A New Path for Agency Founders
The biggest mistake most founders make is trying to do everything themselves. I've watched brilliant, creative founders burn out trying to master cash flow forecasting, employment law, and new business, whilst still trying to be the creative visionary their team needs. They hire too late, invest in the wrong infrastructure, and often sacrifice what made them special in pursuit of growth.
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Luke Tobin
Chief Executive Officer
Why Now: The Market Realities Facing Agencies
Revenue Ceiling
Too many agencies never break through, 34% of UK shops generate under £250k annually. Without the right systems, even brilliant founders hit a ceiling long before they reach scale.
Exit Barriers
Only around 2% of agency founders in the UK achieve a successful exit that captures full value, largely because of overreliance on the founder, weak recurring revenue, limited scale, or reluctance to relinquish operational control.
Macro Headwinds
With large networks like WPP now forecasting flat or declining net revenue (−3% to −5% in 2025), and client budgets under pressure, agency margins and growth are under strain.
These trends mean agency founders can no longer do it alone. They need infrastructure, shared insight, and a new model of cooperation.
That’s why we built The Unusual Group, a different kind of partner for agency founders.
“Founders don’t scale, systems do. Yet many agencies are still built entirely around the founder. At The Unusual Group, we help you install the team, processes, and governance so the business runs like an asset, not a job. Having a sounding board alongside you during that journey gives you perspective, clarity, and the freedom you hoped for when you first built the business."
Ali Newton-Temperley
Chief Operations Officer
What is The Unusual Group?
Because our partner agencies are collaborators, not portfolio assets, innovations that any one agency discovers can be shared across the collective, whether that’s a new pricing framework, an AI workflow, or a productivity tool.
“Agencies often underestimate the importance of managing their financial and commercial operations, focusing on revenue growth rather than profitability and cash flow. The old adage that "cash is king" is more important now than ever!"
Paul Allen
Chief Financial Officer
The Minds Behind Unusual
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Hear more from our founder, Luke.
Ready to scale smarter while keeping control?
What’s Next? Schedule a discovery call to review your results.
“Founders don’t scale, systems do. Yet many agencies are still built entirely around the founder. Unusual Group helps you install the team, processes and governance so the business runs like an asset, not a job. That gives you options. Whether you're building to exit one day, or would simply like to have less stress, having the right people and processes in place can give you back some of the freedom you hoped for when you built the business."
Ali Newton-Temperley
Chief Operations Officer
