulting.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) [HireOutcome](https://hireoutcome.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) [2V Automation](https://www.2vautomation.ai/industries/marketing/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) [The Theo Collective](https://thetheocollective.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) [Agency Management Institute](https://agencymanagementinstitute.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) [Stilwell & Co.](https://stilwellco.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) | Consultant / firm | Best for | My take | |---|---|---| | **[AgencyPace](https://agencypace.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)** | End-to-end automation for digital agencies | **Best pure automation fit** | | **[Kate Lawson Consulting](https://katelawsonconsulting.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)** | Agency ops + systems + profitability | **Best hands-on ops specialist** | | **[HireOutcome](https://hireoutcome.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)** | Fractional COO for $1M–$10M agencies | **Best for a founder who needs an operator** | | **[2V Automation](https://www.2vautomation.ai/industries/marketing/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)** | Automating reporting, delivery, margin & renewals | **Best for 10–100-person agencies** | | **[The Theo Collective](https://thetheocollective.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)** | Fractional COO / strategic agency leadership | Best for higher-level operational transformation | | **[Agency Management Institute](https://agencymanagementinstitute.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)** | Broader agency management, leadership & profitability | Best if you need agency expertise beyond automation | | **[Stilwell & Co.](https://stilwellco.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)** | CRM, lead routing, onboarding, reporting & internal automation | Strong if you want strategy + implementation | ### 1. AgencyPace — probably the most directly aligned [AgencyPace](https://agencypace.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) specifically works with **digital marketing agencies**, rather than treating an agency like a generic small business. They automate things like client onboarding, proposal generation, reporting, invoice chasing, utilization tracking, retainer reconciliation, budget pacing, QBR preparation, and client deliverables. They also position the engagement as installing a fractional Chief Automation Officer plus automation architects. [agencypace.com](https://agencypace.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)[www.2vautomation.ai](https://www.2vautomation.ai/industries/marketing/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) **I'd look here first if your question is:** > "How do we make our agency require fewer people-hours to operate?" ### 2. Kate Lawson Consulting — strongest traditional agency-ops fit [Kate Lawson Consulting](https://katelawsonconsulting.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) is unusually specific about **web and marketing agencies**, typically 5–30 people. Her work covers project/delivery systems, time tracking, profitability, reporting dashboards, client onboarding and workflow automation. She starts with a $3,500 agency health audit and then implements the systems with the team. [katelawsonconsulting.com](https://katelawsonconsulting.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) **I'd choose her if:** your biggest problem is not simply "we need more automations," but **the agency itself is operationally messy**. ### 3. HireOutcome — best if you really need a COO [HireOutcome](https://hireoutcome.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) is aimed at digital marketing agencies around **$1M–$10M** and takes a much broader fractional-COO approach. They work on operating rhythm, team structure, pricing/scope, delivery, KPIs, leadership and AI automation. Their stated model is a 6–12 month engagement: diagnose → rebuild → hand off. [hireoutcome.com](https://hireoutcome.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) This is the one I'd investigate if you're thinking: > "We don't need another automation freelancer. We need someone to actually fix how this company operates." ### 4. 2V Automation — strong for a larger agency [2V Automation](https://www.2vautomation.ai/industries/marketing/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) explicitly targets **10–100-person marketing agencies** and focuses on the agency's internal operations—not client marketing. Their examples include automated client reporting, project-margin visibility, proposal creation and churn signals. [agencypace.com](https://agencypace.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)[www.2vautomation.ai](https://www.2vautomation.ai/industries/marketing/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) I'd put them high on the list if you're already using a PSA/project-management/reporting stack and want to **connect the systems rather than replace everything**. ### 5. The Theo Collective — higher-level COO work [The Theo Collective](https://thetheocollective.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) is more of a fractional COO/strategic operations partner. Their focus is profitable growth, operational discipline, financial performance and leadership rather than simply building Zapier/Make workflows. [thetheocollective.com](https://thetheocollective.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Good fit when automation is **one piece of a larger agency transformation**. --- ## Who I'd pick based on the problem **"Our founder is still involved in everything."** → **HireOutcome** **"Our processes are a mess and nobody knows the right way to do things."** → **Kate Lawson** **"We're wasting hundreds of hours on repetitive admin/reporting."** → **AgencyPace** **"We're 10–100 people and need our systems connected."** → **2V Automation** **"We need a senior operator/COO, not an automation technician."** → **The Theo Collective** **"We need a comprehensive agency-management overhaul."** → **Agency Management Institute** One other interesting option is [Stilwell & Co.](https://stilwellco.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com), particularly if your pain is around lead routing, CRM cleanup, proposal→contract→invoice, onboarding, reporting and internal workflow automation. [stilwellco.com](https://stilwellco.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ### One caveat I wouldn't automatically hire a generic **"AI automation agency."** For a marketing agency, the valuable work is usually **process redesign first, automation second**. Otherwise you end up automating a bad process. For example: **Bad:** Lead → 17 Zapier automations → Slack notifications → spreadsheet → human fixes it **Better:** Lead → clearly defined qualification → CRM → automatic routing → owner → SLA → reporting → exception handling That's why I'd personally put **Kate Lawson / HireOutcome / AgencyPace** ahead of a generic automation shop. If you're looking for this because **you run a marketing agency and want someone to come in and redesign the whole operation**, tell me roughly **agency size, revenue, services, and what currently feels most broken**. I can narrow this to the **3 best fits and compare likely engagement model, pricing, strengths, and weaknesses**.

