Agency Growth Coach · 5× Founder & 2× Exits

I help agency owners build a business worth operating and selling.

Two agencies built and sold. 50+ agency owners coached. $60M+ in collective revenue added. I've done what I teach — and I only work with a handful of clients at a time.

If you run a digital services agency doing $100k–$500k and you're ready to break through the plateau, I can help. I've been exactly where you are.

John Doherty
2
Agencies Built & Sold
50+
Agency Owners Coached
$60M+
Revenue Added Collectively
15+
Years in Agencies
My Story

I've built what you're building. I've sold both of them.

I started as a web developer, then moved to Switzerland where I discovered marketing. I became an internationally-renowned SEO consultant, eventually working in-house at Zillow for two years before getting laid off.

That layoff became the best thing that ever happened to me. I built my SEO consultancy to $250k a year within three months. Then I built Credo, my first agency, to $48k/month and sold it to private equity. I built my second agency, EditorNinja, to that same level 3× faster and sold it to our biggest competitor.

I almost went bankrupt twice along the way. Pulled it out both times.

Now I do what I'm best at: helping micro-agency owners scale past the plateau, install real systems, and build a business that's profitable, sellable, and gives them their life back. I've made every mistake so you don't have to.

One of my clients told me a few weeks in: "I feel much more focused on what I need to do. Ideas had been bouncing around in my head, but I hadn't brought them out." That's what I do. I pull the clarity out of you that's already there, and I help you act on it.

Sold Credo to PE, 2022 Exited EditorNinja, 2025 $5M+ sold personally Zillow / Distilled alum Denver, Colorado
John Doherty and family in Chamonix
Build a Great Business. Live an Amazing Life.

That's the whole point.

Family at glacier Hiking in Chamonix Steep skiing Eiffel Tower, Paris At the Louvre, Paris Family at L'Abri John in the Burren, Ireland John and Courtney in Puerto Rico
How I Work With You

A system built for every stage of agency growth

Each offering is designed for where you are right now. Not a one-size-fits-all program — a complete ecosystem.

Flagship

1:1 Executive Coaching

Deep, personalized support for agency owners doing $200k+ who want to double revenue and build something sellable within 3–5 years.

  • Strategy & execution support
  • Async access between sessions
  • $20,000+ in frameworks & templates
  • Real accountability that works
Learn more →
I'm protective of my capacity. Application only.

Workshops

Focused sessions on the specific levers holding back your growth — pricing, sales, positioning, and more.

  • Targeted to specific challenges
  • Actionable frameworks you use immediately
  • Group learning & peer community
See upcoming workshops →

The Independent Operator

An 8-week hands-on program to turn your stable solo business into a predictable, scalable agency.

  • For solopreneurs capped on growth
  • Build predictable revenue systems
  • Work on what you love, delegate the rest
Learn more →
Coming Fall 2026.
Client Results

Real numbers from real agency owners

$600k → $4M
Over 2 years after restructuring his sales process and positioning.
Jake
$1M → $5M
Agency revenue growth through better pricing and systems.
Brandon
$2.5M → $8M
Three partners who scaled together over two years.
Partnership
$7k → $18k/mo
In 5 months. Fewer clients, 3× profit.
K & A
$10k → $26k/mo
Revenue growth in just 5 months.
Kevin
1 → 8 calls/mo
From $8.6k to $13.6k/mo in just six weeks.
Jim
In Their Words

Don't take my word for it

Working with John was truly invaluable. He helped me bring clarity and structure to ideas that had been living in my head for years, while guiding me toward a new, aligned revenue stream with confidence and intention. Worth every single dollar.
Akvile DeFazio
Akvile DeFazio
Founder, Akvertise
John is the guy you want to talk to if you are struggling with scaling your business. He brings clarity to chaos and will be extremely helpful in directing your agency business towards profitability and optimized operations.
Zawad Iftikhar
Zawad Iftikhar
Founder, Sly Marketing
After being in business for 20 years, I wanted a real expert who understands the agency business to review our marketing and sales with an objective eye. His expertise and clear recommendations made a real difference.
Nick Stamoulis
Nick Stamoulis
Founder, Brick Marketing
John gave me suggestions that really worked. He loves numbers — and business is numbers. The clarity I got from our sessions changed how I make decisions every day.
Davit Tsilosani
Davit Tsilosani
Founder, 10xSEO
I came to John when I had agency challenges and needed strategic insight. With John's background, I always know what he shares comes from real field experience. He also holds space for the personal parts of life that are always tied to business.
Bunty Somroy
Bunty Somroy
Marketing/AI Consultant & Entrepreneur
John helped me bring clarity to my discovery calls and services structure. I learned to position myself to market to a younger version of me — and I'm now doing a full overhaul of my proposals because of it.
Emily Merritt
Emily Merritt
Founder & Growth Strategist, Clearlead Marketing
Writing & Thinking

Latest articles

View all →
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship · Nov 2025

The Solopreneur to Entrepreneur Transition

I work directly with expert solopreneurs to help them make this shift, to build a small agency that supports their lifestyle and leaves them with…

Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship · Dec 2024

Rest At The End, Not In The Middle

“Rest at the end, not in the middle.” This is a quote from the late Kobe Bryant, which has been my phone lock screen for…

Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship · Jun 2024

More Work, Sooner – The Secret to Success

There’s a concept that has served me well throughout my career that I’ve never been able to voice before until now. It’s the concept that…

Free Chapter

The playbook for growing your agency from $100k to $500k

I'm writing the book I wish existed when I was building my first agency. It covers the exact frameworks, systems, and mindset shifts that get micro-agencies past the plateau.

Enter your email and I'll send you the first chapter free — plus weekly insights from 15 years in the trenches.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
The $500k Book by John Doherty
Ready to grow?

Stop figuring this out alone.

You've already proven you can run an agency. Let's make it a lot more profitable — and a lot less stressful.

Apply for Coaching
6 questions Takes 2 minutes For agencies doing $100k+/yr I'll reach out if you're a fit