Agency Startup Checklist
Everything you need to launch your agency—from legal setup and branding to tools, pricing, and your first clients. Follow this comprehensive checklist to start strong.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to launch an agency?
Many freelancers transitioning to an agency can launch in 2–4 weeks with core items in place. A full launch with polished website and systems may take 1–3 months. Start with legal, tools, and pricing; refine branding over time.
Do I need a business plan to start an agency?
A formal business plan helps with loans or investors, but for bootstrapped agencies, a simple one-page plan covering services, target clients, pricing, and 12-month goals is often sufficient to guide decisions.
What tools do I need on day one?
Minimum: invoicing, contracts, project management, and a way to communicate with clients. You can start with free or low-cost tools and upgrade as you grow. AgencyPro consolidates many of these needs.
How do I price my agency services?
Consider your costs, market rates, and value delivered. Use our freelance rate calculator for hourly baseline, then explore project-based and retainer models. See our agency pricing models guide for strategy.
When should I hire my first employee?
When you have consistent revenue, a clear role to fill, and capacity to manage. Many agencies hit 3–5x their personal capacity or $200K+ revenue before hiring. Consider subcontractors first for flexibility.
Run Checklists Within Your Workflow
AgencyPro helps you manage projects, clients, and billing—so you can execute checklists as part of your everyday workflow.