Comparison
MBA vs consultant vs agency
Same goal, three very different paths. Here is the honest comparison.
| Criterion | Master Brand Audit | Brand Consultant | Marketing Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turnaround | Instant audit, 24-48h build | 4-8 weeks | 6-12 weeks |
| Typical price | By proposal, scoped to your brand | $10,000-$50,000 | $5,000+/month |
| AI citation and answer placement | Audited across ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini | Rarely | Treated as an SEO line item |
| Fortune 500 benchmarking | Built in, all 12 dimensions | Varies by consultant | Rarely |
| Deliverables you can use | Ready-to-publish copy and assets | Strategy deck | Campaign assets |
| Implementation | Done for you, every dimension | Not included | Included at retainer cost |
| Legal & regulatory gate | Dimension 12: trademark + ADA/WCAG | No | Rarely |
| Human review | Branding Team on every deliverable | Yes | Account manager |