{"id":5275,"date":"2023-09-07T14:13:04","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T14:13:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/?p=5275"},"modified":"2024-06-14T10:17:11","modified_gmt":"2024-06-14T10:17:11","slug":"agency-capacity-planning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning","title":{"rendered":"Agency capacity planning: 11 steps to better margins"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Capacity planning plays a key role in agency profitability. Do it well and you\u2019re looking at some healthy margins and business growth. Do it less well? Now, you\u2019re looking at some serious employee, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agency-culture\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">culture<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and workflow problems, not to mention declining client happiness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Safe to say, there\u2019s a lot riding on <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">agency capacity planning<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. So from strategies to best practices, we\u2019re here to help.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">In this article \ud83d\udcd6<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning\/#What-is-agency-capacity-planning\" >What is agency capacity planning?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning\/#3-key-benefits-of-agency-capacity-planning\" >3 key benefits of agency capacity planning<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning\/#5-types-of-agency-capacity-planning\" >5 types of agency capacity planning<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning\/#Agency-capacity-planning-strategies\" >Agency capacity planning strategies\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning\/#How-to-do-agency-capacity-planning-in-11-steps\" >How to do agency capacity planning in 11 steps<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning\/#4-agency-capacity-planning-best-practices\" >4 agency capacity planning best practices<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning\/#Agency-capacity-planning-example-scenario\" >Agency capacity planning example scenario<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning\/#Agency-capacity-planning-The-path-to-profit\" >Agency capacity planning: The path to profit<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What-is-agency-capacity-planning\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">agency capacity planning<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agency <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/resource-capacity-planning-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">capacity planning<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is about optimizing <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/resource-allocation-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">resource allocation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to ensure that your agency can meet project demands, improve <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agency-efficiency\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">agency efficiency<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, increase profitability, and deliver on client expectations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In other words, are the right people available, and do you have enough of them?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not only can agency capacity planning help you forecast the employee numbers you\u2019ll need to complete future projects. But it can also help you to maximize profits while <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agency-burnout\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">preventing burnout<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at the same time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3-key-benefits-of-agency-capacity-planning\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 key benefits of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">agency capacity planning<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are many benefits for your agency when it comes to capacity planning. From increased productivity to improved client satisfaction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But the core benefits that ultimately lead to many other advantages are these:<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Optimized utilization rates<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Capacity planning is all about optimizing allocation and utilization. You want to get the right people on the right projects while preventing overloading or underutilizing employees.<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Increased efficiency\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Capacity planning promotes efficiency by preventing resource bottlenecks and idle time. When resources are allocated optimally, projects can progress smoothly, reducing delays and rework.<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Improved profitability<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Efficient capacity planning can improve profitability by reducing resource waste and cost overruns. Plus, it\u2019ll help you better estimate project costs and allocate resources effectively to maximize margins.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3X6lT4Q\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-6582 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-943x242.jpg\" alt=\"A rectangle shaped banner in purple featuring a 3D book cover with a prompt to download an eBook about resource planning for agencies.\" width=\"943\" height=\"242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-943x242.jpg.webp 943w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-1042x268.jpg.webp 1042w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-1536x395.jpg.webp 1536w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-310x80.jpg.webp 310w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1.jpg 1836w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-310x80@2x.jpg.webp 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 943px) 100vw, 943px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5-types-of-agency-capacity-planning\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5 types of agency capacity planning<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on your agency\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agency-team-structure\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">team structure<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agency-workflow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">workflows<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and project needs, there are different types of approaches to capacity planning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are five of the most common approaches:<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Resource-based<br \/>\n<\/b>In this approach, agencies assess their available resources, including employees, skills, and <a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/features\/equipment-management-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">equipment<\/a>, to determine their capacity for taking on new projects. It involves evaluating the skills and availability of team members to match them with project requirements.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Project-based<br \/>\n<\/b>Agencies may plan their capacity on a project-by-project basis. They assess the resource requirements of individual projects and allocate resources accordingly. This ensures that each project has the necessary resources to deliver <a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/drive-project-success\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">project success<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Client-based<br \/>\n<\/b>Agencies may allocate resources based on client priority or account value (in other words, how much they\u2019re paying you). High-value clients or long-term contracts may receive priority in resource allocation to maintain <a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/client-agency-relationship\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">strong client relationships<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Time-based<br \/>\n<\/b>Time-based capacity planning focuses on scheduling resources over specific time periods, such as daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly. It ensures that there\u2019s a balance between resource availability and project timelines.