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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.
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.
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.
FAQs
► 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
Please note: All applications are free. Only when accepted will members be asked to pay the fee.
Please note changes cannot be made after the official kickoff.
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
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CONTACT US
Got questions? We're happy to help.
Small Agency Network inquiries: smallagencynetwork@adage.com
Photos by Pawelec Photo Inc.