If you’re serious about growing a real agency — not just a “side hustle” that stresses you out — you’ve gotta build it right from the ground up. 🏗️

This isn’t the sexy, flashy stuff everyone posts about on Instagram.

This is the unsexy but absolutely necessary work that separates real business owners from hobbyists.

On a recent live session, Mario Aldayuz (Head of Partnerships at HL Pro Tools) broke it down perfectly:

👉 If your business isn’t legit on paper, it’s not really a business.

Here’s the short version of what every new (or not-so-new) agency owner needs to hear…

Protect Yourself (And Your Future)

Mario’s #1 advice? Incorporate your business.

I’m talking about setting up a proper LLC or corporation — something that legally separates you from your business.

Why? Because bad things happen even to good entrepreneurs.  Without a legal shield, you’re personally on the hook if something goes wrong. 😬

Black Highlight:

• ✅ An LLC or corporation = protects your personal assets (like your house or car).
  
• ✅ Makes you look way more professional to clients and partners.
  
• ✅ Sets you up for future funding, partnerships, or even selling your agency one day.

Don’t build an empire on a foundation of sand.

Step 2: Get Your Money Right

I get it — you didn’t start an agency because you love spreadsheets and tax codes. Neither did I.

But if you ignore your finances, you’re basically lighting money on fire. 🔥

Mario’s pro tip:
👉 Use accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero to track income and expenses — but don’t stop there.

Hire a CPA.
A real accountant who understands small businesses and can help you:

• 🧠 Maximize deductions
  
• 🛡️ Stay legally compliant
  
• 📈 Plan smarter for growth (instead of guessing)

Black Highlight:

• ✅ Good CPAs save you way more than they cost.
  
• ✅ They’ll help you keep more of what you earn.
  
• ✅ And they’ll keep you out of hot water when tax season hits.

Step 3: Treat Your Agency Like a Real Business

Not a side gig. Not a freelance hustle. A real freaking business.
That mindset shift changes everything.

When you take your agency seriously — when you incorporate, track your finances, and operate like a pro —
👉 Clients notice.
👉 Partners notice.
👉 You start moving differently.

It builds trust. It creates stability. It sets you up for real scaling, not just short-term wins.

Quick Recap (Matt’s No-BS Checklist):

• 🛡️ Set up an LLC or corporation.
  
• 💵 Get an accountant and use bookkeeping software.
  
• 🧠 Act like a CEO, not a freelancer.
  

Do it now while you’re small — it’s 100x easier (and cheaper) than fixing it later when you’re bigger. Trust me. 🙌

Ready to Build Smarter?

If you want real growth — the kind that doesn’t blow up your life — you need the right tools and the right strategy.

That’s why we built HLProTools.com — templates, automations, and shortcuts made specifically for HighLevel users who are serious about scaling the right way.