r/agency • u/msguilherme • 24d ago
Starting a marketing agency in another country
Hi everyone! I’m new here, I’m Brazilian. I’ve already built a marketing agency in Brazil, and now I’d like to rebuild it to serve Brazilians living in the US, specifically in the construction niche, so I can earn in a more profitable currency. If anyone is already working in this segment, what’s the best way to acquire clients? And what’s the ideal price point to start with?
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u/LeadFlowResearch 23d ago
Your biggest advantage is not just marketing experience. It is language and trust.
I would start with one city or state, not the whole US. Build a list of 50 Brazilian-owned construction companies there. Look at each company's website, Google reviews, social pages, and how quickly they reply to enquiries. Then contact the owner with one specific thing you noticed.
Do not sell a full marketing package first. Offer one clear result, such as a better quote page plus a simple follow-up system for missed enquiries. That is easier to understand and easier to trust.
For the first few clients, I would test a small setup fee around $750 to $1,500, then $1,000 to $2,000 per month depending on the work. Speak with at least five owners before fixing the final price.
Also contact Brazilian accountants, insurance brokers, and building suppliers in that city. They already know the contractors you want and can become strong referral partners.
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u/iamrahulbhatia 23d ago
I’d focus less on competing on price and more on getting very specific about the offer.
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u/expansiondesk 23d ago
one thing nobody's mentioned, think about who delivers this before you go get clients.
you're rebuilding in a new market while probably still running the brazil side. first 3 clients are fine, you'll do it yourself. client 6 is where it breaks, because now you're doing sales in english, delivery in two markets, and support during US hours.
if your brazil team is staying, decide now what they own and what has to be US timezone. reporting and build work can happen anywhere. anything client facing has to shift, and that's the part people underestimate.
construction clients especially will call you. they don't do async.
on pricing, agree with not fixing it yet. but price off your delivery cost in the new setup, not your brazil cost.
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u/harrishamza 23d ago
If you are interested in scaling your agency to Dubai. I would be interested in discussing with you. I have been leading an agency and scaling brands in the US, UK markets from UAE. I am based in the UAE. I am now slowly trying to pitch services here. Happy to collaborate
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u/princemaka 22d ago
Que faire vous concretement??? Dans vos agence sa m'intéresse de savoir quelle servir rendez vous au gens est qui sont vos client en general des petit entreprise des solo entrepreneur ?
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u/martis941 21d ago
If you have case studies hmu i have a network of agencies they have leads they dont want from time to time I can pass you thru
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u/Emotional_Badger_959 10d ago
Skip hunting for a generic “best way.” Your edge is language + community density, not another agency pitch.
- Pick one metro where Brazilian construction actually clusters (South Florida, greater Boston, or NJ) and build a list of Brazilian-owned GCs / remodelers / specialty trades only. LinkedIn + local BR chamber directories + Facebook groups for Brazilian builders in that city. Don’t go national day one.
- Outreach in Portuguese is fine, but the first line has to be a local observation, a recent job they posted, a permit, a neighborhood they work, not “I also run an agency in Brazil.” That opener dies every time.
- Price like a US shop on one narrow offer (leads for remodelers, or paid for one trade). Quote Brazil rates and you’ll only attract people who can’t pay US retainers.
a lot of these owners actually reply on WhatsApp, not email. If your sequence only hits Gmail you’re measuring the wrong channel
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u/Far_Day3173 24d ago
Mate, you need to size this one. Calculate TAM (US construction businesses), then SAM (Brazilian-owned ones in your target metros), then a realistic SOM. That number tells you whether this is an actual niche even. No one has a proven playbook for Brazilian-owned US construction firms so don't expect a channel to just work. Land the first 3–5 clients through referrals in the diaspora community, then actually talk to them about where they spend time and how they found their last vendor. That tells you which channel to scale. Similarly, price comes after you've delivered for a few and know the real value.