Firmkit vs a web agency retainer
The Kit is a fixed monthly price with the terms written down. Agencies differ a lot, so the right comparison is a list of questions. Here is Firmkit on one side and what to ask your agency on the other.
The short answer
The Kit costs $1,000 a month on a 12‑month term, with setup included. That price is published on the pricing page. Agency retainers vary, so ask each one the same questions in writing. Firmkit installs a hand-coded site, a Google Business Profile, a CRM and a missed-call text-back. It does not run ads, build brand identity or work with more than three locations.
Side by side
| Criteria | The Kit | Ask your agency |
|---|---|---|
| Price | One fixed monthly price, the same one listed above. | The monthly price in writing, and anything billed on top. |
| Setup | Included. No build invoice up front. | Whether a build fee is billed before the first month. |
| Term | 12 months, then month to month with 30 days notice. | The term, and how you leave. |
| Leaving early | The remaining months are due, or you buy out the build for $2,500 and keep the site. | What you can take with you, and what it costs. |
| What you own | The code, your domain, your Google Business Profile, your CRM data, photos and tracked number, handed over within 14 days. | Who owns the site, the ad accounts and the call-tracking number. |
| A missed call at 8 PM | A text goes back inside 60 seconds. Guaranteed. | What happens to that call, and whether it is in the contract. |
| Ads | Not included. Google Local Services Ads only, after the kit has been live 90 days, $400 a month plus ad spend. | Whether ad management is bundled, and who holds the ad account. |
| Guarantees | Live in 30 days, text-back in 60 seconds, profile maintained every month. Rankings are not guaranteed. | What is guaranteed in writing. Anyone promising a position is guessing. |
| Reporting | One one-page report a month. | A sample report from a real month. |
| Track record | Firmkit has no paying clients to list yet. One documented build, disclosed, on the case study. | Two references you can phone. |
How to choose
Pick Firmkit if
- You own a trade company with one to eight trucks and you still answer the phone.
- You want one monthly price and the exit terms in plain words.
- You want a site, a Google profile, a CRM and a text-back installed as one system.
Pick an agency if
- You need Google Ads, Performance Max or Meta ad management. Firmkit permanently excludes them.
- You need brand identity work or video production.
- You run more than three locations. Firmkit does not cover them.
Questions
Is Firmkit cheaper than an agency?
Compare the full list, not one line. The Kit has one monthly price with setup included and no build invoice. An agency may charge a build fee, a monthly retainer and an ad fee. Ask for every cost in writing from each provider, then add up twelve months.
Can I leave Firmkit early?
Yes, with a cost. If you leave before month twelve, the remaining months are due, or you can buy out the build for $2,500 and keep the site. After month twelve, notice is 30 days.
Does Firmkit run Google Ads?
No. Firmkit does not manage Google Ads, Performance Max or Meta ads. It manages Google Local Services Ads only, and only after the kit has been live 90 days. That is $400 a month plus ad spend.