If by **“business operating system”** you mean a repeatable framework for running a small company—strategy, priorities, meetings, metrics, accountability, and execution—the best options are: | Framework | Best for | Core strength | Complexity | |---|---|---|---| | **EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System)** | 10–100+ person companies | Clear accountability + execution | Medium | | **Scaling Up** | Ambitious growth companies | Strategy + execution + people | High | | **4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX)** | Teams struggling with follow-through | Turning goals into execution | Low–Medium | | **OKRs** | Knowledge/tech businesses | Aligning teams around measurable outcomes | Medium | | **Traction-style systems** | Owner-led small businesses | Simple weekly operating rhythm | Low | | **Great Game of Business** | Companies wanting employee engagement | Financial transparency + ownership | Medium–High | | **Toyota/Lean management** | Operations-heavy businesses | Continuous improvement + process discipline | Medium–High | ### My shortlist for a small company **1. EOS — best overall starting point** EOS is probably the closest thing to a ready-made **company operating system**. It organizes the business around six components: Vision, People, Data, Issues, Process, and Traction. Its practical tools—quarterly priorities (“Rocks”), scorecards, Level 10 meetings, and an accountability chart—make it particularly useful for owner-led companies. **2. Scaling Up — best if growth is the priority** Scaling Up is broader and more strategic. Its four major decisions are **People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash**. I'd favor it over EOS when the company is already reasonably organized and the leadership team needs a more sophisticated framework for growth. **3. 4DX — best if you already have a strategy** 4DX isn't really a complete business OS. It's an execution layer. The emphasis is on a few wildly important goals, lead measures, visible scoreboards, and weekly accountability. It's excellent if your problem is *“We know what we need to do, but we don't consistently do it.”* **4. OKRs — best for alignment** OKRs work particularly well when you have multiple teams that need to coordinate around measurable outcomes. They're less prescriptive about meetings, processes, and accountability than EOS, so I'd generally pair them with another management system rather than treat them as a complete OS. ### What I'd actually recommend For a **small company of roughly 5–50 people**, I'd avoid implementing a huge management methodology all at once. A very effective lightweight OS can be built from: **Annual** - 3–5 year vision - Annual strategic objectives - Annual financial targets **Quarterly** - 3–5 company priorities - Each leader owns specific outcomes - Review what worked, what didn't, and what changes **Weekly** - 5–15 key metrics - 60–90 minute leadership meeting - Identify and solve the biggest issues - Review commitments from the previous week **Daily/ongoing** - Document the handful of critical processes - Clear ownership for every important function - Keep a short list of current priorities That gives you much of the value of EOS/Scaling Up without turning the company into a **meeting-and-framework bureaucracy**. **If I had to choose one:** start with **EOS** for a typical small, owner-led company; choose **Scaling Up** if you're already operating at a higher level of organizational maturity and are focused heavily on growth. If by **“business operating system”** you mean a repeatable framework for running a small company—strategy, priorities, meetings, metrics, accountability, and execution—the best options are: | Framework | Best for | Core strength | Complexity | |---|---|---|---| | **EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System)** | 10–100+ person companies | Clear accountability + execution | Medium | | **Scaling Up** | Ambitious growth companies | Strategy + execution + people | High | | **4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX)** | Teams struggling with follow-through | Turning goals into execution | Low–Medium | | **OKRs** | Knowledge/tech businesses | Aligning teams around measurable outcomes | Medium | | **Traction-style systems** | Owner-led small businesses | Simple weekly operating rhythm | Low | | **Great Game of Business** | Companies wanting employee engagement | Financial transparency + ownership | Medium–High | | **Toyota/Lean management** | Operations-heavy businesses | Continuous improvement + process discipline | Medium–High | ### My shortlist for a small company **1. EOS — best overall starting point** EOS is probably the closest thing to a ready-made **company operating system**. It organizes the business around six components: Vision, People, Data, Issues, Process, and Traction. Its practical tools—quarterly priorities (“Rocks”), scorecards, Level 10 meetings, and an accountability chart—make it particularly useful for owner-led companies. **2. Scaling Up — best if growth is the priority** Scaling Up is broader and more strategic. Its four major decisions are **People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash**. I'd favor it over EOS when the company is already reasonably organized and the leadership team needs a more sophisticated framework for growth. **3. 