The Innovative Agency 322. Designing a Future-Ready Agency, with Nick Avaria
Nov 5, 2025
Nick Avaria, Founder of Agency Acquisitions, shares his extensive experience in building and selling agencies. He discusses the critical choice between scaling and remaining small, highlighting how each path affects profitability and owner involvement. Avaria argues the benefits of starting with a non-scalable model for maximum profit before scaling sustainably. He emphasizes the importance of dashboards and solid systems to prevent burnout and ensure client satisfaction, offering practical advice for agency owners eager to streamline their operations.
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Owner Replaced Himself Over One Year
- Nick Avaria reduced his agency involvement from 60–100 hour weeks to about 8 hours weekly in under a year.
- He achieved this by replacing himself in roles and focusing on business-level, value-added work.
Selling Requires Significant Prep Time
- Selling an agency requires long lead time; prepare 9–12 months or more to be attractive to buyers.
- Only a minority with clean books and systems can sell within a few months.
Non‑Scalable Models Can Be More Profitable
- Non-scalable agencies under ~$3M revenue tend to be more profitable because owners supplement mid-level roles.
- Replacing owner-level strategic work with expensive hires narrows margins.