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Growth-based<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Growth-based capacity planning aligns capacity with long-term agency growth objectives. It involves evaluating resource needs over an extended time period and making strategic investments in talent and infrastructure.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Agency-capacity-planning-strategies\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agency capacity planning<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> strategies\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are the three capacity strategies you can use to increase agency productivity and meet client demands.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lead strategy\u2014Forecast future resource demands<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This method involves focusing on future client demands. For instance, you hire five new employees because you anticipate more demand. The downside to this bold method is that you can end up with many employees and little work because your predicted demand increase didn\u2019t happen.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lag strategy\u2014Respond to resource demands as they happen<br \/>\n<\/b>The lag strategy is reactionary as you respond immediately to client demands. Let\u2019s say you receive a request for design work, so you quickly hire one extra designer. However, if there is an increasing demand for your work, you might struggle to find freelancers quickly enough. This issue is where the lag strategy got its name.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Match strategy\u2014Monitor and adjust resource demand<br \/>\n<\/b>As a combination of the lead and lag strategies, the match strategy involves careful monitoring of the current demands on your agency. You might also watch demand planning estimates and try to keep an eye on market developments.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s common to use a mix of these strategies depending on the nature of your agency projects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How-to-do-agency-capacity-planning-in-11-steps\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to do <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">agency capacity planning<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in 11 steps<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s no such thing as straightforward <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">agency capacity planning<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Not only does it involve several steps to ensure that resources are allocated efficiently, but it\u2019s an ongoing, iterative effort that often has to adapt to changing circumstances and client needs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s how you do it:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Assess current resources<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Begin by taking stock of your agency&#8217;s current resources, including staff, skills, equipment, and technology. But don\u2019t take it lightly, dig deep and really understand the capabilities and availability of your team members as well as other resources, including your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agency-tools\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">agency tools<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Understand client demands<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gather information on current and anticipated client demands. Engage with sales and client relations to get the full picture of what\u2019s in the pipeline. Consider factors like project scope, timelines, budgets, and client priorities.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Set clear objectives<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Define your capacity planning objectives. Are you looking to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-managers-resource-utilization\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">optimize resource utilization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, improve project delivery times, or support <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agency-growth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">agency growth<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? Clearly outline what you aim to achieve.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Identify key metrics<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establish the key performance indicators (KPIs) that will help you measure the effectiveness of your capacity planning process. These typically include resource utilization rates, project completion times, and client satisfaction scores. If there\u2019s one metric to keep your eye on, it\u2019s <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">billable utilization rates<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This tells you exactly how well your agency is performing financially.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4704\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4704\" class=\"wp-image-4704\" src=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/resource-utilization-reporting-943x581.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"246\" srcset=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/resource-utilization-reporting-943x581.png.webp 943w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/resource-utilization-reporting-1042x642.png.webp 1042w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/resource-utilization-reporting-1536x946.png 1536w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/resource-utilization-reporting.png 1912w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/resource-utilization-reporting-943x581@2x.png.webp 1886w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4704\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Analyze billable utilization rates in Resource Guru.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Prioritize projects<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rank and prioritize your agency&#8217;s current and upcoming projects based on factors such as client importance, profitability, strategic alignment, and resource requirements.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Allocate resources<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Match the skills and availability of your team members with the resource requirements of each project. Ensure that resources are allocated to high-priority projects first.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2773\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2773\" class=\"wp-image-2773\" src=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/resource-guru-filters-943x623.webp\" alt=\"Displaying skillsets of different resources in Resource Guru.\" width=\"600\" height=\"396\" srcset=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/resource-guru-filters-943x623.webp 943w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/resource-guru-filters-1042x689.webp 1042w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/resource-guru-filters.webp 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2773\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Filter by skills in Resource Guru and assign the right people to your projects.<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3X6lT4Q\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6582 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-943x242.jpg\" alt=\"A rectangle shaped banner in purple featuring a 3D book cover with a prompt to download an eBook about resource planning for agencies.