ChatGPT answers, unedited

For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d look beyond generic “Chicago web design” shops. You want a partner that can make a professional-services firm feel credible and sophisticated without becoming another interchangeable CPA brand, and that can connect the brand refresh to a strong business-development website.

Here’s a shortlist I’d put into an RFP:

The three I'd interview first

1. Substance — if this is genuinely a brand refresh, not just a logo cleanup. Their stated approach puts strategy and messaging ahead of visual execution and includes website development.

2. Multiple Inc. — particularly interesting if you're trying to move the firm's positioning from “accounting firm” toward trusted business advisor / sophisticated middle-market partner. Their work is explicitly strategy-led and geared toward organizations dealing with complex markets and stakeholders.

3. ArtVersion — I'd include them if you want one team to handle brand strategy → UX → design → development, rather than coordinating a branding agency and a separate web shop.

I'd add Flamingo as a useful benchmark because they have actual CPA/accounting website work. Their published accounting case study describes a full redesign for a Chicago-area CPA firm, including positioning, service architecture, mobile UX, SEO and conversion paths. www.flamingoagency.com

One important distinction

I'd decide internally whether you're asking for:

A. “Make us look better.”
New identity, website, photography, collateral.

B. “Change how the market perceives us.”
Positioning, differentiation, messaging architecture, identity, then website.

For a mid-market accounting firm, B is the more interesting agency brief. Otherwise you can spend six figures making the same “trusted / experienced / personalized / forward-thinking” accounting story look prettier.

I'd also ask every finalist to show you 2–3 examples of B2B or professional-services work, not just consumer branding. And ask specifically how they'll turn your firm's differentiators, industries, partner expertise and client proof into a website that generates qualified conversations.

If you give me your approximate revenue/employee size, target client ($10M businesses vs. $100M+ companies, etc.), and rough budget (e.g. $50–100k vs. $100–250k+), I can narrow this to 5 agencies and give you a suggested RFP/agency-selection scorecard.

• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Design B&B - 833 W Jackson Blvd Fl 7, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Glantz Design - 1881 Oak Ave, Evanston, IL 60201, United States
• ColorJar - 1000 W Fulton Market #213, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d shortlist agencies that understand B2B/professional-services positioning—not just logo design.

• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding — integrated brand strategy, identity, website and SEO; particularly relevant if you want the refresh and website treated as one project. Brand Vision
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency — local branding + web/UX under one roof; worth considering for a more substantial brand transformation.
• Design In Chicago — West Loop agency combining brand strategy, identity, web, content and marketing.
• Windy City Web Solutions — more web-focused, with emphasis on professional organizations, WordPress, performance and accessibility.
• Flamingo Agency — specifically markets accounting/CPA website work and could be a pragmatic option if budget and speed matter. Flamingo Agency

My first three calls: Brand Vision, ArtVersion, and Design In Chicago. I’d ask each for 2–3 examples involving professional services, financial services, or other trust-heavy B2B firms, plus their proposed process for positioning/messaging before visual design.

For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d look beyond generic “Chicago web design” shops. Your project has two intertwined jobs: modernize the firm’s market positioning/identity and then translate that into a website that builds trust with business owners, CFOs, referral partners, and prospective employees.

A useful shortlist to consider:

Agencies I'd put on the first-round RFP list

• Jayne Agency, LLC — River North. Their positioning is heavily centered on brand strategy and clarity, rather than simply redesigning a logo. That could be valuable if the refresh is really about differentiating the firm in a crowded accounting/advisory market.
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency — downtown. They explicitly combine branding, identity, web/UX, and digital execution, so they are worth considering if you want one partner to carry the project from refreshed identity through website.
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding — Loop. Their offering combines brand strategy, visual identity, website design/development and SEO, which makes them a candidate for a relatively integrated engagement.
• Substance — River North. This is more of a strategy/brand-first option. I'd investigate them if you want the new identity to communicate something materially different about the firm's positioning rather than simply look more contemporary.
• ColorJar — Fulton Market. Their capabilities span brand strategy, positioning, messaging, identity, guidelines and websites. Their experience with larger organizations could make them interesting for a firm that wants a sophisticated corporate brand without going straight to a huge agency.
• Flamingo Agency — Lakeview. This is the more accounting-specific web option: they explicitly market website work to CPAs/accounting firms and focus on WordPress, SEO, service pages and conversion. I'd consider them if the website is the primary need and the brand refresh is relatively modest. Flamingo Agency
• Landor — Fulton Market. This is the large brand-consultancy end of the spectrum, with strategy, design and broader brand experiences. I'd include them only if you're contemplating a substantial repositioning and have a correspondingly substantial budget/scope.

One other interesting benchmark

Chicago Brand Studio isn't one of the larger agencies, but its published Brand + Website package is $9,500 and combines identity, brand voice, website strategy/design and a five-page Squarespace site. That gives you a useful boutique-agency price benchmark when talking to larger firms. Chicago Brand Studio Chicago Brand Studio

How I'd structure the agency search

I'd probably invite 4 firms to a first conversation rather than sending an RFP to 10+:

1. Jayne — strategy-led benchmark.
2. ArtVersion — integrated brand + digital benchmark.
3. ColorJar or Substance — deeper brand/design benchmark.
4. Flamingo — accounting-specific website benchmark.

That gives you genuinely different approaches rather than four agencies pitching essentially the same website.

For the RFP, I'd specifically ask each agency to show 2–3 examples of professional-services brands they've repositioned, explain how they'd make an accounting firm feel differentiated without becoming gimmicky, and provide the proposed brand strategy → messaging → identity → website process. I'd also ask for the actual senior people who will do the work, not just the people presenting the pitch.

One reason I'd emphasize this: Chicago has agencies that explicitly understand professional-services buying behavior. For example, CUT THRU specifically markets brand strategy, visual identity and messaging to accounting, consulting, law and financial-advisory firms, while Rawcut says it works with financial services and professional-services businesses. Cut Thru Rawcut Creative Company

If you tell me roughly your firm size/revenue, budget ($50k vs. $100k vs. $250k+), and whether you want to feel more “premium advisory,” “modern accounting,” or “established institutional,” I can narrow this to a 5-agency shortlist and compare their relevant work, estimated budget bands, strengths, and likely fit.

• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Substance - 314 W Superior St, Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60654
• Landor - 333 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Jayne Agency, LLC - 400 N State St #420, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Caliber Brand Strategy + Content Marketing - 320 W Oakdale Ave Apt 401, Chicago, IL 60657, United States

For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid agencies that are primarily “logo shops” or low-cost web developers. You want a partner that can make a professional-services firm feel more differentiated, contemporary, and credible without losing the trust factor that matters in accounting.

I’d put these on the shortlist:

My Chicago shortlist

1. Design In Chicago — strongest all-around fit

They combine brand strategy, identity, website design/development, marketing, and content under one team. Their positioning specifically talks about helping established Chicago businesses sharpen positioning and digital presence. Design In Chicago

Why I'd talk to them: Good fit if you want the brand refresh and website treated as one strategic project rather than “new logo + separate website.”

2. ArtVersion® Creative Agency — polished corporate/professional-services option

They do brand refreshes, identity systems, UX/web, and development under one roof, and they're downtown. Their work appears particularly suited to firms that need to look established and sophisticated rather than startup-y.

Why I'd talk to them: If you're aiming for a more premium, institutional look while still modernizing the firm.

3. Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding — strategy + digital

Brand Vision combines positioning, visual identity, website design/development and SEO, and explicitly discusses work with B2B, consulting, financial and advisory firms. Brand Vision

Why I'd talk to them: Particularly interesting if the website needs to become a business-development tool, not just a nicer brochure.

4. Chicago Website Design SEO Company — practical performance-oriented option

More web/SEO oriented than brand-led. Their process emphasizes discovery, SEO/intent mapping, copy, design, development and ongoing optimization.

Why I'd talk to them: If organic search, lead generation and measurable website performance are bigger priorities than a major repositioning.

5. Substance — strategy-heavy brand option

Substance describes itself as a brand-strategy-first firm, with capabilities spanning research, positioning, messaging, visual identity and website development.

Why I'd talk to them: If you're contemplating something deeper than a visual refresh—e.g., repositioning the firm around advisory, industry specialization, or a different client segment.

6. Landor — the high-end benchmark

This is the big-agency option. Landor combines brand consulting, strategy, design and experience work and has a Chicago office.

Why I'd talk to them: Only if this is a significant transformation with a substantial budget. For a typical mid-market accounting firm, they may be more agency than you need.

One wildcard I'd consider

Jayne Agency, LLC is right in River North and is particularly strategy/positioning oriented. Their approach centers on defining brand clarity and connecting brand strategy to business objectives.

That's interesting if your real question is “How should our firm be perceived in the market?” rather than simply “How should our website look?”

The one I'd not make my primary choice

There are firms such as Flamingo Agency that specialize in accounting/CPA websites. That's useful expertise—their site specifically highlights accounting-firm websites, CPA bios, service pages, SEO and WordPress. Flamingo Agency

But for a mid-market firm doing a genuine brand refresh, I'd lean toward a strategy/brand agency rather than an agency whose core proposition is building relatively standardized accounting websites.

My recommended RFP

If it were my firm, I'd invite Design In Chicago, ArtVersion, Brand Vision, and Substance to pitch.

I'd give all four exactly the same brief:

“We are a Chicago-based mid-market accounting firm. We want to modernize our brand and website, strengthen our differentiation from traditional CPA firms, better communicate our advisory capabilities, and make the website a stronger business-development tool. We want to retain the credibility and trust associated with our existing reputation.”

