Maya RichardsonWhen my siblings and I decided to start our own business, I was responsible for ensuring everything looked good, from our physical store to our online presence. It’s quite funny, actually—they thought I would have the best ideas just because I’m the youngest and apparently, “I know” all the trends.
That part is true, but the thing is, I don’t have an ounce of creativity in me. I can spot a good design when I see it, but coming up with one? I don’t think so.
I suggested we hire someone to ensure everything we put out isn’t a total flop. Before that, I had already conducted research and identified several creative agencies in Columbus we could trust to help our brand.
How much do creative agencies charge in Columbus?
Creative agencies in Columbus typically charge based on the scope of work, pricing structure, and company size. For example, project-based services typically range from $1,000 to $ 25,000, while hourly rates range from $100 to $300.
1. Social Firm
Address: 1654 E Broad St, 2nd Floor, OH 43203
Phone: +16142856288
Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM–6 PM
For a 15-year-old agency, Social Firm holds top rankings for branding, PPC, and digital marketing in the city. They have won honors such as the Hermes Creative and the Web Excellence Awards, which speaks to the quality of their work.
During their operation, they have worked with local and regional clients, including CASTO and Rockford Homes. They have provided web design and digital marketing support.
Their creative scope is pretty comprehensive, covering the whole look and feel of your brand. Meaning they can craft the entire user experience, including photography, video production, and ghost-writing for social media.
What clients appreciate most is having an account manager as a point of contact, streamlining communication. They are particularly praised for their responsiveness and reliability throughout the project.
Their pricing is custom. However, according to our sources, their typical project cost ranges from $1,000 to $10,000, averaging $100–$150 per hour. Most of us agree that it’s fair and competitive, although it can be expensive for smaller businesses.
But we appreciate that they offer flexible payment plans, allowing customers to spread the cost over up to 24 months.
Amazing people
“Julie and Geno are amazing people! They are knowledgeable, supportive, and honest. From the very start, they made me feel heard and understood, and they offered genuine feedback without any pressure. Exactly the kind of people you want in your corner when you’re looking for guidance and support for your business.”
– Lex Fastlane, Google Review
Their work makes my job easier
“If you told me a year ago we’d be getting this many high-quality new clients in the door, I wouldn’t have believed you. The other digital marketing firms we’ve worked with in the past have underdelivered, but not Social Firm. They’ve fine-tuned our messaging, strengthened our online presence, put us in front of the right people at the right time, and since working with them, we’ve seen a steady, increasing flow of qualified prospective clients who actually want to work with us. If you’re in a trust-based industry like ours, you need a marketing partner that understands how to attract serious clients. The Social Firm nailed it. Their work makes my job easier – and fuels our firm’s growth.”
– Kim Garner, Google Review
2. The Media Captain
Address: 394 E Town St., OH 43215
Phone: +16145649313
Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM–5 PM
Since 2010, The Media Captain has been a reliable growth partner for many businesses across the country. In fact, it was voted the No. 1% agency in the U.S. and ranked among the Top 1000 B2B companies globally.
The firm’s portfolio highlights success stories with past clients such as Amedisys, a healthcare provider. For Amedisys, the team designed and ran an interactive quiz that drove a 402% increase in leads.
This is thanks to their broad range of creative services, including web design, content creation, social media strategy, and more. They basically integrate visuals with campaigns and digital assets to make your business more visible.
While popular in healthcare and e-commerce, they can deliver strong results for smaller businesses as well. These clients told us that the team is proactive and doesn’t hesitate to suggest ideas as needed.
Not to mention, they use project management tools (such as Monday.com) and hold weekly check-ins to keep customers in the loop on every update.
Just keep in mind that the company doesn’t offer refunds or guarantees.
They take real pride in their work
Amazing! We’ve worked with several SEO companies in the past, and Jason and his team truly stand out. They take real pride in their work and focus on long-term SEO strategies rather than shortcuts that could hurt your business down the line. Their team is extremely organized, communicates clearly, and makes it easy to implement tasks and deliverables. Since working with them, we’ve seen consistent improvements in our rankings, traffic, and overall online visibility. If you’re looking for a reliable, results-driven SEO company for any type of business, I highly recommend them.
– Carlos Hadlow, Google Review
Highly recommended
“OilWorks retained Media Captain in Q2 to take over all digital marketing. The transition was seamless, with clear and timely communication that kept campaigns on track. Media Captain has already delivered measurable improvements in search and optimization, and the team’s organized approach makes collaboration effortless. Jen stands out as a content-writing genius, delivering high-quality material that resonates with our audience. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a reliable, responsive digital marketing partner. Our organic visibility on Google has increased 5x since starting with TMC. We have more exposure in the local pack, AI overviews, and organic listings.”
