There are nearly 14,000 marketing and advertising agencies in the US. Cumulatively, they employ close to 200,000 people. Most of these agencies are unknown. They have small teams of 25 or fewer people and generate less than $5 million per year. However, some industry giants are as close to household names as agencies can get. In this article, we’ll take a look at the top marketing agencies in the US.
Below you’ll find a list of the 30 largest ad agencies in the US with revenue over $100 million, according to ZoomInfo’s revenue reports. We’ll also explore 11 multi-billion dollar agencies, plus 25 up-and-coming agencies with revenue between $5 million and $50 million.
NOTE: These lists only include agencies that offer a full suite of marketing and advertising services like digital marketing, search engine optimization, web marketing, advertising campaigns, media planning and buying, etc. We’ve also compiled a list of top creative agencies that specialize in branding, website design, and graphic design.
30 Top Marketing Agencies in 2022
1. Publicis Worldwide, $5B revenue
2. OMD Worldwide, $4B revenue
3. VMLY&R, $4B revenue
4. Mindshare, $3B revenue
5. BBDO Worldwide, $3B revenue
6. Ogilvy, $3B revenue
7. TBWA, $3B revenue
8. DDB Worldwide, $3B revenue
9. McCann Worldgroup, $2B revenue
10. Epsilon, $2B revenue
11. Starcomm, $2B revenue
12. MediaCom, $1B revenue
13. Leo Burnett, $1B revenue
14. Edelman, $1B revenue
15. Grey Global Group, $1B revenue
16. Merkle, $1B revenue
17. Universal McCann Worldwide, $1B revenue
18. FleishmanHillard, $850M revenue
19. R/GA, $544M revenue
20. Huge, $408M revenue
21. Razorfish, $406M revenue
22. Wieden + Kennedy, $405M revenue
23. We Are Social, $200M revenue
24. Sid Lee, $184M revenue
25. Crispin Porter & Bogusky, $175M revenue
26. WebFX, $136M revenue
27. 3Q Digital, $130M revenue
28. Droga5, $126M revenue
29. Amp Agency, $125M revenue
30. VaynerMedia, $100M revenue
A Closer Look at the Top 11 Multi-Billion Dollar Marketing Agencies
There are 11 agencies on this list of top marketing companies that generate $2 billion or more each year. Many of them are subsidiaries of much larger holding companies—WPP, Omnicom Group, and Publicis Groupe. They all have a global presence with offices in multiple countries, and their teams range in size from 8,000 to 16,000 employees.
It’s not just their sheer size or industry reputation that dubs them the best marketing agencies. Each of these agencies is showered with numerous awards each year applauding their creativity and effectiveness.
Their capabilities span the gamut from creative planning and execution of digital and traditional marketing campaigns to strategic consulting around marketing technology and customer experience frameworks.
1. Publicis Worldwide
Publicis Worldwide is a global creative agency network within Publicis Group. It provides strategic ideas built on data and technology to drive marketing transformation for its clients.
Capabilities include advertising, brand strategy, customer acquisition, digital marketing, experiential marketing, integrated marketing, mobile marketing, social media, and more.
Quick Facts
- Founded in 1926
- Headquarters in Seattle
- 16,000 team members
- $5 billion annual revenue
Recent Accolades
- Ranked by Cannes Lions as the 4th most creative network in 2021
- Golden Drum Festival Agency of the Year 2021
- Winner of 36 Clio Awards 2021
2. OMD Worldwide
OMD Worldwide is the world’s largest media agency network and is a subsidiary of Omnicom Group. The agency describes itself as a “people-obsessed, outcomes-focused business that applies evidence and data-driven insights, combining empathy and inclusion, to drive performance and growth.”
Capabilities include communications strategy, media planning and buying, marketing planning, and digital execution.
Quick Facts
- Founded in 1996
- Headquarters in New York
- 13,000 team members
- $4 billion annual revenue
Recent Accolades
- Most medaled media agency at Cannes, scoring 38 wins for agencies, including 1 Grand Prix, 5 Gold, 10 Silver, and 22 Bronze awards
- Adweek Global Ad Agency of the Year 2021 and 2020
- Media Leaders Awards Advertising/Media Technology of the Year
3. VMLY&R
VMLY&R is a marketing and communications company that is a subsidiary of the multinational advertising and public relations holding company, WPP.
Capabilities include advertising, digital and social media, sales promotion, direct marketing, and brand strategy.
