[Skip to Content]

Double click to change color

 

Double click to change color

SMALL AGENCY NETWORK

The Small Agency Network is an exclusive Ad Age community designed for leaders of independent agencies with fewer than 150 full-time employees. Born from the spirit of the Ad Age Small Agency Conference & Awards, the network connects founders, principals and senior leaders who want to grow their business, sharpen their skills and share ideas with peers who understand the unique challenges of running a small but mighty shop.

Apply here

 

Application deadline

Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, at 5 p.m. ET
 

Members will be notified in late September and the official member kickoff will take place in November.

Questions? See the Overview, benefits, pricing, FAQs and important info sections. If your question isn't answered, please contact the Ad Age team.

OVERVIEW
 

This network connects likeminded leaders whose businesses hold their own against the industry’s biggest players while staying nimble, creative and people-focused. It serves as a hub for exchanging practical insights on operations, client growth, creative leadership, talent retention, DEI, AI adoption and more. In a competitive landscape, small agency leaders often wear many hats; this is a space to compare notes, get inspired and find solutions that work in the real world.

 
Goals:

Facilitate connections: Build meaningful relationships with leaders of independent agencies nationwide.

Share knowledge: Exchange ideas, best practices and strategies for creative and business success.

Support growth: Access tools and perspectives that help scale client work, culture and profitability.

Provide a sounding board: Offer a peer-driven environment for candid conversations about challenges and opportunities.
 

The spirit of the network

Small agencies run on creativity, grit and resourcefulness. Conversations here aren’t lectures—they’re candid exchanges among peers who understand the highs and lows of independent agency life. The goal: broaden perspectives, spark new ideas and strengthen the community of leaders shaping the future of small agencies.

 

MEMBER BENEFITS
 

In-person meetups and quarterly virtual workshops: Curated topics led by Ad Age editors and industry experts.

Monthly editor insights newsletter: Exclusive analysis and trend commentary tailored to small agencies.

Complimentary Ad Age All Access subscription: A $699 value, including premium reports, databases (including the CMO Moves Database) and marketing trend trackers (including the Agency Review Tracker), as well as early access to Ad Age events.

Member directory: A searchable resource for collaboration, referrals and vendor recommendations.

Private WhatsApp group: Real-time Q&A, peer support, job leads, vendor recs, press opps and editor input.

Exclusive Small Agency Conference content: On-demand clips, recaps and actionable takeaways.

The Ad Age Small Agency Network is ideal for founders, principals and senior leaders of agencies with fewer than 150 full-time employees who are seeking peer exchange, media visibility and editorial insight to scale their business.
 

Membership is by application only. All prospective members must fill out the application form.

Apply here

PRICING & DEADLINES
 

Membership pricing

Annual membership: $1,500
Includes full access for up to three (3) people per agency.

What's included for each member

► In-person meetups and quarterly virtual workshops
► Monthly editors’ newsletter
► Access to the Small Agency Conference content library
► Member directory access
► Private WhatsApp group
► Complimentary Ad Age All Access subscription for one (1) year (a $699 value per person)

Optional add ons
Add more team members for $199/year per person
Includes all network benefits except All Access (limited to the initial three (3) members)

Special for 2025 Small Agency Awards winners
As part of their recognition, all winners receive:

► One-year complimentary membership for up to three (3) team members
► All standard member benefits at no cost, including All Access subscriptions for one (1) year for each included member

Want to bring more colleagues into the network? Additional seats can be added for $199/year per person.


Deadlines

Applications open: Monday, Aug. 18

Applications close: Monday, Sept. 15, 2025 at 5 p.m. ET

Members notified: Tuesday, Sept. 30

Membership dues deadline: Thursday, Oct. 30 at 5 p.m. ET

Official member kickoff: November 2025

Please note: The membership fee is not due at time of application; members will be notified and payment will be due before the official kickoff.


Apply here

FAQs

The Small Agency Network is an exclusive Ad Age community designed for leaders of independent, small agencies. The goal is to connect likeminded folks and serve as a hub for exchanging practical insights on operations, client growth, creative leadership, talent retention, DEI, AI adoption and more.

Advertising and marketing agencies of all kinds are welcome to apply as long as they meet the size and ownership requirements. Other firms, such as search consultants and financial advisors, are not eligible. Much like the Ad Age Small Agency Awards, applicants must be majority independently owned, or in other words, at minimum 51% privately held. Those majority or fully backed by a holding company or other firms (such as a publisher, marketer, etc.) are not eligible. Applicants must also have no more than 150 full-time employees.

One membership for a small agency includes access for three (3) employees to:
► In-person meetups and quarterly virtual workshops
► A monthly editors’ newsletter
► The Small Agency Conference content library
► A directory of network members
► A private WhatsApp group
► An Ad Age All Access subscription

A one-year membership is $1,500.

Please note: All applications are free. Only when accepted will members be asked to pay the fee.

Not at all! The Ad Age Small Agency Network is open to any agency that meets the size and ownership requirements.

Winners of the 2025 Ad Age Small Agency Awards receive a one-year complimentary membership to the network! All winners will still have to fill out an application form, but receive the same member benefits as paying members.

Starting in September, the WhatsApp group will be reserved for Small Agency Network members only. Those not in the network will be removed from the group at that time.

Once accepted, all applications must be submitted and paid by credit card online via the portal. Please contact smallagencynetwork@adage.com if you experience any issues submitting payment.

Unfortunately, once you have submitted your application, you will not be able to log in to edit the form in any way. If there is a member you wish to replace, please contact the Ad Age team to request a change.

Please note changes cannot be made after the official kickoff.

Please note that not all applicants will be accepted. Membership decisions are at the discretion of Ad Age. Those accepted to the network will be notified by email in late September; additional details on the timeline can be found here.

Our team is here to help with any technical issues you might experience. Please contact .

Your account on AdAge.com is separate from the account used for the Small Agency Network. When you click “Apply here,” you can use the same account you use to enter the Small Agency Awards or you can register a new account. If you’re still having trouble logging in, please email us at awards@adage.com.

IMPORTANT INFO

 

Eligibility

All agencies of all marketing disciplines are eligible to apply for the Ad Age Small Agency Network. Other firms, such as search consultants and financial advisors, are not eligible. Much like the Small Agency Awards, all applicants must be majority-independent owned, or in other words, at minimum, 51% privately-held. Agencies who are not eligible are those who are either majority or fully-backed by a holding company (by this we mean firms like WPP, Omnicom Group, Publicis Groupe, Interpublic Group of Cos., Havas, Aegis or MDC Partners) or other firms, such as a publisher, marketer, etc.

Applicants must also have no more than 150 full-time employees.

Membership to the Ad Age Small Agency Network is not limited to agencies that have entered the Ad Age Small Agency Awards or attended the Ad Age Small Agency Conference & Awards.
 

Applicant info

All information in the application forms must be for agencies that meet the criteria above and the main point of contact must be employed full time at the agency. Ad Age may request verification at any point in the process and reserves the right to disqualify applicants or bar future participation for any misleading or false information.

By applying for the Small Agency Network, all members agree to the Ad Age terms and conditions.

Membership is at the discretion of Ad Age. Ad Age has the right to not select an applicant if they feel they do not meet the qualifications they are looking for in network members. The decisions of Ad Age are final and binding in all matters relating to the Small Agency Network, including interpretation and application of the rules.
 

Application deadline

Sept. 15, 2025, at 5 p.m. ET
 

Apply here

Double click to change color

CONTACT US

 

Got questions? We're happy to help.

Small Agency Network inquiries: smallagencynetwork@adage.com

Photos by Pawelec Photo Inc.