Bookkeeping for Marketing Agencies
Bookkeeping Built for
Marketing and Creative Agencies
Client and Project-Level P&L
We track revenue and costs by client and project -- giving you a clear view of which clients and engagements are actually profitable and which are not.
Retainer, Project, and Media Revenue
We account for retainer fees, project revenue, and media pass-through billing correctly -- ensuring revenue is recognized in the right period under your agency's billing model.
Clean Books for a Growing Agency
We handle the financial back office so your team can focus on clients and creative work -- with accurate financials delivered on a consistent schedule.
100+
Successful transactions completed
20+
Years of experience
$5 - 50m
Average size of transaction
$20-200m
Average market cap of clients across tech, manufacturing & services
Bookkeeping for Marketing, Advertising, and Creative Agencies
What makes us different?
Marketing and creative agencies have financial structures that differ from most businesses. Revenue comes from a mix of retainer fees, project billings, and media pass-throughs — each with different billing and recognition patterns. Profitability varies significantly by client and project, and understanding the true economics of each relationship requires tracking costs at the project or client level. Managing cash flow around large media buys and client payment cycles adds additional complexity.
Corviniti provides bookkeeping services specifically designed for marketing and advertising agencies. We maintain accurate, client-level financial records, account for agency revenue structures correctly, and give principals and management teams the financial visibility they need to run a profitable agency.
We work with digital marketing agencies, creative agencies, advertising firms, PR firms, and other marketing services businesses. We understand how agencies earn revenue, how they incur costs, and what financial information is most useful for running the business effectively.
We help with:
- Client-Level Revenue Tracking: Track revenue by client and project to understand the profitability of each account and the overall client mix.
- Retainer and Project Revenue Recognition: Account for retainer fees and project revenue correctly under ASC 606, ensuring revenue is recognized in the right period.
- Media Pass-Through Accounting: Account for media buys and pass-through billing correctly — distinguishing gross media revenue from net agency compensation.
- Project Cost Tracking: Track direct costs — labor, freelancers, production, and vendor costs — by client and project to support accurate profitability analysis.
- Monthly Close and Financial Statements: Execute a complete monthly close and deliver accurate financial statements on a consistent schedule.
- Accounts Receivable Management: Track client invoices, follow up on outstanding balances, and maintain an accurate AR aging report.
- Payroll and Freelancer Cost Recording: Record employee payroll and freelancer costs correctly, allocating them to the appropriate client or cost center.
- Tax Preparation Support: Maintain the financial records your tax advisors need for annual preparation and planning.
Our Bookkeeping Services
Monthly Bookkeeping
Maintain accurate financial records with a clean monthly close that gives you a clear view of agency revenue, client profitability, and overall financial performance.
- Client Revenue Reconciliation: Reconcile billed revenue to client contracts and invoices each period.
- Project Cost Allocation: Allocate direct costs to the correct client and project for accurate profitability tracking.
- Financial Statement Delivery: Deliver accurate monthly financial statements on a consistent schedule.
- AR Aging Management: Maintain an accurate accounts receivable aging and flag overdue client balances.
Cleanup and Catch-Up
Organize and correct historical financial records, reconcile backlogged client accounts, and establish a clean baseline for ongoing bookkeeping.
- Revenue Cleanup: Reconcile historical revenue to billing records and correct misclassified amounts.
- Project Cost Cleanup: Review and correctly allocate historical project costs that were recorded informally.
- AR Cleanup: Resolve outstanding AR discrepancies and produce a clean accounts receivable aging.
Financial Planning & Analysis
Translate accurate financial records into client profitability analysis and forward-looking financial planning for your agency.
- Client Profitability Analysis: Compare revenue and direct costs by client to identify your most and least profitable accounts.
- Agency Gross Margin Reporting: Track gross margin by client, service line, and overall to understand the financial health of the agency.
- Cash Flow Forecasting: Build forward-looking cash projections that reflect client payment cycles, media commitments, and planned hires.
Contact us to discuss scope and pricing for your agency.
Why Choose Us?
Big 4 expertise,
boutique agility
Corviniti provides agency bookkeeping with the technical depth and responsiveness of professionals who understand how marketing and creative agencies actually work — and what financial information matters most for running one.
We work with agencies at every stage of growth
From boutique creative studios managing their back office for the first time to established marketing agencies that need a more organized and accurate accounting function, Corviniti provides the bookkeeping support agencies require.
- Professional Services Experience
- Tax-Preparer Ready Year-Round
- Audit and Due Diligence Ready
- Big Four Experience, Boutique Attention
- Flexible Support That Grows With You
Contact Us To
Learn More
Call: (347) 472-1115
Email: info@corviniti.com
Tell us about your agency and what your current bookkeeping looks like. We will respond within 24 hours.
Learn More From
Frequently Asked Questions
Media pass-through billing requires distinguishing between gross media spend and net agency compensation. We analyze each arrangement to determine whether the agency is acting as principal (recognizing gross media revenue) or agent (recognizing only the net commission or fee). This determination affects how revenue is presented and has a significant impact on reported revenue figures.
Yes. We set up the chart of accounts and cost tracking to allocate revenue and direct costs by client. This gives you a monthly view of gross profit by client — which accounts are contributing and which are consuming more resources than they generate. Client-level profitability is one of the most important financial metrics for running an agency effectively.
Retainer revenue is recognized over the service period as the performance obligation is satisfied — typically ratably over the month or quarter covered by the retainer. We maintain the deferred revenue schedule and ensure retainer revenue is recognized in the correct period, not recognized in full at billing.
Freelancer costs are recorded as direct costs and allocated to the client or project they relate to. We track 1099 contractor payments, maintain the records needed for year-end 1099 filing, and ensure freelancer costs are captured in the project-level profitability analysis.
Yes. Once we have accurate client-level revenue and cost tracking in place, we produce a client profitability report that shows gross profit by account. This is one of the most valuable analyses an agency can do — and most agencies are surprised by what they find.
Yes. We regularly work with foreign private issuers and companies with cross-border structures, including IFRS reporting, US GAAP reconciliations, and multi-entity consolidations for companies with domestic and international subsidiaries.
In most cases, we can begin within a few days of finalizing our agreement. Our KYC and onboarding process is straightforward and does not create unnecessary delays before the actual work starts.
