Big agencies excel at multi-market corporate programs. Boutique firms excel at senior attention, speed, and fit for leaders who are still building name recognition.
If your monthly communications budget is under five figures, you rarely need a 40-person account team. You need a clear strategy, a tight media list, and operators who answer the phone.
Score vendors on: strategic clarity, category experience, reporting transparency, cultural fit, and total cost of coordination — not just logo slides.
Hybrid models work too: retain a boutique for core brand and media, then bolt on specialists for video production or paid amplification when campaigns spike.
Our retainers start at $1,500/month precisely so small leaders can access integrated PR without enterprise lock-in.