Top 8 Marketing Agencies for Startups
Ready to grow your business?
Marketing plays a big role in how small businesses grow, but doing it all yourself can be overwhelming. From managing social media and running ads to improving your website and reaching new customers, marketing requires time, skills, and constant updates. That’s why working with the right marketing agency can be a smart move. A good agency helps you focus on what you do best while they handle the strategy, planning, and execution to get real results.
But not all agencies are the same. Some specialize in helping small businesses like yours, offering services that fit your budget, goals, and stage of growth. To save you time, we’ve put together a list of marketing agencies that understand small business needs. Take a look and find one that’s right for you.
1. NoGood (New York)
NoGood is a New York-based growth marketing agency built for startups and scale-ups. They specialize in SEO-driven content, paid media, and conversion rate optimization, with proven success in industries like SaaS, fintech, and e-commerce.
Their standout approach lies in forming dedicated “growth squads” that embed directly with clients, offering custom, test-driven strategies without cookie-cutter packages. Backed by a team of growth hackers, creatives, and data scientists, NoGood fosters a culture of constant iteration and measurable impact.
Recognized by TechCrunch as a “Verified Expert” agency, NoGood reports that 65% of clients double their revenue within six months. Case studies include helping an AI startup gain over 1 million users in 90 days while cutting acquisition costs. Their client list spans from rising startups to major brands like Intuit and JVN Hair, making NoGood a smart pick for founders seeking fast, scalable growth.
2. LYFE Marketing (Atlanta)
LYFE Marketing is an Atlanta-based digital agency that helps startups and small businesses grow through smart, affordable digital strategies. They specialize in social media management, paid advertising, and SEO, core services that boost visibility and drive revenue for early-stage companies.
Their strength lies in leveraging social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google to build brand presence and generate leads. LYFE’s team creates platform-specific content, manages paid campaigns, and optimizes performance to ensure startups get the most out of their ad spend. They also offer SEO, web design, email marketing, and short-form video content for a well-rounded online presence.
With project minimums starting around $1,000, LYFE offers accessible packages that deliver results. Their portfolio spans a wide range of industries, from e-commerce and real estate to healthcare and restaurants, proving their flexibility across sectors. Notable clients include Romeo’s Pizza and Private Label Extensions, both of which saw measurable improvements in traffic and sales.
3. Wallaroo Media (Utah)
Wallaroo Media is a Utah-based digital agency that helps DTC and e-commerce startups scale through a blend of creative and data-driven strategy. Their full-service model includes SEO, paid ads, email/SMS marketing, CRO, and web development, making them a one-stop partner for early growth.
The agency’s startup-friendly approach focuses on ROI and sustainable scaling, with live reporting dashboards and performance-based pricing available for select clients. Their ability to unify SEO, PPC, and email under one strategy is especially valuable for lean teams looking for efficiency and impact.
Wallaroo’s track record includes fast-growing brands like Casper and Acorns, as well as established names such as the NBA and Gatorade. They’re also official partners with platforms like Google, Facebook, and Shopify. Project minimums start around $1,000, offering accessible entry points for startups ready to scale with confidence.
4. Rex Marketing & CX (Austin)
Rex Marketing & CX is an Austin-based agency specializing in growth marketing for healthcare and mental health startups. With a focus on regulated industries, we help practices, clinics, and healthcare companies grow through SEO, content strategy, digital advertising, local SEO, and technical web development, all delivered with an understanding of compliance requirements.
What sets us apart is our niche expertise. We build strategies tailored specifically to the needs of healthcare professionals. From developing authority-building content that speaks to patients to launching geo-targeted ads that drive real appointment bookings, Rex understands what moves the needle in this space. The team has over 20 years of combined experience, with past clients including therapy groups, wellness platforms, and medical startups looking to scale efficiently and ethically.
Startups working with us benefit from a clear, data-backed growth plan that blends organic and paid channels. Our campaigns are performance-driven, measurable, and aligned with your business goals. Monthly retainers typically start around $2,500, depending on your needs, and we offer flexible packages for early-stage companies. If you’re looking for a partner that truly understands your industry and your patients, we’re ready to help you grow.
5. Pork Pixel Creative (San Antonio)
Pork Pixel Creative is a San Antonio-based marketing agency known for blending bold creative energy with serious performance strategy. They specialize in tech-enabled revenue marketing. Pork Pixel helps startups and small businesses turn heads, and clicks, through strategic branding, web development, SEO, and digital advertising.
The agency is skilled at building custom websites. Their team uses tools like Google Tag Manager to track lead source, ensuring clients have complete visibility into what’s working. From optimizing for Google rankings to running high-impact ad campaigns across Facebook, Instagram, and Google Ads, Pork Pixel provides end-to-end support for businesses ready to grow.
