The Agency Starter Stack
Starter StackRun client projects and win new business
$60–$130/month~8h to set up5 tools
What's in this stack
The foundational stack for a small agency. ClickUp for project management, HubSpot free CRM for pipeline, Slack for team communication, and FreshBooks for invoicing. Lean and proven.
ClickUpProject management & task tracking
One app to replace them all
8.5/10Free plan
HubSpotCRM & new business pipeline
CRM, marketing, sales, and service platform
8.8/10Free plan
FreshBooksClient invoicing & accounting
Invoicing and accounting for small businesses
8.2/10$19/mo
LoomClient communication & reviews
Async video messaging for teams and clients
9/10Free plan
CalendlyDiscovery & check-in calls
Scheduling automation for busy professionals
9/10Free plan
Pros & Cons
Why this stack works
- ✓ClickUp free tier covers a surprising amount
- ✓HubSpot CRM is free and genuinely useful
- ✓Scales to a 10-person team without major changes
Limitations
- ✕No dedicated client portal
- ✕FreshBooks gets expensive with many clients
Stack Summary
- Monthly cost
- $60–$130
- Setup time
- ~8 hours
- Tools
- 5
- Business type
- agency
- Tier
- Starter Stack
Best for
- Agencies under 10 people
- Freelancers transitioning to agency
Cost Calculator
Toggle free / paid per toolClickUp
Project management & task tracking
Free
HubSpot
CRM & new business pipeline
Free
FreshBooks
Client invoicing & accounting
$19/mo
Loom
Client communication & reviews
Free
Calendly
Discovery & check-in calls
Free
Estimated monthly$19–$29
4 tools on free plans, 1 paid
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Take the quiz →Last verified: 2026-03-01