Top Hat Marketing
Top Hat Marketing is a De Pere, Wisconsin-based marketing consultancy founded in 2001 by Robert Jahnke that provides low-cost marketing strategy, audits, and an automated text/email follow-up CRM (VIP Follow Up) to small businesses across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersDe Pere, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Top Hat Marketing does
Top Hat Marketing is a privately held, sole-proprietor marketing consultancy founded in 2001 by Robert Jahnke and based in De Pere, Wisconsin. The firm sells low-cost, high-impact marketing services to small businesses across the United States, centered on a proprietary 5-step growth framework that covers customer acquisition, lead generation, conversion optimization, transaction frequency, and profit margin improvement. Its core offering is productized: a free 15-minute Calendly consultation funnels prospects into a $99 marketing audit (guaranteed to surface at least $10,000 in hidden revenue), which in turn converts into ongoing consulting engagements. The firm also monetizes a separate legal-services distribution relationship as an independent Legal Shield associate.
The technology stack is modest but real. The firm built and operates VIP Follow Up LLC (launched 2015), an automated text-and-email follow-up CRM used by clients such as Brown County Tavern League and KnowledgeWorks Global Inc. It also publishes interactive tools — the Profit Acceleration Simulator™ (a 5-step framework calculator) and the Conversion Equation Calculator — plus free resources (Marketing 101 PDF, training videos, classic marketing books) that function as top-of-funnel content marketing. No AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or third-party platform integrations are evidenced; the entire technology layer appears to be proprietary web-based calculators and a messaging automation product.
The go-to-market is consultative and founder-led: Robert Jahnke personally delivers services, supported by a content-driven trust-building strategy (free guides, YouTube videos, testimonials) and a dense Wisconsin-based community networking footprint (SCORE, HBBA, Junior Achievement, De Pere Chamber, Green Bay Packers Mentor-Protégé Program, E-Hub). The customer base is horizontal across small-business verticals — spa, mortgage, travel, lawn care, pet services, hospitality — with all named logos being SMBs. Revenue is not disclosed and the firm has no outside investors, no board, no subsidiaries, and no M&A history; VIP Follow Up LLC operates as an adjacent business entity rather than a formal subsidiary.
Top Hat Marketing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Top Hat Marketing
- Legal name
- Top Hat Marketing
- Website
- https://tophatmarketing.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Top Hat Marketing is a De Pere, Wisconsin-based marketing consultancy founded in 2001 by Robert Jahnke that provides low-cost marketing strategy, audits, and an automated text/email follow-up CRM (VIP Follow Up) to small businesses across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Top Hat Marketing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Small Business Marketing Consulting
- NAICS
- Marketing Consulting Services (541613), Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lead Generation & List Building Services (Prospecting, Data Sourcing) (BPAFAKAE)
Keywords
Where Top Hat Marketing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- De Pere
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Top Hat Marketing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Marketing Consulting Services: Core revenue stream providing low-cost, high-impact marketing solutions to small businesses. Includes strategy development, marketing audits, and ongoing consulting engagements.
- VIP Follow Up CRM: Owner of VIP Follow Up LLC since 2015. Provides automated text and email follow-up system for client lead/customer management.
- Legal Shield Independent Associate: Independent associate since 2000 marketing legal plans and ID theft protection as employee benefits, small business services, and family protection.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free 15-minute consultation |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | $99 Marketing Audit |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Top Hat Marketing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Top Hat Marketing provides low-cost, high-impact marketing consulting to small business owners, built around a proprietary 5-step growth framework covering customer acquisition, lead generation, conversion optimization, transaction frequency, and profit margins. The company is operated by sole owner Robert Jahnke and pairs consulting with a complementary automated follow-up product (VIP Follow Up) and interactive planning tools such as the Profit Acceleration Simulator and Conversion Equation Calculator.
Product overview
Top Hat Marketing is a small business marketing consulting firm offering a portfolio of services and tools. The core offering is marketing strategy consulting focused on customer acquisition, lead generation, conversion optimization, transaction frequency, and profit margins. The company operates two complementary products: VIP Follow Up LLC (automated text and email follow-up CRM system) and the Profit Acceleration Simulator (a business growth planning tool). Supporting these are free resources including a Marketing 101 PDF guide, training videos, and a Marketing Library of classic reports and books. The company also offers a $99 marketing audit service and Conversion Equation Calculator as entry-point tools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Top Hat Marketing Consulting Services Core marketing consulting engagement for small business owners applying a 5-step growth framework (customer acquisition, lead generation, conversions, transactions, profit margins) with personalized strategy, scripts, offers, and accountability coaching.
- VIP Follow Up CRM Automated text and email follow-up system that sends messages to leads and clients on a schedule, used by small businesses for customer retention and lead nurturing.
- $99 Marketing Audit One-time paid audit engagement in which the consultant reviews the prospect's business and identifies five specific areas where additional revenue can be unlocked, with a money-back guarantee tied to revenue discovery.
- Profit Acceleration Simulator Web-based interactive tool that helps small business owners evaluate and simulate profit acceleration opportunities using the company's 5-step roadmap.
- Conversion Equation Calculator Web-based marketing performance evaluation calculator that helps small businesses assess current marketing effectiveness and identify improvement areas.
Quantifiable outcome
- Small business doubled profits with little time, effort, or expense
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Top Hat Marketing
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Top Hat Marketing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Top Hat Marketing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Community Education InitiativeminorCo-founded in 2024. Non-profit focused on business optimization coaching. Robert serves as business optimization coach, continuing his mission of helping small businesses succeed.
