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Advisory · Service II

Agency Due Diligence.

Make informed, confident decisions when selecting your next agency partner. Our Agency Due Diligence service provides a thorough evaluation of potential agencies - examining their track record, client success stories, financial stability, and operational capabilities.

Comprehensive research and analysis, so you choose an agency that aligns with your business goals and delivers measurable results. Avoid costly mistakes and build partnerships that drive long-term success.

What you get
4 areas
Assessed per agency
~5 days
Typical turnaround
100%
Independent of agencies
Confidential
Discreet option
We don't take referral fees from any agency in the index. Independence is the whole point.
Overview

Comprehensive due diligence to ensure the right partnership.

Selecting the right agency partner is a critical decision for your business. Our Agency Due Diligence service provides in-depth research and analysis of potential agencies - evaluating their expertise, past performance, client testimonials, financial stability, and operational capabilities. Whether you're engaging a new agency or reassessing an existing one, our due diligence process gives you the confidence to make informed, strategic decisions.

01

Comprehensive Agency Assessments

Gain a full understanding of agency credentials - including their history, expertise, certifications, and financial stability. Our evaluations ensure you partner with agencies that are reliable and capable of delivering long-term success.

02

Client Testimonials & Case Study Reviews

Make informed decisions by analysing real-world results. We review client testimonials, case studies, industry specialisms, and previous projects to ensure each agency's performance aligns with your expectations and business goals.

03

Contract & Service Agreement Evaluations

Avoid hidden risks by ensuring clarity in contracts. We help you review service agreements to confirm terms are fair, transparent, and tailored to your needs - giving you confidence before committing to a partnership.

04

Existing Client Performance Metrics Analysis

Evaluate potential partners based on measurable outcomes. From campaign results to client retention rates, we analyse key performance indicators to ensure the agency is equipped to deliver success for your business.

Why this matters

Confidence. Clarity. Results.

Four reasons to verify before you sign - even when the pitch was great and the chemistry was right.

Transparency

Making the right choice starts with understanding your options. Our due diligence process ensures you have a clear view of each agency's credentials, history, and financial stability - giving you confidence in your decision.

Risk Reduction

Avoid costly mistakes by identifying potential red flags before committing. Our thorough evaluations help mitigate risks, ensuring your agency partner can meet your goals and deliver results.

Informed Decisions

With our expert insights and detailed analysis, you'll have the knowledge you need to make strategic, informed decisions when selecting the right agency.

Long-Term Success

The right agency partnership lays the foundation for sustainable growth. We help you find an agency that aligns with your business objectives - ensuring long-term success.

Types of agencies we investigate

The agency model changes the questions worth asking.

Choosing the right agency partner goes beyond reviewing proposals - it's about understanding the nuances of different agency types. Whether you're working with an independent, a specialist firm, or a global network, each comes with unique strengths and challenges. Our process is tailored to the model.

Independent Agencies

Personalised service with diverse capabilities.

Independent agencies are often flexible and innovative, offering a tailored approach to client needs. Due diligence ensures they have the resources and expertise required for your project.

  • Verifying their track record and client success stories
  • Evaluating financial stability and operational capacity
  • Assessing their ability to scale with your business needs
  • Ensuring alignment with your goals and industry requirements

This approach helps you identify reliable independent agencies that deliver value without compromising quality.

Specialist Agencies

Deep expertise in niche areas.

Specialist agencies excel in delivering focused, industry-specific solutions. Due diligence ensures their expertise and methods align with your project's unique demands.

  • Reviewing their credentials and subject-matter expertise
  • Analysing past performance in your specific industry or niche
  • Ensuring their methods are up-to-date with market trends
  • Verifying their capacity to meet your project's scope and deadlines

This guarantees the specialist agency you choose is truly equipped to deliver outstanding results.

Network Agencies

Global reach with extensive resources.

Network agencies bring the advantage of scale, offering access to a wide range of resources and expertise. Due diligence ensures these larger agencies provide the personalised service and accountability your business requires.

  • Evaluating their global and local capabilities
  • Assessing their team structure and resource allocation
  • Reviewing client retention rates and performance metrics
  • Verifying alignment with your business's strategic objectives

This ensures you benefit from their scale and expertise while avoiding common pitfalls of large, multi-layered organisations.

Hybrid Agencies

Flexibility combined with focused expertise.

Hybrid agencies blend characteristics of independent, specialist, and network agencies, offering diverse capabilities. Due diligence helps you understand how their unique structure aligns with your goals.

  • Evaluating their ability to provide scalable, tailored solutions
  • Reviewing their experience across industries and services
  • Analysing how they balance specialisation with broader capabilities
  • Verifying their operational and financial stability

This ensures you partner with an agency that offers the best of both worlds - personalised service with scalable results.

Pricing

Priced per agency, fixed upfront.

Each tier is a fixed fee per agency assessed. Most clients run the Standard depth on 2-4 agencies post-pitch - pricing scales linearly, with a 15% discount on the total fee when assessing 2+ agencies in one engagement.

Tier 1

Verification

Fast, focused check on capability and financial health.

From
£4,500per agency
Typical turnaround: 3 working days
Best for

Quick gut-check on a shortlisted or incumbent agency · Headline financials, ownership structure, capability fit.

Includes
  • Companies House financial review (3 years)
  • Ownership + group-structure mapping
  • Public case-study verification
  • Capability scorecard vs your brief
  • 1-page recommendation memo
Get started
Most chosen
Tier 2

Standard

The full picture, with client references and contract review.

From
£9,500per agency
Typical turnaround: 5 working days
Best for

Pre-signing check on a finalist · Contract value £100k-£500k · Long initial term · Want references called.

Includes
  • Everything in Verification
  • 3 client reference calls (incl. one ex-client)
  • Contract / MSA red-flag review
  • Team-stability assessment
  • Pricing benchmark vs market
  • 60-min readout call with you
Book a scoping call
Tier 3

Deep Dive

M&A-grade assessment for high-value or strategic engagements.

From
£18,000per agency
Typical turnaround: 10 working days
Best for

Major contract (£500k+) · Sole-source decision · Acquisition diligence · Multi-year strategic partnership.

Includes
  • Everything in Standard
  • On-site office visit + team interviews
  • Deep financial analysis (P&L, cashflow, runway)
  • Operational + delivery-process audit
  • 5 client + ex-client reference calls
  • Risk register with mitigation plan
Talk to us
£
Running diligence on a whole pitch shortlist?

Standard-tier diligence on 3 finalists works out at ~£24,225 - that's the most common pre-appointment scope. We'll quote the exact fee on the scoping call.

Talk to us

All fees exclude VAT. Engagements are fixed-fee, payable 50% on kick-off and 50% on delivery of the written assessment. Free 30-minute scoping call before any commitment.

Frequently asked

How Due Diligence actually works.

Five questions every CMO and procurement lead asks before signing - answered honestly. Pricing, scope, and what's actually included.

Real questions from real engagements

Pitch processes test whether an agency can win business - they don't always test whether the agency can deliver. Bring in due diligence when the engagement value justifies it (typically £100k+ in annual fees), when you're locked into long contract terms, or when an agency's pitch story is dramatically better than what's verifiable. Also valuable when reassessing an incumbent before contract renewal.

Service I

Also worth knowing: RFP & Pitch Support

Due Diligence is sharpest after a pitch. RFP & Pitch Support helps you run the pitch in the first place - better brief, better shortlist, better evaluation.

Read about RFP Support

Ready to commit
confidently?

Submit your enquiry and we'll book a 30-minute scoping call. Free, no commitment, useful even if you decide to do the work in-house.

Submit enquiry

Or email [email protected]