Then make them show you:

• Their proposed positioning, not just a mood board
• How they'd differentiate you from the sea of blue/gray CPA firms
• 2–3 examples of professional-services/B2B work
• Their proposed website information architecture
• How they'd handle service lines, industries, partner bios and case studies
• Who actually does the work day-to-day
• CMS recommendation and post-launch support
• A realistic project budget and timeline
• How they would measure whether the new site actually improves business development

My first call would be Design In Chicago. Their combination of strategy, branding, web, development and marketing is particularly aligned with the scope you're describing. Design In Chicago

If you tell me roughly your firm's size/revenue, target client (e.g. $10M–$500M companies vs. individuals), and approximate website/brand budget ($25k, $50k, $100k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies and tell you which one I'd hire and why.

My recommended RFP

If it were my firm, I'd invite Design In Chicago, ArtVersion, Brand Vision, and Substance to pitch.

I'd give all four exactly the same brief:

“We are a Chicago-based mid-market accounting firm. We want to modernize our brand and website, strengthen our differentiation from traditional CPA firms, better communicate our advisory capabilities, and make the website a stronger business-development tool. We want to retain the credibility and trust associated with our existing reputation.”

Then make them show you:

• Their proposed positioning, not just a mood board
• How they'd differentiate you from the sea of blue/gray CPA firms
• 2–3 examples of professional-services/B2B work
• Their proposed website information architecture
• How they'd handle service lines, industries, partner bios and case studies
• Who actually does the work day-to-day
• CMS recommendation and post-launch support
• A realistic project budget and timeline
• How they would measure whether the new site actually improves business development

My first call would be Design In Chicago. Their combination of strategy, branding, web, development and marketing is particularly aligned with the scope you're describing.

• Substance - 314 W Superior St, Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60654
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Jayne Agency, LLC - 400 N State St #420, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Killian Branding - 73 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
• Design B&B - 833 W Jackson Blvd Fl 7, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Landor - 333 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid treating this as a generic “new website” project. You want an agency that can make you look more differentiated and contemporary without sacrificing the trust, sophistication, and credibility expected from professional services.

I’d put these on the shortlist:

My top 4 for your situation

1. ArtVersion — probably the most obvious “brand refresh + website” candidate. Their Chicago operation combines branding, web, UX and digital marketing, and their work includes brand-refresh engagements.

2. Substance — I'd interview them if the real business question is “How should we reposition ourselves for the next 5–10 years?” rather than “Can you make our logo and website look better?” Their positioning is explicitly strategy-first.

3. Jayne Agency — worth a conversation if partner leadership needs help getting alignment around positioning, differentiation and messaging before the creative work begins.

4. Design B&B — a good wildcard if you're looking for something more sophisticated and differentiated from the usual blue/gray accounting-firm aesthetic. They combine brand strategy and design rather than treating the website as an isolated production project.

I'd also talk to Flamingo as a benchmark. They explicitly specialize in accounting/CPA websites and have built sites for accounting firms, so they should understand the category unusually well. Flamingo Agency

One important distinction

I'd separate your search into two agency archetypes:

• Brand-led: Substance, Jayne, Design B&B, Killian — better if differentiation, positioning, messaging and visual identity are the heart of the project.
• Brand + digital execution: ArtVersion, Brand Vision, Flamingo — better if you already broadly know who you are and need the new identity translated into a high-performing website.

For a mid-market accounting firm, I'd lean brand-led first, then make the website part of the same engagement. The danger with a web-first agency is ending up with a very polished version of the same accounting-firm positioning everyone else has.

If I were running your RFP, I'd invite ArtVersion, Substance, Jayne, and Design B&B to pitch, with Flamingo as the specialist benchmark. That gives you a useful spread of strategic depth, creative ambition, digital execution, and accounting-specific experience.

If you tell me roughly firm revenue/employee count, target clients (middle-market businesses, PE-backed companies, individuals, etc.), and a ballpark budget ($50k / $100k / $200k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies and give you an RFP brief + questions to ask each one.

3. Jayne Agency — worth a conversation if partner leadership needs help getting alignment around positioning, differentiation and messaging before the creative work begins.

4. Design B&B — a good wildcard if you're looking for something more sophisticated and differentiated from the usual blue/gray accounting-firm aesthetic. They combine brand strategy and design rather than treating the website as an isolated production project.

I'd also talk to Flamingo as a benchmark. They explicitly specialize in accounting/CPA websites and have built sites for accounting firms, so they should understand the category unusually well.

One important distinction

• Paragraphs, LLC - 200 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• VisualFizz - 875 N Michigan Ave 31st floor, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Substance - 314 W Superior St, Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60654
• Silva Brand, LLC - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd floor, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• MatchPoint Studio - 231 S LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• Rule29 - 501 Hamilton St, Geneva, IL 60134
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• VSA Partners, Inc. - 600 W Chicago Ave #250, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Point B Communications Inc - 600 W Fulton St #710, Chicago, IL 60661, United States

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid agencies that are primarily consumer/advertising shops. You want a partner that understands professional services, B2B positioning, credibility, complex offerings, and a website that helps partners win business.

I’d put these on the shortlist:

My top 4 for your situation

1. MonogramGroup — I'd definitely interview them.
The middle-market B2B orientation is unusually close to your situation. They're also experienced with the reality that a professional-services rebrand has to survive partner scrutiny and preserve accumulated reputation—not just look contemporary. Expertise Toimi

2. VisualFizz — if the website needs to become a growth engine.
They position themselves specifically around established B2B brands and combine branding, web and performance marketing. That's attractive if you're hoping the new site will generate more qualified prospects rather than simply modernize the firm's image. VisualFizz

3. Substance — if “brand refresh” actually means repositioning the firm.
I'd look at them if leadership is asking bigger questions such as Who are we becoming? Which clients do we want more of? How do we differentiate from the other 500 accounting firms saying “trusted advisors”? Their practice is heavily oriented toward organizational rebranding. Toimi

4. Adcetera — if you want a more substantial agency.
They have a River North presence and explicitly cite both financial-services and B2B experience. Their offering spans research, positioning, identity and digital, so they could handle a fairly comprehensive engagement. Adcetera

One I wouldn't overlook: Cold Method

Their positioning is particularly relevant to an accounting firm: they explicitly talk about financial services, professional services, established companies and national ambitions, and their methodology puts positioning before visual execution. Cold Method™

That's important because I'd be wary of commissioning a "brand refresh" that amounts to new logo + navy color palette + stock photography + redesigned website. For accounting firms, the bigger opportunity is usually differentiating the business, not decorating it.

How I'd run the agency search

I'd invite 5 agencies to pitch, probably:

1. MonogramGroup
2. VisualFizz
3. Substance
4. Cold Method
5. Adcetera

Give each the same short brief and ask them to address:

• How would you differentiate an accounting firm in a market where everyone claims expertise, trust and partnership?
• What would you change about our positioning before touching the visual identity?
• How would you structure the website around prospects' buying journeys?
• How do you handle partner/stakeholder alignment?
• What would you expect us to provide vs. what would you own?
• Show us 2–3 comparable B2B/professional-services projects, not just beautiful consumer branding.
• What would a realistic brand + website budget and timeline look like?
• Who would actually do the work?

And I'd make one thing explicit in the RFP: you're not looking for a prettier accounting-firm website; you're looking for a more differentiated firm that happens to need a new website.

If you tell me roughly firm revenue/employee count, your target clients, and whether you're looking for a $50K, $100K, $200K+ engagement, I can narrow this to the 3 agencies I'd actually invite to pitch, including likely strengths/weaknesses and what I would ask each one.

4. Adcetera — if you want a more substantial agency.
They have a River North presence and explicitly cite both financial-services and B2B experience. Their offering spans research, positioning, identity and digital, so they could handle a fairly comprehensive engagement. Adcetera

One I wouldn't overlook: Cold Method

Their positioning is particularly relevant to an accounting firm: they explicitly talk about financial services, professional services, established companies and national ambitions, and their methodology puts positioning before visual execution.

That's important because I'd be wary of commissioning a "brand refresh" that amounts to new logo + navy color palette + stock photography + redesigned website. For accounting firms, the bigger opportunity is usually differentiating the business, not decorating it.

How I'd run the agency search

• VSA Partners, Inc. - 330 N Wabash Ave Office 24-101, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Substance - 314 W Superior St, Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60654
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Caliber Brand Strategy + Content Marketing - 320 W Oakdale Ave Apt 401, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Highdive - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Mekanism Chicago - 950 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Landor - 333 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Design B&B - 833 W Jackson Blvd Fl 7, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Multiple Inc. - 845 W Washington Blvd Fifth Floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d look beyond generic “Chicago web design” shops. Your best partner should understand professional-services positioning, credibility, complex service lines, partner/stakeholder buy-in, and lead generation—not just make a prettier website.