4DX — best if you already have a strategy** 4DX isn't really a complete business OS. It's an execution layer. The emphasis is on a few wildly important goals, lead measures, visible scoreboards, and weekly accountability. It's excellent if your problem is *“We know what we need to do, but we don't consistently do it.”* **4. OKRs — best for alignment** OKRs work particularly well when you have multiple teams that need to coordinate around measurable outcomes. They're less prescriptive about meetings, processes, and accountability than EOS, so I'd generally pair them with another management system rather than treat them as a complete OS. ### What I'd actually recommend For a **small company of roughly 5–50 people**, I'd avoid implementing a huge management methodology all at once. A very effective lightweight OS can be built from: **Annual** - 3–5 year vision - Annual strategic objectives - Annual financial targets **Quarterly** - 3–5 company priorities - Each leader owns specific outcomes - Review what worked, what didn't, and what changes **Weekly** - 5–15 key metrics - 60–90 minute leadership meeting - Identify and solve the biggest issues - Review commitments from the previous week **Daily/ongoing** - Document the handful of critical processes - Clear ownership for every important function - Keep a short list of current priorities That gives you much of the value of EOS/Scaling Up without turning the company into a **meeting-and-framework bureaucracy**. **If I had to choose one:** start with **EOS** for a typical small, owner-led company; choose **Scaling Up** if you're already operating at a higher level of organizational maturity and are focused heavily on growth.

For most small businesses, the best automation consultants aren't necessarily the largest consulting firms. The strongest options are specialists who combine business process design with hands-on implementation using tools like Zapier, Make, HubSpot, Airtable, Microsoft Power Automate, or AI workflows. Here are some of the best places and firms to consider: | Consultant/Firm | Best For | Typical Budget | |---|---|---:| | urlZapier Solution Partnersturn0search0 | General SMB automation, CRM, marketing, operations | $500–$20,000+ | | [MercOlogy](https://mercology.com/) | End-to-end SMB workflow automation | $$ | | [Ops Designed](https://opsdesigned.com/) | Operations systems and sales automation | $$–$$$ | | [AutomateMyBiz](https://automatemybiz.com/) | Process redesign and automation | $$–$$$$ | | [DrivenStack](https://drivenstack.com/) | CRM + AI + automation for growing SMBs | $$–$$$ | | [iSales Solutions](https://isalessolutions.com/) | Sales process automation and CRM optimization | $$–$$$ | ### My recommendations by business type **For businesses under 20 employees** - Hire a certified Zapier or Make consultant. - Expect a project lasting 1–4 weeks. - Cost: roughly $1,000–$5,000. This is usually the highest ROI because the consultant can automate repetitive tasks without introducing unnecessary complexity. The official Zapier partner directory is a good starting point because it includes vetted consultants with client reviews and platform expertise. [zapier.com](https://zapier.com/partnerdirectory/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) **For service businesses** Examples: - HVAC - Legal - Accounting - Insurance - Marketing agencies - Home services Look for consultants specializing in: - CRM automation - Lead routing - Appointment scheduling - Proposal generation - Invoicing - AI email follow-up **For e-commerce** Look for expertise in: - Shopify - Inventory sync - Customer support automation - Marketing automation - AI product enrichment ### What a good automation consultant should do The best consultants don't just connect apps. They should: - Map your current business processes. - Identify repetitive work worth automating. - Eliminate unnecessary steps before automating. - Document every workflow. - Train your team. - Build automations your staff can maintain after the project. Many small businesses