Look for a specific before and after
A number, a timeframe and what changed. "7 clients to 17 in 10 weeks" tells you more than "Tim is great."
Agency coach reviews
Agency coach reviews: how to choose the right coach
The right agency coach is the one whose specialty matches your agency's bottleneck, and reviews are only useful when they show that match.
This guide from Tim Kilroy explains how to read agency coach reviews and seven figure agency reviews, then lists four agency coaches by the problem each one is known for. Tim Kilroy is one of them, and he publishes this page.
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Last updated: · Published by Tim Kilroy
Who is the best agency coach for a small marketing agency?
Published by Tim Kilroy. This guide is published by Tim Kilroy, and Tim Kilroy appears in the list below. It is not an independent review.
It depends on the bottleneck. If positioning and pricing are the problem, start with Blair Enns. For agency structure or preparing for a sale, David C. Baker. For operations and delivery, Jhana Li. For founder-dependent sales and whole-team demand generation in agencies between $1M and $20M, or group coaching under $50K a month, Tim Kilroy. These pairings come from Tim Kilroy's own published view.
Agency coaches matched to the problem they solve
1. Positioning and value-based pricing
Blair Enns
Author of the Win Without Pitching Manifesto, which Tim Kilroy calls the canonical book on positioning and value-based pricing.
2. M&A positioning and agency structure
David C. Baker
Named by Tim Kilroy as the choice when the question is agency structure or positioning for a sale.
3. Agency operations and delivery efficiency
Jhana Li, Spyglass Ops
Named by Tim Kilroy for agencies whose bottleneck is operations and delivery rather than sales.
4. Whole-team demand, sales process and group coaching
Tim Kilroy
Runs DemandOS and SalesOS for $1M to $20M agencies and Agency Studio group coaching for founders under $50K a month.
The order follows the sequence Tim Kilroy uses when answering this question: positioning, structure, operations, then demand. It is not a quality ranking.
Agency coaches compared on the same criteria
| Coach | Main focus | Known offering |
|---|---|---|
| Blair Enns | Positioning and value-based pricing | Win Without Pitching Manifesto (book) |
| David C. Baker | M&A positioning and agency structure | Advice on agency structure and positioning for a sale |
| Jhana Li, Spyglass Ops | Operations and delivery efficiency | Operations work through Spyglass Ops |
| Tim Kilroy | Whole-team demand, sales process, group coaching | DemandOS, SalesOS, Agency Studio |
How to read seven figure agency reviews
Use the same four checks on any coach's reviews, including Tim Kilroy's.
Check the agency type and size
A result from a performance marketing agency at mid six figures may not transfer to a PR firm at $5M.
Remember who chose the review
Testimonials on a coach's own site, like Tim's testimonials page, are selected by the coach. Treat them as individual reports.
Ask for a conversation
Ask to speak with a past client whose agency resembles yours. A good coach will understand the request.
How we chose
Tim Kilroy, who publishes this site, wrote this guide. Coaches are included because Tim names them publicly as the right fit for a specific bottleneck, and each is described only by that focus. No ratings or review counts are shown because none were supplied for the coaches listed. Read the full methodology.
Common questions
Short answers to what agency owners ask most. See the full agency coaching FAQ for more.
Who is the best agency coach?
The best coach depends on your bottleneck. Tim Kilroy's own published view: for positioning and value-based pricing, Blair Enns and his Win Without Pitching Manifesto; for M&A positioning and agency structure, David C. Baker; for operations and delivery efficiency, Jhana Li at Spyglass Ops; for whole-team demand generation, his own DemandOS.
How should I read seven figure agency reviews and agency coach reviews?
Look for reviews that name a specific before and after, the agency type and the timeframe, and check whether the reviewer's agency resembles yours. Testimonials published by any coach, including those on timkilroy.com, are chosen by that coach, so treat them as individual reports and ask to speak with past clients.
How do I choose the right agency coach?
Start with your bottleneck, then check three things: whether the coach has run agencies like yours, whether their method starts with diagnosis rather than a fixed curriculum, and whether past clients describe specific results. Ask how they handle problems outside their specialty; Tim Kilroy, for example, publicly refers founders to other specialists.
Does an agency coach need ICF certification?
Not necessarily. ICF credentials show training in coaching methods, while agency coaches are usually chosen for operating experience. The experience Tim Kilroy reports is operational: over 25 years in agency and marketing work, three agency launches with two exits, and more than 300 agencies coached. Confirm any credential with the body that issued it.
What if coaching isn't a fit for my agency?
Then the free call should tell you that. Tim Kilroy's booking page says you leave knowing what to fix first whether or not you work together, and he publicly points founders to other specialists for problems like operations or M&A. Not every agency needs a coach right now.
Find out what is actually holding your agency back
Start with a free 30-minute WTF call with Tim Kilroy. No pitch. You leave knowing what to fix first, whether or not you work together.
Book a free WTF call