[Podcast] Agency Business in a Box

“It's a business in a box.”  – Jeff Tomlin, Co-Founder & CMO of Vendasta

(🎙️ listen now)

Vendasta gives 80k+ agencies a full-stack platform to rebrand and resell online services to local business clients, giving them the scalability of a SaaS recurring revenue model. Simplifying operations, the company lets agencies acquire, retain, expand, and manage clients all in one place, removing many of the pain points agencies face as they’re looking to grow their business.

Jeff joins The Deep Specialization Podcast to discuss topics like finding product fit, building Vendasta, successes and failures, as well as invaluable leadership lessons accumulated along the way.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

• Vendasta’s 17-year journey and Jeff’s background.

• Typical inefficiencies in running a small business tech stack at an agency.

• The audacious goal Jeff’s team is working towards.

• Differentiation and positioning.

Actionable key takeaways for agency founders:

• If you’re offering solutions, building a suite can 3x retention rates.

• As you grow, be mindful of your growing tech stack and how to manage it.

• Embrace agility as a young organization, and don’t be afraid to fail.

• Don’t get caught up in the minutia of operations, build workflows with tech, instead. 

🎧 Listen to the episode now:

• Podcast Website 

• Apple Podcasts 

• YouTube 

• Spotify

• Amazon Music

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Best,

CQ

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Jeff Tomlin mean by describing Vendasta as "a business in a box"?

A full-stack platform that gives agencies everything they need to rebrand and resell online services to local business clients, essentially bundling the tools and infrastructure needed to run a scalable, SaaS-style business.

How does Vendasta help solve typical tech stack inefficiencies for small agencies?

By consolidating client acquisition, retention, expansion, and management all in one platform, removing many of the fragmented, inefficient pain points agencies typically face juggling multiple disconnected tools.

Why does Jeff Tomlin suggest building a suite of solutions can 3x retention rates?

Because offering a broader, integrated suite creates more reasons for a client to stay, deepening the relationship beyond a single point solution that could more easily be replaced by a competitor.

What audacious goal is Jeff Tomlin's team working toward at Vendasta?

A specific ambitious target discussed directly in the episode, reflecting the scale of vision behind a platform already serving more than 80,000 agencies worldwide.

What leadership lesson does Jeff Tomlin share about embracing agility as a young organization?

Not being afraid to fail, and staying agile rather than getting caught up in operational minutiae, instead building workflows through technology to keep the organization moving efficiently as it scales.