As a small business owner, it’s tough working out where to put your next marketing dollar. Do you put the feelers out for an internal marketing hire, or is it worth handing things over to an outside agency? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but asking the right questions will save you some expensive headaches down the line.
Let’s break it down, plain and simple.
The In-House Marketing Route
Going in-house means you’ve got someone on your team all the time. They know your brand, your customers, and are just a shout away from a quick brainstorm. For some businesses, especially if your marketing is full-on and ongoing, this can make perfect sense.
Pros:
- Deep knowledge of your business and quirks
- Flexibility for the day-to-day and “drop everything” moments
- Can be more consistent in voice and style
- Immediate team culture fit
Cons:
- Salary, super, leave, training – it adds up
- Your person (or small team) can only do so much
- Hard to cover every marketing skill (web, branding, ads, socials, copywriting etc.)
- If they move on, you’re back to square one
The Marketing Agency Path
An agency is like plugging in a whole team of experts at once — web designers, ad nerds, copywriters, brand whizzes. You pay for the work you need, often on short or rolling contracts, and you can typically scale it up or down to fit your business cycle.
Pros:
- Access to a broad range of up-to-date skills
- No need to juggle multiple hires or contracts
- Outside perspective (agencies spot blind spots you’ve missed)
- Accountable for results and outcomes
Cons:
- Less “in the trenches” with you — needs clear briefs
- You’re one of a few clients (not always top priority)
- Can feel less personal if not a good fit
- Not always available for last-minute tweaks
The right choice isn't about status or prestige, it's about what works for your business right now
What’s best for you?
Here’s a quick gut check for small business owners:
- Are you a local tradie or health clinic who gets by with a steady trickle of Google leads and word-of-mouth? An agency might get you set up right, then do the heavy lifting as you grow.
- If your business lives and dies on daily social or you’re scaling up fast, an in-house hire might make sense — if you’ve got the budget and workload.
- Unsure? Start by scoping one-off projects: logo refresh, ad campaigns, website. See how agency collaboration feels.
Quick tip: it’s not either/or
Plenty of businesses find a sweet spot in between — maybe hiring a junior marketer to manage day-to-day, then bringing in an agency for big-strategy or campaigns.
Bottom line:
Just starting out? Reach for outside support. Growing fast? Consider building your own team. Most of the time, mixing the two lets you scale up and down as you need.
If you’re stuck on which direction is right for you, flick us a message. We’re always happy to chat through your plans, no pressure — and see what might fit for your business.