– Anthony Young, Google Review
3. FYVE Marketing
Address: 875 N High St, 4th Floor, Suite 53, OH 43215
Phone: +16143624480
Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 AM–5 PM
If we talk about which firm is the loudest in the local scene, FYVE Marketing is a familiar name among small and mid-sized businesses in the city. Business owners would describe it as a simple agency that makes anything digital easy to understand.
Their services cover a wide range of digital marketing needs, such as custom web design, SEO, content marketing, and more.
So far, they have worked with local businesses, such as Fox Law Firm, to create a logo and website to attract more clients. In fact, it has helped the firm become a leading real estate practice in its area.
What we value most is their no-contract model, where clients aren’t obligated to sign a 6–12-month commitment. Instead, you can “subscribe” to them monthly and simply stop when you are not happy with the results.
However, as a relatively new firm (Est. 2019) with a smaller team, they may not yet have the capacity for large-scale projects.
The result was outstanding
“FYVE Marketing designed our website, and the result was outstanding. They captured the professionalism and urgency our industry requires while keeping the site clean, modern, and easy for customers to navigate. Their team was responsive, creative, and made the whole process simple. I highly recommend FYVE to any service business looking to stand out online.”
– Josh Cook, Google Review
They have helped us to achieve our digital marketing goals
“We have used FYVE’s marketing services for several years. They have created multiple digital campaigns for both of our dealerships, Sea Ray of Cincinnati and Sea Ray of Louisville. They have helped us to achieve our digital marketing goals by planning well and continually monitoring our campaigns. Both Caitlyn and Brian are awesome to work with.”
– Andrea Chase, Google Review
4. Brave Little Beast
Address: 106 Short St # 102, OH 43230
Phone: +13306468609
Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM–4 PM
If you think your business could use a dose of personality and a branding that’s more than a logo and a color palette, Brave Little Beast is a standout choice in the market. Founded in 2016, the agency helps service-based companies across various industries.
Their services include brand naming, logo systems, and full-scale web development. They don’t create designs just for the sake of it; they make sure that they build something relatable and magnetic to your target audience through their “Brand Magic Workshop.”
One of their notable projects was a full brand transformation for SGT Coffee Co., in which they developed a military-themed identity that successfully engaged the local community.
According to their clients, hiring the team is like upgrading their brand. They are creative and innovative, and they know how to work around designs that stand out from the crowd.
Just note that Brave Little Beast has limits due to its small team size
A talented group
“We loved working with Brave Little Beast. They are a talented group who helped us create an upgraded online presence for our company. They walk you through the entire process and offer creative, well-thought-out solutions.”
– Review 5812, Google Review
I cannot get enough of our new branding
“The team at Brave Little Beasts was fantastic to work with! I really appreciated the project scope and timeline that they provided. They did a great job of keeping me in the loop and letting me know the next steps. They were able to take my vision and turn it into something really special for my business. I cannot get enough of our new branding!”
– Jay Local Coffee Co., Google Review
5. Conspire
Address: 757 Garden Rd #120, OH 43214
Phone: +18882085109
Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 AM–4:30 PM
Since 2013, Conspire has served as a helpful guide for startup businesses and mid-sized organizations in having a “soul” in their branding. Instead of chasing trends, they go for what feels the most authentic for your label.
They offer brand strategy and graphic design. You can even rely on them for external creative tasks like campaign development and project management.
Clients we spoke to shared that the team acts as a true partner in their businesses, not only creating designs but also explaining why each element is important.
Despite being a smaller agency, it was able to reach local and national clients, especially e-commerce players. It’s also consistently recognized by news outlets like Graphic Design USA.
Apparently, they are credited with the massive growth of the Worthington Resource Pantry, where the brand refresh that the team created led to 72,000 neighbors served and 800,000 meals distributed.
Pricing is offered in two models: project-based (for specific deliverables) and retainer-based (for ongoing monthly support).
However, their schedule fills up months in advance, making it difficult for those with urgent needs.
I couldn’t recommend a more talented team
“The Conspire team is awesome. They have a unique approach that allows them to serve a variety of businesses across all industries. They help the business owner understand the value of branding, empowering them with knowledge but not leaving them overwhelmed. Conspire will meet you where you are and help you create a plan to drive your business forward. I couldn’t recommend a more talented team for all your branding needs!”
– Courtnee Scott Hawkins, Google Review
They created a brand identity beyond what we could have imagined
“Had an unbelievable experience working with Jeremy, Laura, and Mark. We were blown away by their professionalism and timeliness throughout the entire project. They created a brand identity beyond what we could have imagined and gave us more confidence in telling our story to customers and potential clients. We’ve also seen a tremendous increase in our conversion rate since Conspire took our website/landing page to the next level. I wish we had gotten in touch with them a lot sooner, but it couldn’t have worked out any better for us.”
– Nate Scott, Google Review