\" width=\"943\" height=\"242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-943x242.jpg.webp 943w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-1042x268.jpg.webp 1042w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-1536x395.jpg.webp 1536w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-310x80.jpg.webp 310w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1.jpg 1836w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-310x80@2x.jpg.webp 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 943px) 100vw, 943px\" \/><\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. Resource utilization analysis<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use your resource management tool to analyze resource utilization rates and identify areas of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/solve-resource-overallocation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">overallocation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or underutilization. Adjust resource allocation as needed to not only optimize efficiency but also to keep your teams happy and healthy and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agency-burnout\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">prevent burnout<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8. Scenario planning<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Work with other departments to develop scenarios for resource allocation based on different situations, such as increased client demand, resource shortages, or project delays. Have contingency plans in place. Make sure your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">agency traffic managers<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are involved throughout the process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9. Cross-functional collaboration<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Foster <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-collaboration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">collaboration<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and communication between departments or teams to enable sharing of resources when necessary. Cross-functional teams can help balance workloads and reduce the risk of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/team-burnout\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">team burnout<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10. Client management<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overpromising is the killer of both projects and healthy client relationships. Set clear expectations with clients regarding project timelines and resource availability when <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agency-client-onboarding\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">onboarding new clients<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Educate clients about the agency&#8217;s capacity limitations and communicate any potential delays or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/resource-constraints-tips\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">resource constraints<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11. Feedback and continuous improvement<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Encourage feedback from team members, project managers, and clients regarding resource allocation and capacity planning. Use feedback to refine your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agency-process\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">agency processes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and capacity planning strategies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By following these steps and continuously monitoring and adjusting your capacity planning strategy, you can optimize resource allocation and improve your agency&#8217;s ability to deliver successful projects.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The goal? Ultimately, your capacity planning needs to support your agency\u2019s growth ambitions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4-agency-capacity-planning-best-practices\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">agency capacity planning<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> best practices<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few best practices to keep in mind when you do your capacity planning. These are a good starting point, but we also recommend developing your own best practices as you learn what\u2019s working and not working in the context of your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agency-operations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">agency operations<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. Put employee well-being first<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consider the well-being of your team members when planning resource allocation. Avoid overburdening employees, as it can lead to burnout and decreased productivity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/ad-agency-work-life-balance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more about work-life balance at agencies<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><b><\/b><b>2. Streamline processes with tools<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you\u2019re dealing with multiple projects there\u2019s nothing worse than managing capacity planning in a spreadsheet. This is the time to leverage technology, such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agency-project-management-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">project management software<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/best-resource-management-tools\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">resource management tools<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, to streamline and automate resource allocation processes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agency-tech-stack\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Build your ideal agency tech stack<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><b>3. Hold regular capacity reviews<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regular meetings with department heads, project managers, and traffic managers to review resource allocation and capacity planning will prevent any unwanted surprises. This is when you look at project progress and adjust resource allocation based on updates and priorities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agency-interview-havas-cx-canada\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discover how Havas CX Canada does it<\/span><\/a><b><\/b><\/p>\n<h3><b>4. Create a capacity buffer<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintain a buffer in your resource planning to accommodate unexpected resource needs or changes in project scope (but be aware of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/scope-creep\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">scope creep<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). This buffer can act as a safety net.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/what-is-project-scope\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more about project scope<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Agency-capacity-planning-example-scenario\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agency capacity planning<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> example scenario<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s look at a capacity planning scenario for a fictional digital agency, called Forge.