Section 1: Business Foundation
These determine whether marketing can even work yet.
1
We can clearly describe our ideal customer in one sentence
If you can't, an agency will target everyone and convert no one
2
We know why customers choose us over alternatives
Agencies amplify your message—if you don't have one, they'll invent something generic. Good ones will help you define it.
3
Our product/service has at least 10 happy customers we could ask for a testimonial
No proof = no conversion, no matter how good the ads are
4
We have a realistic timeline (6+ months) and aren't expecting results in 30 days
Impatience kills more agency relationships than bad work does
Section 2: Financial Readiness
These determine whether you can sustain the investment.
5
We know our customer acquisition cost and lifetime value (even roughly)
Without this, you can't tell if marketing is "working" or bleeding you dry
6
We have budget for at least 6 months of agency fees + ad spend
Stopping at month 3 means you paid for learning and left before the payoff
7
We can afford to lose 100% of this budget and survive
Desperate money makes desperate decisions—agencies can smell it
8
We're not expecting marketing to fix a sales or product problem
Marketing brings leads; it can't close deals or make people love a mediocre product
Section 3: Operational Readiness
These determine whether you can actually act on what an agency delivers.
9
Someone internal owns the agency relationship and can respond within 24-48 hours
Agencies stall when clients are not actively involved—you're paying for time you're not using
10
We can handle 2-3x our current lead volume without breaking
The worst outcome is marketing that works and a business that can't deliver. (Surprisingly, it happens.)
11
We have access to our own website, analytics, and ad accounts (or can get it)
You'd be shocked how many businesses don't own their own assets
12
We've documented our sales process, even if it's simple
If you can't explain how leads become customers, you're flying blind and likely leaving money on the table.
Section 4: Mindset Readiness
These determine whether the relationship will survive reality.
13
We're hiring an agency to scale what's working, not to figure out what works
Discovery is expensive—agencies are execution partners, not R&D labs
14
We're willing to be wrong about our assumptions and test new approaches
"We've always done it this way" is the most expensive sentence in marketing
15
We understand that the agency works with us, not for us
The best results come from collaboration, not abdication
Answer all 15 questions to see your results
0/15
Questions Answered "True"