7 Best Branding Agencies for Startups
Last Updated: By TRUiC Team
If you want your startup to survive in the market, you need a brand that distinguishes you from the competition, creates buzz, and attracts customers and investors. That's why it's essential to work with a branding agency in the process of building or evolving your business. We've compiled a list of the seven best branding agencies for startups to help you effectively build your company's brand and get on your way.
What to Look for in a Branding Agency
When you’re ready to build your new startup’s brand, you’ll quickly find that there is a wide range of branding agencies for startups to choose from. And while many steps go into growing a business, brand building is one of the most critical. That’s why it’s vital to do your homework before choosing an agency to ensure you find the right fit.
Unfortunately, choosing a branding agency can be confusing, and many new startup owners don’t know where to start — so here are a few things you should consider during your search:
- Type of agency: Branding agencies for startups each specialize in different services, such as brand strategy or brand activation.
- Agency services: Most agencies offer the same four core services (research, brand strategy, brand identity, and brand activation), though they often have different focuses. For instance, one may focus on brand positioning, while another may focus on rebranding.
- Portfolio: Look for a portfolio that is innovative, diverse, creative, and consistent.
- Industry expertise: It’s helpful to find a branding agency that has experience in your industry, though not essential.
Top 7 Startup Branding Agencies
These are the top seven branding agencies for startups and small businesses:
1. Ruckus
RUCKUS is a full-service branding agency that offers end-to-end solutions for startups. The New York City-based firm offers everything from logo design and positioning to custom web development and experiential marketing.
Features
Whether your startup is brand new or well established, RUCKUS can help you create an unforgettable impression on potential clients and investors. The self-branded “growth partner” offers everything you need from start to finish, so you get placement, execution, and delivery from a single firm. With a wide range of backgrounds and expertise, their team can disrupt in a way many others cannot.
Price
$25,000+
Pros
- Efficient, high-quality work without bugs
- Highly transparent
Cons
- Infrequent communication
- Not enough variety in creative ideas
2. The Bureau of Small Projects
The Bureau of Small Projects is an agency with big-brand experience. It has worked with Fortune 500 companies and has branding, marketing, and web development skills for hire.
Features
The Bureau of Small Projects builds websites so you don’t have to. It offers a seven-step process, including:
- Landscape analysis
- Value proposition, brand strategy, and messaging
- Your brand story
- Your business or product name
- Your business slogan
- Your logo
- Your business collateral and website
Whether you have a mid-sized business or are a Fortune 500 brand, the Bureau of Small Projects can handle products of any size.
Price
The average price is $10,000 to $25,000. Contact The Bureau of Small Projects for a free assessment.
Pros
- The Bureau of Small Projects helps businesses of all sizes
- Everyone on the team is a specialist
Cons
- A relatively high starting price for the average minimum budget prices out some small businesses.
3. Lounge Lizard
Lounge Lizard is a full-service digital marketing agency with offices in New York, Nashville, and Washington D.C. The agency’s services include research and strategy, visual identity, logo design, naming and taglines, and brand storytelling.
Features
Lounge Lizard calls their branding team "brand tenders" and "marketing mixologists." Their services are "signature cocktails."
As a full-stack web design and development company, their team can help you successfully reach your audience with a brand story that is authentic, relevant, and unique.
Price
$25,000+
Pros
- Approachable, flexible, and supportive
Cons
- Slow to fix bugs
- Communication isn’t great once a project has ended
- Requires a large down payment
4. Branded
BRANDED focuses on transforming businesses from ideas into global brands that people love all over the world. They work with Amazon-based companies, ecommerce stores, and more.
Features
BRANDED partners with founders and provides valuations, allowing business owners to know their brands’ worth.
Price
No price is available online – contact BRANDED for more information.
Pros
- Branded has proven expertise and has worked with companies like BOXED and Uber
Cons
- There are no reviews about the company online
- You have to apply to receive a custom evaluation, and you may not be taken on as a client by the company.
5. Outcrowd
Outcrowd is a design and branding company that is made up of Ukrainian nationals. The group focuses on UX/UI design and is a full-service firm that can get your brand grow from nothing but a simple idea on paper.
Features
Outcrowd is a full-service branding company that offers future-proof results and close communication to collaborate for the best results.
Price
$5,000+
Pros
- Outcrowd works with brands ranging from startups to major, well-known companies
- The company offers UX/UI design, brand identity support, and more
Cons
- Outcrowd is a full-service solution, which may be more than some businesses need.
6. Brolik
Brolik is a digital marketing agency with growth strategists located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It specializes in web design, branding, video production, and marketing.
Features
Digital marketing, web design, branding, and video production are Brolik’s main services.
Price
$10,000+
Pros
- Brolik has the resources of a large company, but it works more like a private agency. Clients work with the team to come up with the right designs and branding for their company goals
Cons
- Brolik tends to be on the higher end of pricing, and it doesn’t offer all the full-service options some brands do
7. The Branx
The Branx is a startup building agency based in Spain. They specialize in building digital brands and high-end websites. Services offered include naming, visual identity, brand strategy, web design, web development, product design, etc.
Features
Branding Workshops help The Branx team defines your brand values while developing a thorough understanding of your business, your objectives, your competitors, and (most importantly) your audience.
Price
- Brand Identity: $7,000 to $14,000
- Website: $7,000 to $16,000
- Communication: $3,500 to $10,000
- UX/UI Design: $8,000 to $14,000
Pros
- Creative ideas
- Quality design
- Collaborative attitude
Cons
- Requires a lot of input from clients
- Communication could be more timely
Frequently Asked Questions
What do branding agencies do?
The best branding agencies for startups help create and launch brands, boosting companies by helping them build up marketing strategies.
Who needs a branding agency?
Businesses that need a strategic marketing plan or that need to start their online presence can benefit from working with a branding agency. A branding agency helps solidify the business’s identity and minimize the risk of having an unclear or confusing brand.
How much does branding cost?
The cost of branding depends on who you work with, but the average rate is around $150 to $600 per hour for an experienced consultancy firm.
