From employee to freelancer to $451k/yr agency

Ramphis Reyes faked it until he made it as a freelancer. Then, he built two agencies bringing in $450k+/yr.

Here's Ramphis on how he did it. 👇

Seize every opportunity

I am Ramphis Reyes, Dominican Republic-born and now living in Madrid, Spain. I run ARCTOS, an agency specializing in consultancy and digital marketing. We help businesses in the US, Europe, and the Dominican Republic gain high-quality leads and measurable success.

ARCTOS started out of necessity. I didn't want to be an employee, but I lacked the resources to start up.

So I started knocking on doors and eventually began saying “yes” to potential clients — even when I didn’t know a thing about what they asked me to do. That's how I started designing websites. And it's how I started managing social media accounts.

I said, "Yes". And then I learned everything that I could on the subject.

You have to seize opportunities as if they're your last chance. Any opportunities. Fake it until you make it.

From these freelance clients, I started ARCTOS. I wanted to give my clients the impression that they were managing a team — not just me. So that's what I did next. I began building a small team. There were ups and downs, but eventually, ARCTOS freed me up to build other businesses.

Taking a moonshot

In addition to ARCTOS, I seized an opportunity when I cofounded NoomShot, which materializes amazing disruptive ideas (moonshots) into actual marketable products. The opportunity wasn't just the idea; it was the partnership with my cofounder, Georgy Marrero, who funded it.

We do all the thinking behind product development, and work until it’s launched and ready to scale. We specialize in AI, VR/AR, SaaS, blockchain, and data pipelines. The products we've built support millions of users worldwide.

I'm also working on a new web app that will automate maintenance for websites which could possibly help us earn around $30k/mo on autopilot.

And I'm currently jumping on another opportunity by creating FoundersTalk, a community for startup founders and investors. Through exclusive interviews and weekly newsletters, we share actionable insights on pitch decks, ramping up company culture, upcoming trends, and everything in between in the world of AI, Fintech, SaaS, and more. It doesn't have any revenue yet.

All up, these businesses are bringing in about $451k annually, with most of that — about $300k — coming from ARCTOS. Expenses are about $10.5k per month.

How to go from freelancer to agency

When I put together a team of people to work with me on projects and services under the name "ARCTOS" instead of just working under my name as a personal brand entity, it helped me project a more professional image and gave me the confidence to charge higher rates for our work.

Here's how I went from freelancer to agency:

Build a strong client base

Establishing a client network was my priority. I did it by consistently providing top notch services that garnered both new customers and referrals through word of mouth recommendations.

Systematize your work

Before bringing someone on board to help with my tasks and responsibilities, I made sure to organize my work by documenting the steps involved in my processes and establishing structures for communicating with clients, managing projects, and delivering services. This proactive approach not facilitated smooth delegation of tasks later but also streamlined the overall workflow.

Build a team

By the time I got my tenth customer, I was overloaded with work. Then, I hired a project manager. It was the best decision I've ever made.

I was able to do more, with happier clients. And it allowed me to work on new projects. It’s tough to manage everything as an agency owner. The more you have on your plate, the more delays you will encounter. Get a project manager as soon as you can.

Eventually, after project management and minor tasks were delegated, I brought in skilled experts for essential services. The crucial decision was to assign work based on priority, focusing on tasks that demanded my attention while outsourcing those that could be handled by others.

Rebrand

Once I had a team, we all worked under one brand instead of doing it all under my name.

Standardize and scale

After establishing a team structure, I focused on improving processes, enhancing customer satisfaction levels, and refining pricing strategies to ensure profitability on a larger scale.

Shift from doing to leading

My role evolved from carrying out client tasks to taking on leadership responsibilities at the agency. Focusing on growth strategies and sales more than daily operations. 

Forgetting about your business

It was not that easy to find clients. I was so involved in my clients' businesses and their own strategies that, for many years, I totally forgot about my own business.

That's bad. You have to care about growing your business, too.

Eventually, I started networking. It's a powerful tool for getting more clients. It's a skill you have to master if you want people to help you out.

I also did a lot of cold emailing. And currently, I'm seasoning a partnership with an agency in the United States who is going to send clients our way.

I'd recommend all indie hackers to partner with people who share values with you. It's like a marriage. Make a good decision. And clearly discuss expectations and needs.

Not all clients pay

A major challenge I faced along the way was managing clients who didn’t pay their dues on time. This taught me a few things, and I'd recommend learning from my mistakes:

• Make a contract for every client. 

• Get each client to sign an NDA.

• Don't downplay your time.

• Use applications like MailSuite, which allows you to digitally track when your invoices are received (for legal purposes).

• Stop providing services after two unpaid invoices. Try to stick to this.

• If you do monthly retainers, make sure to specify that you will increase your prices annually to adjust inflation.

• Hire a VA or project manager for daily tasks and follow-ups when you sign at least three clients. This is a must.

And it's important to get customers who share your values so that you can grow together.

Read these books

I recommend reading these four books:

• The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed and Happiness by  Morgan Housel

• The Lean Startup by Eric Rise

• $100M Leads by Alex Hormozi

• $100M Offer by  Alex Hormozi

What's next?

For FoundersTalk, I envision building a community of 3k subscribed users, founders, and investors within the first year.

With Noomshot, we want to close this year, 2025, with 20 new clients. We’re currently partnering up with another agency to grow even more in the United States.

And I'm transitioning ARCTOS into a marketing agency that creates fast design prototypes for startups.

You can follow along on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and my blog. Or check out ARCTOS, NoomShot, and FoundersTalk.