Handing off marketing without losing control
Whether to a hire or an agency, the marketing handoff is where most shops lose visibility on the channel.
Keep ownership of the accounts
Google profile, ad accounts, website, customer list. All in the business's name and email, with the owner as the admin. Agencies and employees come and go. The accounts stay.
Report on outcomes, not activity
Vendor reports full of 'impressions' and 'engagements' don't move the business. Demand reporting on leads, closed deals, and cost per won customer.
Cut quickly when it's not working
A bad agency or hire costs 3 to 6 months of progress. Define what 'working' looks like in advance and follow through on the cut if needed.
Take your version of this question further
This is one operator-tested angle on the question. Your shop, your size, your trade, and your team change the answer. Ask your specific version inside Ask a Shop Owner to get a response grounded in how owners like you actually handled it.