Quick answer: A small DTC brand rarely needs a big retainer first. Start with the flows that earn on every visit, built once at a fixed price, then add managed campaigns when those are working. At Excelohunt, single flows start from $209, the Core 5 Flows Bundle is $1,399, and managed campaigns start at $499 a month. Everything is on Excelohunt’s pricing page.
Key takeaways
- Flows first, campaigns second: automated flows earn on every visit without new sends.
- Fixed prices beat open-ended hours when budgets are tight.
- A managed program fits best with steady traffic and a list of around 5,000 subscribers or more.
- Month to month only: a small brand should never be locked into a long contract.
- Ask for proof from brands that started where you are.
Small brands get the worst deal from agencies when they buy the wrong thing first: a large monthly retainer that sends campaigns to a list that is too small to respond. This guide explains what to buy, in what order, and how to judge whether an agency fits a brand your size.
Is an agency worth it yet?
An agency is worth it once email can return several times what it costs. Two quick checks:
- Do you have steady traffic and sales? Email multiplies demand you already have. It rarely creates it from nothing.
- How big is your list? Excelohunt’s managed programs work best with around 5,000 subscribers or more. Below that, growing the list and building core flows comes first.
If you are not there yet, that is fine. The next section is for you.
What to buy first
The first money should go into flows, because they keep earning without new work.
| Order | What to build | Why it comes first | Excelohunt fixed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Welcome series | Turns new subscribers into first-time buyers | $419 |
| 2 | Abandoned cart flow | Recovers shoppers who were one click from buying | $349 |
| 3 | Browse abandonment flow | Follows up on products people looked at | $279 |
| 4 | Post-purchase flow | Builds the second order, where repeat revenue starts | $349 |
| 5 | Win-back flow | Brings lapsed customers back | $279 |
The Core 5 Flows Bundle builds the core set together for $1,399. Each flow takes about three days end to end, covering copy, design and testing, and Excelohunt agrees the designs with you before building. All of these are bought online in Excelohunt’s shop without a sales call.
When a monthly plan makes sense
Add managed campaigns once your flows are earning and your list is growing. Excelohunt’s plans:
- Starter, $499 a month: 2 fully managed campaigns, with strategy, calendar, copy, custom design, core segmentation and a written monthly report.
- Growth, $849 a month: 4 campaigns, behavioural segmentation, subject line testing and a monthly strategy call. This is the plan most brands choose.
- Scale and above: more campaigns and deeper segmentation as you grow, up to $2,999 a month.
Plans are month to month with no long-term lock-in. See the full list on Excelohunt’s pricing page.
Questions a small brand should ask any agency
- Can I start with a fixed-price project? If the only option is a retainer, the agency is not built for your stage.
- What exactly is included each month? Get the scope in writing.
- Can I leave at any time? Month to month should be the default.
- Who owns the account and the data? You should, always.
- What did you do for a brand my size? Ask for real numbers.
Red flags for small brands
- A long minimum term. Small brands need room to adjust.
- Hourly billing with no defined output. Fixed scope keeps the work focused on results.
- Lots of campaigns before any flows exist. That is the expensive way round.
- No reporting. You should see revenue by flow and campaign every month.
What results look like from a small start
Unique Party Shop began with a dormant Klaviyo account. Once the core flows were rebuilt, email grew to 14% of store revenue, with the abandoned cart flow converting at double the industry average. Starting small, with the right flows, is often the best way in.
How Excelohunt works with small brands
- A free audit first. With read-only access, Excelohunt benchmarks your open, click and conversion numbers against your category and maps your flows. Request a free audit.
- Fixed scope. You know the price before work starts.
- Month to month. Stay because it works, not because of a contract.
- Room to grow. Brands the Excelohunt team confirms as eligible are covered by its 3x ROI guarantee.
If you would rather have a specialist work inside your own team, you can hire vetted email marketing talent through Excelohunt instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is an email marketing agency worth it for a small DTC brand?
It is worth it once email can return several times what it costs. A managed program works best with steady traffic and sales and a list of around 5,000 subscribers or more. Below that, a few fixed-price flows usually give a better return than a monthly retainer.
What should a small brand buy first?
The flows that earn on every visit: a welcome series, an abandoned cart flow and a browse abandonment flow. They keep working without new sends. At Excelohunt these are fixed-price builds from $279 to $419 each, or $1,399 for the Core 5 Flows Bundle.
How much should a small brand budget for email marketing?
A single flow starts from $209 at Excelohunt, and managed campaigns start at $499 a month for 2 campaigns. Most small brands start with flows, then add a campaign plan once those are earning.
Do I need to sign a long contract?
You should not need to. Excelohunt’s managed plans, for example, are month to month with no long-term lock-in, and its fixed-price projects are one-off purchases.
What if my list is very small?
Focus on growing it first: a well-tested sign-up form and a strong welcome series do more for a small list than frequent campaigns. Excelohunt’s free audit shows where your sign-up rate and flows stand against your category.
About the author
Ravinderpal Singh is the founder of Excelohunt, an email and SMS marketing agency for ecommerce brands. Over 7+ years the team has worked with 500+ brands in 26+ countries. Get a free audit or see Excelohunt’s pricing.
Prefer a specialist to run this for you? Meet Excelohunt's vetted email marketing talent.