Based on current Chicago agency positioning and capabilities, I’d put these on the shortlist:

My shortlist

1. VSA Partners, Inc. — best for a substantial brand transformation

• Strongest option if you're thinking beyond a logo refresh toward positioning, messaging, visual identity, website and broader brand system.
• Their work spans brand strategy, audience research, verbal/visual identity, campaigns and digital experiences. Adcetera
• They're in River North at 330 N. Wabash, so they're also an easy local partner.
• Watch-out: likely the most "big agency" option on this list, so I'd expect a higher budget and a more formal process.
• Solid Digital — best for brand + serious B2B website execution

• Probably my first call if the website is as important as the brand.
• They specialize in B2B websites, UX/UI, WordPress, integrations, SEO and ongoing optimization, and can incorporate brand-refresh work into the engagement.
• Their positioning around websites as business/sales tools feels particularly appropriate for an accounting firm selling high-value professional services.
• Best fit: a firm that wants the new site to generate better inquiries, explain complicated services clearly and support growth—not merely look modern.
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding — best integrated mid-market option

• Their offering covers brand strategy, visual identity, web design/development, UX/UI and SEO. Brand Vision
• Particularly interesting because they explicitly discuss B2B, consulting, financial and advisory firms, including structuring service pages, credentials, case studies and conversion paths for decision-makers. Brand Vision
• Located at 30 N Michigan.
• Best fit: you want one agency to own strategy → identity → website → SEO without moving all the way up to a large branding consultancy.
• Substance — best for a thoughtful, strategy-led rebrand

• Particularly worth interviewing if the challenge is "Who are we and how should we position ourselves?" rather than simply "our website looks dated."
• Their model emphasizes research, strategy, messaging, visual identity and website development, with an explicit philosophy of strategy before aesthetics.
• Best fit: partner-driven organization where getting internal consensus and articulating a differentiated story matters.
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency — best for brand + web under one roof

• Chicago-based agency combining branding, identity, web/UX and digital marketing.
• Client feedback highlights having strategy, design and development together and experience with branding refreshes.
• Best fit: a polished, relatively contained brand-and-website engagement.
• EightySeven — interesting boutique alternative

• madebyeightyseven.com positions itself around brand repositioning, identity redesign, brand architecture and digital activation. EightySeven
• I like this option if you want something less corporate and more distinctive while still being appropriate for an established firm.

One I'd consider specifically because you're an accounting firm

Flamingo Agency is worth knowing about because it explicitly specializes in accounting/CPA websites. It has a particularly relevant understanding of accountant bios, service-line architecture, local SEO, conversion forms and professional credibility. Flamingo Agency

That said, I'd probably favor Solid Digital, Brand Vision, VSA or Substance for a true mid-market firm if you're trying to elevate the firm's market perception rather than simply replace an outdated site.

How I'd narrow it down

If I were running the selection process, I'd invite 4 agencies to pitch:

I wouldn't ask them for speculative homepage designs at the outset. Instead, give each the same brief: "We are a mid-market Chicago accounting firm; we need to sharpen our positioning, modernize our identity and build a website that wins larger/more sophisticated clients."

Then evaluate them on the quality of the strategic thinking, not who produces the prettiest mockup.

One important question I'd ask every agency: "Show us 2–3 examples where you changed how a professional-services firm was perceived, not just how it looked." That's a much better filter for your situation.

If you tell me roughly your annual revenue/firm size, target client (e.g. $10–100M companies vs. high-net-worth individuals), and approximate budget ($50k, $100k, $200k+), I can narrow this to the 3 agencies I'd actually interview and give you a recommended RFP structure.

• ColorJar - 1000 W Fulton Market #213, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Substance - 314 W Superior St, Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60654
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Silva Brand, LLC - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd floor, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• VSA Partners, Inc. - 600 W Chicago Ave #250, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Point B Communications Inc - 600 W Fulton St #710, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Glantz Design - 1881 Oak Ave, Evanston, IL 60201, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• LoSasso Integrated Marketing - 4853 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Wojo Design - 318 W Adams St #1609, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Design B&B - 833 W Jackson Blvd Fl 7, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid agencies that are primarily consumer/lifestyle creative shops. You want a team that can make a professional-services firm feel more modern and differentiated without sacrificing credibility, and ideally can carry the work through positioning → identity → website → messaging.

I’d put these on the shortlist:

• ColorJar — Best boutique brand-strategy option. Fulton Market-based and strategy-forward. They’re a good fit if the problem is bigger than the logo—e.g. your firm has outgrown its positioning and needs a sharper story, visual identity, and digital expression. A recent Chicago agency review also places ColorJar in the mid-market tier. Toimi
• Substance — Strongest pure brand/repositioning candidate. They describe themselves as a brand-strategy-first firm, with an emphasis on research, messaging and visual identity. I'd consider them if the leadership team wants a meaningful repositioning rather than a cosmetic refresh.
• Solid Digital — Best website-heavy option. They're particularly focused on B2B websites, UX/UI and digital marketing, so I'd shortlist them if the website is as important as the brand. Clutch
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency — Good integrated brand + website option. Their Chicago team combines brand strategy, UX, visual design and web development under one roof, which can simplify a refresh/rebuild.
• Silva Brand, LLC — Interesting professional-services/B2B specialist. They're explicitly oriented toward complex B2B organizations and have experience with professional-service firms and investment-related businesses. This could be a particularly good cultural fit for an accounting firm.
• VSA Partners, Inc. — The big swing. VSA is a major Chicago brand strategy/creative firm and could bring considerably more strategic horsepower, but I'd investigate budget and team size before putting them into a mid-market RFP.
• Design In Chicago — Practical all-in-one alternative. Brand strategy, identity, web, marketing and content under one team. Worth considering if you want fewer vendors and a fairly hands-on engagement.

My top 4 for your situation

If I were running the selection process, I'd probably invite:

1. ColorJar — if the goal is “make us look and sound like the firm we've become.”
2. Substance — if this is really a repositioning disguised as a brand refresh.
3. Solid Digital — if the website is the centerpiece and lead generation/conversion matters heavily.
4. Silva Brand — if you want someone who understands B2B/professional-services buying dynamics.

I'd also take a look at MonogramGroup. They're particularly interesting because they explicitly specialize in middle-market B2B/B2C brands, combining brand invention, web development and copywriting. Expertise

One thing I'd change in your RFP

Don't ask agencies simply for a “logo refresh + new website.” For an accounting firm, I'd frame the project as:

Repositioning and modernizing the firm for the next stage of growth, including brand strategy, messaging, visual identity and a new website.

That forces agencies to address the more important questions: Who are you trying to be known for? Why should a CFO/owner choose you over the other 50 credible Chicago accounting firms? Which services should lead the story? And how should the site turn that differentiation into conversations?

I'd expect a serious mid-market engagement to be substantially more involved than the inexpensive CPA website packages you'll find online; for example, Chicago Brand Studio advertises a $9,500 brand+website package, while industry research puts stronger mid-market Chicago branding engagements more commonly in the $25K–$50K+ range depending on scope. Toimi Chicago Brand Studio

If you tell me roughly your firm's size/revenue, target clients (e.g. PE-backed companies, family businesses, professional services), and your approximate budget ($25–50K, $50–100K, $100K+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies and explain exactly why I'd pick each one.

• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Substance - 314 W Superior St, Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60654
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• ColorJar - 1000 W Fulton Market #213, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Killian Branding - 73 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Jayne Agency, LLC - 400 N State St #420, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid treating this as a generic “new website” project. You want an agency that can make you look more differentiated and advisory-led while still feeling credible to CFOs, business owners, and referral partners.

I’d put these on the shortlist:

My top Chicago shortlist

1. Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding — best overall fit

• Chicago-based and combines brand strategy, visual identity, website design/development, and SEO.
• Particularly relevant because they explicitly work with B2B, consulting, financial and advisory firms, structuring sites around buyer needs, credibility and conversion. Brand Vision
• Why I'd call them: probably the closest match to “refresh our positioning + identity + website” without immediately jumping to a giant agency.
• Substance — best if the brand transformation is the priority

• A Chicago branding firm that describes itself as strategy-first, with research, messaging and visual design at the core.
• I'd consider them if your current identity feels dated and you need to rethink how the firm is positioned, not merely modernize the logo/site.
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency — strong brand + digital option

• Local, established, and explicitly combines branding, identity, web/UX and development.
• Their work can span a genuine brand refresh through the digital experience, which is useful if you want one partner rather than separate branding and web firms.
• ColorJar — strongest strategic/creative boutique

• Fulton Market-based boutique with capabilities across brand strategy, positioning, messaging, visual identity and websites.
• I'd put them high on the list if you're trying to move the firm's perception from “accounting firm” toward strategic business advisor.
• Design In Chicago — good integrated execution choice

• West Loop agency covering brand strategy, identity, web development, marketing and content under one roof.
• Worth considering if the project needs significant content production as well as design.
• Flamingo Agency — best practical/accounting-specific web option

• They specifically market website design for accounting firms, CPAs and bookkeepers, including service architecture, CPA bios, SEO and WordPress. Flamingo Agency
• I'd choose them if the priority is a cleaner, better-performing website at a relatively pragmatic budget, rather than a major brand transformation.

One wildcard I'd interview

Killian Branding is interesting if you want a more traditional brand-consulting approach. They focus on brand rejuvenation, strategy, naming and web strategy/design, so they could be useful if you're considering a more fundamental repositioning.

How I'd narrow it for your firm

I'd actually invite 4 agencies to pitch, rather than 8–10:

For a mid-market accounting firm, I'd probably start conversations with Brand Vision, Substance, ArtVersion and ColorJar.

One important distinction: I wouldn't ask them simply for a “brand refresh.” I'd brief them around something like “repositioning a respected Chicago accounting firm for the next stage of growth, with a new identity and digital experience that elevates advisory, attracts higher-value clients and differentiates us from traditional CPA firms.”

That framing will produce much better agency proposals than “we need a new logo and website.”

