BenchPress 2025: 4 Opportunities You Need to Be On Top Of

BenchPress 2025: 4 Big Agency Opportunities You Need to Be On Top Of

Rory Spence Guest

How do independent agencies stack up in 2025?

The results are in for BenchPress 2025. The UK’s largest benchmarking survey for independent agencies has revealed some surprising (and shocking) trends about the state of the industry.

To break it all down, Rory Spence, Head of Commercial at The Wow Company, joins us to unpack the data, trends, and opportunities that agency leaders need to know.

In this episode, we cover:

Why 2024 was a brutal year for many agencies (and how to bounce back)
Profitability trends and how top-performing agencies maintain strong margins
AI’s growing role in agency operations (and the pricing mistake you must avoid)
The power of confidence in agency success – and how to build it

If you’re focused on making your agency more efficient and financially stronger, these insights will help you drive meaningful change.

Key Takeaways:

Most agencies aren’t tracking profitability in the right way. Gross profit, not just revenue, is the metric that reveals where your agency makes (or loses) money. Track it by team, service line, and client to make smarter decisions.
Your pricing model might be hiding profit problems. Tiered hourly rates are declining, but pricing inconsistency is still common. Standardising how you price, scope, and approve work creates healthier margins.
AI should increase margins, not reduce prices. Using AI to work faster shouldn’t mean charging less. If your team is more efficient, keep the value. Get rewarded for your expertise, not just your time.
Confidence isn’t just a mindset – it impacts performance. Agencies with higher confidence scores in 2024 saw stronger results. Weekly targets, small wins, and visibility over your pipeline help build momentum.
More agency owners are thinking about selling but many aren’t ready. 58% say their focus is building to sell, but few have structured their business like an asset. Start thinking like a buyer now to increase the value of your agency later.
Profitability is falling but it doesn’t have to be. Top-performing agencies hit 50%+ gross profit margins. Most sit at 39%. Better data, tighter delivery, and clearer pricing can close the gap.
Agency owners are still doing too much of the sales heavy lifting. New business remains the top challenge. Few agencies invest early in sales or marketing hires, yet it’s often the missing piece in unlocking growth.