Meet Angela Hill | Brand Strategy Expert

We had the good fortune of connecting with Angela Hill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Angela, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
As a working Mom with two kids under 2, I knew that I could not sustain an 8am-10pm M-Fri + some weekends work schedule. I had to make a decision. I could either let my husband raise the kids or I could start my own company to get work/life balance. I decided to start my business the year my 2nd child was born…when he was 3 months old! Having two kids in diapers and working in the living room was really hard, but each month got better and I became more successful over time which enabled me to get an office, hire employees, and finally gain the work/life balance that I was looking for. I started completely alone with zero clue regarding how to start up a business. I reached back into my memories of all the agencies where I had worked before and made a list of “what not to do” so I didn’t make the same mistakes they did. Then, I hired a business and sales coach who taught me how to run my business and how to sell in a non pushy way. Here I am now, 16+ years later and still going strong! My business model is 50% project based and 50% retainer based. The retainer revenue covers the expenses like payroll, office rent, insurance, software, office supplies, etc. The project revenue is almost pure profit and I can flex up or flex down based on my team’s capacity. I track utilization (billable hours) per employee and apply that percentage to my COGS. It’s made a huge difference for both my team and I to be focused on utilization because we know what numbers we need to hit to pay the bills, to ensure an even workflow, to take care of clients, when we need to staff up, and for them to ask for a raise!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I run an ROI-driven Branding & Marketing Agency. It’s rare that an agency in my industry truly focuses on the KPIs, profitable outcomes, and best interest of their clients. That’s what makes my firm, Incitrio, different from our competition. We truly care and are invested in the success of our clients.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would have bottomless mimosas looking at the ocean with a great breakfast at Jake’s Del Mar followed by a leisurely walk along the beach. After that, I’d take them on a hike at Torrey Pines and then drive down to Ocean Beach for the best fish tacos in town overlooking the pier. Go for a walk on the pier and wander around OB. Head over to Little Italy to check out the cute shops there and finish the night off at Bencotto with a fantastic risotto made out of a flaming cheese wheel.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Shoutout goes to Carrie Mayers – she is my business coach, friend, and mentor. She’s been with me from the beginning and has always given me excellent advice. I would not be where I am today without her.

Website: www.incitrio.com
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Facebook: @incitrioagency
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