Creative and digital agencies face a constant juggling act — balancing client demands, managing projects, and navigating the complexities of service agreements. While legal challenges often seem like the cost of doing business, handling them efficiently and effectively is essential to success. That’s where a fractional general counsel (FGC) can make all the difference.
At Matchstick, we have built a fractional general counsel service tailored specifically to the needs of creative, digital and marketing agencies. For a fixed monthly fee, we handle all of your agency’s service agreement markup and negotiation. Here’s how our FGC service works and why it’s perfect for agencies looking to level up their client contract process.
What Is a Fractional General Counsel?
A fractional general counsel is essentially an outsourced legal department available to your agency on a part-time basis. Rather than hiring a full-time in-house counsel (which can be very expensive) or engaging hourly when issues arise, a fractional general counsel provides consistent, responsive legal support for service agreement markups and negotiations at a predictable cost.
The Benefits of a Fractional General Counsel for Creative Agencies
Predefined Negotiation Targets Improves Outcomes
One of the first things we do for FGC clients is to define good / better / best negotiation outcomes on typical legal issues. This systemizes negotiations and allows us to move quickly and independently on your behalf. Far less back and forth emails. An FGC takes much of the work off your plate.
Fixed Monthly Fee for Budget Predictability
Matchstick’s FGC is a fixed monthly fee determined based on the volume and size of contract negotiations you encounter over a typical year. Prices typically range from $1,500 to $5,000 per month and can be periodically adjusted to reflect your agency’s deal volume.
Prioritized Service and Guaranteed Response Time
Matchstic FGC clients also enjoy prioritized service over non-FGC clients and guaranteed response times. Negotiations for FGC clients are initiated typically within one business day of receiving your request (often same day). Because we’ve determined your desired negotiating outcomes in advance, we can move quickly and efficiently to negotiate for your desired terms.
Expertise in Negotiating Service Agreements
Because Matchstick specializes in drafting and negotiating service agreements for digital agencies, we are able to focus on the issues that truly matter to your agency. We catch the issues you likely are missing, and know where to not waste goodwill and time.
Why This Matters for Agency Growth and Profitability
Consider this: better-negotiated contracts mean fewer disputes, less downtime, and getting to project kickoff (and client deposit) more quickly. This translates to happier clients, faster payment cycles, and a more profitable agency.
Additionally, having an FGC allows you to use service agreement negotiations as a tool to reach business goals. Looking to improve finances? Your FGC can consistently push for items like faster payment terms, bigger deposits, and quicker invoicing. Want to reduce overall risk? An FGC can push for consistent limitations of liability, properly scoped indemnities, and limits on warranties. In short, an FGC can push business objectives consistently through the legal agreements your agency faces.
Is a Fractional General Counsel Right for Your Agency?
Not every agency needs a full-time in-house counsel, but many agencies would likely benefit from consistent representation. So how do you know if a fractional general counsel is right for you?
Here are a few questions to consider:
- Does your agency regularly negotiate service agreements?
- Would your agency benefit from a consistent approach with key business goals in mind?
- Are you frequently waiting for legal feedback, delaying client work?
- Are you looking to streamline legal costs with a predictable monthly fee?
- Do you need a legal partner that understands the nuances of your business?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it may be worth exploring how a fractional general counsel can benefit your agency.
Because FGC clients receive prioritized service, Matchstick has just a few openings available for these types of clients. To find out how an FGC can benefit your agency, please contact us.