Their portfolio spans a wide range of industries, from local service providers and e-commerce brands to niche markets like vape shops and RV repair. Clients consistently praise their creative flair, high energy, and hands-on approach, which makes them a natural fit for founders looking to make a bold entrance in competitive markets.
Project minimums typically start around $1,500, making Pork Pixel Creative an accessible yet strategic partner for early-stage businesses.
6. Neon Ambition (Austin)
Neon Ambition is an Austin-based marketing agency that helps startups and growth-stage businesses generate inbound leads through SEO, content marketing, paid search, and social media. Founded in 2013, the agency takes a data-driven approach to building online visibility and driving long-term growth, with a focus on sustainable, high-quality results.
Their team of under 50 has worked across a wide range of industries, from B2B SaaS to professional services and consumer brands. They’re also a HubSpot Gold Partner. Neon Ambition also brings strength in content strategy and marketing automation, making them a strong fit for startups seeking to build or scale inbound marketing infrastructure. Whether the goal is to rank higher on Google, lower cost-per-lead, or drive more qualified traffic through PPC, Neon Ambition delivers hands-on support and performance-focused outcomes.
Clients include tech startups, law firms, and other service-based businesses looking for dependable growth without fluff. Project minimums typically start around $2,500 per month, offering early-stage companies access to a seasoned team with a proven track record in lead generation.
7. Tuff (Colorado)
Tuff is a Colorado-based growth marketing agency that operates as an embedded extension of startup teams. Founded in 2016, the agency offers a full-stack approach to marketing, covering everything from SEO and content to paid acquisition, video, email, and CRO, built for early-stage companies that need traction without making premature in-house hires.
What makes Tuff stand out is its “in-house style” partnership model. Instead of functioning like a traditional agency, Tuff works with a team of designers and data-driven growth strategist tailored to their business model.
Tuff has worked with startups across software, B2B, and consumer markets, and has earned recognition from TechCrunch and other industry leaders for delivering consistent, measurable results. Tuff provides startups with the guidance and execution needed to grow across multiple channels. Estimated project minimums start around $3,000 per month, making Tuff a scalable choice for startups ready to invest in long-term growth.
8. RUNNER Agency (Dallas)
RUNNER Agency is a Dallas-based digital marketing firm focused exclusively on healthcare and medical startups. With over a decade of experience, RUNNER helps clinics, practices, and healthtech companies attract and convert patients through integrated, regulation-ready marketing strategies.
Their services include local SEO, Google Ads, healthcare-specific content, email/SMS marketing, and medical website development, designed to boost visibility and drive appointment bookings. Whether supporting a telehealth platform or a multi-location clinic, RUNNER delivers campaigns aligned with clinical goals and compliance standards.
What makes RUNNER stand out is its deep expertise in patient acquisition and healthcare marketing. From mental health and fertility to urgent care and rehab, they’ve worked across a wide range of medical niches. With project minimums starting around $2,500 per month, RUNNER offers healthcare startups a trusted partner for measurable, growth-focused marketing.
What to Look for When Choosing a Marketing Agency
Budget Fit - Most startup-focused agencies charge between $1,500–$3,000/month. This typically includes a focused mix of services (like SEO and paid ads). Higher-tier strategies may start around $5,000/month. Ask if they offer flexible packages based on your growth stage.
Hands-On or Hands-Off - Some agencies act as an extension of your team, with a dedicated strategist, regular planning calls, and rapid iteration. Others just deliver assets. Know which model you’re getting before you commit.
Remote or Local - Even remote agencies can be highly effective. But if you’re Texas-based, a team that understands local SEO, market trends, or healthcare regulations may give you an edge.
Onboarding and Reporting - Expect a defined onboarding process and transparent dashboards (e.g. Google Data Studio) with monthly check-ins. If they don’t offer this, it’s a red flag.
Agency vs. In-House - Hiring in-house can cost $6–10K/month for one role. A good agency gives you a cross-functional team for the same spend, with no long-term overhead. Perfect for early-stage growth.
Why Choose Rex Marketing & CX
If you’re a healthcare or mental health startup looking to grow, Rex Marketing & CX helps you get more patients through the door with targeted, compliant strategies that actually convert.
With over 20 years of combined experience, our team understands the challenges of regulated industries and builds campaigns that speak to patients and perform for your business. Plus, we offer flexible pricing to match your growth stage, whether you’re pre-launch or scaling fast.
Book a strategy call to find out how we can help you grow with confidence.
