There are essentially three ways to get the marketing and technology work of your practice done. Each one fits a different stage of practice growth — and choosing wrong is one of the most expensive mistakes you can make.
Model 1: Done-By-You (DIY)
You do everything yourself: website, SEO, reviews, content, automations. Cheap in cash, expensive in time. The right choice when: revenue is under ~$5k/month, you have time, and you're still figuring out your offer. The wrong choice when: your practice is growing and the marketing work is competing with the client work that actually pays.
Model 2: Done-With-You (coaching / hybrid)
A consultant or coach guides your work, reviews it, helps you implement, but you're still the one doing most of the heavy lifting. The right choice when: revenue is $5-15k/month, you have some budget but want to retain control and learn the work, and you have 5-10 hours/week to invest. The wrong choice when: you're past the point where learning the work is a good use of your time.
Model 3: Done-For-You (full service)
An agency (like us) takes the whole thing off your plate. Website, SEO, reviews, automations, content, lead capture — handled. You show up to sessions and your calendar fills. The right choice when: revenue is $15k+/month, your time is worth more than the cost, and you've recognized that the bottleneck on your practice growth is your personal bandwidth. The wrong choice when: you can't afford it without stressing about cash flow, or when you genuinely want to learn and own the work yourself.
How to tell which stage you're in
- Are you spending more than 10 hours/week on marketing/tech tasks? You're outgrowing DIY.
- Is your calendar less full than you'd like, but you don't have time to fix it? Done-With-You.
- Is your calendar full but you're exhausted keeping it that way? Done-For-You.
- Are you considering a team hire to handle the marketing? Done-For-You is usually cheaper than a junior full-time hire, and far more effective.
The cost comparison
DIY is "free" but costs you 10+ hours/week. At $200/hour session rate, that's $2,000+/week in opportunity cost — far more than most Done-For-You services. Done-With-You coaching is typically $500-$2,000/month. Done-For-You agency work is typically $1,500-$5,000/month, depending on scope. The right model isn't the cheapest — it's the one that returns your time at the highest value.
The most common mistake
Practitioners at $20k+/month still doing their own website updates because "I can't justify the cost." The cost is already there — you're just paying it in time, stress, and the work that doesn't get done because you can't get to it.
We offer all three models and we'll tell you honestly which fits. Book a free audit and we'll help you figure out where you are.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose between DIY, Done-With-You, and Done-For-You?
Match the model to your stage: DIY when revenue is under about $5k/month and you have time; Done-With-You at $5-15k/month when you want to learn and retain control with 5-10 hours a week; Done-For-You at $15k+/month when your personal bandwidth is the bottleneck on growth.
Is DIY really free?
No. DIY costs little cash but a lot of time — often 10+ hours a week. At a $200/hour session rate that's $2,000+/week in opportunity cost, usually far more than a Done-For-You service. The honest question isn't the price tag but what your time is worth.
When is Done-For-You the wrong choice?
When you can't afford it without stressing cash flow, or when you genuinely want to learn and own the work yourself. It's right when your calendar is full but exhausting to keep that way, or when you're considering a marketing hire — an agency is usually cheaper and more effective than a junior full-time employee.
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