Why Small and Medium-Sized Agencies Are (Almost Always) Better Than Big Ones
Let’s get one thing clear right off the bat: yes, I run a small agency, and yes, I’m going to sound biased. But I’ve worked inside a range of ecommerce agencies across Australia and New Zealand, both big and small, and I’ve seen the same patterns play out behind the scenes more times than I can count.
So here it is. No fluff. Just the reality of what you’re really getting when you work with a large agency vs. a small, high-calibre team.
The Big Agency Coin Flip
Here’s the fundamental problem with big agencies: you have no idea who you’re actually getting.
The beautiful site you saw on their portfolio? That designer might’ve left a year ago. The clever dev solution you liked? It was built by their senior developer who isn’t assigned to your project. That friendly sales guy you clicked with on the call? He’s gone the moment the contract is signed. From there, you’re handed to a PM. Maybe experienced, maybe it’s their first week.
Unless you’re a sexy fashion brand with a huge budget or a big logo that helps them win awards, you’re probably not getting the A-team. You're a mid-tier client on a bloated retainer, and frankly, they’ll staff your project based on availability, not alignment.
And this is not just my opinion. It’s industry standard. Large agencies have high churn and are built on volume. You’re just one of many.
What a Small Agency Does Differently (If It’s a Good One)
Let’s define terms. I’m not talking about a freelance setup with no track record or a random team on Upwork. I’m talking about a smaller agency that:
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Has a portfolio (even if modest) that reflects real client outcomes
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Has testimonials, or better yet, lets you speak to past clients
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Is hungry to grow and deeply motivated to do great work
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Builds everything in-house with a small, skilled team
That last point is key. A good small agency will have one core team, one pod, which means you will get the same designers and developers who worked on the portfolio you saw. There’s no B-team. Everyone is hands-on, and every project matters.
We’re still at the stage where every site we launch has to be excellent because every client still shapes our reputation. You’re not just another invoice. You get real attention.
Same Talent, Lower Overhead
At Playceholdr, everyone on the team has 5+ years of agency experience. We’re the exact same people who used to work at those bigger agencies. Except now we build better stuff, faster, with fewer layers and way less fluff.
The only real difference? You’re not paying for overhead or office politics.
You’re getting senior designers, developers, and PMs. The exact team you’d be lucky to land at a big agency, for half the price.
Don’t Take My Word for It
Think this is just sales talk? Cool. Grab a quote from a big agency, then come to us with the same scope. Compare both the quality of the work and the number at the bottom of the invoice.
If you’ve got a full-scale $300K project with complex requirements and long timelines, a big agency might be the right call. But if you’re looking for a high-quality, beautiful Shopify build with custom functionality, you’ll likely get twice the quality for half the cost from a small, focused agency.
The (Real) Risks of Hiring a Small Agency
Now let’s be fair. Not every small agency is created equal. Just because the team is small doesn’t mean they’re going to deliver amazing results. In fact, there are a few potential pitfalls to watch out for when hiring a smaller or newer agency.
1. Skill Gaps in the Team
Some small agencies are strong in one area but lacking in another. Maybe they’ve got excellent frontend developers, but their UX design is average. Maybe they can design beautifully but don’t offer robust backend development or technical problem solving. Or maybe they say they do SEO, but don’t really understand it beyond a plugin.
That’s why we’ve kept Playceholdr laser-focused. We only do what we’re great at — Shopify design and development. We don’t pretend to be an ERP middleware expert or a full-scale SEO agency. If a project involves deeper integrations, we bring in the right partner or recommend one of our trusted collaborators.
The red flag isn’t that a small agency has limits. Every agency does. The red flag is when they don’t admit it, try to take on everything to close the deal, and then scramble when things fall apart.
2. Taking on More Than They Can Handle
Sometimes smaller agencies say “yes” to everything out of fear of losing the project. It’s not always malicious — they genuinely want to help — but the result is the same: missed deadlines, misaligned expectations, and sometimes a complete breakdown in delivery.
If you want to avoid this, just ask direct questions:
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Have you done this before?
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Can you show me an example?
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Can I speak to a past client with a similar build?
A good agency will welcome that level of transparency. If they hesitate or dodge the question, trust your gut.
Final Thoughts
Big agencies aren’t all bad. But unless you’re one of their highest-paying, most brand-friendly clients, you’re rolling the dice on who actually builds your store. And when you're investing tens or hundreds of thousands into your ecommerce platform, that’s not a gamble worth taking.
A great small agency gives you:
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Direct access to the actual team doing the work
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Talent on par with big agencies (minus the politics)
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Better value for money
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Higher motivation to knock your project out of the park
At Playceholdr, we keep things lean, focused, and honest. We build high-quality Shopify sites with the same people, every time, and we don’t take on work we’re not confident we can deliver to a high standard.
If you’re ready to work with a team that’s experienced, invested, and doesn’t treat you like just another job to get through — get in touch.