Should a contractor hire a marketing agency or do it themselves?
Short answer
Do it yourself if you have the time to learn and the patience for a slow ramp — the fundamentals (Google Business Profile, reviews, a decent site) are learnable. Hire out when your time is worth more on the tools or closing jobs than on marketing, or when you want results faster. The real question isn't cost — it's whether an hour spent on marketing beats an hour spent running your business.
A simple decision rule
- DIY the basics that don't need expertise: claim and complete your Google Business Profile, ask for reviews, keep your NAP consistent.
- Hire out the compounding, technical work: local SEO, a converting website, ad management, and lead qualification.
- Check the pricing model — ask any agency for a clear monthly fee, what ad spend is on top, and whether it's month to month, which makes the hire-vs-DIY math a lot easier.
UpdatedJul 14, 2026