From Start-Up to Sale. Helping Agency Owners Achieve Their Goals at Every Stage of Their Firms.

This is the true story of a woman-owned public affairs agency which grew from start-up to successful sale. The firm’s location, name and owner’s name have been changed for the purposes of confidentiality.

From student to start-up.

Growing up near New York City, Ellen Reddington first became interested in public affairs as a journalism major in college. She had quickly become intrigued with the importance and complexity of shaping perceptions for causes, policies, civic issues, the political landscape and more.

Ellen’s father ran his own promotional marketing agency while her mother had created a profitable business in building supplies. As the daughter of two entrepreneurs, Ellen was anything but risk averse. So, after six years post-college of working for someone else, she decided to launch her own public affairs firm.

On April 26, 2002, Reddington Solutions proudly opened its doors in Albany. NY with Ellen, two business associates and her dog.

The challenges posed by growth… and finding a solution.

For the next 16 years, Ellen and her expanding team slowly but surely grew the agency. Like most firms, they experienced periods of flat or even decreased revenue due to economic cycles or client loss. However, through both talent and sheer dedication, Reddington Solutions’ long-term trend was steadily positive.

As the years went by, Ellen became clearly aware of three very important considerations.

First, as Reddington Solutions became larger and more successful, she kept re-setting her goals higher and higher. Second, she recognized that, despite the firm’s growth over time, she was essentially self-taught as a CEO. Third, she worried that the firm might have already grown beyond her personal ability to effectively manage it to ever higher levels of revenue and profitability.

Ellen began searching for a reliable agency expert whose deeper experience and broader perspective could provide her with objective advice and ongoing counsel. Through her business network, she was introduced to Prosper Group, the national consultancy for marketing and communications firms.

Driving agency performance and growth to the next level.

Their business relationship began in 2018 with Prosper Group’s My Business Confidante service offering. Each month, one-to-one discussions were conducted regarding whatever complex or thorny issues Ellen might be facing at that time. These included Reddington Solutions’ competitive differentiation, staffing challenges, pricing structure and more.

At the end of each call, they agreed upon next steps, a timetable and accountability. This helped Ellen keep next steps top-of-mind and on track rather than running the risk of getting lost amid the sheer business of her day-to-day activity.

From that trust-building starting point, Prosper Group’s role and contributions grew to include rebuilding the agency’s senior leadership team and significantly increasing Reddington Solutions’ operational efficiency.

By 2024, revenue had doubled to $7.5 million annually while the number of employees grew by only 50% (thanks to now being more efficient). Profits jumped accordingly.

Achieving a successful exit and sale.

That year, Ellen decided it was time to start planning her exit from the agency.

Working with Prosper Group during the next two years, they ensured that Reddington Solutions was fully prepared to maximize its sale price while allowing her to leave on her own terms and timing. Prosper Group handled all aspects of finding multiple high-quality buyers who competed to make this highly attractive acquisition, negotiating on Ellen’s behalf and securing a highly successful outcome in early 2026.

To learn more about Prosper Group’s My Business Confidante, click here.

For how to maximize the sale value of your agency, click here for Part 1 and herefor Part 2.

We’re here to help you succeed.

Prosper Group exists to help the owners of independent marketing and communications agencies achieve their ambitions and maximize the value of their life's work.  

We work with agency owners to overcome challenges and take advantage of opportunities in virtually every area. These include strategic planning, competitiveness, revenue growth, business development, financial management, attracting and retaining top talent, succession, exit planning, M&A and, ultimately, successfully exiting their firms.

Our team of former agency leaders and owners focus their deep experience on implementing proven proprietary methodologies across our three practices of agency performance, owner exit planning and M&A transactions in order to drive owner and agency success.

To learn more about us, please visit our Services page.