Bloat vs Buffer: The Truth About Right Sizing Your Micro Agency

In 2025, bigger isn’t better in the agency world. Big firms brag about headcount and giant rosters, but clients end up paying for red tape, not results. Micro agencies have the real edge as they’re lean, specialized, and fast. The danger isn’t bloat, it’s burnout. In this episode, we’re talking about the sweet spot: the buffer that keeps your micro agency sustainable. Topics discussed in this episode include: Why “bigger is better” is a myth in today’s agency world. The difference between bloat and buffer (and why both matter). Four types of buffer every micro agency needs. How right-sizing makes your agency the obvious choice in 2025. Sign up now for the new Micro Agency Edit private podcast:  bsfreebusiness.com/edit.  For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.  To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/agencies/

If you’re running a micro agency in 2025, blending in is the fastest way to lose. AI, Canva, and cookie-cutter websites make everyone look polished—but to clients, it all blurs into beige buzzword soup. The only thing that cuts through? Trust. In this episode, we’re digging into why 2025 is the year of trust for micro agencies—and why the winners won’t be the loudest, but the ones clients believe in fastest. Topics discussed in this episode include: Why AI has created a “sea of sameness” for agencies in 2025. How client caution and skepticism are reshaping buying decisions. The “me-too effect” that makes most agencies sound identical. Why trust is now the fastest growth lever for micro agencies. Real stories of how building (or breaking) trust impacts revenue. How smaller agencies can use relationships as their biggest edge. Sign up now for the new Micro Agency Edit private podcast:  bsfreebusiness.com/edit.  For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.  To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/agencies/

Your agency’s growing…but why does it feel worse, not better? You booked the clients. Built the team. Raised your rates. On paper, it’s a win. But behind the scenes? You’re overworked, disconnected, and running on fumes. This isn’t growth, it’s escalation.  In this episode, we’re talking about the moment when agency success stops feeling good and starts to burn you out. Topics discussed in this episode include: When growth turns into burnout—and how to spot the signs. The myth of “hustle now, chill later” and why it doesn’t work. Redefining success and growth on your own terms. The danger of scale-at-all-costs advice (and how to tune it out). Building a business that supports your life, not drains it. Sign up for the Mid-Year Momentum workshop on June 16th, 2025, at https://bsfreebusiness.com/momentum For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.   To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/agencies/

Ever feel like your $3K retainer is secretly costing you $6K in time? One “quick question” turns into an hour-long strategy call… then a deliverable you didn’t scope… and suddenly, half your week is gone. Retainers can be excellent—but only when they are structured correctly. They’ll bleed your time, drain your team, and wreck your margins without clear boundaries. In this episode, I’ve been diving into all things retainers, including hidden risks and how you can reset your retainers to get things back on track.  Topics discussed in this episode include: The hidden costs of “quick questions” and overservicing. Why predictable retainer income is often a myth. Sneaky scope creep and how it eats your margins. The danger of not tracking time, even on flat-rate retainers. How to reset your retainers with boundaries and structure. When to walk away—even from the “good” clients Sign up for the Mid-Year Momentum workshop on June 16th, 2025, at https://bsfreebusiness.com/momentum For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.   To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/agencies/

Your micro agency looks great on paper, but behind the scenes, it’s chaos. Projects are stalling, your team’s stretched thin, and your systems? Barely holding it together. Welcome to the messy middle of micro agency life. In this episode, I’m joined by operations pro Tressa Beheim to dig into why this happens—and how to fix it. We’re discussing process vs. people problems, simplifying without compromising, and why perfectionism hinders your momentum. If your agency’s growing fast and feeling messy, this one’s for you. Topics discussed in this episode include: What operational overwhelm is and how it shows up. Hidden causes of overwhelm micro agency owners often miss. Where to start when everything feels broken. How do you tell if you have a people or process problem? One innovative way to simplify without backtracking. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.  To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/agencies/

Ever looked at your inbox, calendar, and Slack and thought, “Why am I the one holding all this together?” You wait for the next hire, the dream client, or future-you to fix it. But here’s the hard truth: no one is coming to save you. Not your assistant, not your ops unicorn, not even that coach you just hired. If you want to build a micro agency that doesn’t burn you out, it starts with you. In this episode, we’re doing a self-leadership intervention because your business will only be as steady and sustainable as you are and getting into what it really means to lead yourself first. Topics discussed in this episode include: The hard truth about micro agency ownership. Why self-leadership matters. The “scale sharks” and their harmful leadership myths. The four pillars of self-leadership. How to lead yourself starting right now. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.   To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/agencies/

You’ve heard the advice: productize your DFY services, hire a team, build SOPs—and boom, freedom. But for most micro agency owners, that dream turns into late-night deliverable reviews, endless meetings, and zero flexibility. What if the real problem isn’t how you’re growing but the story you’ve been told about how you should grow? In this episode, we’re busting the myth that you have to choose between being a consultant or running a done-for-you agency. Because, spoiler alert: you can—and should—do both. And when you do, your micro agency becomes smarter, more profitable, and a hell of a lot more fun to run. Topics discussed in this episode include: The done-for-you myth and the hidden downsides. Why done-for-you doesn’t work for micro agencies. The case for consulting. Four ways to layer consulting into your agency. Common objections to consulting. The real benefits of adding consulting. Why consulting isn’t a pivot, it’s a power up. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.   To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/agencies/

If you’ve got a tight-knit team of contractors that attend meetings, work your hours, and serve your clients… you might actually have employees—and that’s not just a vibe, that’s a compliance issue. In this episode, I’m joined by HR expert Kira La Forgia to break down the legal landmines of team building—like misclassification, compliance, and what it really means to lead. Don't skip this one if you’re hiring (or thinking about it). Topics discussed in this episode include: Why “I’m not ready for employees” misses the point. The real risks of contractor misclassification. What legally defines an employee (it’s not about hours!)  How control over the work may put you in the employee zone.  Potential red flags that trigger audits for micro agencies. Why today’s org chart can’t dictate tomorrow’s hires. The actual cost of employees (and why it’s worth it). What HR covers and why legal or accounting advice isn’t enough. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.   To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/agencies/

You didn’t start your agency to redo work you already paid for.But if delegation feels like a mess you keep cleaning up, you’re not alone. For micro agency owners, handing things off isn’t easy. It’s a high-stakes juggle with tight resources and zero room for error. You’re not leading a big team. You’re leading everything.  In this episode, we’re ditching the fluff and diving into a no-BS, no-drama guide to delegation because the problem isn’t your team. It’s how we’re leading. Topics discussed in this episode include: Why delegation breaks down in micro agencies. Common delegation traps to watch for.  The emotional side of delegation: control, overwhelm, and letting go. My “No Drama Delegation” framework. The real role of leadership in delegation that may surprise you. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.   To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/agencies/

If scaling your agency feels more like a trap than a triumph, you’re not alone. I don’t know about you, but I might scream if I see one more ad promising “7 figures in 6 months” by building a bloated team, launching a dozen offers, and automating yourself out of your own business. This episode is for every micro agency owner who’s over the noise and ready to build something smarter, leaner, and actually sustainable. I’m sharing why I walked away from the traditional scale-at-all-costs model, what growth looks like on your own terms, and how staying small can actually be your biggest advantage. Topics discussed in this episode include: The problem with “scale at all costs” advice. Choosing to ditch the 7-figure plan. What is a micro agency, really? The hidden advantage of staying small. What real growth looks like for micro agencies. How to play to your strengths. The power of being micro by design.  For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/agencies/