If you tell me roughly your firm's size/revenue, target clients (e.g. $10–100M businesses), budget ($50k / $100k / $200k+), and whether you're trying to look more like a Big Four firm or a modern boutique, I can narrow this to the 3 agencies I'd actually hire and give you a suggested RFP/pitch brief.

• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Design Henge - 2259 W Rosemont Ave, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• Glantz Design - 1881 Oak Ave, Evanston, IL 60201, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d look less at “general web shops” and more at agencies that understand professional services positioning: trust, expertise, referrals, recruiting, and B2B lead generation. You’re likely not trying to look like a flashy startup—you want to look like the firm a CFO, founder, or family office would confidently hire.

Here’s a Chicago shortlist I’d consider:

Best-fit shortlist

Solid Digital

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 877-899-9981)

Best for: A sophisticated B2B/professional services website with measurable marketing goals

Solid Digital focuses on B2B digital experiences, UX, websites, and ongoing digital programs. They’re a strong fit if your refresh needs to include:

• clearer service positioning (tax, audit, advisory, outsourced accounting, etc.)
• stronger conversion paths
• thought leadership/content strategy
• SEO and ongoing optimization

ArtVersion® Creative Agency

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-837-7466)

Best for: Brand refinement + premium visual identity

ArtVersion is worth considering if the main goal is elevating perception: modernizing the logo system, typography, visual language, and website experience so you look more like a top-tier advisory firm.

Good fit if you’re competing against larger firms and want a more polished executive-facing presence.

Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-741-0303)

Best for: A full-service partner (brand + website + content)

Design In Chicago combines branding, web design/development, marketing, and content production. This could work well if you need more than a website—e.g., photography, partner bios, messaging, case studies, sales collateral, and ongoing campaigns. Design In Chicago

Adcetera

Best for: A more strategic brand transformation

Adcetera has Chicago presence and positions itself around brand strategy, identity, digital experiences, and broader brand building. It may be a fit if this is a major repositioning rather than a simple facelift. Adcetera

Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-741-0303)

Best for: A smaller integrated branding + website engagement

This could be worth exploring if you want a more boutique relationship and a combined brand/web/SEO scope.

Agencies with accounting/professional-services relevance

Flamingo Agency

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-967-7044)

Best for: Accounting firms that want a practical, modern website

Flamingo specifically markets accounting and CPA website work, including professional-services site redesigns and WordPress builds. It may be a good fit if your priority is a clean, credible site rather than a large brand transformation. Flamingo Agency Flamingo Agency

How I’d narrow the list for your firm

For a mid-market River North accounting firm, I’d probably invite 4 agencies to pitch:

1. Solid Digital — if growth, leads, and B2B credibility matter most
2. ArtVersion — if the brand feels dated and you need a premium repositioning
3. Design In Chicago — if you want one partner for brand, website, and content
4. Adcetera — if this is a firm-wide strategic rebrand

What I’d ask agencies to include in the proposal

Don’t just ask for “a new website.” Ask for:

• Brand positioning workshop (who you compete with, why clients choose you)
• Messaging architecture (homepage, practice areas, partner bios)
• Visual identity refresh (not necessarily a full logo redesign)
• Website UX strategy and sitemap
• SEO migration plan (important if your current domain has authority)
• Thought leadership/content approach
• Partner recruiting/employer-brand considerations
• Analytics and conversion tracking

A realistic budget range for a serious mid-market accounting firm is often $40k–$150k+ depending on how much strategy, branding, content, photography, and custom development are included.

If you share your approximate size (partners/employees), target clients (SMB, PE-backed companies, family offices, nonprofits, etc.), and whether you want a prestige rebrand vs. lead-generation website, I can narrow this to a top 3 and suggest who I’d actually put in an RFP.

How I’d narrow the list for your firm

For a mid-market River North accounting firm, I’d probably invite 4 agencies to pitch:

1. Solid Digital — if growth, leads, and B2B credibility matter most
2. ArtVersion — if the brand feels dated and you need a premium repositioning
3. Design In Chicago — if you want one partner for brand, website, and content
4. Adcetera — if this is a firm-wide strategic rebrand

What I’d ask agencies to include in the proposal

Don’t just ask for “a new website.” Ask for:

• Brand positioning workshop (who you compete with, why clients choose you)
• Messaging architecture (homepage, practice areas, partner bios)
• Visual identity refresh (not necessarily a full logo redesign)
• Website UX strategy and sitemap
• SEO migration plan (important if your current domain has authority)
• Thought leadership/content approach
• Partner recruiting/employer-brand considerations
• Analytics and conversion tracking

A realistic budget range for a serious mid-market accounting firm is often $40k–$150k+ depending on how much strategy, branding, content, photography, and custom development are included.

• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Multiple Inc. - 845 W Washington Blvd Fifth Floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Adcetera Chicago - 750 N State St Fl 7, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Marcel Digital - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1285, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Jayne Agency, LLC - 400 N State St #420, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid treating this as simply a “new website” project. You want an agency that can make the firm feel more differentiated and contemporary without losing the trust, credibility, and seriousness expected of an accounting/advisory firm.

I’d put these firms on the shortlist:

My top 5

1. ArtVersion® Creative Agency — Best overall fit

• Strong combination of brand refresh + website/UX + development under one roof.
• Particularly relevant if you want to modernize the firm substantially rather than just change the logo.
• Their Chicago operation is downtown, and their work includes brand refreshes and integrated digital experiences.
• Why I'd interview them: likely a good balance between sophisticated B2B design and practical implementation.
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding — Best for a more distinctive, modern brand

• Full-service capability across strategy, identity, website, content and development.
• Their positioning is particularly attractive if you're trying to get away from the stereotypical navy-blue / scales / generic CPA website aesthetic.
• West Loop-based, so geographically convenient from River North.
• Multiple Inc. — Best strategy/brand option

• More of a traditional brand-strategy/design partner than a commodity web shop.
• Their capabilities include research, competitive audits, positioning, messaging, brand voice, identity and digital.
• I'd seriously consider them if the underlying issue is “our brand doesn't accurately represent the firm we have become.”
• Adcetera Chicago — Best if you're thinking bigger

• Full-service brand agency with a Chicago office actually in the River North area.
• Their methodology covers everything from positioning and identity through digital/customer experience.
• Probably worth considering if you're a relatively substantial regional firm and want a more structured corporate-branding process rather than a boutique design engagement. Adcetera
• Marcel Digital — Best for a growth/lead-generation-oriented website

• Particularly interesting if the new site needs to do more than look good: SEO, conversion optimization, analytics, lead generation and ongoing digital growth.
• They're also very close to you geographically, with a River North office.
• I'd put them higher if business development/organic search is a major objective.

Two specialists I'd also interview

Phire Group is the wildcard I'd definitely include. It specializes specifically in accounting and advisory firms, with experience spanning brand strategy, positioning, identity, websites, culture, recruiting, M&A and growth initiatives. Its client base includes regional and national accounting firms. Phire Group

That's a much stronger industry pedigree than you'll get from a generic Chicago branding agency.

On the other end of the spectrum, Flamingo Agency has unusually direct CPA/accounting experience. They've built multiple Chicago-area accounting and tax websites and explicitly position themselves around accounting firms. Flamingo Agency Flamingo Agency

I'd consider them if you want efficient, practical, relatively cost-conscious execution rather than a major strategic rebrand.

One particularly interesting benchmark

There's also a very relevant case study from VALMAX: they created the brand and website for Chicago financial consulting firm Allegro Grey from scratch, including naming, identity, web design and development. VALMAX

Even if you don't hire them, I'd use that project as a benchmark for the kind of modern financial-services aesthetic you could be aiming toward.

How I'd run the RFP

I'd invite 4 agencies, not 10:

• ArtVersion — integrated brand + digital
• Design In Chicago — differentiated creative direction
• Phire Group — accounting-industry expertise
• Multiple — strategy/positioning depth

Then give all four the same brief:

“We are an established mid-market accounting/advisory firm in River North. We don't want to look like a traditional CPA firm, but we also don't want to look like a tech startup. We want to communicate sophistication, expertise, approachability and growth.”

Ask them to show:

1. 3 relevant B2B/professional-services projects
2. Their approach to positioning before visual identity
3. A proposed website information architecture
4. How they'd differentiate you from other Chicago accounting firms
5. Who will actually do the work
6. Fixed-fee range and timeline
7. What they need from your partners/team
8. How they handle copywriting and photography
9. How they'll measure whether the new site actually performs

Most importantly, ask each agency to explain what they would not change about your existing brand. A good agency should be able to identify and preserve brand equity rather than automatically proposing a new logo, colors and fonts.

If you tell me roughly your firm's revenue/size, number of partners, core client types (e.g. middle-market businesses, PE-backed companies, family offices, individuals), and your approximate budget ($25–50k, $50–100k, $100k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies I'd actually invite to pitch, including what I think each would likely do well/poorly.

How I'd run the RFP

I'd invite 4 agencies, not 10:

• ArtVersion — integrated brand + digital
• Design In Chicago — differentiated creative direction
• Phire Group — accounting-industry expertise
• Multiple — strategy/positioning depth

Then give all four the same brief:

“We are an established mid-market accounting/advisory firm in River North. We don't want to look like a traditional CPA firm, but we also don't want to look like a tech startup. We want to communicate sophistication, expertise, approachability and growth.”

