# Should an early-stage startup hire a marketing agency?

**Short answer:** Usually not first. Before product-market fit, agencies’ retainers and minimum terms eat runway while you are still learning which message works. Most early teams get further by testing messaging cheaply themselves (or with an AI tool) and hiring an agency or marketer once a channel is proven and needs scale.

## When an agency makes sense

- You have a proven channel and need more volume than you can produce.
- You have budget for at least several months of retainer.
- You can give clear positioning and fast approvals.

## Cheaper ways to start

- **Do it yourself** with a repeatable format and a weekly batching session.
- **Freelancers or UGC creators** for specific videos.
- **AI tools** that produce and schedule videos, so you can test many hooks for little cost.

## What to measure before scaling

Cost per install or signup, activation rate and payback period. Our [ROAS and LTV calculator](/resources/tools/app-roas-ltv-calculator) helps.

Updated 2026-10-30. URL: https://www.ottosocial.ai/resources/answers/should-a-startup-hire-a-marketing-agency