Anyone willing to share their typical headroom for their creative department? Or best headroom ever, percentage-wise? Asking for a friend.

like
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

Ayy we got a real business school grad over here. Mr numbers

likefunny

Well I’m 6’0 and our ceilings are around 16ft +/- and you figure the avg for all is around 5’9 so we have about 10’3ft of headroom.

funnylike

What

likehelpful

Yes margin. My agency is pushing for a larger margin and I don’t think that’s possible so I need more examples. Someone please help.

Since nobody is answering your question and they’re just making fun of you, I’ll try to tell you what I know, which isn’t much.

I’m a creative, not a business person. I currently work freelance and got to peek at the budget numbers that someone shared by mistake with me on a folder that had other stuff.
I’m working with a partner and we both were curious how much the agency was making off of us. We were getting a decent rate. The budget for this particular project had what they were charging the client for our time, plus the agency staffers which were a CD, a couple account people, a strategist. This was for the creative conception phase. Then the production budget. They were charging the client for people who were not touching the project. At least when we started it. Some may have been there in the earlier exploration phases, but we never saw them, except in a project pitch deck with their bios. These were higher up account directors and a GCD. The strategist was there for one meeting where he basically approved everything we did and had zero comments. That was the last time we saw him.
Anyway, after all those costs taken out (really just the people who were actually working on the project in the concept phase, and the production budget), there was about the same amount for “agency fees”. So it was basically a 100% markup.
Which seemed a little insane to me. But I’m not familiar with those numbers and have no comparison. I don’t know if this is the norm or not.

like

ACD2 - The norm for freelance rates is generally 50% of the client billed rate. I’ve seen this at multiple agencies.

Not all of that other 50% is profit tho. It pays for agency overhead as well - non billable staff, non billable time (like internal projects + management), software licenses, tech, agency expenses, etc.

helpful

Max Headroom?

like

Margin?!?

Unfortunately I haven’t found a room to get head. Not enough office space anymore. Wby?

I need examples to show my boss an average creative department margin. Please anyone help.

This is really a question for finance and hr and heavily reliant or the clients scope which is different for all.

like

Do you mean overhead? Like, how much is the agency spending just to keep the literal lights on?

Related Posts

Those in the Bay Area, what’s your title & total comp breakdown between base salary & stocks? And is it expected to change if you move outside the bay? I can start ⤵️

like

Pizza I assembled... (not from scratch)

Post Photo
likeuplifting

Can you practice for leetcode without knowing how to code?

like

What are the biggest challenge going back to the office?

likeuplifting

Hi everyone, I'm eager to get some B.A or Project experience, having recently achieved my certification in Agile Project Management and I’m looking for new opportunities as a Project Administrator or Coordinator. I am experienced in project administration, sales, and PA work. I'm especially interested if anyone has any roles (remote or hybrid) in the U.K. Thanks in advance!

like
like

What would you do? I took sick time for half a day about a month or so ago. Couldn’t clock out appropriately because my keyboard had broken right as I was shutting everything down. Texted my boss to let him know and made arrangements the next day with a new keyboard to make sure that time was accounted for appropriately. However, I find out later that my coworker had somehow gotten ahold of my time clock info and had been using it for years to check on my clock in/out times and saw that I (1)

When is it OK to ask for a partner swap? I've been working with a super fun Jr. AD for four months, but I feel like I'm pulling most of the weight + that we aren't bringing out the best in each other.

like

Hi All,

What is the advantage and disadvantage of working in SAP labs as external worker

like

I have heard lay off happens in CitiusTech, is anyone aware about this

like

Is anyone hiring in healthcare/biotech for marketing/strategy roles? Have ~2 YOE at top medical device companies

like

Hey all,
So I’m currently interviewing for another position, to be a business development specialist at a relatively large tech company in PA. I have about a years worth of experience. Indeed estimates the salary to be between 60k-80k, I was wondering what I should expect?

Full time creatives who freelance: how do you get these freelance opportunities?

