Agency Bytes is a podcast for owners of creative, marketing, and advertising agencies that packs a ton of important agency information on one topic, from one expert into a 25-minute brief. Why 25 minutes? Because who has the attention span for much more these days, and you can squeeze in a listen between meetings with time for a bathroom break or coffee refill before your next meeting. Agency Bytes is brought to you by Steve Guberman from Agency Outsight. Steve is a 20-year agency veteran who works as a business coach for agencies around the country. He coaches owners of branding, marketing, design, and PR agencies to conquer their goals and overcome their challenges. Learn more about Agency Outsight at www.agencyoutsight.com
Episodes
Monday May 05, 2025
Monday May 05, 2025
Featuring: Tony Wilson, Accquip
In episode 109 of Agency Bytes, I sit down with Tony Wilson, founder of Accquip and a financial powerhouse for agencies who want to stop flying blind. Tony shares his story of stepping out of corporate during the Great Resignation and stepping into his passion—helping agency owners build profitable businesses they actually love running.
We break down Days Till Zero, a simple but powerful metric Tony developed to help agency owners understand exactly how long their cash will last—and how to make smarter, proactive decisions before things get tight. Tony also dives into gross margin benchmarks, how overlooked they are, and why net profit alone doesn’t tell the full story.
Plus, we talk through:
• Red light, yellow light, and green light cash benchmarks every owner should know
• Project-level gross margin mistakes (and how to fix them)
• Why time tracking is about clarity, not micromanagement
• Smart investments vs. sitting on cash
If you’re ready to stop reacting and start running your agency with financial confidence, this one’s for you.
Key Bytes
• Tony Wilson's journey reflects the empowerment of agency owners.
• Accquip focuses on educating entrepreneurs about accounting.
• Understanding financial metrics leads to better decision-making.
• Days till zero is a crucial metric for agency health.
• Proactive financial management can prevent crises.
• Cash reserves should be monitored regularly.
• Gross margins are vital for assessing agency profitability.
• Identifying project profitability helps in resource allocation.
• Time tracking provides valuable operational insights.
• Agencies should prioritize selling over playing business.Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Agency Bites and Tony Wilson's Journey
01:37 The Concept of Equip and Its Mission
03:46 Understanding Days Till Zero: A Key Metric for Agencies
08:54 Proactive Financial Management for Agencies
11:34 Cash Reserves: Understanding Red, Yellow, and Green Light Zones
14:39 The Importance of Gross Margins in Agency Profitability
18:21 Identifying and Addressing Overhead and Project Profitability
21:02 Tools and Systems for Effective Time Tracking and Financial Management
24:11 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Thoughts
Tony Wilson’s entrepreneurial journey was shaped by three pivotal moments: launching a business with his brother in 2010, witnessing his roommate’s life-changing pivot from carpenter to software developer, and becoming a father—which ignited his drive to lead by example. In 2021, Tony joined “The Great Resignation” to help digital agency owners grow thriving, profitable businesses without sacrificing their well-being. Through Accquip, he is on a mission to empower agency owners to build the businesses they love without going bankrupt in the process.
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