Run your agency with clarity, confidence, and control. Many creative and marketing agency owners are closer to real growth than they realize.

In this episode, Jesse Gilmore, CEO and founder of Niche in Control, breaks down the mindset and structure shifts that agency owners must make to achieve freedom, scalability, and financial success. He shares how to move from being the doer to being the leader, why perfectionism is holding you back, and how to build a business that thrives without you working 80-hour weeks.

Key takeaways:

• The 80/20 rule for creativity. Learn how to systemize 80% of your operations so you can focus your creativity on the 20%.
• How to overcome perfectionism. Perfectionism keeps agency owners trapped.
• Power of time audits. Discover how tracking your time for just seven days can expose hidden inefficiencies.
• Value-based pricing beats hourly billing. Learn how value-based pricing helps agencies earn more while working less.
• How to go upmarket strategically. Agencies must move toward strategy-based offers and premium clients to stay competitive.

Tune into the episode of ▶️Stop Thinking Like a Freelancer—Start Earning Like a Founder.

Find more podcast episodes on our website: anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/

Episode resources:

● Anders Virtual CFO by Anders website: anderscpa.com

● Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://anderscpa.com/learn/

● Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course:

https://anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/

Quotes

-Jesse Gilmore: "Tracking time reveals hidden inefficiencies. Once you see where time really goes, you can start eliminating, automating, and delegating effectively."

-Jamie Nau: "An outside perspective helps agencies see what truly sets them apart, what you think is your strength might not be what clients value most."

Jesse Gilmore is the CEO and founder of Niche in Control, where he helps full-service creative and marketing agency owners scale their businesses while reclaiming their time and freedom. Through his Leverage for Growth program, Jesse guides agency leaders from being hands-on hustlers to confident CEOs who build scalable systems, attract high-value clients, and lead empowered teams. His proven methods have helped countless agency owners double revenue, increase profit margins, and reduce work hours all without sacrificing quality or balance.

Website: https://www.nicheincontrol.com/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/NicheInControl

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessepgilmore/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/niche-in-control/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/niche.in.control/

X: https://x.com/ControlNiche

TitTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nicheincontrol &nb

As a business owner, you may trust your team, but that trust can blind you to the quiet financial risks inside your business.

In this episode of The Creative Agency Success Show, we talk with Clay Kniepmann, manager in Forensic and Litigation at Anders, to share practical tips on balancing trust and control and how you can use simple steps to strengthen your internal processes.

Key Takeaways:

• Watch for Red Flags: Delayed reports and lifestyle mismatches are warning signs.
• Balance Trust and Controls: Small businesses need clear internal controls.
• Simple Steps Matter: You don’t need complex systems.
• Technology Has Limits: Prevention still relies on human judgment.
• Owner Involvement is Key: Owners must stay engaged.

Take practical steps to strengthen your business for lasting success. Tune into the episode of ▶️ Why Every Business Owner Should Think Like a Forensic Accountant with Clay Kniepmann.

Find more podcast episodes on our website:

anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/

Episode resources:

● Anders Virtual CFO by Anders website: anderscpa.com

● Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://anderscpa.com/learn/

● Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course:

anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/

Quotes

• Clay Kniepmann - "Forensic accounting is like piecing a puzzle together. Each case is unique and requires careful analysis and adaptability."
• Jamie Nau: "Understanding your operational processes helps identify potential fraud risks more effectively than generic controls."

Clay Kniepmann is a manager in Forensic and Litigation at Anders, specializing in forensic accounting, fraud investigation, and litigation services. He’s known for making intricate financial issues easy to understand, giving leaders the clarity they need to make smarter decisions.

Website: https://anderscpa.com/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/AndersCPA

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claykniepmann/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/anders-cpa/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/anderscpa/

The Creative Agency Success Show helps service-based business owners master the financial side of growth. Hosted by Jamie Nau, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner and Virtual CFO Practice Leader at Anders CPAs + Advisors, the podcast dives into essential financial strategies for scaling creative agencies.

Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458889

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/

Instagram:

If you’re invisible online, you’re losing clients before they even know you exist. In today’s competitive market, your digital presence is your storefront.

In this episode, Agency Consultant & Executive Coach Karl Sakas of Sakas & Company explains why being invisible online is costing you clients and what you can do to fix it. He shares practical strategies on leadership, delegation, and long-term planning that help you attract more clients and strengthen your agency.

Key takeaways:

• Delegation done right. Learn how letting go of low-value tasks helps you focus on client growth and financial results.
• Stop being the “answer person.” Growth stalls when every decision depends on you.
• Visibility drives revenue. If you’re not visible, you’re handing over opportunities to competitors.
• Audit your meetings. Free up your time by identifying which meetings matter and can be delegated.
• Coaching and accountability matter. Having an outside advisor helps you avoid blind spots and stay accountable.

Tune into the episode of ▶️ Improve as an Agency Leader and 'Calm the Chaos' with Karl Sakas.

Find more podcast episodes on our website: anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/

Episode resources:

● Anders Virtual CFO by Anders website: anderscpa.com

● Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://anderscpa.com/learn/

● Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course:

anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/

Quotes

• Karl Sakas: "A meeting audit helps leaders reclaim time. Review your calendar, decide which meetings matter, and delegate or cut the rest."
• Jody Grunden: "Delegation is the cornerstone of growth. Protecting your team from failure keeps them from developing."

Karl Sakas is an agency advisor and coach who helps agency owners work less, earn more, and build stronger teams. Known as the "agency therapist," Karl has supported 600+ agencies across 36 countries in navigating growth and scaling smartly. He specializes in guiding leaders toward building lifestyle agencies or positioning for multi-million dollar exits.

Website: https://sakasandcompany.com/

FB: https://web.facebook.com/SakasAndCompany?_rdc=1&_rdr#

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlsakas/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/SakasandCompanyTeam/

X: https://x.com/KarlSakas

YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOyb-o2ICYgIOzBzCBarrjQ

The Creative Agency Success Show helps service-based business owners master the financial side of growth. Hosted by Jamie Nau, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner and Virtual CFO Practice Leader at Anders CPAs + Advisors, the podcast dives into essential financial strategies for scaling creative agencies.

Website: