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The Agency Profit PodcastAuthor: Parakeeto, Marcel Petitpas
Welcome to the Agency Profit Podcast hosted by Marcel Petitpas, CEO and Co-Founder of Parakeeto. Finally, an agency podcast that isn't JUST about getting more clients. On the show, we bring in experts, agency owners and consultants to share their actionable tips for improving profitability and operational efficiency. Here, you'll learn what systems to implement in your business, what kind of KPI's to track, and benchmarks to aim for. How to manage things like capacity, utilization, billing rates, processes and procedures, what tools to use, mistakes to avoid and so, so much more. If you're tired of putting out fires, working long hours, and growing revenue but not profits, you're in the right place. Language: en Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship, Management Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Inside a Boutique Agency Holdco, With Sei-Wook Kim
Episode 223
Tuesday, 5 May, 2026
Points of Interest 00:01 – 00:38 – Introduction: Marcel introduces Sei-Wook Kim, co-founder of Barrel and Barrel Holdings, highlighting his experience building and scaling multiple agencies. 00:38 – 01:31 – What Barrel Holdings Does: Sei-Wook explains their holdco structure, managing a portfolio of independent, specialized marketing agencies with a long-term acquisition strategy. 01:31 – 03:31 – Origin of the Holdco Model: The conversation explores how Barrel evolved from a single agency into multiple businesses through spin-offs and organic opportunities. 03:31 – 04:56 – Shift from Incubation to Acquisition: Sei-Wook shares why they moved from building agencies from scratch to acquiring established firms to accelerate growth. 04:56 – 06:07 – Independent Portfolio vs Roll-Up Strategy: They discuss why Barrel Holdings avoids the traditional roll-up model in favor of independently operated agencies with separate P&Ls. 06:07 – 07:31 – Long-Term Investment Philosophy: Sei-Wook explains their long-term hold strategy, focusing on durability, adaptability, and avoiding short-term exit pressure. 07:31 – 09:09 – Capital Strategy and Self-Funding: The discussion covers their decision to fund acquisitions through internal capital and debt rather than external investors. 09:09 – 12:52 – What Makes an Agency Attractive: Sei-Wook outlines key acquisition criteria, including specialization, recurring revenue, and strong leadership teams. 12:52 – 15:06 – Challenges in Financial Diligence: They break down common issues in agency financials, including inconsistent revenue tracking and unclear cost structures. 15:06 – 17:29 – Understanding True Profitability: The conversation highlights how to normalize owner compensation and adjust financials to reflect true EBITDA. 17:29 – 21:01 – Operating Model and Performance Metrics: Sei-Wook explains their weekly and quarterly cadence, including key metrics like revenue, expenses, and pipeline forecasting. 21:01 – 35:43 – Forecasting, Scaling, and the Impact of AI: The episode closes with insights on forecasting discipline, scaling leadership across multiple agencies, and how AI may reshape agency value and delivery. Show Notes Sei-Wook Kim on LinkedIn Peter Kang on LinkedIn Agency Habits Website Barrel Holdings Website Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
