Are we just busy fools, or are we actually making money? With Rich Brett

ByKelly Molson

In this episode of Lifestyle is a Plan, I’m joined by Rich Brett, FinOps Advisor, helping agency owners understand what’s really going on beneath the numbers, and use financial insight to build calmer, more sustainable businesses.

After nearly a decade working inside agencies, Rich saw first‑hand how often founders were being left unsupported when it came to understanding their finances. Much of his early experience was gained at We Are Social, where he watched the agency scale from 50 to 150 people, leading a six‑person finance team along the way.

Rich now fills a crucial gap between what most accountants and NEDs offer, focusing on FinOps, where finance and operations are aligned to support better decision‑making and long‑term sustainability. Over the past four years, he’s worked with agency owners from £300k up to £10m, helping them improve commercial understanding and look forward, not just backwards.

Rich and I connected over our shared belief that agencies don’t need to grow at all costs to be successful or sustainable – but they do need clarity. This episode is all about FinOps for lifestyle agencies, why forecasting reduces stress, and how understanding the story behind your numbers can change the way you run your business.

What you’ll discover in this episode

  • What FinOps actually is, and why it matters for agencies
  • Why FinOps advice is most impactful for agencies with 1-5 (or 1-10) people
  • Why revenue recognition is more important than most founders realise
  • The key to proactive forecasting (and calmer decision‑making)
  • Rich’s Past, Present, Future structure for understanding performance
  • How to understand rate card margins to protect profitability

If you’re feeling busy but not always confident the numbers stack up, this episode will give you a much clearer way to join the dots.

Listen here

Guest details

Website: https://www.agencyfinops.co.uk/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-brett-36903590/

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Brought to you by

Lifestyle is a Plan is brought to you by me, Kelly Molson – an agency advisor on a mission to support solo founders build the agency they want.

I’m here to show the agency world that “lifestyle agency” isn’t a cop out. It’s the future of sustainable growth.

Join my Lifestyle is a Plan newsletter at kellymolson.co.uk.

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