Running an agency with over 40 people means every day looks different.
When you run a growing agency you’re no longer just doing the work — you’re building systems, solving problems and keeping a lot of plates spinning. For me, a typical day starts before dawn and ends long after most people have clocked off. In this post I’ll share what those long days look like, the mindset shift from freelancing to running a company and why it’s important to take a moment to breathe.
A day in the life of a founder
My alarm goes off at 5 AM. The first couple of hours are quiet and productive – responding to emails, reviewing proposals and clearing the inbox before the calls begin. By 7 AM in the UK it’s 9 AM in Ukraine, and the marathon of meetings starts. Our team and clients span Australia, Europe, the East Coast and the West Coast, so for the next 10–12 hours it’s back‑to‑back video calls.
If this sounds intense, you’re not wrong. Research from Harvard Business School found that CEOs work an average of 9.7 hours per weekday, continue working on 79 % of weekend days and 70 % of vacation days, and end up clocking about 62.5 hours per week. It isn’t just the number of hours that’s taxing – it’s the constant switching between tasks like client issues, team development, strategy, sales and external representation. Without good time management, you can easily feel pulled in too many directions.
From freelancer to CEO
When I started out, I was a freelancer. My job was to deliver my work and bill for my time. Today, as the owner of a 40‑person agency, the work is different. I spend as much time solving problems, coaching the team and reviewing finances as I do on creative tasks. This shift in responsibilities mirrors the difference between freelancing and running a business described in Upwork’s guide to agencies and freelancing: agencies operate as teams with managers who delegate tasks, while freelancers work on their own and must find their own clients and manage every part of the project. Freelancers enjoy more control over their schedule, but agencies provide structure, a team environment and steadier pay.
When you’re freelancing, you get to pick your projects and clients. You report only to the client, and you’re responsible for tracking hours and billing. When you run an agency, you’re responsible for a team’s livelihoods and must anticipate problems before they explode. You become a chief problem solver, not just a service provider. That means late nights spent invoicing, accounting, chasing payments and reviewing projects after the meetings end.
You seldom hear about the wins
Another truth about being a CEO: you rarely hear about the wins. Clients call when something is on fire. The success stories often come weeks later, if at all. It can be easy to forget to celebrate progress. That’s why, on a recent Friday evening after a 12‑hour day, I decided to slow down. I pulled out a handcrafted cocktail from 19/29 Agency – a London‑based hospitality agency that creates bespoke events and bottled cocktails – and took a moment to appreciate the journey. 19/29 specialises in creative cocktails, seamless execution and professional hospitality staff; their ready‑to‑drink bottles bring world‑class mixology to your home. It reminded me that sometimes you need to pause and savour the moment.
Lessons for aspiring agency owners
- Understand the mindset shift. Moving from freelancer to agency owner means building systems and delegating. You must become a leader who solves problems instead of just delivering tasks.
- Master your schedule. CEOs juggle competing priorities and long days. Good time management lets you focus on high‑value activities, delegate effectively and still make time for family.
- Build a support network. Agencies are collaborative environments. Surround yourself with people you trust and invest in professional development – you can’t do everything yourself.
- Celebrate the wins. It’s easy to get caught up in fires and invoices. Don’t forget to recognise your team’s successes and take a break when you need it.
Related reading
If you enjoyed this behind‑the‑scenes look at agency life, check out some of my other posts:
- 244 % Growth from the Same Traffic: How Conversion Wins Over Traffic – how focusing on conversion can transform your revenue overnight.
- From 0.2 % to 1.2 % Conversion Rate: The 10 Changes That Made It Happen – a detailed case study on improving conversion rate.
- Security, Conversion, and Smarter Retail Execution — My Episode on the Retail Is Detail Podcast – why good UX and CRO go hand in hand.
If you’re running a 12‑hour‑a‑day marathon building something, here’s your reminder to put a bottle in the fridge, breathe and enjoy the moment. It’s Friday. It’s 5 PM. Sometimes you have to pause before the next sprint.