A cohort for new agency owners, led by Mark Nichols
You’re not
on your own.
Twenty years of agency experience — from employee #3 at Metalab to advising owners today — packed into a small-group seminar for people in their first years of running an agency. Then a community of owners at your stage, so you never have to figure it out alone again.
5–10 owners per cohortLive seminar + ongoing community$500 per person
What we’ll tackle
Running an agency is a job nobody trains you for. I’ve seen every one of these up close.
- Feast or famine.The work came in waves, and you’re not sure where the next project is coming from.
- Pricing by gut feel.Every quote is a guess, and you suspect you’re leaving money on the table.
- Projects that run long.Scope creeps, timelines slip, and the profit quietly disappears.
- Your first hire.You know you need help, but not who, when, or whether you can afford it.
- Difficult clients.You’re not sure what’s normal, what’s a red flag, and how to push back.
- Nobody to ask.Your friends don’t run agencies, and your team can’t be your sounding board.
How it works
A seminar to get you started. A community to keep you going.
01
Join a small cohort
I put together a group of 5–10 owners at roughly the same stage. Small on purpose: everyone gets heard, and you get to know each other.
02
Learn from my experience
I run a live seminar on the problems new owners hit most — finding clients, pricing, running projects, hiring — drawing on 20 years of getting them right (and wrong), then dig into the real questions your group brings.
03
Stay connected
Afterwards you join an agency owner community: a place to talk with peers at the same stage, ask questions, and compare notes as your agency grows.
Who it’s for
Built for owners in the early, messy part.
A good fit if you…
- Have recently started an agency, or are about to
- Are a solo founder or running a small team
- Want practical answers to common problems, not theory
- Would like peers to talk to who get what you’re dealing with
Probably not for you if…
- You’ve been running a large agency for years — advisory is a better fit
- You need focused help on one urgent problem — try a 1-hour workshop
- You’re looking for a course to watch on your own time
Pricing
One price. Everything included.
- A seat in a cohort of 5–10 new agency owners
- A live seminar with me, drawing on 20 years of agency experience
- Membership in the agency owner community
- Peers at the same stage to learn from and lean on
Proof
What owners say about learning from me.
“Mark’s insights helped improve our operations, business planning, and growth strategy. With his deep experience in agencies, he guided us with exactly the right advice for our stage.”
Matt KimCEO, Zypsy
“Mark has a deep understanding of what it actually takes to build and scale agencies. He’s been through many of the same roadblocks agency founders face, and learned from them the hard way. Having someone share those lessons can compress years of trial and error into a few hours.”
Yash BagalFounder, Spectral
“I wish I’d had this book when I started my agency 25 years ago. This guide will help any new agency founder find success faster.”
Brian WilliamsCo-Founder & CEO, Viget — on You’re On Your Own
“Mark’s a mensch who truly knows his stuff when it comes to agencies.”
Andrew WilkinsonFounder, Tiny
Questions
Good questions.
When does the next cohort start?
Cohorts start once a group of 5–10 owners at a similar stage comes together. Save a seat with a few quick questions about you and your agency. When your group is set, I’ll send you the dates and a payment link — your seat is confirmed once you’ve paid.
How “new” do I need to be?
The cohort is built for owners in their first few years, or about to make the jump. If you’re not sure whether you fit, send me a note and tell me where you’re at.
Why such small groups?
So everyone gets their questions answered, and so the people in your cohort actually get to know each other. That’s what makes the community worth having afterwards.
I’d rather work one-on-one. Can I?
Absolutely. Take a look at advisory, retainers, and 1-hour workshops, or book a free 30-minute call.
Learn from 20 years of mistakes.
Mine, not yours.
Join the next cohort of new agency owners. $500 per person.