How can you maximize the value of your business through mergers, acquisitions, and the “second bite” opportunity? Most agency owners today are seeking an opportunity to cash out some equity while continuing to play an active role in scaling their business.

In this episode of The Agency Blueprint podcast, I’m joined by Todd Taskey to discuss how deals are structured, why private equity loves specialized agencies, and how “the second bite” often ends up being larger than the first payday. Todd is a seasoned M&A advisor and investment banker who has spent over two decades guiding agency founders through lucrative exits and growth-focused partnerships.

Listen in to learn how smaller agencies can attract the right buyers with specialization, strong client retention, and scalable sales systems. You will also learn how AI is reshaping agency margins and valuations, eliminating low-level tasks, and allowing agencies to scale profitably.

Key Questions:

• [01:12] What exactly is the second bite, and how can agency owners benefit from it beyond their first sale?
• [03:45] What types of deals are most common for agencies today—strategic, private equity, or conglomerate roll-ups?
• [08:25] Which types of agencies are most attractive to private equity firms right now, and which ones are struggling?
• [15:16] How is AI changing agency valuations? Is it just hype, or does it create lasting value?
• [23:07] What areas should agency owners strengthen in the next 2–3 years to maximize valuation?

What You’ll Discover:

• [01:30] Todd explains the concept of the second bite, where selling equity today can lead to a bigger payday in the future.
• [04:15] The difference between selling to large holding companies versus partnering with private equity-backed strategic buyers.
• [06:59] Why many agency founders end up enjoying their businesses more after a partial sale.
• [08:50] The verticals private equity firms are most eager to acquire, and why niche specialization wins.
• [11:38] How agencies are using vertical focus to create irresistible acquisition stories.
• [15:40] How AI is reshaping agency operations, cutting costs, and boosting margins without replacing strategic thinking.
• [19:46] How agency owners should weigh the choice between pursuing higher margins or lowering prices to gain market share.
• [23:34] The three pillars of maximizing agency value: strong sales, high retention, and healthy margins.
• [26:13] Todd warns against assuming you can hire a CEO and exit cleanly—buyers see that as a red flag.

Connect with Todd:

• LinkedIn
• Podcast: Second Bite

Do you leverage emotional, client-centered storytelling to transform your sales process? Stories resonate more than stats, and you, as an agency owner, can use them as a strategic sales tool rather than just a creative tactic.

In this episode of The Agency Blueprint podcast, we discuss how to leverage stories that build trust, spark excitement, and make your agency unforgettable. We explain how by framing sales conversations around transformation stories, case studies, and third-party proof, you can help potential clients see themselves in the narrative.

Listen in to learn the difference between pitching and storytelling, why context matters, and how to strategically curate stories in advance so they feel authentic and memorable.

Key Questions:

• [01:52] Why is storytelling more impactful than just listing results or stats?
• [03:23] What’s the difference between pitching and telling a strategic story?
• [05:02] How do you use third-party stories to connect with a prospect’s pain points?
• [12:27] What types of proof (beyond testimonials) can you use to make clients feel confident in their decision?
• [14:26] What does it take to tailor a story so the prospect feels invited into your world?

What You’ll Discover:

• [02:06] Why emotions are the real drivers of memory and decision-making, not dry statistics.
• [03:23] Why bragging about yourself in a pitch pushes prospects away, while telling a client’s story draws them in.
• [05:02] The importance of focusing on transformation and connecting client pain points to powerful success stories.
• [07:31] Third-party selling framework: start with the negative emotion, explain the challenge, describe your process, and end with the positive result.
• [09:25] Understand why numbers alone make you forgettable, but stories make you memorable and trustworthy.
• [10:36] An airplane analogy illustrating how clients first need belief that success is possible before they trust you to deliver it.
• [12:40] Why convincing rarely works and how to use social proof, testimonials, and case studies to let prospects persuade themselves.
• [15:01] How testimonial videos and real client stories can provide the final validation prospects need before committing.
• [19:48] How to curate stories strategically so they feel natural in the moment but are actually carefully designed for maximum impact.

Are you one of those agencies that spend impulsively, based on gut feeling, or delay investments out of fear and uncertainty?

In this episode of the Agency Blueprint podcast, I explain how agency owners can use operational budgets as a growth tool instead of just a tracking sheet. I further explain how to structure budgets around multiple outcomes—flat (if nothing changes), trend-based (aligned with current growth trajectory), and goal or stretch budgets (aimed at ambitious targets).

Don't miss this episode to learn how to weigh investments using a risk-to-value calculus, prioritize based on ROI, and know when to greenlight or cut an initiative.

Key Questions:

• [00:33] Are you spending intentionally to grow your agency or just burning through cash without a clear ROI?
• [03:43] Are your budgets simply tracking expenses, or are they guiding your strategic decisions?
• [08:15] How do you prioritize which investments to make first when several opportunities compete for your resources?

What You’ll Discover:

• [01:20] The concept of using multiple budget scenarios—flat, operational, goal, and stretch—to create a growth-ready plan.
• [02:02] The importance of aligning budgets with business trends rather than relying solely on past performance.
• [03:43] Understanding that budgets are not just for tracking, they are tools to guide decision-making and strategy.
• [04:50] The “risk-to-value calculus” to evaluate investments in people, tools, or new services.
• [06:40] The importance of setting clear timelines to measure whether an investment is working or if it should be cut.
• [08:15] How to prioritize competing investment opportunities by weighing ROI, time cost, and likelihood of success.
• [10:47] How to reverse-engineer growth goals into budgets by mapping revenue sources, retention rates, and hiring needs.