The difference — in numbers
Where does your money actually go?
A real proposal sent to a Trinidad business in October 2026. Names removed. Numbers untouched. Scroll to follow every dollar.
Spent in 12 months
Went to the agency
Reached Google Ads
Exhibit A · The proposal
Confidential
Digital Growth Proposal
Prepared exclusively for
By · October 2026
Executive summary
Digital Presence Score · 12 pillars analysed
12/12 pillars: N/A
Investment summary
To get startedTT$4,000
A beautiful document. Read the fine print.
- 1An “F” grade, 4/100 — from an audit that reports 0% data coverage and marks all 12 pillars N/A. Alarming score, no evidence.
- 2TT$2,500 for “onboarding” — paid before a single ad runs.
- 3A TT$1,500/month management fee on a TT$500/month ad budget. The fee is 3× the advertising it manages.
- 4Called a “transparent pricing breakdown” — yet the money that actually buys ads doesn’t appear anywhere on it.
Exhibit B · Twelve months
Watch the bill grow.
Month by month, what the business pays. Brass is the agency. Blue is the advertising that actually reaches customers.
Month
00/12
Agency
TT$0
Advertising
TT$0
Twelve months later: TT$26,500 spent. TT$6,000 of it was advertising.
Exhibit C · Where it went
of every dollar went to the agency. Not to customers. Not to Google. To fees.
to the agency for every TT$1 that reached Google
more advertising if the whole budget had bought ads
Each square is 1% of TT$26,500.
In Google’s own words
“Be honest and transparent about your company, services, associated costs and expected results.”
Google’s rule for agencies that manage ads for other businesses. Google Ads third-party policy — False, misleading or unrealistic claims
Also in that policy
Agencies must not guarantee top placement, promise ads “at all times”, or assure results beyond what is reasonably achievable.
Your data is yours
Google Analytics is set up in your own account in a few steps — you never need an agency to own your numbers. See Google’s guide
Check your own quote
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Type in what you’ve been quoted. We start with the real proposal above.
Share going to the agency
- Total
- TT$26,500
- Agency
- TT$20,500
- Advertising
- TT$6,000
For every TT$1 of advertising, you'd pay TT$3.42 to the agency.
The difference
They build the face. Then bill you for the rest. We don’t.
Most agencies here sell press ads, social posts and a website — then quote again for everything your business actually runs on. We cover every layer, and we put you first.
A website first. Online store, bookings, stock? “That's an upgrade.”
Store, bookings, point of sale, CRM and stock are part of the build — not add-ons.
A web designer, a POS vendor, a CRM subscription and an app developer — none of them talking.
One studio. One connected system. One person to call.
Monthly fees for “an hour of changes”.
You edit your own products, prices and pages. We automate the rest.
A management cut of your ad budget — industry standard is 10–20% — taken before a single ad runs.
Your ad budget goes to reaching customers. Every dollar reported back to you.
Beautiful presentation decks. Little to show six months later.
Working software, already running real shops in Trinidad.
You chase confirmations, reminders and follow-ups by hand.
Confirmations, reminders, receipts and alerts send themselves.
The usual quote
— itemised, then itemised again —
- Website designquoted
- Online store+ add-on
- Booking system+ add-on
- Inventory plugin+ add-on
- Point of sale licence+ monthly
- CRM+ per seat
- Mobile appseparate quote
- Ads management+ 10–20% of spend
- Changes+ hourly
TOTALKeeps growing.
Pearce Robinson
One build. Every layer.
- Brand
- Website
- Online store
- Bookings
- Client portal
- CRM
- Point of sale
- Inventory
- Payments
- Automation
- Staff tools
- Reporting
- Apps
Before you sign anything
Six things to demand from any agency.
Including us. We put you first — so we’d rather you ask.
- 01
Ad spend and agency fees shown as separate lines — in writing, before you sign.
- 02
The ad account and analytics in your business's name, not the agency's.
- 03
Monthly reports that show money in, customers out.
- 04
Audits backed by real data — not a scary grade with nothing behind it.
- 05
No guarantees of “top placement” — Google doesn't allow them.
- 06
Software and systems you keep, not rent forever.