Agencies

Grow the agency, not just the workload.

Most agencies are built on great work and loyal clients, then growth stalls. Referrals slow, delivery stretches the team and AI is changing what clients will pay for. We run an agency ourselves, so we know these pressures from the inside. We help agency owners win better clients, add delivery capacity when they need it and build systems that let the business grow without everything depending on them.

Every stage of a growing agency

We support the whole business, from the position that wins the pitch to the systems that keep clients for years.

Position

A clear focus and a brand that tells the right clients why you are the obvious choice.

Win

A repeatable new business engine that keeps the pipeline full beyond referrals.

Deliver

White-label specialists who extend your team quietly, under your name and to your standards.

Scale

Systems, CRM and AI workflows that protect margins and quality as the agency grows.

Everything an agency needs to grow well

Growth Strategy

We start with where the agency is today and where you want it to be. Together we set the focus, the services worth leading with and the targets for pipeline, margin and retention that will get you there.

An AI agent for running your agency

Our agentic system brings your pipeline, time tracking, client results and finances into one view, so you can see which work is profitable and where new business is coming from.

Agents spot trends and draft proposals, plans and reports. Our team, who run an agency every day, review the findings and make the recommendations, so every decision is shaped by people who have done it.

You
How is new business looking this quarter?
The pipeline is ahead of last quarter, with most new conversations coming from the LinkedIn outreach. Proposal win rate has dipped slightly, so I have drafted a shorter proposal structure for the team to review.
You
Which accounts need attention before renewal?
Two retainers are running over their scoped hours and one client has not had a strategy review in months. I have prepared rescoping options and a review agenda for each.
Ask about your agency

Why agency owners choose Vertical

We have advised agencies including The Woodshop, Mint Partnership and Meticulosity, and we run client work, teams and new business ourselves every day.

We are an agency

Our advice and delivery are tested in a working agency before they reach yours.

Discreet delivery

White-label work delivered under your brand, with your client relationships protected.

Growth that compounds

Positioning, acquisition and retention planned together so gains build on each other.

Systems that scale

Processes and tools that hold quality as you grow, without you in every meeting.

AI with judgement

Agents take on the routine work and experienced people make the calls.

Straight talking

We say plainly what is holding the agency back, even when it is uncomfortable.

Agencies we've advised

The Woodshop
Mint Partnership
Meticulosity

A powerhouse in a Power Station.

Vertical is a small, senior team of strategists, creatives and performance marketers based at Battersea Power Station in London, with clients and colleagues around the world. Strategy, creative and performance come from one team, with AI built into how we plan, make and measure.

The building has stood on the Thames for the best part of a century, and for fifty years it kept London’s lights on. We like the precedent.

Agency growth questions, answered

How do you help agencies grow?

We work on the parts of the business that drive growth: positioning, client acquisition, pricing, delivery capacity, systems and the use of AI. Some agencies want strategic advice from people who run an agency themselves, others want hands-on help building outbound or adding specialists to their team. Most need a mix. We agree the few changes that will make the biggest difference first, then help you put them in place rather than leaving you with a long report.

What is white-label delivery?

White-label delivery means our specialists carry out work for your clients under your agency's name. That can include paid social, paid search, email marketing, websites and creative. You keep the client relationship, the account management and the margin, while we provide experienced people who work to your processes and standards. It is a practical way to take on bigger briefs or new services without the risk and cost of hiring permanent staff before the demand is proven.

Will your team ever contact our clients directly?

Only if you want us to. By default we work behind the scenes, communicating through you and using your branding, templates and reporting. Where it helps, our specialists can join client calls as part of your team. We agree confidentiality and non-solicitation terms at the start, so your client relationships are protected. Our white-label work depends on trust, and we treat your clients as yours.

How can we win new clients beyond referrals?

Referrals are valuable but unpredictable. We help you build a repeatable acquisition system around a clear position, combining targeted outbound email, LinkedIn, content, partnerships and account-based campaigns for larger prospects. We also improve the pitch process and proposals so more conversations turn into clients. The aim is a steady pipeline of well-matched opportunities, so you can choose the clients you want rather than taking whatever arrives next.

How should agencies respond to AI?

AI is making routine production faster and cheaper, while strategy, creativity and results matter more than ever. We help you find where AI can improve delivery and margins, which services to reshape or reprice and where to invest in new offers. We also help your team adopt AI with clear workflows and review steps. Agents do the analysis and drafting, and experienced people make the judgements, which is how we run our own agency too.

Do you work with agencies that compete with Vertical?

Often, yes. Many of the agencies we support work in different sectors, services or markets to ours, and even where there is overlap a good working relationship is usually possible. We are open about any potential conflict from the start and agree how it will be handled, including confidentiality around your clients, pricing and processes. If we do not think we are the right fit, we will tell you.

What size of agency do you work with?

We work with agencies of many sizes, from small studios that want to grow beyond the founder to established teams preparing for their next stage. The challenges change with size. Smaller agencies usually need a reliable pipeline and extra delivery capacity, while larger ones often need better systems, leadership structure and margin control. We tailor the support to where you are and what you want the business to become.

How does AI support the work you do with us?

Our agents connect to your pipeline, time tracking, client results and finances to show where the agency is winning and where it is losing time or money. They draft proposals, reports and process documents, and track the actions agreed in each session. Our team interprets the findings and makes every recommendation. AI helps us see the full picture quickly, while people with real agency experience guide every decision about your business.

How do we get started?

Start with a conversation about your agency, what is working, what is frustrating you and where you want to take it. We usually suggest a short review of your positioning, pipeline, delivery and operations, then recommend a focused plan. Some agencies work with us on a defined project, such as an outbound programme or white-label support for a new service, while others keep us on as an ongoing partner.

Bring us the ambition. We’ll build the system behind it.