Podcast Episode

$0 in Custom Work: The Agency Scaling Blueprint to Monthly Recurring Revenue

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William Attaway

On April 29, 2025

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Recurring revenue for agencies isn’t just a dream—it’s a system you can build.

In this episode of the Catalytic Leadership™ Podcast, I talk with Tim Fahndrich, founder of WhirLocal, who made a radical shift in his agency model. He eliminated every custom proposal and transitioned to a productized, subscription-based service that now drives predictable, recurring income and streamlined operations.

Discover how automation, simplified fulfillment, and a mission-driven mindset helped Tim scale without the chaos of being a full-service agency.

About This Episode:

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

How to build recurring revenue for agencies by eliminating custom work
Why productized services beat custom proposals for agency scale
How to simplify fulfillment using automation and AI tools
Ways to reduce client churn by creating consistent delivery systems
How to align your agency with your mission and faith-driven leadership values
Real-world examples of designing an agency operating system that removes the founder bottleneck

Most agencies struggle to scale because they’re buried in custom proposals, chaotic service fulfillment, and complexity they created themselves.

Tim Fahndrich changed that.

In this episode, Tim walks through the exact moment he decided to eliminate custom work entirely—and how that single decision transformed his business into a scalable, recurring-revenue agency. From full-service overwhelm to a clean, subscription-based model with clear pricing and no proposals, Tim’s story offers a blueprint for agency owners ready to simplify and grow.

We also explore:

The agency bottlenecks that kill momentum
The power of recurring revenue to stabilize operations
And how AI and automation are reshaping client delivery and leadership expectations

Whether you’re building with GoHighLevel, ClickUp, or any other platform, this episode is packed with practical, battle-tested strategies for service-based agency leaders.

00:02 – Tim’s Entrepreneurial Journey and Early Leadership Lessons
03:03 – Serving Local Businesses and the Power of Community-Driven Agencies
08:08 – Why Full-Service Agencies Struggle to Scale
11:06 – Eliminating Custom Proposals and Productizing Services
15:30 – Recurring Revenue, Subscription Models, and Simplified Fulfillment
18:30 – How AI and Automation Are Reshaping Client Delivery
20:07 – Faith, Vision, and Building a Mission-Driven Business

🔑 Key Leadership Themes from This Episode

Letting Go of Control to Scale with Simplicity

Tim shares how ditching proposals unlocked operational freedom and team clarity.

Recurring Revenue is a Leadership Decision

Shifting to subscription models requires rethinking your role as visionary, not technician.

AI Doesn’t Replace You—It Elevates You

Tim explains how automation is helping his agency serve clients better, not just faster.

Mission-Driven Work Creates Meaningful Momentum

Faith isn’t compartmentalized—it’s core to how Tim leads his team and serves his community.

Connect with Tim Fahndrich

Tim invites digital agency owners and local business leaders to join WhirLocal for free at https://whirlocal.io. Learn how to use AI, automation, and community-based media to build recurring revenue and support small business impact at scale.

Books Mentioned

The CEO’s Mindset by Vinnie Fisher
Get Scalable by Ryan Deiss

Enjoy this episode?
Explore more leadership conversations in the Catalytic Leadership™ Podcast archive, or follow Dr. William Attaway on Instagram and LinkedIn for weekly insights on how to lead at a higher level.

Want to Be a Guest on the Show?

If you’re a 7- or 8-figure agency owner with a story of growth, systems, or leadership evolution, we want to hear from you. Join past guests from top industry groups like Seven Figure Agency, Hite Committed Mastermind, Prospecting on Demand (POD) and GoHighLevel power users on a platform trusted by high-performing founders worldwide.

👉 Apply to Be a Guest on the Catalytic Leadership™ Podcast

About Dr. William Attaway:

Dr. William Attaway is a seasoned Executive Mindset and Leadership Coach who helps 6-, 7-, and 8-figure digital agency owners scale their businesses with clarity, systems, and confidence. With nearly 30 years of experience, he equips growth-driven entrepreneurs to build high-performing teams, implement scalable systems, and transition from freelancer to CEO.

He hosts the Catalytic Leadership™ Podcast—ranked in the Top 2% of podcasts globally (source: Listen Notes)—with a weekly reach of over 50,000. Each episode features elite agency owners and top digital entrepreneurs sharing what actually works when scaling a service-based business.

From leadership development and visionary thinking to mindset transformation and team optimization, Dr. Attaway empowers agency leaders to build a business that thrives without their constant oversight—and a team that flourishes under intentional, scalable leadership.