A freelancer is the better choice if you have a well-defined task, for example a logo or a few screens, and you can hold the work together yourself. An agency pays off if the project touches several specialist areas, and you would rather not coordinate several different people yourself.
1. The two side by side
| Aspect | Freelancer | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | One specialist area, in depth. | Several specialist areas in one team, for example social media and ads alongside brand identity and UX/UI. |
| Coordination | You hold it together if you work with several specialists. | The team coordinates internally, and you talk to one place. |
| Communication | Fast and direct. | A predictable process, and there is someone to carry on during holidays too. |
| Capacity | One person’s time, which can be tight on bigger jobs. | Several people work in parallel when the deadline is tight. |
| What the fee covers | The professional work, while the organising comes out of your time. | The organising and quality control alongside the professional work. |
2. Which one to choose
A freelancer, if
- you have a single, well-defined task
- you have experience in briefing and giving feedback
- the deadline allows you to follow one person’s schedule
- you are looking for a specific style you saw in a creator’s portfolio
An agency, if
- the project touches several areas, from the brand identity to the website
- you need a consistent look on many touchpoints over the longer term
- you have no time to coordinate the work of several specialists
- the deadline is tight and parallel work is needed
3. An example from our work
Bamba Marha rebrand and campaign At Bamba Marha the rebrand covered everything from the logo through packaging to posters and social media, so we worked it all out in one team to make every element come from the same system. See the case study 4. How we work
With us, every project starts with a first conversation where you tell us where you are and what you want to achieve, and we tell you which service and level fits. Then we send a written proposal with the deliverables and the schedule, so you can see in advance what you will get.
While we work together you can see at every step where things stand, and we only ask for a decision where it is really needed. At the end we hand over every file and source, so your own team can keep working with them.
Alongside a project, ongoing collaboration is possible too, where we make a brand’s communication material over the longer term. In that case the team already knows the brand, so new material is ready faster and fits better with the rest.
5. What to watch when choosing
- Look at the portfolio, and ask who worked on a given piece.
- Ask for it in writing what will be handed over and what will not.
- Clarify who you will be in touch with, and who decides on the other side.
- Ask what happens if the project grows along the way.
Whoever you choose, a good brief makes a big difference. The more precisely you describe what you want to achieve and who the work is for, the easier it is to compare proposals, and the fewer rounds are needed during the design.
With a freelancer it is especially important to ask what happens if illness or another project takes them out for a few weeks. An agency handles this within the team, but it is worth asking there too who will work on your project.
It is also common for the two to work side by side. A company has an agency create its brand identity and website, and a freelancer or an in-house colleague makes the everyday graphics from the templates and guidelines they received.
6. Frequently asked questions
Can I come to an agency with a smaller project?
Yes. Each of our three main services has a smaller entry level, for example UX/UI consulting or a brand audit, and if needed we move on together from there.
How should I compare proposals?
Item by item. Check what will be handed over, and whether you receive the source files too. Proposals of very different scope can arrive for the same task.
What is better for a new business?
If the start is a single, well-defined task, for example a logo, a good freelancer can be enough. If you need to look consistent across several touchpoints from the outset, a team gets it done faster and more consistently.
What happens if the project grows along the way?
We agree in advance on any work beyond the scope described in the proposal, and only start once you have approved it. This way the invoice holds no surprises either.
What should I write in the brief?
The goal, the target audience, the deadline and what you consider success. If there are examples you like or dislike, it is worth attaching those too.
