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SMALL AGENCY NETWORK

The Small Agency Network is an exclusive Ad Age community designed for leaders of independent agencies with 150 or fewer 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.

 

Current members

Thank you for being part of the inaugural Small Agency Network class. We hope to see you in year two. Renewal requires a new application—use the button below to get started.

Prospective members

Thank you for your interest in the Small Agency Network. Fill out the application using the button below.

Apply now

 

Membership application deadline for current and prospective members

Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET
 

Members will be notified in mid October and the official member kickoff will take place in early December.

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 worldwide.

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
 

Virtual sessions: Bimonthly workshops, roundtables and AMAs with the Ad Age agency team.

In-person gatherings: Meetups and conference-adjacent events throughout the year.

Private WhatsApp group: Real-time conversations with fellow independent agency leaders and Ad Age editors and reporters, including Judy Pollack, Brian Bonilla, Ewan Larkin and Lindsay Rittenhouse.

Member hub on AdAge.com: Meeting recaps, newsletters, member-shared resources, survey data and the full member directory.

Monthly newsletter: Written by the Ad Age Agency team for small agency leaders.

Benchmarking surveys: Participate in Small Agency Network surveys and receive reports with actionable data on AI adoption, financial strategy and agency operations.

Ad Age All Access subscription: A one-year subscription for each included member—a $699 value per person—with premium reports, databases (including the CMO Moves Database), marketing trend trackers (including the Agency Review Tracker) and early access to Ad Age events.

Editorial contribution opportunities: Member Q&As, community roundups and selective individual bylines on AdAge.com.

Membership is annual—current members must reapply each year to be considered for the next cycle.

Apply now
 

 

 

TESTIMONIALS
 

2027 PRICING & DEADLINES
 

Membership pricing

Annual membership: $2,500
Includes full access for up to three (3) people per agency.

Optional add-ons
Add more team members for $800 per person per year.
Additional members receive all network benefits, including the All Access subscription.

Special for 2026 Small Agency Awards winners
As part of their recognition, all winners receive:
One-year complimentary membership for up to three (3) team members, with all standard member benefits at no cost. Additional members can be added for $800 per person per year.

All participating members—up to three (3) included, plus any additional seats—must be named at the time of application. See important info for details.


Deadlines

2027 applications open: Tuesday, July 21, 2026

2027 applications close: Monday, Sept. 28, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET

Members notified: week of Oct. 19, 2026

Membership dues deadline: Friday, Oct. 30, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET

2027 official member kickoff: December 2026

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 now

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:
► Bimonthly virtual sessions (workshops, roundtables and AMAs)
► A monthly newsletter
► The members-only Small Agency Network hub on AdAge.com
► A private WhatsApp group with fellow agency leaders and Ad Age editors
► Participation in benchmarking surveys
► An Ad Age All Access subscription
► Opportunities to contribute to AdAge.com

The 2027 one-year membership fee is $2,500 for up to three (3) members, with additional members at $800 per person per year.

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 2026 Ad Age Small Agency Awards receive a one-year complimentary membership to the network for up to three (3) team members. All winners will still have to fill out an application form, but receive the same member benefits as paying members. Additional members can be added for $800 per person per year.

Yes. Membership is annual, and there is no automatic renewal—all current members must submit a new application to be considered for the next membership cycle, and must pay the membership fee again if accepted. Being a current member does not guarantee acceptance or continued access to the WhatsApp group, member hub or other benefits until a new application is submitted and approved.

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. All participating members must be named at the time of submission—members cannot be added after the fact. If is an error in your submission form, please contact the Ad Age team to request a change before Monday, Oct. 12.

Please note changes cannot be made after the official kickoff in December.

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 mid October; 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 now,” 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-independently owned, or in other words, at minimum, 51% privately held. Agencies that are not eligible are those that 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.

All participating members must be named in the application at the time of submission—up to three (3) included members, plus any additional members being added at $800 per person per year. Members added after submission will not be guaranteed inclusion in network communications, the WhatsApp group or event invitations until the following membership cycle.

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 it feels the applicant does not meet the qualifications it is 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.
 

2027 application deadline

Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET
 

Apply now

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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.