Ecommerce Playbook: Numbers, Struggles & Growth Lessons from 11 Years of Building an Agency — and What Happened After
Jul 29, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Andrew Faris, a growth expert and partner at Taylor Holiday, discusses the transformative acquisition of Common Thread Collective. They explore how service businesses generate more cash and the unique dynamics that influence agency valuations. Andrew reveals insights into the challenges agency owners face, including burnout and mismanaged partnerships. Listeners learn about the emotional complexities tied to selling a business and the importance of aligning equity with goals for long-term success. It's a candid reflection on growth, strategy, and the evolution of agency life.
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Agencies Offer Better Cash Flow
- Agencies generate more reliable cash flow and attract better valuation multiples than e-commerce businesses.
- Private equity values agencies for strong cash flow over total addressable market size.
Remote Shift Nearly Crippled CTC
- CTC struggled massively transitioning to remote work during COVID with rapid growth from 60 to 180 employees.
- Lack of processes and new, inexperienced team members degraded client experience.
Sell Aggressively to Grow Agency
- To grow an agency, focus on selling every day and trying multiple marketing tactics.
- Overcome fear of service degradation by accepting and learning from inevitable mistakes with delegation.