Free tool ยท DIY or hire
Should you hire a marketing agency or do it yourself?
Answer nine quick questions about your time, budget, and goals. You get a straight recommendation right on this page: do it yourself, hire a contractor or freelancer, or hire an agency. No email required.
Do your marketing yourselfor hire it out?
Answer 9 quick questions about your time, budget, and goals. You'll get a straight recommendation right on this page: do it yourself, hire a contractor or freelancer, or hire an agency, plus what to do next.
Our recommendation for you:
How this works
Nine questions,
one straight answer.
Most owners start by asking who to hire. The better first question is whether to hire anyone yet. This assessment weighs the things that actually decide it:
- Your time. How many hours you or your team can realistically give marketing each week.
- Your budget for help. What you can spend on people, separate from ad spend.
- Your ad budget. Whether there is money to put behind paid campaigns.
- Your comfort with the tools. From never logging in to using them every day.
- Your scope. One specific job, a few channels, or the whole program.
- Your plan. Whether you need hands to do the work or someone to set the strategy.
- Your timeline. How quickly you need results.
- Who manages it. You, a freelancer you direct, or a team that owns it.
- Your stage. From pre-revenue to established.
Each answer leans toward one or more of the three options. The option with the most weight becomes your recommendation, and you see how all three scored. If the top two are close, the tool says so, because a close call usually depends on details a quiz cannot see.
What each result means
Three ways to get it done,
and when each one fits.
Option 01
Do it yourself
Fits when you have real hours each week, a tight budget for outside help, and you are comfortable learning the tools. The cost is your time, so focus on one or two channels.
Option 02
Contractor or freelancer
Fits when you know what needs doing and can manage the work, but lack the time or skills to do it all. You get a specialist for a specific job without paying for a full team.
Option 03
Agency
Fits when you need several skills at once, want someone else to own strategy and reporting, and have the budget to support a monthly retainer.
Leaning toward hiring? Read what a B2B marketing agency should actually deliver, and whether you need a full service agency or specialists.
FAQ
Questions owners ask
before they hire.
When should a business hire a marketing agency?
When your marketing needs more skills than one person can cover, you do not have time to manage the work yourself, and your budget can support a monthly retainer. If you only need one specific job done, a contractor or freelancer is usually the better fit.
Is it cheaper to do marketing yourself?
It costs less cash, but not always less overall. Your hours have a cost, and time spent on marketing is time not spent on sales or delivery. Doing it yourself makes the most sense early on, or when you genuinely have the time and want to learn.
What is the difference between a freelancer and an agency?
A freelancer or contractor is usually one specialist doing one kind of work, like SEO or paid ads, with you directing them. An agency brings a team across several skills and typically owns the strategy, coordination, and reporting.
Can I start on my own and hire later?
Yes, and many businesses should. Doing it yourself first teaches you what good work looks like, which makes you a better buyer when you do hire. Retake the assessment as your time, budget, and goals change.
Do I need to give my email to see my result?
No. Your recommendation shows on this page as soon as you answer the last question.
What is the free Snapshot?
A real person reviews your marketing and tells you what to fix first. It is the fastest way to find out whether you need outside help, and what kind.
Your next step
Want a second opinion
before you decide?
Try our other free tools to check your budget or find the best channel to start with. Have a question? Get in touch.