Agency vs Consultancy: What You Really Need

Many believe the choice is between strategy (consultancy) or execution (agency). But what if you could have both in one partner? 

Understanding the Difference: Agency vs Consultancy

Although both work with businesses to improve performance, they do it in different ways:

• Agencies focus on execution and deliverables — running campaigns, designing websites, creating content, and managing delivery.

• Consultancies focus on strategic insight and high-level planning — helping you define the right approach, avoid wasted effort, and make smarter investments. 

Traditionally, you would pick one or the other. But in reality, long‑term success often requires both strategic direction and precise execution. 

Why a Consultancy That Can Deliver Is Different

The problem with many consultancies is that they stop at the advice stage.

The problem with many agencies is that they jump into action without the right strategy.

The ideal solution is a partner who can design the right plan and deliver it effectively, covering areas such as:

• Growth – market positioning, revenue expansion, and business scaling strategies

• Digital – website design, SEO, paid advertising, content marketing, and online optimisation

• Operations – process improvement, team enablement, and workflow efficiency

• Fulfilment – ensuring smooth and consistent customer experiences

This combination removes the disconnect that often happens when strategy and delivery are split across different providers. 

Agency vs Consultancy: The Key Differences

When an Agency May Be Right for You

An agency may suit your needs if you:

• Already have a clear strategy in place

• Need specialist execution for creative or technical work

• Want to outsource tactical tasks quickly without long-term planning support

When a Consultancy May Be Right for You

A consultancy is a better fit if you:

• Need clarity on direction before committing resources

• Want independent advice not tied to upselling execution work

• Require holistic planning to align teams, budgets, and priorities

The Power of a Combined Model

You don’t have to choose between agency vs consultancy.

A combined model means you get the strategic depth of a consultancy with the hands‑on capability of an agency, all from a single trusted partner.

This approach ensures you avoid:

• Strategy gaps caused by execution‑first providers

• Execution delays from strategy‑only advisors

• Miscommunication between separate suppliers

Instead, you gain one partner committed to your long‑term success.

Why Novara Is Different

At Novara, you don’t have to choose agency vs consultancy, we are a consultancy with the capability to deliver the work as well.

We start with a deep understanding of your business, market, and goals. Then we design the strategy that will get you there. Finally, we deploy our expert teams across growth, digital, and operations to make it happen.

This approach means you avoid: 

• Strategy gaps (common with agencies that skip the planning stage)

• Execution delays (common with consultancies that can’t deliver directly)

• Miscommunication between separate providers

Instead, you get a single partner committed to results.

What You Really Need

The agency vs consultancy decision only matters if you believe you have to pick one. The truth is, businesses grow best when strategy and execution work together, but only if both are grounded in real‑world operational reality. 

At Novara, we approach growth differently because we’ve been previous operators. We’ve run businesses ourselves, so we know that success isn’t just about creative campaigns or polished strategies. It’s about making sure the back end can support the front end. 

Before we recommend action, Novara looks at the factors many overlook:

• Does the business have the financial health to sustain and scale campaigns?

• Can the operations, systems, and team capacity handle a surge in demand?

• Is fulfillment ready to deliver consistently under pressure?

This means our strategies aren’t just ambitious, they’re achievable, sustainable, and built for long‑term results.

If you’re aiming for growth that lasts, clear direction you can trust, and measurable results without juggling multiple providers. Choose Novara: a partner who not only plans and executes, but also understands the operational engine that powers your business.