Ask them to show:

1. 3 relevant B2B/professional-services projects
2. Their approach to positioning before visual identity
3. A proposed website information architecture
4. How they'd differentiate you from other Chicago accounting firms
5. Who will actually do the work
6. Fixed-fee range and timeline
7. What they need from your partners/team
8. How they handle copywriting and photography
9. How they'll measure whether the new site actually performs

Most importantly, ask each agency to explain what they would not change about your existing brand. A good agency should be able to identify and preserve brand equity rather than automatically proposing a new logo, colors and fonts.

If you tell me roughly your firm's revenue/size, number of partners, core client types (e.g. middle-market businesses, PE-backed companies, family offices, individuals), and your approximate budget ($25–50k, $50–100k, $100k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies I'd actually invite to pitch, including what I think each would likely do well/poorly.

• Mabbly - 640 N La Salle Dr #540, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Mekanism Chicago - 950 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Caliber Brand Strategy + Content Marketing - 320 W Oakdale Ave Apt 401, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Cushing & Co - 213 W Institute Pl Ste 200, Chicago, IL 60610, United States
• Rule29 - 501 Hamilton St, Geneva, IL 60134
• Substance - 314 W Superior St, Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60654
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Landor - 333 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Multiple Inc. - 845 W Washington Blvd Fifth Floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid treating this as simply a “new website” project. You want an agency that can make a traditionally conservative professional-services brand feel credible, sophisticated, and differentiated—without drifting into startup/tech or generic “CPA firm” aesthetics.

I’d put these on the shortlist:

1. Mabbly — strongest overall fit

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-448-7473)

Mabbly is particularly interesting because it explicitly targets mid-market, relationship-driven professional-services firms and combines positioning, brand, web, and go-to-market strategy. Its Chicago office is at 640 N. LaSalle. Flamingo Agency

Why I'd consider them: If the refresh is partly about changing how prospective clients perceive the firm—not just making the logo prettier—Mabbly has the strategic muscle to tackle positioning, messaging, website UX and marketing together.

Best for: A substantial repositioning + website, particularly if growth/new-client acquisition is a major objective.

Watch-out: They look more like a significant agency engagement than a boutique design exercise; confirm budget and senior-team involvement early.

2. Solid Digital — strongest website/digital choice

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 877-899-9981)

Solid Digital is downtown at 100 N. LaSalle and is heavily oriented toward B2B website strategy, UX, WordPress development and ongoing digital growth. Their positioning is much closer to “your website is a business-development tool” than “we make beautiful websites.” Flamingo Agency

Why I'd consider them: Accounting is a trust-heavy B2B sale. They should be good at turning complicated services into a clear digital experience and building something your marketing team can actually maintain.

Best for: A sophisticated website redesign where lead generation, UX, SEO and conversion matter as much as visual identity.

Watch-out: I'd make sure they're willing to give the brand strategy/identity enough attention rather than treating it as an add-on to the website.

3. Mekanism Chicago — if you want a much bolder transformation

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-967-3505)

Mekanism is the more creative/advertising-oriented option. They're in Fulton Market and work across brand strategy, creative, digital and campaigns.

Why I'd consider them: If your ambition is essentially “we're tired of looking like every other accounting firm”, this is the kind of agency I'd interview. They can push the brand considerably further.

Best for: A firm that wants a memorable, contemporary brand—not merely a polished version of its existing identity.

Watch-out: Potentially more agency than you need for a straightforward corporate identity + website, and I'd want to see examples of B2B/professional-services work before proceeding.

4. Flamingo Agency — particularly relevant accounting experience

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-967-7044)

This is the sleeper candidate. Flamingo has specific accounting/CPA website experience, including a Chicago-area accounting firm whose site they redesigned around service clarity, trust, industry-specific pages and consultation conversion. Flamingo Agency Flamingo Agency

Why I'd consider them: They already understand the peculiar challenge of selling accounting services online. Their published work specifically addresses CPA/accounting websites rather than forcing a generic agency methodology onto the category.

Best for: A practical, relatively efficient website refresh where accounting-industry familiarity matters.

Watch-out: Their positioning appears more geared toward smaller accounting practices. For a genuinely mid-market firm, I'd test whether their strategic/creative capabilities are deep enough for the brand transformation you're envisioning.

5. Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding — integrated brand + digital

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-741-0303)

Brand Vision is another Chicago option combining brand strategy, identity, website development and SEO. Its downtown location makes it convenient for a River North firm, and the integrated model could work well if you don't want separate branding and web agencies.

Best for: A fairly comprehensive refresh with a strong digital/SEO component.

Watch-out: I'd scrutinize the actual brand identity portfolio carefully. “Branding + web + SEO” can mean very different levels of sophistication from agency to agency.

One more I'd interview: Studio Kalili

Studio Kalili is a much smaller boutique option. They specialize in editorial-style brand and website design for professional/service businesses, with brand and digital work conceived as one system. Studio Kalili

This could be interesting if you want the firm to feel premium, intelligent and editorial rather than “corporate accounting.” I'd put them into the pitch process specifically to get a very different creative perspective.

My recommended shortlist

If I were running the agency selection for your firm, I'd invite four agencies to pitch:

My first two calls would be Mabbly and Solid Digital. Then I'd deliberately add Mekanism or Studio Kalili to force the creative bar upward, plus Flamingo as the accounting-specialist benchmark.

One thing I'd strongly recommend: don't ask agencies to pitch from your current brief alone. Give each the same short challenge—e.g. “How would you reposition a 100-person Chicago accounting firm so that a CFO of a $50M company sees us as a strategic advisor rather than another CPA?” Their response will tell you far more than their portfolio.

If you tell me roughly firm size/revenue, target clients (middle-market companies, PE-backed, family businesses, etc.), current website, and approximate budget ($50–100k vs. $100–250k vs. $250k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies and give you a recommended RFP/pitch scorecard.

• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• ColorJar - 1000 W Fulton Market #213, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Jayne Agency, LLC - 400 N State St #420, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Design B&B - 833 W Jackson Blvd Fl 7, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Kingdom Branding - 8014 Lincoln Ave #1, Skokie, IL 60077, United States

For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid agencies that are primarily consumer/advertising shops. You want a partner that can make a professional-services brand feel credible, modern, differentiated, and commercially sophisticated—without turning it into a fintech startup.

I’d put these on the shortlist:

One wildcard I'd absolutely investigate

Phire Group is particularly interesting because it specializes in accounting and advisory firms. It says it works with regional, national and Top-100 accounting firms on positioning, identity, websites, culture, recruiting, mergers and growth initiatives. That category expertise could be extremely valuable for you. Phire Group

The tradeoff is that it's less of a purely Chicago-local boutique, so I'd compare its industry expertise against the local creative sensibility of the Chicago firms above.

If I were running your RFP

I'd probably invite 4 firms to pitch:

1. ArtVersion — strongest all-around brand + digital candidate.
2. Design In Chicago — strong independent creative alternative.
3. ColorJar — strategy/positioning-oriented challenger.
4. Phire Group — accounting-industry specialist.

I'd also consider Chicago Website Design SEO Company as a lower-cost benchmark if you want to understand how much of the project really requires a branding agency.

One other relevant option is Jayne Agency, LLC, which is right in River North and is more brand-strategy/advertising oriented. And Flamingo Agency has a stated focus on professional-service firms, although I'd put it below the four above for a substantial mid-market accounting-firm repositioning.

What I'd ask each agency to solve

Don't brief this as "new logo + new website." I'd frame it more like:

Refresh our market position and brand to reflect the firm we're becoming, then translate that positioning into a modern digital experience that helps us win larger clients and attract stronger talent.

For an accounting firm, I'd specifically test whether they can help you answer:

• Why should a $5M–$50M business choose you over the Big Four, regional firms and specialist boutiques?
• Are you selling accounting, or are you really selling business insight/advisory + accounting expertise?
• How should the brand balance trust and sophistication with being more contemporary?
• How do you make partners/expertise feel credible without producing the standard "people in suits + Chicago skyline" website?
• How should the site serve prospective clients, referral sources, recruits and existing clients differently?
• Can they create a scalable system for partner bios, industries, services, insights and case studies?

I'd also make them show 2–3 relevant professional-services rebrands they've actually done, rather than letting a gorgeous consumer portfolio win the pitch.

If you tell me roughly your firm's revenue/employee size, target client ($5M companies vs. $500M companies, etc.), budget for the rebrand + website, and whether you're aiming for "conservative premium" or "bold modern," I can narrow this to a top 3 and give you a suggested RFP/pitch scorecard.

• Avenue - 954 W Washington Blvd #750, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Walker Sands - 55 W Monroe St Ste 3925, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
• VSA Partners, Inc. - 600 W Chicago Ave #250, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• BrandAction Agency - 1 E Erie St Ste 525-2297, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Substance - 314 W Superior St, Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60654
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• 10com Web Development - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid choosing purely on “best Chicago web design agency.” Your needs are really a combination of professional-services positioning + brand modernization + high-end website UX/content.

I’d put these on the shortlist:

The three I'd interview first

1. Avenue — if you're trying to move upmarket.
Their positioning around B2B companies experiencing meaningful change feels particularly appropriate for an established accounting firm that wants to evolve its market perception.

2. BrandAction — if you want strategy + execution without going enormous.
Their documented approach includes competitive analysis, buyer personas, positioning, messaging, brand architecture, and website revamping. That's unusually close to the actual problem you're describing.

