Compare
DIY vs Traditional Agency
vs Pivitt
Three routes to brand transformation. Same destination, very different journeys. Here's an honest comparison so you can decide what's right for your business.
| DIY / Freelancers | Traditional Agency | Pivitt | |
|---|---|---|---|
Investment | |||
| Typical cost | £2K, £15K Pieced together across multiple freelancers |
£50K, £250K+ Often with change orders and scope creep |
£35K, £120K Fixed scope, transparent pricing, no surprises |
| Timeline | 2-6 months Depends on availability and coordination |
4-9 months Committee reviews, layers of approval |
6-10 weeks Front-loaded alignment eliminates revision loops |
| Hidden costs | ⚠ Rework, misalignment between freelancers, your time managing |
⚠ Scope creep, additional revision rounds, "phase 2" upsells |
Scoped upfront. What we agree is what you pay. |
Strategy & Depth | |||
| Strategic foundation | Usually skipped, straight to design | Deep but often over-engineered and slow | Full strategy, positioning, architecture, DNA, in weeks 1-3 |
| Market & competitor analysis | Rarely included | Often outsourced to research teams | 16-dimension competitive audit, done in-house |
| Brand architecture | Not addressed | Addressed but can take months | Brand DNA incl. positioning, messaging, personas |
Creative Quality | |||
| Concept options | 1-2 Limited by individual capability |
2-3 Often generic directions |
3 + 3 3 concepts → choose 1 → 3 refined variants |
| Visual identity system | Logo + basic colours, often incomplete | Comprehensive but can lack cohesion across teams | Complete system: logo, colour, type, imagery, components |
| Real-world mock-ups | You get files, not context | Usually included | Every concept shown in real touchpoints |
Deliverables & Execution | |||
| Brand guidelines | Rarely produced | Often a 100-page PDF nobody reads | Practical, usable guidelines your team will actually follow |
| Website + digital assets | Separate scope, separate freelancer | Often outsourced to dev partner | Designed and built in-house as part of the ecosystem |
| Asset handover | Scattered across emails and tools | Usually organised but their way | Categorised to match your team's workflow |
Working Relationship | |||
| Who does the work | You + multiple freelancers | Junior designers managed by account exec | Senior-led team, founder-involved, direct access |
| Communication | You're the project manager | Through account manager (game of telephone) | Direct line to the people doing the work |
| Revision process | Unlimited* *at your sanity's expense |
2-3 rounds Extra rounds = extra cost |
Built-in alignment Front-loaded strategy means fewer revisions needed |
The real difference
DIY is cheapest upfront but most expensive in lost time, inconsistency, and missed opportunity. Traditional agencies deliver depth but at premium prices and glacial timelines. Pivitt sits in the sweet spot: genuine strategic depth and creative quality, delivered at speed, with the senior attention your brand deserves. We're not the cheapest option, but we're the fastest path to a brand that actually drives revenue.
Which route is right for you?
DIY might work if...
Early-Stage Startup
Pre-revenue or bootstrapped. Need something functional now, plan to invest properly later. Budget under £10K.
MVP branding
Agency might work if...
Enterprise / Global
Multi-market, multi-language, 500+ employees. Need a network of offices and a massive team. Budget £200K+.
Scale operation
Pivitt is built for...
Ambitious Businesses
You've outgrown your brand. Revenue is there but the brand doesn't reflect the business you've become. You want depth, speed, and senior attention.
Sweet spot: £35K-£120K
Not sure which route?
Start with a conversation. We'll be honest about whether Pivitt is the right fit for your situation, even if that means recommending someone else.
Book a Discovery Call →