Survey Results: How Does Your PR Firm Measure Up?

Below are some highlights of the latest survey of 104 PR agency P&L statements conducted over 10 years by StevensGouldPincus, covering 22 most critical metrics. For full details including results by agency size, location and specialty, contact Rick Gould, at [email protected].

The 2007 averages among agencies of all sizes:

  • revenues per staff--$172K

  • revenues per professional on staff--$221K

  • account salaries--40.3% of revenues

  • bonuses--3.3%

  • administrative salaries--6.3%

  • marketing--2.5%

  • professional fees--1.9%

  • rent & utilities--6.6%

  • total overhead--25.8%

  • total operating profit--19.7%

Other stats:

  • billing on time basis--47.2% of agencies

  • fixed retainers--53.1%

  • retainers plus excess time billing--30.4%

  • average minimum monthly fee accepted--$14,098

  • baseline executive hours input--1,694

  • account executive billable time--90.2% of input

  • staff turnover per year--24.2% of total staff

  • average markup on rebillables--18%