Done-For-You Agency vs In-House Hire
When you need more leads, the obvious move is to hire a marketer. But a salary plus on-costs is a big, fixed commitment, and it takes months before a new hire produces. A done-for-you agency is the alternative: senior skills and results without carrying a role.
Last updated: July 2026
The verdict
Done-For-You Agency vs In-House Hire, side by side
| Done-For-You Agency | In-House Hire | |
|---|---|---|
| Commitment | Monthly fee, no lock-in | Permanent salary and on-costs |
| Time to results | Live in about 7 days | Months to recruit and ramp up |
| Skills | A whole team across ads, funnels, follow-up | A single skill set |
| Risk | Guarantee-backed, cancel anytime | Hiring, training and turnover risk |
| Management | We run it, you stay focused | You manage the role day to day |
| True cost | A predictable fee plus ad spend | Salary plus KiwiSaver, ACC, tools, leave |
Choose done-for-you when
- You want qualified leads without carrying a salary.
- You want results in weeks, not months.
- You would rather not manage and train a new hire.
- You value a guarantee on the outcome.
Hire in-house when
- You have enough ongoing marketing work for a full-time role.
- You want someone embedded in your team day to day.
- You have the budget for salary and all the on-costs.
- You are ready to manage and develop the role.
Common questions
Can an agency really replace an in-house hire?
For lead generation, yes. A done-for-you agency covers the ads, funnels, landing pages and follow-up a single hire would, with a team behind it and results far sooner. If your needs go well beyond lead generation, a hire may still make sense.
How fast can you start compared with hiring?
We can usually have campaigns live in about a week. Recruiting a marketer and getting them up to speed typically takes months, so the agency route puts leads in your pipeline much sooner.
Keep exploring
Want a straight recommendation?
Book a free strategy call and we will tell you honestly whether we are the right fit, backed by our guarantee of 30 qualified leads in 30 days or your management fee back.