- Green Bay Packers Mentor-Protégé ProgramminorServed as mentor from 2015-2018 in the Green Bay Packers business and marketing mentor program, providing visibility and credibility within the Wisconsin business community.
- Junior AchievementminorVolunteer organization supporting financial literacy for the next generation. Robert has been a volunteer since 2008, building community goodwill and brand awareness among future business owners and parents.
- HBBA Inc. (Home Based Businesses Association)coreCo-founded in 2007. Robert Jahnke has been a 19-year board member and president of 3 chapters. HBBA serves as a B2B referral network for the company, generating leads and business opportunities through the networking group.
- SCORE WisconsincoreVolunteer mentor and marketing presenter for SCORE, the Small Business Administration's mentoring network. Provides marketing expertise to small business clients referred through SCORE's national network. Active as SCORE counselor.
- E-Hub (Urban Hope Entrepreneurial Program)minorMentors new entrepreneurs in Green Bay through E-Hub. Robert is a two-time graduate of the program and has served as a volunteer since 2001-2005 graduation.
- De Pere Area Chamber of CommerceminorActive member supporting De Pere small businesses. Chamber membership provides networking opportunities and visibility within the local business community.
- Legal ShieldminorIndependent Associate since 2000, marketing legal plans and ID theft protection as employee benefits, small business, and family services. Secondary revenue stream separate from core marketing consulting business.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Top Hat Marketing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- HubSpot (Solutions Partner consultancies): Major CRM/marketing automation platform whose Solutions Partner program comprises thousands of small business marketing consultants offering strategy and implementation services that directly compete with Top Hat's customer acquisition and follow-up offering.
- Patel Consulting / Neil Patel (NP Digital): High-profile SMB marketing consultancy and education brand offering free tools (similar to Top Hat's calculators) and consulting/training aimed at small business growth. Comparable content-led lead generation strategy.
- Thrive Internet Marketing Agency: Full-service digital marketing agency serving SMBs with SEO, PPC, social, and web services at greater scale than Top Hat. Comparable on customer acquisition focus and SMB target market.
- MarketingProfs: Established B2B marketing training and resource provider offering courses, events, and consulting for marketers. Overlaps Top Hat's content/training library and consulting focus but at greater scale and broader audience.
Others
- Score (SBA Resource Partner network mentors): Free small business mentoring network where Top Hat founder Robert Jahnke serves as a volunteer counselor. Indirect peer: many SCORE mentors also offer fee-based marketing consulting, and SCORE itself funnels clients into the broader SMB consulting ecosystem.
Emerging players
- GoHighLevel (HighLevel): All-in-one white-label CRM, marketing automation, and funnel platform for agencies and SMBs. Directly competitive with VIP Follow Up CRM, particularly on text/email follow-up, and underpins many SMB-focused agencies.
Direct peers
- DigitalMarketer: Marketing training and certification company serving SMBs and agencies with structured frameworks for customer acquisition, lead generation, and conversion. Comparable to Top Hat for its SMB-focused education-plus-implementation approach.
- Duct Tape Marketing: Founder-led small business marketing consultancy using a step-by-step referral system and proven frameworks to help SMBs attract leads and grow. Directly comparable in target customer, methodology, and consulting model to Top Hat Marketing.
- Main Street ROI: SMB-focused marketing agency providing lead generation, web, and CRM implementation services to small business owners. Compares directly in customer segment, service mix, and consulting-plus-technology delivery model.
- ActionCOACH: Global franchise network of small business coaches and marketing consultants offering structured growth frameworks for SMB owners. Strongly comparable on coaching methodology, SMB target, and productized service offering to Top Hat.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Top Hat Marketing social profiles
Digital presenceTop Hat Marketing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Top Hat Marketing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Top Hat Marketing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Top Hat Marketing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Top Hat Marketing
What does Top Hat Marketing do?
Top Hat Marketing provides low-cost, high-impact marketing consulting to small business owners, built around a proprietary 5-step growth framework covering customer acquisition, lead generation, conversion optimization, transaction frequency, and profit margins. The company is operated by sole owner Robert Jahnke and pairs consulting with a complementary automated follow-up product (VIP Follow Up) and interactive planning tools such as the Profit Acceleration Simulator and Conversion Equation Calculator.
Is Top Hat Marketing a public or private company?
Top Hat Marketing is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Top Hat Marketing founded?
Top Hat Marketing was founded in 2001. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Top Hat Marketing based?
Top Hat Marketing is headquartered in De Pere, United States, in the North America region.
How does Top Hat Marketing make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Marketing Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are VIP Follow Up CRM and legal Shield Independent Associate.
Who are Top Hat Marketing's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are HubSpot (Solutions Partner consultancies), Patel Consulting / Neil Patel (NP Digital), Thrive Internet Marketing Agency and MarketingProfs. Score (SBA Resource Partner network mentors) is listed as an others. GoHighLevel (HighLevel) is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are DigitalMarketer, Duct Tape Marketing, Main Street ROI and ActionCOACH.
Does Top Hat Marketing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Top Hat Marketing.
What industry is Top Hat Marketing in?
Top Hat Marketing's product category is Small Business Marketing Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAKAE, Lead Generation & List Building Services (Prospecting, Data Sourcing). Its NAICS code is 541613 and its SIC code is 8742.