Ways to Wealth EP79: Building a Digital Agency Without Venture Capital, with Sam Raines

In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Sam Raines!

Sam is the founder of The Web Guys, a digital marketing agency he launched in 2013 at the age of 22. After leaving school at 14 to pursue DJing and working in various sales roles, Sam recognised a gap in the emerging digital marketing space and started his own agency.The conversation covers Sam’s journey from struggling DJ to successful agency owner and explores how The Web Guys evolved from selling basic websites to becoming a full‑service digital marketing firm offering SEO, custom web development, and performance‑based marketing. He shares how moving from project work to recurring retainers enabled sustainable growth, systematic hiring, and ultimately owning their own commercial office space.Sam also details the technology stack that powers the agency, including how Go High Level replaced multiple tools while delivering automation and cost efficiencies. He reflects on the philosophy of immediate customer response, building cash flow without investors, and lessons from selling a previous gaming platform business in a six to seven figure transaction. The episode closes with insights on wealth building, property investment, and scaling service‑based businesses while maintaining quality and profitability.Find out more about The Web Guys here: www.thewebguys.co.nzWatch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts#WaysToWealth #DigitalMarketing #Entrepreneurship #AgencyGrowth #CashFlow #Automation #WebDevelopment #SEO #PropertyInvestment #BusinessScaling