What is a rebranding agency?
A rebranding agency specializes in strategic brand transformation—repositioning businesses through market research, competitive analysis, visual identity redesign, and messaging development. Unlike traditional design studios, rebranding agencies combine strategic consulting with creative execution to help companies enter new markets, attract different audiences, modernize outdated brands, or establish market leadership. Services typically include brand positioning strategy, logo and visual identity redesign, brand guidelines development, and implementation across all touchpoints including websites, marketing materials, and sales collateral.
How much does a typical rebrand cost?
Rebrand costs vary widely based on scope, from $15,000 for startups needing basic positioning and visual identity to $150,000+ for enterprise companies requiring comprehensive strategy, multi-brand architecture, and extensive rollout support. At What if Design, our full-service rebrands typically range from $25,000-$75,000 and include strategic positioning, visual identity design, brand guidelines, and website redesign—delivered in 4-12 weeks. We're 3x more cost-effective than hiring in-house senior designers while providing agency-level expertise. Factors affecting cost include number of sub-brands, market research depth, asset library size, and implementation support needed.
How long does a complete rebrand take?
A strategic rebrand typically takes 8-16 weeks from discovery to launch, depending on complexity and stakeholder approval processes. At What if Design, we deliver workshop-to-launch rebrands in 4-12 weeks through our remote-first, agile approach. Our process includes 1-2 weeks for discovery and positioning, 2-3 weeks for visual identity exploration, 1-2 weeks for system building and guidelines, and 2-6 weeks for website and collateral implementation. We can accelerate timelines with iteration turnarounds as fast as 48 hours when needed for funding announcements or product launches.
When should a company consider rebranding?
Companies should consider rebranding when entering new markets, pivoting business models, merging with other organizations, attracting different customer segments, modernizing outdated brand perception, preparing for fundraising, or losing market share to competitors. Warning signs include low brand recognition, inconsistent visual identity across touchpoints, messaging that no longer resonates with target audiences, or visual design that appears dated compared to competitors. Rebranding is particularly valuable for startups transitioning from MVP to market leader, established companies launching new product lines, or purpose-driven organizations repositioning for impact and growth.
What's included in a rebrand vs. a logo redesign?
A logo redesign updates only your visual mark, while a comprehensive rebrand includes strategic repositioning, messaging development, complete visual identity systems, brand guidelines, and implementation across all touchpoints. Full rebrands address why customers should choose you (positioning), what you promise (messaging), how you look (visual identity), how you sound (voice and tone), and how you show up consistently (guidelines and templates). At What if Design, our rebrands include competitive analysis, stakeholder workshops, value proposition frameworks, logo and identity design, typography and color systems, brand guidelines, website redesign, and marketing collateral—everything needed to launch your transformed brand successfully.
How do you ensure the rebrand aligns with our business goals?
We begin every rebrand with 90-minute stakeholder alignment workshops to understand your business objectives, competitive landscape, and target audiences. Our discovery phase includes competitive analysis, market research, and customer insights to validate strategic choices. Throughout the process, we present work through the lens of business outcomes—how positioning differentiates you in the market, how visual identity builds trust with stakeholders, and how messaging drives conversions. We measure rebrand success through metrics that matter to your business: investor interest, customer acquisition, market share, or brand recognition depending on your goals.
Can you handle rebranding for our entire company or just one division?
We handle both full company rebrands and division-specific repositioning, including creating sub-brands that align with parent brand architecture. Our approach scales from startups needing complete brand establishment to enterprises requiring multi-brand systems with clear relationships between corporate, product, and service brands. We can rebrand individual product lines while maintaining corporate equity, create new brands for acquisitions that integrate with existing portfolios, or develop entirely new brand architectures for companies entering adjacent markets. Our brand guidelines address hierarchy, endorsement strategies, and co-branding rules to ensure consistency across your entire organization.
What happens to our existing marketing materials during a rebrand?
We develop phased rollout strategies that balance urgency with practicality. Our approach typically prioritizes digital touchpoints (website, social media, email signatures) for immediate updates, then addresses high-visibility materials (pitch decks, sales collateral, signage), and finally replaces remaining assets as inventory depletes. We provide transition guidelines that allow old and new brands to coexist temporarily, create templates that make ongoing asset creation easy, and offer ongoing support for implementation questions. Many clients use our Design Essentials or Design Supercharger subscriptions post-rebrand for continued collateral development, ensuring consistent brand application as they scale.