In 2022 and 2023, freelancing isall the rage. In line with this trend, many new collectives are springing up every day. But contrary to what you may (often) read on LinkedIn, the agency model is not dead. I believe that both models will continue to coexist, and even that agencies will become fashionable again.

The subject is fascinating, but all too often treated from just one point of view. That's why Benoit (co-founder of a web developer collective) and I (co-founder of a web agency) decided to open the debate on these 2 models with our respective experiences.

1. Agencies VS Collectives : The match!

Is there really a match? What if collectives and agencies were simply responding to different business and worker needs?

1.1 Freelance collectives or agencies? The context of the debate.

Create a collective? Create an agency? Joining a collective or an agency? Does signing a permanent contract mean the end of independence? Structural costs of models? How to attract talent?

The questions are numerous, so fascinating is the subject. And the subject is almost always defended by a pro-collective or a pro-agency. Each highlights the advantages of his or her model, while overlooking its limitations and drawbacks.

That's why we've decided - for once - to open up a real discussion with speakers from both sides of the argument.

1.2 Contributors

Benoit Eveillard

Benoît is the co-founder of Justa, a freelance collective of Web development experts. Benoît specializes in development and is also a trainer on the no-code/low-code Web development tool Webflow.

Find out more about Benoît

Florian Bodelot

I'm the co-founder of Digidop, a web agency specializing in the creation of showcase sites for small, medium and large companies. Digidop has won numerous international awards, including Webflow Professional Partner of the Year in 2023. The agency is divided into two divisions: Design and Development. I also specialize in no-code/low-code web development with Webflow.

Find out more Florian Bodelot

1.3 The live program

Both models intrigue and question, so here's a look at what you can expect with the program:

1. Presentations of our respective models (Justa & Digidop)
2. Quick definition of an agency (salaried) vs. a collective (freelance)
3. Internal organization and structure: What are the differences? (Project management, Marketing/Sales, Flexible working methods, Remuneration, etc.)
4. Pricing systems and their impact (Overdelivery/profitability?)
5. Expertise? Niche? Missing skills? And attracting talent
6. Conclusion: Advantages and disadvantages of the two models
7. Q&A

A fascinating subject that promises to make for a busy live show! Coming up next:

• 📆 December 19, 2023
• 🕘 12:00 CET

About...

2. The link to the live (and replay) video

3.opinions following the exchange

This part of the article will be updated with your comments and reactions on the various social networks following this debate. And my opinion will also be updated after this discussion.

3.1 Your shared feedback

3.2 My opinion

To "become fashionable again", agencies - like all companies - need to adapt quickly to new demands by combining an alignment: missions + values + attractive working environment to attract and federate talent.

To date, we receive daily requests from freelancers who want to switch to an agency like ours, and this is one of the reasons why, before discussing it with Benoît, I thinkboth models are attractive: freelance collectives and agencies. Each with a different strategy, different customer typologies, different organizations, and different individual and collective objectives.

In 2023, I think we can be proud of belonging to a group, a team, and that these collective objectives remain stronger and more stable in a context of agency - salariat - than a grouping of individuality without official structure.