There’s an assumption I hear far too often in business. It’s that bigger automatically means better.

If you want “serious” results, you hire the agency with the big team, glossy pitch deck, and $15K+ minimum spend. Because surely they know more, right?

Not always.

Here’s the reality:

• That big (to you) price point doesn’t buy you the agency founder’s brain.
  
• More often, you’re handed over to an account manager or a junior.
  
• Your budget barely scratches the surface for them, so you’re the “small fish” in their client roster.

What you don’t get is direct access to the person who actually knows how to solve your problem.

Now, contrast that with working directly with a solopreneur or small, specialised consultancy.

When clients come to me at The Strategy Studio, they’re not paying for layers of management, endless emails, or inflated overheads. They’re paying for me — my 15+ years of experience across journalism, brand storytelling, and marketing strategy. They’re getting direct access to the person who can actually deliver the transformation they need, not a diluted version of it filtered through three other people.

And because I run a lean business, I can design services that agencies simply can’t. My Intensive Weeks are the perfect example: instead of dragging projects out for months across multiple providers, I work one-on-one with clients for five focused days. They walk away with clear, compelling messaging, polished copy across their core channels, and even a CustomGPT tool to make content creation easier.

Could an agency deliver all of that in a week? Unlikely, as they’re managing multiple clients at once and you are just ONE of their priority. With me, you’re my ONLY priority. 

The point is: being “small” doesn’t mean you’re less valuable. In many cases, it’s the opposite.

When you choose to work with a solopreneur or boutique consultancy, you get:

• Direct expertise, not layers of translation
  
• Faster turnaround, not endless meetings
  
• A partner who’s invested in your success, not just their billables
  

So if you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m just one person.How can I charge what the agencies charge?” Here’s your reminder: you don’t have to be bigger to be better.

Sometimes, the smartest choice a client can make is going straight to the source.

This article was inspired by my conversation with Bec Chappell on the Marketing Espresso podcast. You can listen to the full episode here.