3. VSA — if this is a true rebrand.
I'd talk to them if partners are considering a more ambitious repositioning—e.g., moving the firm from “accounting firm” toward business advisory / CFO / strategic partner. They have Chicago roots and financial-services experience.

There's also a specialist-vs-generalist decision worth making. Flamingo Agency explicitly markets accounting/CPA website work and has a Chicago tax-accountant case study, so they're a useful benchmark for what an accounting-specific website partner can do. Flamingo Agency Flamingo Agency

On the other hand, firms such as Avenue, Walker Sands and VSA are more compelling if the website is supposed to support a larger change in market positioning.

One I'd add specifically because you're an accounting firm

Phire Group deserves an RFP conversation even though I wouldn't automatically make them the winner. They explicitly specialize in marketing and branding for accounting/advisory firms and say they've worked with regional, national and Top-100 firms on positioning, identity, websites, growth initiatives and related work. Phire Group

That gives you an interesting comparison: specialist accounting-industry expertise vs. broader B2B brand expertise.

How I'd structure the RFP

Don't ask agencies simply for a “brand refresh and website redesign.” Ask them to solve:

• Positioning: Why should a $5M–$100M business hire you instead of another Chicago accounting firm?
• Audience segmentation: owners/CFOs, PE-backed companies, family businesses, real estate, professional services, etc.
• Service architecture: accounting, tax, assurance, outsourced finance, advisory, transaction services, etc.
• Partner differentiation: make the people feel like experts rather than interchangeable CPA bios.
• Website conversion: what should a prospective client actually do on the site?
• Recruiting: can the new brand attract better professionals as well as clients?
• Proof: case studies, client results, industries served, credentials and thought leadership.
• Migration/SEO: preserve existing search equity while changing the site.

I'd also make every finalist show you 2–3 examples of B2B/professional-services brands they've repositioned, rather than letting them show you their prettiest consumer work.

If you tell me roughly your firm's revenue/employee count, your target client size, and whether you want “conservative + premium” or “modern + differentiated,” I can narrow this to a 5-agency Chicago RFP shortlist with estimated budget tiers and exactly what I'd ask each agency in the first meeting.

2. BrandAction — if you want strategy + execution without going enormous.
Their documented approach includes competitive analysis, buyer personas, positioning, messaging, brand architecture, and website revamping. That's unusually close to the actual problem you're describing.

3. VSA — if this is a true rebrand.
I'd talk to them if partners are considering a more ambitious repositioning—e.g., moving the firm from “accounting firm” toward business advisory / CFO / strategic partner. They have Chicago roots and financial-services experience.

There's also a specialist-vs-generalist decision worth making. Flamingo Agency explicitly markets accounting/CPA website work and has a Chicago tax-accountant case study, so they're a useful benchmark for what an accounting-specific website partner can do. Flamingo Agency Flamingo Agency

On the other hand, firms such as Avenue, Walker Sands and VSA are more compelling if the website is supposed to support a larger change in market positioning.

One I'd add specifically because you're an accounting firm

Phire Group deserves an RFP conversation even though I wouldn't automatically make them the winner. They explicitly specialize in marketing and branding for accounting/advisory firms and say they've worked with regional, national and Top-100 firms on positioning, identity, websites, growth initiatives and related work. Phire Group

That gives you an interesting comparison: specialist accounting-industry expertise vs. broader B2B brand expertise.

How I'd structure the RFP

Don't ask agencies simply for a “brand refresh and website redesign.” Ask them to solve:

• Positioning: Why should a $5M–$100M business hire you instead of another Chicago accounting firm?
• Audience segmentation: owners/CFOs, PE-backed companies, family businesses, real estate, professional services, etc.
• Service architecture: accounting, tax, assurance, outsourced finance, advisory, transaction services, etc.
• Partner differentiation: make the people feel like experts rather than interchangeable CPA bios.
• Website conversion: what should a prospective client actually do on the site?
• Recruiting: can the new brand attract better professionals as well as clients?
• Proof: case studies, client results, industries served, credentials and thought leadership.
• Migration/SEO: preserve existing search equity while changing the site.

I'd also make every finalist show you 2–3 examples of B2B/professional-services brands they've repositioned, rather than letting them show you their prettiest consumer work.

If you tell me roughly your firm's revenue/employee count, your target client size, and whether you want “conservative + premium” or “modern + differentiated,” I can narrow this to a 5-agency Chicago RFP shortlist with estimated budget tiers and exactly what I'd ask each agency in the first meeting.

• Substance - 314 W Superior St, Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60654
• VSA Partners, Inc. - 330 N Wabash Ave Office 24-101, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• VisualFizz - 875 N Michigan Ave 31st floor, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Point B Communications Inc - 600 W Fulton St #710, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Plan B - The Agency Alternative for the AI Economy® - 10 W Hubbard St #5w, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Silva Brand, LLC - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd floor, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• VSA Partners, Inc. - 600 W Chicago Ave #250, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• SEO Design Chicago - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• C Change - 1052 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
• 10com Web Development - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Keys & Kites - 727 S Dearborn St #211, Chicago, IL 60605, United States

For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid choosing purely on “best Chicago branding agency.” You want a team that can make a professional-services firm feel more differentiated and contemporary without sacrificing trust, credibility, or the institutional equity you’ve built.

I’d put these agencies on the shortlist:

A couple of additional options are worth looking at: Silva Brand, LLC has a particularly interesting B2B/complex-stakeholder orientation, while VSA Partners, Inc. is worth serious consideration if you're willing to spend at the higher end.

My top 3 for your situation

1. VisualFizz — probably the first call I'd make.
Their B2B orientation is unusually relevant for an accounting firm. Their offering spans positioning, creative, web and search, so there's a path from “what should our firm stand for?” → “how do we express it?” → “how do we turn the website into a business-development tool?” The agency is in the Michigan Avenue area. Clutch

2. Substance — if the brand needs to change at a deeper level.
I'd talk to them if you're thinking about questions like Who are we really trying to become? Which clients do we want more of? How should we differentiate from the Big Four / regional firms / boutique CPAs? Their practice is explicitly strategy-first and focused on organizational rebranding. Toimi

3. ArtVersion — if you want brand and digital execution tightly connected.
They specifically combine brand identity, web/UX and development, and client feedback emphasizes having strategy, design and development together. That can be attractive when you don't want a branding agency handing the identity to a separate web shop.

One wildcard: a specialist

If you're looking for a more economical, faster engagement, chicagobrandstudio.com is interesting. They explicitly offer a brand refresh + website package and publish pricing of $9,500 for the combined engagement. That's a very different proposition from a substantial mid-market agency rebrand, but it could be compelling if your existing positioning is solid and you primarily need a visual/digital modernization. Chicago Brand Studio

I wouldn't make an accounting-industry web specialist your first choice for this project unless you already know the strategic brand is right. For example, Flamingo explicitly specializes in accounting/CPA websites, but its positioning is much more oriented toward smaller firms and relatively standardized WordPress implementations. Flamingo Agency

How I'd run the selection

I'd invite 4 firms to pitch against the same brief:

• Substance — strategic/deeper rebrand
• VisualFizz — B2B growth-oriented brand + digital
• ArtVersion — brand + UX/web execution
• Point B — independent integrated branding/creative

And I'd ask each for three things, rather than asking for a generic credentials presentation:

1. Their diagnosis of your current brand — what is working, what is dated, and what is indistinguishable from competitors.
2. Their proposed positioning territory — how they would make a mid-market accounting firm feel distinctive without becoming gimmicky.
3. A proposed website architecture — specifically how the site would convert prospects, referral sources and existing clients.

One important point: don't let the pitch become a logo competition. For an accounting firm, the highest-value work is likely to be positioning, messaging, service architecture, partner/expertise presentation, proof points and conversion strategy. The logo should be downstream of that.

If you tell me roughly your annual revenue/firm size, target clients (middle-market companies, individuals, PE, family offices, etc.), and approximate budget ($50k / $100k / $200k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies and give you a recommended RFP/brief to send them.

2. Substance — if the brand needs to change at a deeper level.
I'd talk to them if you're thinking about questions like Who are we really trying to become? Which clients do we want more of? How should we differentiate from the Big Four / regional firms / boutique CPAs? Their practice is explicitly strategy-first and focused on organizational rebranding. Toimi

3. ArtVersion — if you want brand and digital execution tightly connected.
They specifically combine brand identity, web/UX and development, and client feedback emphasizes having strategy, design and development together. That can be attractive when you don't want a branding agency handing the identity to a separate web shop.

One wildcard: a specialist

If you're looking for a more economical, faster engagement, chicagobrandstudio.com is interesting. They explicitly offer a brand refresh + website package and publish pricing of $9,500 for the combined engagement. That's a very different proposition from a substantial mid-market agency rebrand, but it could be compelling if your existing positioning is solid and you primarily need a visual/digital modernization. Chicago Brand Studio

I wouldn't make an accounting-industry web specialist your first choice for this project unless you already know the strategic brand is right. For example, Flamingo explicitly specializes in accounting/CPA websites, but its positioning is much more oriented toward smaller firms and relatively standardized WordPress implementations. Flamingo Agency

How I'd run the selection

I'd invite 4 firms to pitch against the same brief:

• Substance — strategic/deeper rebrand
• VisualFizz — B2B growth-oriented brand + digital
• ArtVersion — brand + UX/web execution
• Point B — independent integrated branding/creative

And I'd ask each for three things, rather than asking for a generic credentials presentation:

1. Their diagnosis of your current brand — what is working, what is dated, and what is indistinguishable from competitors.
2. Their proposed positioning territory — how they would make a mid-market accounting firm feel distinctive without becoming gimmicky.
3. A proposed website architecture — specifically how the site would convert prospects, referral sources and existing clients.

