Guide · Published by Tim Kilroy
Marketing agency growth statistics for 2026
This collection of published statistics is curated by Tim Kilroy. It covers the size of the agency market, how fast agencies are growing, how healthy their pipelines are and how large the coaching industry has become.
Last updated · Published by Tim Kilroy
How fast are marketing agencies growing in 2026?
Average agency revenue growth was 7.5% in 2025, according to Promethean Research, which is about half the long-run average of around 13% seen from 2015 to 2020. Growth peaked at 25% in 2021, then slowed each year to a low of 5% in 2024 before rebounding. These are published industry figures, not Tim Kilroy's own data.
By the numbers
The agency market
| Statistic | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Digital agencies in North America | Over 71,000 | Haus Advisors |
| Agencies saying their growth engine is not strong enough | 93% | RSW/US 2025 Agency Survey, via Haus Advisors |
| Agencies describing their pipeline as very healthy | 14% | SparkToro 2025, via Haus Advisors |
| Average agency growth, 2015 to 2020 | Around 13% a year | Promethean Research |
| Average agency growth, 2021 | 25% | Promethean Research |
| Average agency growth, 2024 low | 5% | Promethean Research |
| Average agency growth, 2025 | 7.5% | Promethean Research |
What these agency numbers mean for owners
The picture is a large, crowded market where most firms feel their growth engine is weak. With over 71,000 digital agencies in North America alone, sounding like everyone else pushes deals toward price. Tim Kilroy's reading is that the fix is rarely more tactics. It is sharper positioning and a sales process the team can run. See how to grow beyond referrals.
By the numbers
The coaching and mentoring market
| Statistic | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Global coaching industry revenue (2025 ICF Global Coaching Study) | $5.34 billion | Tandem Coach |
| Coach practitioners worldwide | 122,974, up 15% since 2023 and 54% since 2019 | Tandem Coach |
| Projected coaching growth through 2028 | 8 to 9 percent CAGR | Tandem Coach |
| Projected coaching market by 2032 | $9.5 billion | Luisa Zhou |
| Typical return per dollar spent on coaching | $5 to $7 | Luisa Zhou |
| Fortune 500 firms running mentoring programs | 98% | Mentorloop |
| Fortune 50 companies with mentoring programs | 100% | Mentorloop |
What the coaching numbers mean
Coaching is a growing field, and the number of practitioners is rising quickly. More choice makes fit matter more. If you are comparing options, read how to read agency coach reviews, then see how marketing agency coaching with Tim Kilroy works and what it costs.
The $5 to $7 return figure describes organizations in general. It is not a promise about any single agency or coach.
Common questions
- Is agency coaching worth the money?
- It is worth it when the coaching fixes a specific constraint that costs you more than the fee. Luisa Zhou’s coaching statistics roundup reports that studies show organizations typically see $5 to $7 back for every dollar spent on coaching. Results for your agency depend on the problem, your follow-through and fit, so agree on one number to measure at the start.
- My agency runs on referrals. Is that a problem?
- Only when you need growth on demand. Referrals reflect past work and relationships, so you cannot turn them up when revenue dips. The RSW/US 2025 Agency Survey, cited on timkilroy.com, found 75% of agencies name referrals as their top new-business source, and 93% say their growth engine is not strong enough. Coaching adds a system alongside referrals.
- What is marketing agency coaching?
- Marketing agency coaching is ongoing guidance for the owner of a marketing, creative or PR agency on the business side of the agency: positioning, lead generation, sales, pricing, hiring and operations. Tim Kilroy’s version starts by diagnosing what is actually broken before prescribing fixes. He reports coaching more than 300 agencies and has worked as a marketing and agency leader since 1997.
- Is coaching better than an online course?
- A course teaches a general framework, while coaching applies it to your agency’s numbers and decisions. Tim Kilroy publishes long free playbooks on discovery, positioning, sales and cash flow, so many owners start there. Coaching earns its cost when you need someone to read your specific situation and tell you what to do next.
- How long until coaching shows results?
- It depends on the constraint. Pipeline math and follow-up fixes can change what you do the following week, while repositioning takes much longer because the market has to notice. Tim Kilroy’s positioning playbook says you can rewrite headlines in a week but repositioning takes years. Agree on one measurable number at the start so you can judge progress honestly.
Numbers are context. Your agency is specific.
Contact Tim Kilroy to find out what your own numbers say.