TL;DR: Directive Consulting's published Startup Package costs $6,500/month with no annual commitment. Enterprise and mid-market retainers run $10,000-50,000/month via custom proposals. Expect 6-12 month minimum engagements for larger scopes. Budget for setup costs and ad spend on top of the retainer.

Directive Consulting Pricing 2026: What B2B SaaS Agencies Actually Cost

Last updated: May 2026

Directive Consulting is a B2B marketing agency focused exclusively on SaaS and tech companies. They built their reputation on the Customer Generation methodology, which replaces traditional lead-count dashboards with metrics tied to CAC and LTV. The agency handles paid media, SEO, content, creative, and RevOps. They've worked with over 420 brands and driven more than $1 billion in attributed revenue.

But what does it actually cost? Directive doesn't publish most of their pricing. This guide breaks down what we know from public sources, customer reports, and industry benchmarks.

Directive Pricing at a Glance

Directive uses a flat retainer model customized by scope. Here's what clients typically pay:

The Startup Package is the only publicly priced offering. Everything else requires a custom proposal based on your goals, channels, and team size.

The Startup Package ($6,500/month)

Directive's entry-level offering is designed for early-stage B2B startups. The published price is $6,500 per month with no annual contract required.

What's included:

• Demand generation strategy
• Paid media management (typically one primary channel)
• Basic SEO and content guidance
• Performance reporting tied to pipeline metrics
• Access to Directive's Customer Generation framework

What's not included:

• Ad spend (budgeted separately, typically $5,000-15,000/month minimum)
• Full creative production
• Multi-channel campaigns
• RevOps implementation
• Dedicated senior strategist

The Startup Package works for seed-stage companies that need agency support but can't commit to $15,000+ monthly retainers. It's execution-focused with limited strategic depth.

The fine print:

No annual contract sounds good, but there are practical minimums. Most agencies, Directive included, need 3-6 months to show meaningful results. Churning after one month wastes your setup investment and their onboarding effort. Plan on at least a quarter even with no formal commitment.

Mid-Market and Growth Retainers ($10,000-50,000/month)

Most of Directive's clients pay somewhere between $10,000 and $50,000 per month. These are custom proposals based on scope.

$10,000-20,000/month range:

Typically covers 1-2 channels with dedicated execution. You might get paid media plus SEO, or paid media plus content. Includes a senior strategist and regular reporting. Most Series A and B companies land here.

$20,000-35,000/month range:

Full-funnel marketing across 3+ channels. Paid media, SEO, content, and conversion rate optimization. Includes strategic planning, creative development, and deeper analytics. This tier often includes RevOps consulting to align marketing with sales systems.

$35,000-50,000/month range:

Comprehensive marketing partnership. All channels, dedicated team members, executive-level strategy sessions. Typically includes video production, ABM campaigns, and custom integrations. Companies at this level often have Directive functioning as an extension of their internal team.

What influences price:

• Number of channels (paid, SEO, content, creative, RevOps)
• Geographic scope (North America vs global)
• Campaign complexity (single product vs multi-product)
• Integration requirements (CRM, marketing automation, attribution)
• Reporting depth and frequency
• Level of strategic involvement vs pure execution

Contract Length and Commitments

Directive uses flat retainer pricing, which means predictable monthly costs rather than performance-based fees or hourly billing.

Typical commitments:

• Startup Package: Month-to-month, no formal minimum
• Growth retainers: 6-month initial commitment is common
• Full-service: 12-month contracts are standard
• Enterprise: Annual contracts, often multi-year with negotiated terms

Why the minimums exist:

B2B marketing doesn't produce instant results. SEO takes 4-6 months to show movement. Paid media campaigns need 2-3 months to optimize. Content needs time to rank and generate leads. Agencies that promise results in 30 days are either lying or running unsustainable tactics.

A 6-12 month commitment protects both sides. Directive gets time to execute their methodology. You get enough runway to evaluate real results, not just activity metrics.

Early termination:

Most agency contracts include early termination clauses. Expect to pay 2-3 months of retainer as a buyout if you exit early. Some contracts are stricter. Read the terms before signing.