One important point: don't let the pitch become a logo competition. For an accounting firm, the highest-value work is likely to be positioning, messaging, service architecture, partner/expertise presentation, proof points and conversion strategy. The logo should be downstream of that.

• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Point B Communications Inc - 600 W Fulton St #710, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Chris Depa Web Design + Branding - 1528 Robinhood Ln, La Grange Park, IL 60526, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Design Henge - 2259 W Rosemont Ave, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• Glantz Design - 1881 Oak Ave, Evanston, IL 60201, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Artversion - 205 N Michigan Ave 8th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601
• 10com Web Development - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States

For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d look beyond general “web design shops” and prioritize agencies that understand professional services positioning: credibility, partner bios, complex service lines, referral relationships, recruiting, and lead generation. A good refresh should make you look less like a commodity CPA firm and more like a trusted advisory partner.

Here’s a Chicago shortlist I’d put into an RFP:

Best-fit agencies to consider

Solid Digital

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 877-899-9981)

Best for: A sophisticated B2B/professional-services website with measurable growth goals
Solid Digital is a strong fit if you want more than a visual refresh—e.g., messaging strategy, UX, conversion paths, SEO, and ongoing optimization. They position themselves around B2B growth and digital experiences rather than just brochure websites.

Consider them if you need:

• A strategic website overhaul
• Better inbound lead generation
• Analytics, SEO, and marketing integration
• A partner that can scale with you

ArtVersion® Creative Agency

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-837-7466)

Best for: Premium brand refinement and executive-level presentation
ArtVersion is a downtown Chicago creative agency focused on brand strategy, identity, UX, and web design. They’d be worth considering if your goal is to move from “accounting firm” toward “advisory firm” positioning.

Consider them if you want:

• A more premium visual identity
• Strong design systems
• A polished experience for CFOs, owners, and referral partners

Design In Chicago

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-535-3088)

Best for: Full-service creative partner
Design In Chicago combines branding, website design/development, marketing, and content capabilities. They may be a good middle ground if you want one team handling brand, website, and launch assets.

Consider them if you need:

• Brand refresh + new website together
• Photography/video/content support
• A collaborative creative process

Point B Communications Inc

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-867-7750)

Best for: A firm that wants brand strategy, messaging, and marketing—not just design
Point B is a Chicago branding and communications agency with capabilities spanning strategy, creative, advertising, and web.

Consider them if your challenge is:

• “We look like every other accounting firm”
• Differentiating industry expertise
• Clarifying your story and value proposition

Marcel Digital

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-255-8044)

Best for: Growth-focused firms that care about pipeline
Marcel Digital combines web development, SEO, paid media, CRO, and analytics.

Consider them if your website goal is:

• More qualified inquiries
• Better search visibility
• Marketing attribution

Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-741-0303)

Best for: Brand + website package from a Chicago team
Brand Vision offers brand strategy, identity, website design/development, and SEO services.

Consider them if you want:

• A cohesive refresh
• A modernized identity system
• A relatively streamlined engagement

Accounting/professional-services-specific options

A few firms specifically market accounting/professional-services website experience:

• Flamingo Agency — More website-focused and familiar with CPA/accounting sites; they have examples of accounting website work and emphasize WordPress builds and SEO. Flamingo Agency Flamingo Agency
• Rawcut Creative Company — Branding-focused shop that highlights work with financial services and professional-services companies. Rawcut Creative Company

My recommended RFP list (5 agencies)

If I were running the selection process for a River North accounting firm, I’d invite:

1. Solid Digital — strongest strategic/digital-growth candidate
2. ArtVersion — strongest premium brand/design candidate
3. Point B Communications — strongest messaging/positioning candidate
4. Design In Chicago — strongest integrated creative partner
5. Marcel Digital — strongest marketing-performance candidate

What I’d ask each agency in the first meeting

• “Show us three professional-services websites where you changed perception, not just aesthetics.”
• “How would you reposition a 50–200 person accounting firm against Big Four firms and boutique advisors?”
• “Who owns the messaging strategy—the client or your team?”
• “How do you handle partner bios, service pages, industries served, and thought leadership?”
• “What does success look like 12 months after launch?”

For a mid-market accounting firm, I’d expect a serious brand + website engagement to land roughly in the $30k–$100k+ range depending on research, copywriting, photography, CMS complexity, and marketing support.

I’d also tailor the shortlist differently depending on whether your goal is (1) attracting larger clients, (2) recruiting talent, (3) improving referrals, or (4) modernizing an outdated brand.

• ColorJar - 1000 W Fulton Market #213, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• VisualFizz - 875 N Michigan Ave 31st floor, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Trungale, Egan + Associates - 8 S Michigan Ave #2310, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
• McGuffin Creative Group, Inc. - 566 W Adams St, Ste 440, Chicago, IL 60661
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Bluedog Design - 403 N Carpenter St, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• Ice Nine Online - 444 W Lake St Ste 1700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Caliber Brand Strategy + Content Marketing - 320 W Oakdale Ave Apt 401, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Devarj Design Agency - 180 N Stetson Ave Suite 3500, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Two by Four/twoxfour - 10 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Silva Brand, LLC - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd floor, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Landor - 333 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Point B Communications Inc - 600 W Fulton St #710, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid treating this as a generic “logo + website” project. You want an agency that can make the firm feel more differentiated, sophisticated, and contemporary without losing the trust and credibility expected of an accounting/advisory firm.

I’d put these on the shortlist:

My first three calls

1. ColorJar — if you're saying “our firm has matured, but our brand doesn't communicate where we're going.” Their work is centered on positioning, differentiation, messaging and identity, which is exactly the strategic layer I'd want before redesigning the site. Chicago Brand Studio

2. VisualFizz — probably my best balanced recommendation. They're explicitly B2B-oriented and combine brand positioning with web and marketing, which is useful for an accounting firm selling sophisticated services to business decision-makers.

3. Trungale, Egan + Associates — I'd seriously interview them because financial-services familiarity can matter enormously in this category. Their capabilities span strategy, branding/design and digital execution, and their Chicago profile specifically highlights financial-industry work.

One wildcard worth looking at

VALMAX has an unusually relevant published case study: it created the brand and website for Allegro Grey, a Chicago accounting/financial-consulting company, starting from just the name and building the identity and website. VALMAX

That's not necessarily enough for me to put them above the three above, but I'd absolutely ask to see that case study in the pitch process.

What I'd not prioritize

I'd be cautious about agencies whose pitch is essentially “we build beautiful WordPress sites for CPAs.” There are plenty of those. For example, Flamingo has substantial accounting-website experience, including Chicago CPA work, but its published positioning is heavily oriented toward smaller accounting firms and relatively efficient WordPress builds. Flamingo Agency Flamingo Agency

For a mid-market firm, I'd want the agency to wrestle with questions like:

• What should we be known for beyond “accounting”?
• Are we an accounting firm, advisory firm, or both?
• How do we differentiate from the Big Four and regional firms?
• What does our ideal client actually perceive as valuable?
• How should partners/advisors be presented?
• How do we make the website generate qualified conversations rather than simply validate referrals?
• How should the new identity carry into proposals, pitch decks, LinkedIn, recruiting and client communications?

In other words, I'd spend more on positioning and messaging than on the logo itself.

If you give me your approximate annual revenue / firm size, target clients (e.g. $10–100M privately held companies), and rough budget ($50k, $100k, $200k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies I'd actually RFP, including what I think each would be likely to cost and which one I'd choose.

2. VisualFizz — probably my best balanced recommendation. They're explicitly B2B-oriented and combine brand positioning with web and marketing, which is useful for an accounting firm selling sophisticated services to business decision-makers.

3. Trungale, Egan + Associates — I'd seriously interview them because financial-services familiarity can matter enormously in this category. Their capabilities span strategy, branding/design and digital execution, and their Chicago profile specifically highlights financial-industry work.

One wildcard worth looking at

VALMAX has an unusually relevant published case study: it created the brand and website for Allegro Grey, a Chicago accounting/financial-consulting company, starting from just the name and building the identity and website. VALMAX

That's not necessarily enough for me to put them above the three above, but I'd absolutely ask to see that case study in the pitch process.

What I'd not prioritize

I'd be cautious about agencies whose pitch is essentially “we build beautiful WordPress sites for CPAs.” There are plenty of those. For example, Flamingo has substantial accounting-website experience, including Chicago CPA work, but its published positioning is heavily oriented toward smaller accounting firms and relatively efficient WordPress builds.

For a mid-market firm, I'd want the agency to wrestle with questions like:

For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d look for an agency that understands professional services positioning (trust, expertise, referrals, recruiting) rather than a generic “make it look modern” web shop. You’ll likely want a partner that can handle:

• Brand strategy + messaging (why you’re different from other CPAs/accounting firms)
• A premium but credible visual identity
• A website built for business development (service pages, industries served, partner bios, case studies, lead capture, SEO)
• A CMS your marketing team can actually maintain

A Chicago shortlist I’d consider:

Strong fits for a mid-market accounting firm

Solid Digital

Best fit if you want a B2B-oriented website partner with strategy, UX, development, and ongoing digital support. They position themselves around B2B organizations and larger marketing teams, which is closer to a mid-market accounting firm than a small-business website shop.

Consider them for: a sophisticated website redesign, SEO foundation, analytics, and a longer-term digital partner.