Currently working full time and have no intention of going fully freelance any time soon, but would love to know the best places/sites to look for these freelance opportunities that allow you to do your full-time responsibilities on top of some freelance work.

likehelpful

Anyone have insight how long it will take after a panel interview to get word on whether the position is going to be offered or not? Recommendations on follow ups with HR to find out status?

like

Does anyone know on average how many people apply to military pharmacy residencies annually? I would like to gauge my chances before I spend money on the application.

like

Are any bankruptcy lawyers having to do work outside their practice area during these times? I have zero partner supervision and don’t know how to do like diligence for finance deals..

like

I'm looking to improve my communication skills to navigate a very political environment better (i.e. I need to be more diplomatic). Any books recommendarions are appreciated 💁🏼‍♀️

like

Anyone here work on Microsoft Word as a PM? Why can’t you autosave a doc regardless of it being in onedrive/hard drive/other cloud location?

like

Additional Posts in Advertising

newly-promoted ACD salary in NYC?

like

What’s the best social media hack campaign ?

like

Project Managers. Are any of your companies hiring a junior PM? I've been looking and not having a ton of luck.

like

Have you ever got caught freelancing for another agency while you’re full time at different one?

like

It's the end of an era: what's your favorite thing about Obama? #ObamaFarewell

like

Are CPGs pushing more faux-health benefits than before?
Or is society catching up to the bs?

Post Photo
like

When is it OK to ask for a partner swap? I've been working with a super fun Jr. AD for four months, but I feel like I'm pulling most of the weight + that we aren't bringing out the best in each other.

like

Full time creatives who freelance: how do you get these freelance opportunities?

Currently working full time and have no intention of going fully freelance any time soon, but would love to know the best places/sites to look for these freelance opportunities that allow you to do your full-time responsibilities on top of some freelance work.

likehelpful

Can someone explain how billable hours work? At a new agency and although I had to fill timesheets at my previous agencies, they were mainly used to ensure we weren’t over servicing a client/for setting the appropriate retainer for contract renewals. I asked ppl at my agency but haven’t gotten a proper explanation. I get the impression that billing to the agency admin code isn’t recommended, and my manager said he bills everything to client codes, but that doesn’t make sense to me .

like

Do you guys use stock music sites for clients with no budget? How do you sway them to use original tracks, even for social?

like

Wendys twitter interactions are pure gold.

like

If I grow an awesome, thick beard of flowing chestnut hair, will I look highly creative?

like

I got recruited for a analytical role with Ford, it’s a contract to hire position with great benefits, double my salary currently and close to home. The contract is for 6 months then can be hired in full time. Should I take the position or no? What do I have to lose?

like

Which do you prefer?

“Give me a deadline and I’ll get the work done”
or

“when I get this done I’ll let you know and we can figure out when the client will see it.”

like

Here’s to hoping the start of the new Serena Lincoln navigator ad is the end of the Mathew mcconaughey Lincoln Navigator ads

likefunny

Not many people seem to care about those agency of the year titles anymore. Especially in the past 2 to 3 years. Even to the winners. Right?

like

Wavemaker Any insights on wavemaker canada team. In the interview phase but want to know is it worth switching from a small agency to here. How is the Loreal team bdw. How is the overall culture and work life balance.

like

Why do people in this industry say "like" so much? It makes it annoying to, like, walk around the building and listen

like

Without asking or confirming, account lead booked an in-person client meeting that requires travel. Who books ~any~ major client meeting without first checking with the team ?

like

What y'all know about Space150?

like

New to Fishbowl?

Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
  • Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
  • Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
  • Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.

Already a user?
Login here

Share

Embed this post

Copy and paste embed code on your site

Preview

Download the
Fishbowl app

See what’s happening in your industry
from the palm of your hand.

A phone with Fishbowl app

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

Download app

Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Already have an account? Log in

Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use(New) and Privacy Policy(New)
Messaging rates may apply

Already have an account? Log in

For account settings, visit Fishbowl on Desktop Browser or

General

Legal