Really?
No triple bid.
No staffing plan.
No reconciliation.
Fixed fee
100% advanced billings.
Slow job cost reconciliation.
Poor Agreement language.
Old Agreement.
No examples / templates.
No breakout of retainer vs. out-of-scope fees.
No agency reporting of costs / hours.
Programmatic supply chain not understood.
Use of in-house agency services, no rate sheet.
Use of in-house agency services, not reconciled.
Freelance billed at full retainer rate.
Interns billed at full retainer rate.
Credits held.
Low Full Time Equivalent basis.
High Rate per hour. No fee detail. Non arms-length use of affiliate.
Mark-up applied.
Float. Kick-back. Favored expensive suppliers.
Duplicate charges.
Time reported doesn’t match time system.
Overpayments.
Luxurious Travel.
Gifts.
That’s the short list.
Don’t let this happen to your critical marketing dollars.
Update and lock down financial terms in Agreement.
Tighten up definitions.
Enhance Agency reporting required.
Perform routine spot checks.
Follow the money to the ultimate end user.
Vet Agreement with ANA template.
Ask the Experts.
Maintain consistence of control and visibility across the Marketing supplier network.
Maintain trust but validate Agency financial activity.
Strengthen the Agency relationship through understanding and alignment.
Really.