Why You Need an Agency Controller with Ryan Watson
You know that you should be working on your business instead of in it, but what does that really look like?
Today’s podcast guest offers one straightforward, high-leverage activity that every agency leader should prioritize:
Making big decisions based on solid financials.
But how do you hone in on the numbers that matter?
How do you best use your financials to make decisions about hiring, sales and marketing, and eventually selling your agency?
It helps to have a financial controller.
Ryan Watson, Principal of Upsourced Accounting, joins us on the podcast today to talk about what he’s learned leading a digital-first accounting and controller firm, focused on growth-minded creative agencies.
What You Will Learn:
- Differences between a controller and an accountant, and why your agency needs the former.
- Top areas agencies waste resources.
- The Rule of 40 and how it applies to boutique agencies.
- The financial foundation you need to sell your company.
- The right framework for internal sales and marketing investments.
- The controller’s approach to hiring and risk.
- An expert’s perspective on the trend of consultancies buying up boutique agencies.
- Agency financial patterns that signal trouble.
- How effective agencies get paid on time.
Links and Resources From This Episode:
Ryan Watson
Upsourced Accounting
RWatson@upsourcedaccounting.com
Quotes:
“The biggest challenge is creating good process that doesn’t get in agency’s way but allows us to gather the information we need to be able to make good decisions.”
“New founders, business owners get enamored with the trappings of being a business owner and so they overinvest in office space, swag, and PR.”
“We won’t hire a person before seeing the quality of their work.”