Every service on this site answers the same underlying question from a different angle: is your marketing money going where it should? The right starting point depends on where you are in the buying cycle, so this page explains each service, who it fits, and how they connect.
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Agency search and selection
A shortlist, a fair comparison and a hiring decision you can defend to your partner or your bank.
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Proposal and scope review
Find out what a marketing proposal really buys before your signature commits you to it.
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Marketing budget planning
A spending number tied to your margins, your job value and the customers you can actually serve.
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Agency and vendor audits
An evidence-based check of what your current agency, ad accounts and tools are delivering for the money.
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Ongoing agency oversight
A buyer-side advisor who reads the monthly reports, asks the hard questions and keeps vendors accountable.
Agency search and selection
Choose this when you need to hire a marketing agency or freelancer and want a process rather than a gut call. We write a brief from your goals and numbers, build a shortlist, run structured interviews, and score each candidate on the same criteria.
It suits owners hiring for the first time, companies replacing a vendor after a bad experience, and growing businesses moving from one freelancer to a full agency. The output is a recommendation with reasons, and a set of contract questions to settle before signing. Full detail is on the agency search and selection page.
Proposal and scope review
Choose this when a proposal is already on the table and you need to decide within days. We read it line by line and translate it: what work is promised, how much is actual labour versus software or reporting, which deliverables are vague, and who will own the accounts, data and website at the end.
This is the smallest engagement we offer and often the most valuable per dollar, because the cheapest time to fix a bad scope is before it starts. See the proposal review page for what we check.
Marketing budget planning
Choose this when you don't know how much to spend, or when the number you spend today came from habit or a vendor's suggestion. We build the budget from the economics of your business: profit per customer, close rates, capacity and seasonality.
The result is a monthly spend range, a split between fees and media, and the targets that should trigger an increase or a cut. Read the budget planning page, or try the method yourself in our budget guide.
Agency and vendor audits
Choose this when you already pay one or more vendors and suspect you are not getting full value. An audit compares the contract, the actual work and the measured results. We look inside ad accounts, analytics, search consoles and reporting where you give us access.
Audits often uncover practical problems that are cheap to fix: tracking that double-counts leads, campaigns bidding on the wrong searches, or accounts owned by the vendor instead of you. The vendor audits page lists what we review.
Ongoing agency oversight
Choose this when you want someone experienced on your side every month without hiring a marketing manager. We review reports, join vendor calls when useful, keep a running scorecard and flag drift early.
This suits owners who have made a good hire and want to keep it that way, and companies whose marketing spend has grown past the point where one person can check it alongside running the business. See ongoing agency oversight.
How the services connect
Most owners don't need all five. A typical path looks like this:
| Your situation | Start with | Then consider |
|---|---|---|
| Hiring an agency for the first time | Budget planning | Agency selection, then oversight |
| A proposal arrived this week | Proposal review | Budget planning if the number feels arbitrary |
| Unhappy with a current agency | Vendor audit | Agency selection if the audit supports a change |
| Spend has grown and nobody checks it | Vendor audit | Ongoing oversight |
Pricing for each is on our pricing page, and the first conversation costs nothing. If you're not sure which box you fit, describe your situation by call, text or email and we'll tell you which service, if any, makes sense. Sometimes the honest answer is that your current vendor is doing fine and you should leave things alone.
What every service has in common
Whatever you choose, three things stay the same. You get a written summary in plain language, not a slide deck of jargon. Every claim we make about your accounts is backed by a screenshot, an export or a number you can check yourself. And the decision stays with you: we advise, you choose.
We provide business and marketing consulting only. Where a question becomes legal, tax or accounting in nature, we flag it and suggest you take it to a qualified professional. You can learn more about how we work on the About page.
Frequently asked questions
Which service should I start with?
If you have a proposal on your desk, start with a proposal review. If you already pay an agency and feel unsure, start with an audit. If you are hiring from scratch, start with budget planning and then agency selection.
Can I combine services?
Yes, and many owners do. A common sequence is a budget plan, then an agency search, then three to six months of oversight while the new vendor settles in.
Do you run the campaigns yourselves?
Not as part of these advisory services. The point is to give you a buyer-side view of the people doing the work. If you want hands-on management, we will discuss that separately and transparently.
How long does a typical engagement take?
A proposal review can be finished within a week of receiving the documents. Audits and agency searches usually take three to six weeks, depending on how quickly vendors respond and how much account access you can provide.