Most agencies talk a big game about impact. But when you dig into the details, what startups usually get are bloated timelines, underwhelming results, and a growing pile of invoices. So why do most agencies fail to deliver outcomes that actually matter?
Let’s break it down—and see how Clean Design Co. (CDC) flips the model on its head.
The "Delivery" Mirage Most Agencies Sell
Traditional agencies operate on one of two models:
Deliverable-based: You pay for X number of screens, pages, or campaigns.
Time-based: You pay for the number of hours worked.
On paper, these seem reasonable. In reality, they misalign incentives and priorities.
With deliverable-based models, agencies are incentivized to ship the deliverables as defined, regardless of whether they work. If results don't materialize, the agency solution is usually: "Add more deliverables."
With time-based models, the incentives are worse. The longer the project drags on, the more billable hours rack up. Efficiency is punished, not rewarded.
And for startups? That’s a nightmare. You need traction yesterday. You can’t afford to pay for work that might work—or wait months for something to ship.
Why Startups Need a Different Model
Every startup is solving a unique problem, in a unique market, with a uniquely resource-constrained team. That means:
Speed matters. Long timelines kill momentum.
Context matters. Aesthetic design without user or market insight is dead weight.
Outcomes matter. You can’t afford to celebrate launches if conversions stay flat.
The agency playbook just doesn’t fit this reality.
Clean Design Co. Was Built Because Agencies Weren't
CDC’s founder ran a traditional agency for nearly a decade. He saw firsthand how the old model let startups down.
So CDC was born to do things differently. Our promise? We’re here to drive outcomes, not deliverables.
Sounds too good to be true? It’s too good and too true.
The CDC Model: Subscription-Based, Outcome-Focused
We productised our offering into a clear, founder-friendly subscription model:
Fixed monthly fee
Unlimited design requests (delivered one at a time)
Fast turnarounds, 48 hours per task
No hourly billing or deliverable traps
That means we’re not here to upsell. We’re here to solve.
We work like an embedded design partner. One that understands your business, ships fast, iterates faster, and thinks in KPIs, not pixels.
How It Plays Out: CDC in Action
A few examples of what this looks like in practice:
datateams.ai: We built a full Webflow site targeting buyer objections. They closed their first deals within a month.
NIRA Finance: We combined Gen-AI (in 2022) and no-code build. They now rank #1 on Google, pulling in 40k+ organic visits/month.
The Migration Story: Migrated them to Framer CMS. Ops time dropped from 22h to 4h/week. Traffic up 33%.
Each of these required different strategies. That’s the point. We tailor our approach to each startup’s actual goals.
Why Our Process Works
Strategy-led kickoffs to align on outcomes
Cross-functional execution: design, copy, SEO, product thinking
No-code tech stack for agility (Webflow, Framer, etc.)
Iterative, async feedback loops that match startup pace
We don’t ask how many hours something will take. We ask what result it’ll drive.
Red Flags to Watch When Hiring an Agency
Are they billing for time or outcomes?
Do they push standard templates or understand your context?
Are they tracking metrics that matter to you?
If the answer is "no" or "not sure"- keep looking.
Founders Deserve More Than Pretty Screens
You deserve design that works for you. That helps close deals. That ranks on Google. That saves ops time.
And most of all, you deserve a partner who’s just as hungry as you are.
Let’s Talk
See how Clean Design Co. can help you grow faster. Contact us to get started.
