Creative and marketing agencies win client trust with strategy, branding, and campaigns. Then the client asks: “Can you also build the web app?” The agency has two choices - hire developers (expensive, outside core competency) or partner with an engineering team that handles the build while the agency keeps the client relationship. We are that engineering partner. Below are the three partnership models, how pricing works, and what makes the relationship last.
Why agencies need an engineering partner
Hiring developers is expensive and risky: a senior full-stack in Croatia costs EUR 3.000 to EUR 5.000 per month in salary, and inconsistent engineering work means the seat burns cash. Managing engineering is a different skill - code reviews, deployment pipelines, and technical debt do not respond to creative-director instincts. Meanwhile, clients expect end-to-end delivery; saying “we don’t do development” loses the account.
Three partnership models
1. White-label. We build under the agency’s brand. The client never sees our name; we attend calls as “the agency’s development team.” Best when the agency wants full control of the client experience. Pricing: we quote the agency at our standard rates; the agency adds a 20-40 % margin and presents one proposal.
2. Co-branded. Both brands are visible. The agency leads strategy, design, and client management; we are introduced as the engineering partner. Best when transparency matters to the client. Pricing: each side scopes and quotes its part; the agency presents a unified or two linked proposals.
3. Embedded team. Our developers join the agency’s team on a project basis - in their Slack, Jira, and Figma, attending their standups. Best for longer projects (3+ months) that need consistent capacity without hiring. Pricing: monthly retainer of EUR 4.000 to EUR 7.000 per developer.
What each side handles
| Responsibility | Agency | Us |
|---|---|---|
| Client relationship | Yes | No (white-label) or shared (co-branded) |
| Strategy and design | Yes | Optional |
| Frontend, backend, integrations | No | Yes |
| QA, deployment, maintenance | No | Yes |
What makes a good agency partner
- Clear briefs. The agency translates client needs into a product brief before we start. Ambiguity creates scope creep and budget disputes.
- The agency owns the client relationship. We never go around them.
- Reliable payment terms. We invoice the agency, not the client, and the agency pays on time regardless of when the client pays. Non-negotiable.
- Mutual respect for process. Agency trusts us on stack and architecture; we trust them on creative direction.
How to start
Pilot a small project (EUR 5.000 to EUR 15.000) to test the working relationship. After the pilot, lock in communication channels, brief templates, and billing cycles. Some of our partners then send us two to three projects per month on an ongoing basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you handle design too? Yes, but most agency partners prefer to keep design in-house - it is their core strength. We slot in when they specifically need it.
What if the client wants to work with us directly? We refer them back to the agency. Trust is the foundation of this partnership; we never poach.
What is the minimum project size? EUR 5.000 for white-label and co-branded. For embedded team, a three-month minimum at EUR 4.000+ per month.
Related Articles
- How to choose a development agency - what your clients look for in a development partner.
- Custom software cost in Croatia - pricing context for scoping proposals.
- Discovery sprint: how it removes project risk - how we start complex projects.
Looking for an engineering partner?
Book a free 30-minute call. We will discuss your agency’s needs and which model fits best. Reach us at [email protected] or via the form on our homepage.