Hidden Costs and Add-Ons

The retainer covers Directive's services. Other costs stack on top.

Ad spend

Paid media campaigns require budget beyond the retainer. Directive manages the campaigns; you fund the actual ad spend directly with Google, LinkedIn, Meta, etc.

Typical ad spend minimums:

• Startup Package: $5,000-10,000/month
• Growth retainers: $15,000-50,000/month
• Full-service: $50,000-200,000/month

If your retainer is $15,000/month and your ad spend is $30,000/month, your total monthly marketing investment is $45,000.

Setup and onboarding

Some engagements include one-time setup fees for audits, strategy development, and technical implementation. These range from $2,500 to $15,000 depending on complexity. Not all contracts include them, but ask upfront.

Creative production

Basic creative is often included. High-end video production, custom photography, or complex design work may be scoped separately. Video campaigns can add $5,000-20,000 per project.

Technology and tools

Directive uses their proprietary Stratos platform for analytics and attribution. Access may be included or priced separately depending on your contract. You'll also need your own marketing stack (CRM, marketing automation, analytics) which Directive integrates with but doesn't provide.

Scope creep

Retainers cover defined scope. Adding a new channel, launching in a new market, or requesting extra campaigns outside the SOW triggers change orders. Budget 10-20% buffer for scope changes throughout the year.

What's Included in a Directive Engagement

Directive's Customer Generation methodology structures their work. Here's what you're actually getting.

Paid Media

Full-funnel campaigns across Google, LinkedIn, Meta, and programmatic. Includes audience development, creative strategy, bid management, and attribution. Focus is on pipeline and revenue, not just clicks and impressions.

SEO and Content

Technical SEO audits, content strategy, and production. They build content around how modern B2B buyers search and evaluate. Content is measured by pipeline contribution, not just traffic.

Creative and Design

Ad creative, landing pages, and conversion optimization. The design team produces assets built for testing and iteration, not just aesthetics.

RevOps

Marketing-sales alignment, CRM optimization, lead scoring, and attribution modeling. This is where Directive connects marketing activity to revenue outcomes.

Video

Campaign videos, testimonials, and product content. Video is increasingly central to B2B marketing, and Directive has in-house production capabilities.

Strategy and Reporting

Regular strategy sessions, performance reporting, and executive dashboards. Reports focus on CAC, LTV, and pipeline metrics rather than vanity stats.

Stratos Platform

Directive's proprietary intelligence platform unifies data from your CRM, ad platforms, SEO tools, and analytics. Provides predictive insights and automated recommendations.

Directive vs Other B2B Agencies

How does Directive's pricing compare to alternatives?

Demand Gen Agencies ($5,000-15,000/month)

Smaller agencies focused on lead generation or single-channel execution. Less strategic depth, narrower scope. Good for startups with specific tactical needs. Examples: specialized PPC shops, content agencies.

Full-Service B2B Agencies ($15,000-40,000/month)

Comparable to Directive's mid-range. These agencies handle multiple channels and offer strategic planning. Quality varies significantly. Due diligence matters.

Enterprise Marketing Agencies ($50,000-150,000/month)

Larger firms with global capabilities, dedicated account teams, and extensive resources. Often work with Fortune 500 companies. Overkill for most startups.

Fractional CMO + Contractors ($8,000-20,000/month)

Hire a part-time marketing leader plus freelancers for execution. More control, but more management overhead. Works if you have strong operational capabilities.

In-House Team

A marketing manager ($100-150k) plus an SDR ($60-80k) plus tools ($20-40k/year) gets you to $200-250k annually before benefits and overhead. That's roughly $20,000/month fully loaded. You get dedicated focus but limited expertise breadth.

The Directive premium:

Directive charges premium rates justified by their SaaS focus, Customer Generation methodology, and track record. They're not the cheapest option. The question is whether their expertise and systems generate enough incremental pipeline to justify the investment.

