Setup Certified for Agencies
Setup Certified helps agencies show they have been reviewed against Setup’s standards for experience, proof, capabilities, and readiness.
Apply for free. Pay only if approved.
Why Setup Certified Exists
The agency market is crowded. Prospects often need simple signals that help them understand which agencies are credible, prepared, and worth considering. Setup Certified gives qualified agencies a practical way to show they have been reviewed against Setup’s standards for experience, client proof, capabilities, and readiness.
What it is
Setup Certified helps qualified agencies strengthen first impressions in proposals, outreach, capabilities decks, procurement conversations, and new business meetings. Approved agencies also earn placement in Setup’s private agency database for future fit-based consideration.
What it is not
Setup Certified does not guarantee leads, referrals, introductions, opportunity volume, or acceptance into Sustainable Pipeline. It is a credibility credential and private database placement for qualified agencies that meet Setup’s standards.
Who It’s For
Setup Certified is designed for agencies that want to strengthen credibility, show they have met a Setup-defined standard, and maintain placement in Setup’s private agency database for future consideration when relevant brand needs arise.
It may be right for agencies that are
Setup reviews
Years in business, agency maturity, and relevant client history.
Case studies, testimonials, references, and examples of measurable work.
Core services, specialization, category experience, and ability to support defined client needs.
Professional presentation, responsiveness, positioning clarity, and ability to support future brand conversations.
What Approved Agencies Receive
Approved agencies receive assets, language, and guidance to explain the credential clearly and use it across business development, marketing, and prospect-facing materials.
Credential assets
Approved agencies receive visual assets they can use across their website, agency deck, proposals, landing pages, and marketing materials.
Approved language
Setup-approved language and promotional guidance to explain what certification means, how your agency earned it, and how to use it across announcements, outreach, website copy, and new business materials.
Private database
Maintain placement in Setup’s private agency database for future consideration when relevant brand needs arise.
How It Works
Setup Certified is designed to make the decision-first, payment-second process clear from the start.
Complete the Setup Certified application and share baseline information about your agency’s experience, proof, capabilities, and readiness.
Setup reviews your application against certification criteria.
If approved, your agency completes annual payment based on agency size.
Approved agencies receive usage assets and language to support business development and marketing.
Setup Certified is renewed annually to keep your credential and private database placement current.
Setup Certified Pricing
The Setup Certified application is free. If your agency is approved, you can activate your annual certification through payment.
Pricing ranges from $1,000 to $3,000 per year based on agency size.
Annual certification includes credential status, approved usage assets, and placement in Setup’s private agency database for future consideration when relevant brand needs arise.
Setup Agency Network
Setup works with agencies in different ways based on credibility, readiness, specialization, and growth goals. Setup Certified is designed as an accessible entry point for qualified agencies.
Accessible Entry Point
A credibility credential for qualified agencies that have been reviewed against Setup’s standards and earn placement in Setup’s private agency database for future fit-based consideration.
Deeper Evaluation
A deeper evaluation for agencies that want clarity around ideal client profile, positioning, proof, readiness, and potential fit for a deeper Setup relationship.
Selective Retained Relationship
Setup’s most selective retained agency relationship, built for established agencies ready for deeper alignment and better-fit opportunity consideration.
Setup Certified may be a first step toward deeper engagement, but it does not guarantee Agency Assessment, Sustainable Pipeline Collective acceptance, leads, referrals, introductions, or opportunity volume.
Setup Certified FAQ
Answers to common questions about the credential, application process, pricing, private database placement, and how Setup Certified fits into the broader Setup Agency Network.
A: Setup Certified agencies have been reviewed against defined Setup criteria across experience, proof, capabilities, and readiness. Approved agencies can use the credential publicly and maintain placement in Setup’s private agency database.
A: Your agency can apply for free. Setup reviews the application and, if approved, your agency receives its decision before completing payment.
A: Setup Certified pricing ranges from $1,000 to $3,000 per year based on agency size. Agencies can apply for free and only complete payment if approved.
A: No. Setup Certified does not guarantee leads, referrals, introductions, opportunity volume, or acceptance into Sustainable Pipeline. It is a credibility credential and a way to be included in Setup’s private agency database for future fit-based consideration.
A: No. Setup’s private agency database is used internally to help identify potential agency fit when relevant brand needs arise. It is not a public directory.
A: No. Setup Certified is an annual credibility credential. Agency Assessment is a separate paid program that takes a deeper look at ICP, positioning, proof, readiness, and fit.
A: No. Setup Certified may be a first step toward deeper engagement with Setup, but it does not guarantee acceptance into Sustainable Pipeline. Sustainable Pipeline requires deeper evaluation, strategic fit, and acceptance into the program.
Next Step
Apply for free. If approved, complete payment after receiving your decision and use Setup Certified to strengthen credibility across business development, proposals, and marketing materials.
Start Your Certification Application