Vet a delivery partner
before they touch your clients.
A 12-page toolkit for agencies choosing a white-label or delivery partner: a weighted 10-point scorecard, the checks behind each score, a side-by-side worksheet and the final checklist to complete before you assign client work.
Free toolkit · PDF, 12 pages, 934 KB · sent by email
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The Agency Partner Due Diligence Toolkit is a 12-page PDF that scores a delivery partner on ten areas, from NDA and delivery ownership to pricing, output quality and risk. Written for agency founders and operations leads comparing white-label partners: score each candidate the same way, compare them side by side, then complete the final checklist before signing.
12 pages,
ready to use.
- 01Why partner due diligence mattersWhy choosing a partner is a business decision rather than a vendor decision, and what a poor fit costs in deadlines, margin and client trust.
- 02The 10-point evaluation frameworkA weighted scorecard covering NDA and confidentiality, delivery ownership, SLA and support, white-label processes, communication, technical expertise, reporting, pricing transparency, output quality and risk management, scored out of 50 with what each band means.
- 03Deep dives on each areaWhat a strong answer looks like for every area of the scorecard, and the questions that separate a mature partner from a polished pitch.
- 04Vendor comparison worksheetThe same criteria applied to several candidates side by side, so the decision rests on evidence rather than the best presentation or the lowest price.
- 05Final due diligence checklistCommercial, legal and confidentiality, delivery and operational checks to complete before any critical client work is assigned.
- 06Five questions for the final testThe questions to answer before you hand over a client relationship, starting with whether the partner can protect it.
Free · sent to your inbox
Get the Agency Partner Due Diligence Toolkit
Score every candidate
the same way.
- Step 1
Shortlist two or three partners and send each the same brief.
- Step 2
Score every candidate on the ten areas, using the deep dives to test their answers.
- Step 3
Put the scores side by side in the comparison worksheet and read the risk notes, not just the totals.
- Step 4
Work through the final checklist with the partner you choose before you assign client work.
Frequently
asked.
Agency founders, operations leads and procurement teams choosing a white-label or delivery partner for SEO, PPC, development, design or content work. It applies whether or not you end up working with PixelCrayons.
Fill in the short form on this page with your name and email. The toolkit is emailed to that address straight away as a PDF attachment, with a reference number in case you want to ask us anything about it.
Yes. Score us on the same ten areas as everyone else. Our sample agreements, partner prices and client-protection terms are published on this site, so most of the evidence the scorecard asks for is available before a first call.
The toolkit sorts a total out of 50 into four bands: strategic partner (45 to 50), viable partner (38 to 44), proceed with conditions (30 to 37) and high risk (below 30). It also warns not to let a strong average hide a critical weakness: confidentiality, client ownership, delivery continuity and security are treated as gates, not just points.
Want a second opinion
on a partner?
Tell us who you are assessing and what worries you. A specialist replies, typically within four business hours, with what we would check first.
No obligation · Client protection in writing
Last updated