Automate Your Marketing Execution

Directive charges $15,000+ per month for strategy plus execution. The strategy is valuable. A senior team with B2B SaaS expertise can find angles and opportunities you'd miss. But a significant portion of that retainer goes toward execution work: building lists, writing content drafts, managing campaigns, pulling reports.

Miniloop handles that execution work. We build and run the GTM workflows your team needs:

• SEO content production: Keyword research, briefs, drafting, and publishing to your CMS
• Cold outbound: Lead lists from Apollo, enrichment via Clay, personalized sequences to your sequencer
• Signal-based outreach: Monitoring hiring signals, competitor engagement, and intent data
• Reporting: Daily and weekly digests on rank changes, reply rates, and pipeline health

Whether you work with Directive, another agency, or handle strategy in-house, Miniloop runs the repetitive execution so your team focuses on decisions that move the needle.

Get in touch or browse templates.

Is Directive Worth the Price?

The honest answer depends on your situation.

Directive is worth it if:

• You're a funded B2B SaaS company with budget for premium agency services
• You need strategic expertise, not just execution capacity
• You want a methodology (Customer Generation) rather than ad hoc tactics
• Your deal sizes are large enough to justify $15,000-50,000/month in marketing spend
• You've tried cheaper agencies and gotten inconsistent results

Directive probably isn't worth it if:

• You're pre-revenue or bootstrapped with limited budget
• You have strong marketing leadership and just need execution help
• Your ACV is under $10,000 and can't support the math
• You're looking for quick wins rather than systematic improvement
• You want to own the playbook, not rent it

The ROI question:

For a $20,000/month retainer plus $30,000/month ad spend ($600k/year total), you need to generate significant pipeline to justify the investment. If your ACV is $50,000 and you close 20 additional deals attributable to Directive's work, that's $1M in revenue. The ROI works.

If your ACV is $5,000 and you'd need 200 additional deals to break even, the math gets harder.

Start with the Startup Package

If you're uncertain, the $6,500/month Startup Package is a lower-risk entry point. You get exposure to Directive's methodology and team without a major commitment. If results are promising, you can expand scope. If not, you've learned something at a manageable cost.

Related Reading

• Clay Pricing 2026
• Apollo.io Pricing 2026
• ZoomInfo Pricing 2026

Related Resources

• Templates - workflow templates index
• Integrations - integrations index
• Outbound - Signal-based outbound automation
• SEO - Programmatic SEO content production

Before You Commit to Agency Pricing

Before signing a $5k+/month retainer with 6-month minimums, consider whether you want to rent access to their process or own your own system.

Miniloop builds your outbound system from scratch. Same outcome. pipeline. but you own the process, see everything, and keep the system when you're ready to run it yourself.

We're working with a handful of companies right now. Get in touch to see if we're a fit.

FAQ

How much does Directive Consulting cost?

Directive's Startup Package costs $6,500/month with no annual commitment. Mid-market retainers typically run $10,000-30,000/month. Full-service engagements cost $30,000-50,000/month. Enterprise deals exceed $50,000/month. All pricing beyond the Startup Package is custom based on scope.

Does Directive require long-term contracts?

The Startup Package has no formal minimum commitment. Growth and full-service retainers typically require 6-12 month initial contracts. This reflects the reality that B2B marketing takes time to show results. Early termination usually requires paying out 2-3 months of retainer.

What's included in a Directive retainer?

Retainers cover strategic planning, campaign management, and execution across your contracted channels (paid media, SEO, content, creative, RevOps). Ad spend is separate. Some contracts include setup fees. Creative production beyond standard deliverables may be scoped separately.

Is Directive good for startups?

Directive's Startup Package at $6,500/month is designed for early-stage B2B companies. It's more affordable than their standard retainers but still premium compared to freelancers or smaller agencies. It works best for funded startups (seed to Series A) that need agency expertise but can't commit to $15,000+ monthly.

How does Directive compare to hiring in-house?

A comparable in-house team (marketing manager, content person, demand gen specialist, and tools) costs $200,000-300,000/year fully loaded. Directive's mid-range retainers are comparable in cost but offer broader expertise and established processes. The trade-off is less dedicated focus and no long-term asset building.