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Agency profile:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forge is a mid-sized digital marketing agency specializing in website development, SEO, and social media marketing services<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The agency has 50 employees, including web developers, SEO specialists, content writers, and project managers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forge serves a diverse client base, including e-commerce businesses, healthcare providers, and tech startups<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Capacity planning challenge:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forge has experienced rapid growth in client demand over the past year, resulting in increased project requests<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The agency has recently won a contract with a large e-commerce client that requires significant resources for a website redesign and ongoing digital marketing campaigns<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Project managers are concerned about the agency&#8217;s ability to meet existing client commitments while taking on this high-profile project<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Capacity planning process:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Resource assessment<\/strong><br \/>\n<\/span>Forge assesses its current resources, including the skills, availability, and expertise of its employees.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Client demand analysis<\/strong><br \/>\n<\/span>The agency reviews its current client project pipeline and identifies each project&#8217;s scope, timelines, and resource requirements.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Prioritization<\/strong><br \/>\n<\/span>The agency ranks projects based on factors such as client importance, profitability, and strategic alignment. The e-commerce client project is identified as a high-priority project due to its potential impact on revenue.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Resource allocation:<\/strong><br \/>\n<\/span>Project managers collaborate to allocate the necessary resources to the e-commerce client project. This involves assigning web developers, SEO specialists, and content writers with relevant expertise.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Capacity gap analysis:<\/strong><br \/>\n<\/span>Forge realizes that while they can allocate resources to the e-commerce project, it may strain their capacity for other projects. The agency identifies the need to hire additional web developers and content writers to maintain existing project commitments.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Scenario planning:<\/strong><br \/>\n<\/span>The agency develops contingency plans in case of unexpected resource shortages or project delays. This includes identifying freelancers who can be brought in on short notice.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Communication with clients:<\/strong><br \/>\n<\/span>Project managers proactively communicate with existing clients to manage expectations regarding project timelines and potential resource constraints.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Investment decision:<\/strong><br \/>\n<\/span>Agency leadership decides to invest in hiring two additional web developers and a content writer to support current projects and accommodate future growth.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Implementation:<\/strong><br \/>\n<\/span>Forge initiates the hiring process to onboard new team members. Simultaneously, they continue to allocate resources to the e-commerce project while maintaining the quality of other projects.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Monitoring and adjustment:<\/strong><br \/>\n<\/span>Going forward, Forge regularly monitors project progress and resource utilization. Any adjustments in resource allocation or priorities are made as needed to ensure client satisfaction and project success.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Outcome:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forge successfully completes the e-commerce client project on time and within budget, resulting in a satisfied client.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The agency maintains its commitment to existing clients by hiring additional staff to handle increased project demands.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forge continues to grow its client base and reputation in the digital marketing industry by effectively managing its capacity and resources.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This scenario demonstrates how capacity planning can help agencies navigate a challenging growth period, ensure client satisfaction, and strategically invest in their future success.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3X6lT4Q\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-6582\" src=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-943x242.jpg\" alt=\"A rectangle shaped banner in purple featuring a 3D book cover with a prompt to download an eBook about resource planning for agencies.\" width=\"943\" height=\"242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-943x242.jpg.webp 943w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-1042x268.jpg.webp 1042w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-1536x395.jpg.webp 1536w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-310x80.jpg.webp 310w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1.jpg 1836w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-310x80@2x.jpg.webp 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 943px) 100vw, 943px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Agency-capacity-planning-The-path-to-profit\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agency capacity planning<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The path to profit<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting capacity planning right isn\u2019t easy. It takes constant monitoring, tweaking, and adjusting. But with best practices in place, while putting your employees first, you\u2019ll be able to stay on top of capacity planning while meeting client needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The key lies in a proactive approach.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember, capacity planning is not just a short-term solution\u2014but a long-term investment in an agency&#8217;s sustainability and growth.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Capacity planning plays a key role in agency profitability. Do it well and you\u2019re looking at some healthy margins and business growth. Do it less well? Now, you\u2019re looking at some serious employee, culture, and workflow&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":5276,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","mc4wp_mailchimp_campaign":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-agencies"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Agency capacity planning: 11 steps to better margins<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Agency capacity planning is the key to happier teams and increased profitability. Read our guide full of capacity planning strategies, steps, and best practices.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Agency capacity planning: 11 steps to better margins\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Agency capacity planning is the key to happier teams and increased profitability. Read our guide full of capacity planning strategies, steps, and best practices.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Work Life Balance Blog | Resource Guru\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ResourceGuru\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-09-07T14:13:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-06-14T10:17:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/agency-capacity-planning.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2084\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1422\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jo Johansson\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@resourceguruapp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@resourceguruapp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jo Johansson\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/agencies\\\/agency-capacity-planning#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/agencies\\\/agency-capacity-planning\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jo Johansson\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a590655218e33ce97fa20b3a158c16d1\"},\"headline\":\"Agency capacity planning: 11 steps to better margins\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-09-07T14:13:04+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-06-14T10:17:11+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/agencies\\\/agency-capacity-planning\"},\"wordCount\":2025,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/agencies\\\/agency-capacity-planning#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/agency-capacity-planning.