Freelancer to Agency #2: How to Set Up Your Content Marketing Agency

Hi there!

Welcome to edition #2 of the Freelance to Agency series. 

Transitioning from freelancer to agency owner may seem like a daunting task, but it’s very doable. I know because I’ve done it. 

Before you can jump in and acquire your first client(s), you need to set up your agency as an actual business.  

So, let’s dive into that!

Choose a name 📙

Before you go ahead and register your company, you will need to think of a name.

You can use your agency’s name as the registered company name or a different company name and have the agency be a brand of that company. 

The former is the more straightforward option. (You can always change your name later. Just file one form, and you’re good to go!) 

Now, how do you choose a name if you haven’t thought of one already? 

To be honest, you can name your agency whatever you want. 

After all, it’s your company! 

If you are targeting a specific niche, it could be something that leans into that. Or something entirely random (as long as it sounds creative :). 

Ideally, you want to choose a unique and memorable name. 

Opt for a short name that’s easy to pronounce and your target audience can resonate with. 

Once you’ve picked a name, conduct a name search to ensure what you’ve come up with hasn’t already been trademarked in your jurisdiction. This will help you avoid any legal issues in the future. 

This can also play into your domain names and social media handles by making sure no other company has the same name as yours. 

Set up your agency as a company 🏢

If you want to set up your agency, you must register it as a company. 

In most countries, that’s a relatively simple process that involves an online registration form. 

In the UK, for example, you can set up a company online within minutes.

To register your company, you will need to choose a unique company name and submit the required company formation documents. During this application process, you also need to choose what type of company you want to be. Most agencies are set up as a limited company in the UK (or LLC in the US). 

You’ll also need to appoint a company director (that will be you!) and provide an official registered address. If you don’t have a physical office, you can use your home address or opt for a virtual office address. 

Another thing you’ll need to submit is the articles of association or memorandum of understanding detailing how you plan to run your company. 

Finally, you’ll have to pay a registration fee to register the company. This fee varies from country to country but won’t break the bank. 

Set yourself up to receive payments 🏦

Once you’ve registered your agency as a company, you will need to set up a company bank account. 

As a marketing agency, you aren’t operating in a high-risk industry, so you shouldn’t have a problem opening a business bank account. 

Take some time to research the best business bank account options in your country and pick one that best suits your needs. During this step, you can also consult with a financial advisor or accountant to ensure you understand the tax implications of different businesses and get any financial advice you might have overlooked. 

Depending on where you are, there may also be online or mobile banking-only options that could work well for your agency. That way, you won’t even have to walk into a bank branch. 

Once you’ve set up your company bank account, set up and connect PayPal, Stripe, and whichever other payment providers you (or your clients) plan on using. 

Pro tip: Set up two company bank accounts to avoid any potential problems in case you accidentally miss a compliance check text message and get your account temporarily frozen. 

Get your website live! 🌐

After you’ve sorted out all the legal and administrative aspects of setting up your agency, you need to set up a website. 

Even if you aren’t a developer, setting up a simple agency website has become incredibly easy with the amount of website templates available. 

Setting up a website is the first step to marketing yourself, and your web presence will play an important role in attracting customers.

But we’ll talk more about your agency’s website in a future edition of this series covering your agency’s branding! 

And that’s it! 🚀

That’s what you need to launch your agency. 

Stay tuned for part #3 of the Freelancer to Agency series! Next week, we’ll discuss identifying the niche you want to serve. 

Alex

PS: If you haven’t followed Thriving Digitally on IG yet, please do. I post a mix of agency humor and advice videos on there!