About activ
We’re an award-winning national marketing agency delivering comprehensive digital marketing solutions locally through our unique franchise model, The Marketing Agency Franchise™.
Welcome to activ Marketing
We’re the longest-running digital marketing franchise in the UK.
With a proven track record of success, we know what works, and we’re here to help you build a thriving marketing business. Whether you're looking to create a strong, locally rooted agency or want the flexibility of running an online marketing business from anywhere in the world, our proven model and experienced team can make that happen.
Katie’s Story
At activ, our story starts with lived experience. CEO and Franchisor Katie Bullon began as a franchise partner in 2014 before leading a UK wide buy out of the business in 2021.
An award winning marketer professional and verified franchising professional, Katie has a strong track record in business growth, strategy and brand transformation. Since taking the reins, she has rebranded activ, introduced a new support model and reshaped the franchise to scale. The result is a BFA accredited, full service franchise that supports a growing national network.
Katie has been named Best Leader in Marketing at the Global Women in Marketing Awards, featured in The Telegraph’s Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch and shortlisted for the Great British Entrepreneur Awards two years running.
She is also a judge for the Global Women in Marketing Awards, UK StartUp Awards and EWiF Awards, Chair of EWiF Wales, and a columnist for both Elite Franchise Magazine and the BFA’s official magazine.
Katie’s mission is to redefine how marketers work across the country for themselves by giving them the structure, support and opportunity to succeed.
Read Katie's recent interview with Elite Franchise Magazine.
Our Mission
To be the number one choice for self employed marketers who want to scale smarter, not solo.
We do this by:
- Empowering solo marketers to rise beyond their ceiling through Solo Power® – proven systems, human-powered AI and a business in a box that removes the uncertainty of self-employment.
- Redefining how SMEs outsource their marketing by providing plug-in marketing directors backed by the structure, capability and consistency of a national agency.
- Raising the standard of outsourced marketing in the UK with frameworks, tools and support that create clarity, confidence and meaningful commercial impact.
Our mission is simple:
To build a better model for solo marketers and a better experience for businesses – one that elevates everyone involved.
Our Vision
To transform the freelance marketing industry through franchising – giving solo marketers a smarter, safer and more scalable way to grow, and giving SMEs the strategic marketing leadership they deserve.
We envision a future where marketers no longer burn out, businesses no longer buy fragmented marketing support, and both sides thrive through clarity, structure and support.
Our Values
Heart & Humanity
We lead with empathy, honesty and real care for people. We create a supportive, safe space for marketers and clients to grow, built on trust, kindness and genuine connection.
Clarity & Structure
We turn complexity into confidence. Through clear frameworks, systems and direction, we give marketers and SMEs the structure that creates freedom, stability and focused growth.
Creativity with Commercial Purpose
Bold ideas matter, but only when they drive results. We blend creativity with smart strategy to deliver meaningful, measurable impact for partners and clients.
Connection & Community
We grow together. Our network removes the isolation of freelance life, replacing it with collaboration, accountability and shared ambition. No one at activ builds alone.
Ambition & Elevation
We believe people rise higher with the right support. We champion bold goals and empower our partners to achieve success on their own terms, lifting both marketers and clients beyond the limits they faced alone.
Progress & Innovation
We continually evolve. From Solo Power® to Kora, to Flow and our business-in-a-box systems, we innovate with purpose, keeping our partners ahead in a fast-moving industry.
Location Franchise Partner - LPF
Perfect for: Professionals leaving employment who may not have marketing experience but do have transferable skills and a hunger to start their own business.
Who have: Drive and determination to build something meaningful
- People skills, business acumen, or project management experience
- A desire to work locally with flexibility and purpose
With activ they get: Complete training and onboarding from day one
- A business model that teaches you how to run a successful local marketing business
- Ongoing support training and access to a full-service delivery team
Their future…
A respected local marketing agency owner, equipped for success and backed by a trusted brand.
Our Vision for our LFPs
To unlock the potential of driven professionals ready for a new chapter – turning transferable skills into thriving marketing businesses and enabling a more fulfilling lifestyle on their terms.
Because it’s never too late to leave the rat race and build something of your own.
Consultant Franchise Partner – CFP
Perfect for: Experienced marketers, freelancers, or consultants—including those currently in employed marketing roles—who want to grow their income, client base, and reputation without going it alone.
Who have:
- A background in marketing, communications, or digital
- Clients, a network, or untapped potential—but need a framework to scale
- A desire to focus on strategy and client relationships—not delivery
With activ they get:
- The credibility of an established brand and proven model
- Access to a full-service delivery team, freeing up their time
- Sales and marketing tools, training, and resources to grow faster
Their future…
A thriving consultancy business that looks and feels like an agency, supported by a team and tools to help them scale without burnout.
Our Vision for our CFPs
To empower skilled marketers to step into their next-level business—serving bigger clients, charging more, and delivering more—while staying lean and in control.
Because it’s time for experienced marketers to stop playing small and start building a business that works for them.
Online Marketing Agency Franchise – OMAF
Perfect for: Ambitious entrepreneurs who already have an exciting freelance marketing business and want to continue growing it—under their own brand—with the structure and support of an award-winning model.
Who have:
- A passion for marketing, business growth, or agency ownership
- The drive to grow a remote team and manage multiple clients
- A long-term vision to build a brand beyond themselves
With activ they get:
- Full agency systems, training, and delivery infrastructure
- A scalable model with support for recruitment and growth
- Branding, positioning, and marketing assets to hit the ground running
Their future…
A national or even global agency run on their terms—backed by the systems, support, and team they need to grow with confidence.
Our Vision for our OMAF Partners
To enable existing marketing entrepreneurs to skip the chaos of scaling alone—bringing structure to their success and helping them build a future-proof agency with their name on the door.
Because with the right foundations, there’s no limit to how far your agency can go.
