The Agency Burnout Trap: When Growth Turns Toxic

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/

If the past few years have shown us anything, the world can be unpredictable and change quickly.  So, how do we build businesses that can weather these shifts?  The good news is that building a sustainable business doesn’t require shiny, overcomplicated strategies that often create more stress than success.  Instead, you need solid, realistic strategies to help future-proof your micro agency. In this episode, I share actionable ways to future-proof your micro agency. These aren’t pipe dreams or empty promises—they’re practical moves you can start making today to build a resilient, adaptable business ready to handle whatever comes next.  Topics discussed in this episode include: Why building a business that can roll with the punches isn’t optional if you want to be sustainable.  Why future-proofing your business isn’t about predicting every shift in the market. The fact that most planning advice isn’t designed for micro agencies. Five strategies to help make your plans and your micro agency more adaptable.  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 wonder, "What should I really be doing as the owner of a micro agency?" In the early days, you're doing everything—client work, admin, sales. But as your agency grows, your role gets blurry.  Are you focusing on the right things? Or holding on to tasks that no longer fit your agency’s future? If so, it might be time for a role reset—without losing the work you love or sticking to a one-size-fits-all approach. In this episode, we’re diving into the why and how of a role reset, helping you build a role that truly supports your micro agency’s growth and your vision for success.  Topics discussed in this episode include: Why your role as a leader needs to evolve. The myth of the “CEO Only” role. The hustle culture trap. Signs it’s time for a role reset. How to redefine your role in a sustainable way. Key questions to ask yourself when working on a role reset. 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/