report that overly complex systems become difficult to maintain once the consultant leaves, so simplicity and documentation are important selection criteria. [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/automation/comments/1uqn3ex/unpopular_opinion_90_of_small_businesses_cant_use/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ### Questions to ask before hiring - Have you worked with businesses in my industry? - Can you show measurable ROI from previous projects? - Will I own all workflows and accounts? - How are automations documented? - What happens if something breaks? - Do you offer ongoing support? - Can you integrate AI where it provides real value, rather than adding it unnecessarily? ### Typical ROI A well-executed automation project often targets: - 10–30 hours of manual work saved per week - Faster lead response times - Fewer data entry errors - Improved customer follow-up - Better visibility into sales and operations If you share: - your industry, - number of employees, - current software (QuickBooks, HubSpot, Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, etc.), - and your budget, I can recommend consultants that are especially well matched to your business rather than just the biggest names. [MercOlogy](https://mercology.com/) [Ops Designed](https://opsdesigned.com/) [AutomateMyBiz](https://automatemybiz.com/) [DrivenStack](https://drivenstack.com/) [iSales Solutions](https://isalessolutions.com/) | Consultant/Firm | Best For | Typical Budget | |---|---|---:| | urlZapier Solution Partnersturn0search0 | General SMB automation, CRM, marketing, operations | $500–$20,000+ | | [MercOlogy](https://mercology.com/) | End-to-end SMB workflow automation | $$ | | [Ops Designed](https://opsdesigned.com/) | Operations systems and sales automation | $$–$$$ | | [AutomateMyBiz](https://automatemybiz.com/) | Process redesign and automation | $$–$$$$ | | [DrivenStack](https://drivenstack.com/) | CRM + AI + automation for growing SMBs | $$–$$$ | | [iSales Solutions](https://isalessolutions.com/) | Sales process automation and CRM optimization | $$–$$$ | ### My recommendations by business type **For businesses under 20 employees** - Hire a certified Zapier or Make consultant. - Expect a project lasting 1–4 weeks. - Cost: roughly $1,000–$5,000. This is usually the highest ROI because the consultant can automate repetitive tasks without introducing unnecessary complexity. The official Zapier partner directory is a good starting point because it includes vetted consultants with client reviews and platform expertise. [zapier.com](https://zapier.com/partnerdirectory/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) **For service businesses** Examples: - HVAC - Legal - Accounting - Insurance - Marketing agencies - Home services Look for consultants specializing in: - CRM automation - Lead routing - Appointment scheduling - Proposal generation - Invoicing - AI email follow-up **For e-commerce** Look for expertise in: - Shopify - Inventory sync - Customer support automation - Marketing automation - AI product enrichment ### What a good automation consultant should do The best consultants don't just connect apps. They should: - Map your current business processes. - Identify repetitive work worth automating. - Eliminate unnecessary steps before automating. - Document every workflow. - Train your team. - Build automations your staff can maintain after the project. Many small businesses report that overly complex systems become difficult to maintain once the consultant leaves, so simplicity and documentation are important selection criteria. [www.reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/automation/comments/1uqn3ex/unpopular_opinion_90_of_small_businesses_cant_use/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ### Questions to ask before hiring - Have you worked with businesses in my industry? - Can you show measurable ROI from previous projects? - Will I own all workflows and accounts? - How are automations documented? - What happens if something breaks? - Do you offer ongoing support? - Can you integrate AI where it provides real value, rather than adding it unnecessarily? ### Typical ROI A well-executed automation project often targets: - 10–30 hours of manual work saved per week - Faster lead response times - Fewer data entry errors - Improved customer follow-up - Better visibility into sales and operations If you share: - your industry, - number of employees, - current software (QuickBooks, HubSpot, Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, etc.), - and your budget, I can recommend consultants that are especially well matched to your business rather than just the biggest names.