Quick Facts
- Founded in 1926
- Headquarters in Kansas City, MO
- 13,000 team members
- $4 billion annual revenue
Recent Accolades
- 2022 Pharma Choice Awards Gold Winner in the video category
- VMLY&R Mexico named Agency of the Year at Circulo de Oro
- 100 Score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index
4. Mindshare
Mindshare is a global media and marketing services company that helps businesses forge clear competitive marketing advantages.
Capabilities include performance marketing; media buying; communications planning; eCommerce consulting; ad operations, martech, and adtech consulting; data integrity, reporting systems, and more.
Quick Facts
- Founded in 1997
- Headquarters in London
- 10,000 team members
- $3 billion annual revenue
Recent Accolades
- WARC Media #1 Media Agency Network 2021 and 2020
- MediaPost’s Agency of the Year 2021
- Won 17 trophies at the 2021 Festival of Media Global Awards
5. BBDO Worldwide
BBDO Worldwide is a full-service, global network with more than 200 locations around the world. It started as a small agency named Batten Company, but merged with Barton, Durstine and Osborn to become BBDO in 1928.
Capabilities include brand management, interactive marketing, direct marketing, campaign strategy, and design services.
Quick Facts
- Founded in 1891
- Headquarters in New York
- 15,000 team members
- $3 billion annual revenue
Recent Accolades
- Named Agency of the Year at 2021 Cannes Lions
- Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies 2018-2021
- BBDO Dubai 5th most awarded agency in WARC Rankings Creative 100
6. Ogilvy
Ogilvy is a global advertising, marketing, and public relations agency with 131 offices in 93 countries.
Capabilities include advertising, brand strategy, public relations, influencer marketing, digital transformation, and customer engagement.
Quick Facts
- Founded in 1948
- Headquarters in New York
- 10,000 team members
- $3 billion annual revenue
Recent Accolades
- Named among the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality for eight consecutive years
- WARC Creative 100 World’s Most Creative Agencies 2021
- 2021 LIA Network Global Network of the Year
7. TBWA
TBWA is an independent, privately-owned advertising agency that creates ad campaigns for global brands. The agency is a subsidiary of Omnicom Group.
Capabilities include advertising, brand strategy, social media marketing, media and pr, content marketing, creative strategy, and more.
Quick Facts
- Founded in 1970
- Headquarters in New York
- 11,300 team members
- $3 billion annual revenue
Recent Accolades
- Fast Company’s Most Innovative Ad Agency 2022
- Fast Company’s World's Most Innovative Companies in 2021, 2020, and 2019
- Adweek’s Global Agency of the Year 2021 and 2018
8. DDB Worldwide
DDB Worldwide is a marketing communications network owned by Omnicom Group, Inc. The agency prides itself on conceiving and delivering the unexpected.
Capabilities include strategic planning, research and analytics, account and project management, creative strategy, design, and multimedia production.
Quick Facts
- Founded in 1949
- Headquarters in New York
- 11,000 team members
- $3 billion annual revenue
Recent Accolades
- D&AD 2021 Network of the Year
- ADC Annual Awards 2021 Network of the Year
- Winner of five Gold ANDY Awards 2021
9. McCann Worldgroup
McCann Worldgroup is a leading global marketing services company with an integrated network of advertising agencies in over 120 countries.
Capabilities include advertising, media planning and buying, retail and commerce marketing, PR, influencer marketing, integrated marketing, technology consulting, and more.
Quick Facts
- Founded in 1930
- Headquarters in New York
- 10,000 team members
- $2 billion annual revenue
Recent Accolades
- ACHAP Festival 2021 Agency of the Year
- 2021 Epica Awards Agency Network of the Year
- The One Show’s 2021 #1 Network of the Year
10. Epsilon
Epsilon is a global marketing services provider that dubs itself the “leader in outcome-based marketing.” Its parent company is Publicis Groupe.
Capabilities include data intelligence, customer insights, digital advertising, media planning and buying, digital business transformation, and strategic consulting.
Quick Facts
- Founded in 1969
- Headquarters in Irvine, TX
- 8,000 team members
- $2 billion annual revenue
Recent Accolades
- Media Post 2021 Best in Show
- Highest ranked agency in "The Forrester Wave™ Customer Database and Engagement Agencies, Q1 2021
- 2021 AdExchanger Awards Best Demand Side Technology
11. Starcom
Starcom is a world-renowned media communications agency that harnesses the power of media, technology, and data. It is part of Publicis Media within Publicis Groupe.
Capabilities include media planning and buying, search engine marketing, social media marketing, mobile marketing, martech architecture, data governance, business analytics, influencer marketing, eCommerce and shopper marketing, and more.
