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**.