Find qualified agency options worth meeting.

A: Setup starts by understanding your goals, scope, timing, budget, category, internal resources, and what kind of agency relationship would create the most value.

From there, we recommend the model that best fits the need. That may mean introducing you to one of our deeply vetted network agencies, considering a Setup Certified agency from our private database, or conducting a broader Custom Agency Search.

The goal is not to force your need into one model. The goal is to help you find the right-fit agency partner for the work you actually need.

A: Setup may recommend one of three options:

In-Network Search: A faster, often no-cost option for brands whose needs align with agencies in Setup’s deeply vetted network.

Setup Certified private database: A broader private database of certified agencies that may be considered when a brand needs a more specialized, local, boutique, nimble, or project-based partner.

Custom Agency Search: A broader search process for brands with complex needs, highly specific criteria, or situations where the strongest-fit agency may sit outside Setup’s current ecosystem.

A: That is exactly where Setup can help.

Not every brand need requires a large full-service agency. Sometimes the right fit is a boutique agency, specialist, local partner, social-first content shop, website partner, PR firm, or project-based team.

Setup helps evaluate the need first, then recommends the agency model that makes the most sense.

A: Setup Certified is a credential for agencies that have met baseline Setup criteria. For brands, it gives Setup a broader private agency database to consider when a need is more specialized, nimble, local, boutique, or project-based.

Setup Certified does not replace Setup’s deeply vetted agency network. It expands our ability to help brands find the right-fit partner for a wider range of marketing challenges.

A: No.

Setup’s Agency Collective includes agencies that have gone through a more selective evaluation process and may be better suited for larger, more strategic, or broader opportunities.

Setup Certified agencies have met baseline certification criteria and may be considered when a smaller, specialty, or right-sized partner is a better fit.

Both can be valuable. The right choice depends on the brand’s needs.

A: Yes. Setup’s Agency Collective Search and Setup Certified Private Database are free for brands.

The only search that may carry a cost is Custom Agency Search, which is scoped separately when a brand needs broader outreach, deeper research, or a more customized selection process beyond Setup’s existing ecosystem.

Our recommendation is always guided by fit: the right agency, the right scope, and the right partner model for your needs.

A: Timing depends on the complexity of the need.

For many In-Network Searches, Setup can often identify qualified agency options within 1–2 weeks.

A broader Custom Agency Search may take longer depending on the specificity of your criteria, stakeholder needs, category requirements, and whether a more formal evaluation process is needed.

The first step is a conversation so we can understand the need and recommend the right model.

A: After introductions are made, your team leads the agency conversations and decides which partner is the best fit.

Setup can help guide next steps, provide context for the agencies, support feedback collection, and help clarify where things stand as you move through the selection process.

Our role is to make the process easier, more focused, and more aligned from the beginning.