Quick Facts
- Founded in 2000
- Headquarters in Chicago
- 7,000 team members
- $2 billion annual revenue
Recent Accolades
- AlconU Marketing Awards 2021 Agency of the Year
- Won three awards at the 2021 Internationalist Awards for Innovative Digital Marketing Solutions
- WARC Media 100 #1 Agency in the World in 2020
25 Up and Coming Marketing Companies to Watch in 2022
The biggest isn’t always the best. With more than 13,000 agencies in the market, surely some of the best marketing agencies have yet to reach $100 million in revenue.
So we turned to Clutch, the leading rating and reviews platform for marketing services providers, to identify some of the best marketing agencies in the US, according to client reviews. Below are 25 marketing agencies that generate somewhere between $5 million and $50 million in annual revenue.
These agencies all have a minimum of a 4.8-star Clutch rating. They might not be the top marketing agencies, but they’re definitely worth watching. We expect to see great things from this group.
1. Metric Theory, 4.9 Stars on Clutch.io, $45M revenue
2. Power Digital Marketing, 4.9 Stars on Clutch.io, $36M revenue
3. Fractl, 4.8 Stars on Clutch.io, $34M revenue
4. Sensis, 4.9 Stars on Clutch.io, $31M revenue
5. Ignite Visibility, 4.8 Stars on Clutch.io, $28M revenue
6. Digital Silk, 5.0 Stars on Clutch.io, $20M revenue
7. Moburst, 4.8 Stars on Clutch.io, $20M revenue
8. Disruptive Advertising, 4.8 Stars on Clutch.io, $19M revenue
9. Firebelly Marketing, 4.9 Stars on Clutch.io, $16M revenue
10. REQ, 4.9 Stars on Clutch.io, $16M revenue
11. Titan Growth, 5 Stars on Clutch.io, $15M revenue
12. JumpFly, 4.9 Stars on Clutch.io, $13M revenue
13. KlientBoost, 4.9 Stars on Clutch.io, $10M revenue
14. SEO Brand, 4.9 Stars on Clutch.io, $10M revenue
15. Social SEO, 5 Stars on Clutch.io, $10M revenue
16. Thrive Agency, 4.9 Stars on Clutch.io, $10M revenue
17. 97th Floor, 4.8 Stars on Clutch.io, $8M revenue
18. Evok, 5 Stars on Clutch.io, $7M revenue
19. Bastion Elevate, 5 Stars on Clutch.io, $6M revenue
20. Grafik Marketing Communications, 4.8 Stars on Clutch.io, $6M revenue
21. Gummi Cube, 5.0 Stars on Clutch.io, $6M revenue
22. Razor Rank, 5 Stars on Clutch.io, $6M revenue
23. Silverback Strategies, 4.8 Stars on Clutch.io, $6M revenue
24. AdVenture Media Group, 4.9 Stars on Clutch.io, $5M revenue
25. WEBMECHANIX, 4.8 Stars on Clutch.io, $5M revenue
How Can Up-and-Coming Agencies Scale to $100M?
Agencies can be one of the most difficult business models to scale. Leaders face several challenges in their quest to move beyond 7-figure revenue numbers. Most of the agencies that turn to Mosaic are struggling in a few core areas.
- Maintaining the right balance of staff and clients. Marketing agencies struggle with high turnover, both for employees and clients. Agency leaders have to scale their talent in order to support a growing book of business but can sometimes lose multiple clients simultaneously. On the other hand, they may have a full book of business and then lose several team members at once. Given that hiring and customer acquisition are both costly aspects of growing an agency, agency owners can often relate to the adage of taking two steps forward and two steps back.
- Scaling services at the appropriate time. Agencies are often put in the predicament of agreeing to services that they aren’t immediately prepared to fulfill. This is typically driven by client needs and the fact that it’s hard to say no to new business. However, specializing in a limited number of marketing tactics certainly limits the opportunity for growth. Agencies need a strategic approach to scaling services that are aligned both with customer demand and internal capacity.
- Maximizing profit margins. HubSpot reports that the average agency’s profit margins range from 11 to 20% compared to average profit margins of 36% across all industries. Numerous factors are at play here. Pricing certainly comes into play. It’s also driven by improper project scoping, the inability to manage scope creep, lack of time-tracking, the inability to fully utilize team capacity, and more.
Technology can be instrumental in solving these core challenges. This article explains the top tools that digital agencies are using to scale their operations. Specifically, resource management software gives agencies complete workforce visibility so they can schedule resources, optimize project planning, forecast workload, improve efficiency, and increase profit.
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