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Agencies\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/agencies\\\/agency-capacity-planning\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/agencies\\\/agency-capacity-planning\",\"name\":\"Agency capacity planning: 11 steps to better margins\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/agencies\\\/agency-capacity-planning#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/agencies\\\/agency-capacity-planning#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/agency-capacity-planning.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-09-07T14:13:04+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-06-14T10:17:11+00:00\",\"description\":\"Agency capacity planning is the key to happier teams and increased profitability. Read our guide full of capacity planning strategies, steps, and best practices.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/agencies\\\/agency-capacity-planning#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/agencies\\\/agency-capacity-planning\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/agencies\\\/agency-capacity-planning#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/agency-capacity-planning.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/agency-capacity-planning.jpg\",\"width\":2084,\"height\":1422,\"caption\":\"agency capacity planning\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/agencies\\\/agency-capacity-planning#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Agencies\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/agencies\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Agency capacity planning: 11 steps to better margins\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Work Life Balance Blog | Resource Guru\",\"description\":\"Work Life - a blog about work\\\/life balance and scheduling by Resource Guru\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Resource Guru\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/10\\\/resource-guru-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/10\\\/resource-guru-logo.png\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Resource Guru\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/ResourceGuru\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/resourceguruapp\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a590655218e33ce97fa20b3a158c16d1\",\"name\":\"Jo Johansson\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/2c93900f8e07d2a4ad4f45b2759004f29c022a60ecb161cf1d5aef41ce282500?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/2c93900f8e07d2a4ad4f45b2759004f29c022a60ecb161cf1d5aef41ce282500?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/2c93900f8e07d2a4ad4f45b2759004f29c022a60ecb161cf1d5aef41ce282500?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Jo Johansson\"},\"description\":\"\ud83d\udc4b I'm Jo, Senior Content Marketing Manager at Resource Guru. I spend my days creating educational content that helps people be more productive at work, so they can enjoy their time off work. Got any ideas or requests? Drop me a line at jo@resourceguruapp.com.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/jomjo\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/resourceguruapp.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/jo-johansson\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Agency capacity planning: 11 steps to better margins","description":"Agency capacity planning is the key to happier teams and increased profitability. Read our guide full of capacity planning strategies, steps, and best practices.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Agency capacity planning: 11 steps to better margins","og_description":"Agency capacity planning is the key to happier teams and increased profitability. Read our guide full of capacity planning strategies, steps, and best practices.","og_url":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning","og_site_name":"Work Life Balance Blog | Resource Guru","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ResourceGuru","article_published_time":"2023-09-07T14:13:04+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-06-14T10:17:11+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2084,"height":1422,"url":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/agency-capacity-planning.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Jo Johansson","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@resourceguruapp","twitter_site":"@resourceguruapp","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Jo Johansson","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning"},"author":{"name":"Jo Johansson","@id":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/a590655218e33ce97fa20b3a158c16d1"},"headline":"Agency capacity planning: 11 steps to better margins","datePublished":"2023-09-07T14:13:04+00:00","dateModified":"2024-06-14T10:17:11+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning"},"wordCount":2025,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/agency-capacity-planning.jpg","articleSection":["Agencies"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning","url":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning","name":"Agency capacity planning: 11 steps to better margins","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/agency-capacity-planning.jpg","datePublished":"2023-09-07T14:13:04+00:00","dateModified":"2024-06-14T10:17:11+00:00","description":"Agency capacity planning is the key to happier teams and increased profitability. Read our guide full of capacity planning strategies, steps, and best practices.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/agency-capacity-planning.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/agency-capacity-planning.jpg","width":2084,"height":1422,"caption":"agency capacity planning"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-capacity-planning#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Agencies","item":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Agency capacity planning: 11 steps to better margins"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/","name":"Work Life Balance Blog | Resource Guru","description":"Work Life - a blog about work\/life balance and scheduling by Resource Guru","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/#organization","name":"Resource Guru","url":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/resource-guru-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/resource-guru-logo.png","width":1024,"height":512,"caption":"Resource Guru"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ResourceGuru","https:\/\/x.com\/resourceguruapp"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/a590655218e33ce97fa20b3a158c16d1","name":"Jo Johansson","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2c93900f8e07d2a4ad4f45b2759004f29c022a60ecb161cf1d5aef41ce282500?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2c93900f8e07d2a4ad4f45b2759004f29c022a60ecb161cf1d5aef41ce282500?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2c93900f8e07d2a4ad4f45b2759004f29c022a60ecb161cf1d5aef41ce282500?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Jo Johansson"},"description":"\ud83d\udc4b I'm Jo, Senior Content Marketing Manager at Resource Guru. I spend my days creating educational content that helps people be more productive at work, so they can enjoy their time off work. Got any ideas or requests? Drop me a line at jo@resourceguruapp.com.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jomjo\/"],"url":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/author\/jo-johansson"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5275"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5275\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6630,"href":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5275\/revisions\/6630"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}