ArtVersion

A good option if the priority is a true brand refresh (identity system, design language, UX) plus a high-quality website experience. They emphasize brand strategy, UX, and web design/development.

Consider them for: a firm that has outgrown a traditional accounting-firm look and wants a more distinctive market presence.

Design In Chicago

A full-service Chicago agency combining branding, web design/development, marketing, and content capabilities. Their integrated model can work well if you want fewer vendors managing the refresh. Design in Chicago

Consider them for: a comprehensive brand + website + marketing rollout.

Marcel Digital

Worth considering if growth, search visibility, and measurable lead generation matter as much as aesthetics. They focus heavily on SEO, analytics, CRO, and digital performance.

Consider them for: attracting new clients through organic search and improving website conversion.

More boutique / brand-led options

B. McAdams Chicago Brand Studio

A smaller branding-focused studio that may be a fit if you want a sharper identity refresh before building the site. They focus on brand identity systems and website design. Chicago Brand Studio

Consider them for: a more hands-on brand transformation.

Glantz Design

A strategy-led design studio with branding and website capabilities.

Consider them for: a polished professional-services brand that needs to feel established but modern.

Accounting/CPA-specific web specialists

Flamingo Agency

They specifically market accounting and CPA website work, including service-page structure, professional bios, SEO fundamentals, and WordPress builds. Flamingo Agency

Consider them for: a faster, accounting-industry-focused website project rather than a major brand repositioning.

My suggested shortlist for your situation

For a mid-market River North accounting firm, I’d probably start conversations with:

1. Solid Digital — if the website is a business-development tool
2. ArtVersion — if the brand feels dated and needs a premium repositioning
3. Design In Chicago — if you want one team for brand + site + marketing
4. Marcel Digital — if growth/SEO pipeline is a major goal
5. Glantz Design or B. McAdams — if you want a boutique brand-led refresh

When interviewing them, I’d ask for:

• 3 examples of professional-services firms they’ve repositioned
• Their approach to differentiating accounting firms (most all say “trusted advisors”)
• How they handle partner bios and industry pages
• Whether they write the messaging or only design
• What they recommend measuring after launch (inquiries, qualified leads, recruiting applications, referral traffic)

A realistic budget range for a mid-market accounting firm is often $25k–$100k+ depending on how much brand strategy, copywriting, custom design, SEO, and development are included. I’d be cautious of firms that jump straight to a website quote without first doing positioning work.

ArtVersion

A good option if the priority is a true brand refresh (identity system, design language, UX) plus a high-quality website experience. They emphasize brand strategy, UX, and web design/development.

Consider them for: a firm that has outgrown a traditional accounting-firm look and wants a more distinctive market presence.

Design In Chicago

A full-service Chicago agency combining branding, web design/development, marketing, and content capabilities. Their integrated model can work well if you want fewer vendors managing the refresh. Design in Chicago

Consider them for: a comprehensive brand + website + marketing rollout.

Marcel Digital

Worth considering if growth, search visibility, and measurable lead generation matter as much as aesthetics. They focus heavily on SEO, analytics, CRO, and digital performance.

Consider them for: attracting new clients through organic search and improving website conversion.

More boutique / brand-led options

B. McAdams Chicago Brand Studio

A smaller branding-focused studio that may be a fit if you want a sharper identity refresh before building the site. They focus on brand identity systems and website design. Chicago Brand Studio

Consider them for: a more hands-on brand transformation.

Glantz Design

A strategy-led design studio with branding and website capabilities.

Consider them for: a polished professional-services brand that needs to feel established but modern.

Accounting/CPA-specific web specialists

Flamingo Agency

They specifically market accounting and CPA website work, including service-page structure, professional bios, SEO fundamentals, and WordPress builds. flamingoagency.com

Consider them for: a faster, accounting-industry-focused website project rather than a major brand repositioning.

My suggested shortlist for your situation

For a mid-market River North accounting firm, I’d probably start conversations with:

• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Marcel Digital - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1285, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Point B Communications Inc - 600 W Fulton St #710, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Chris Depa Web Design + Branding - 1528 Robinhood Ln, La Grange Park, IL 60526, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• 10com Web Development - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Design Henge - 2259 W Rosemont Ave, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• Artversion - 205 N Michigan Ave 8th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d look beyond generic “website shops.” Your buyers (CFOs, owners, PE-backed companies, referral partners) are buying trust, expertise, and differentiation, so the right agency should be strong in professional services branding, positioning, content strategy, and conversion-focused websites.

Here’s a Chicago shortlist I’d consider:

Best overall fits

ArtVersion® Creative Agency

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-837-7466)

Best for: Premium brand refresh + sophisticated website
ArtVersion is a downtown Chicago creative agency focused on brand identity, UX, and website design/development. They’re a good fit if you want to move from “traditional CPA firm” toward a more modern advisory-firm positioning.

Consider them if you want:

• A refined visual identity
• Better storytelling around advisory services
• A website that feels closer to a consulting firm than a tax preparer

Solid Digital

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 877-899-9981)

Best for: Mid-market B2B firm with serious website requirements
Solid Digital works on branding, UX, WordPress/custom development, and scalable marketing websites. They may fit well if your firm has multiple practice areas, partners, resources, integrations, or a marketing team that needs a maintainable platform.

Consider them if you need:

• A robust site architecture
• Strong project management
• Ongoing digital optimization

Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-741-0303)

Best for: Full-service brand + digital partner
Design In Chicago combines branding, web design/development, marketing, and content-related services.

Consider them if you want one partner for:

• Brand refresh
• Website
• Photography/video
• Marketing assets
• Launch support

Strong professional-services / growth-oriented options

Marcel Digital

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-255-8044)

Best for: Website + measurable lead generation
Marcel Digital is more performance-oriented, with SEO, analytics, CRO, and web development capabilities.

Good fit if your goals include:

• More inbound leads
• Better rankings for advisory/tax/accounting searches
• Tracking marketing ROI

Point B Communications Inc

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-867-7750)

Best for: Brand strategy and communications
Point B is a more traditional branding/communications agency with web capabilities.

Good fit if the bigger issue is:

• “Our story sounds like everyone else”
• “We need stronger market positioning”
• “We need to communicate our expertise better”

More accounting/professional-services-specific web specialists

Flamingo Agency

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-967-7044)

Best for: Accounting-focused website experience
Flamingo specifically markets accounting and CPA website design, including professional-services positioning and SEO-focused builds. Flamingo Agency

Good fit if:

• You primarily need a modern website
• You don’t need a major corporate rebrand
• You want accounting-industry familiarity

Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-741-0303)

Best for: Integrated branding + website + marketing
They offer brand strategy, identity, website design/development, and SEO services.

My recommended shortlist for a River North accounting firm

If I were issuing an RFP, I’d probably invite:

1. ArtVersion — for a premium repositioning
2. Solid Digital — for a sophisticated B2B website platform
3. Design In Chicago — for an all-in creative partner
4. Marcel Digital — if growth/SEO pipeline matters
5. Flamingo Agency — as the accounting-specialist benchmark

What I’d ask agencies in the pitch process

Don’t just ask “Can you redesign our website?” Ask:

• “How would you differentiate us from other Chicago accounting firms?”
• “How would you reposition us from compliance provider to strategic advisor?”
• “Show us examples where you improved trust and conversion for professional services.”
• “Who writes the messaging—the agency or us?”
• “How will you measure success after launch?”

For a mid-market accounting firm, I’d expect a serious brand + website engagement to typically involve strategy, messaging, design, development, SEO foundations, and partner/team photography—not just a new homepage. rawcutcreative.com

I can also help you build a Chicago agency RFP shortlist with estimated budget ranges ($25k/$50k/$100k+) and evaluation criteria if useful.

• Fifty Thousand Feet - 500 W Madison St #1000, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• VisualFizz - 875 N Michigan Ave 31st floor, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• VSA Partners, Inc. - 600 W Chicago Ave #250, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• ColorJar - 1000 W Fulton Market #213, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Point B Communications Inc - 600 W Fulton St #710, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Caliber Brand Strategy + Content Marketing - 320 W Oakdale Ave Apt 401, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Two by Four/twoxfour - 10 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Cultivate Brands - 111 N Wabash Ave Ste 100-1066, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Substance - 314 W Superior St, Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60654
• SEO Design Chicago - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid agencies that are primarily “logo + brochure” shops or generic small-business web developers. You want a partner that understands professional-services positioning, trust, executive audiences, and a website that helps partners win business.

Based on their current positioning and Chicago presence, I’d put these on the shortlist:

My top 6

• Fifty Thousand Feet — Best if you want a sophisticated, premium repositioning. They’re a Chicago brand consultancy with a strategy-led, design-forward approach spanning brand strategy, identity, digital/UX and storytelling. This is the kind of firm I’d consider if you want to move the firm upmarket rather than simply modernize the logo.
• VisualFizz — Best overall fit for B2B/professional services. They specifically position themselves around established B2B companies and combine positioning, creative, web and search. That combination is particularly relevant for an accounting firm where the website needs to generate qualified conversations, not just look good.
• VSA Partners, Inc. — Best for a more ambitious brand transformation. VSA has deep brand-strategy capabilities and experience translating positioning into systems, campaigns and experiences. They’re worth talking to if you're considering a meaningful change in how the firm is perceived, rather than a cosmetic refresh.
• ColorJar — Best boutique option for a strategic brand refresh. They’re a Chicago brand-strategy/design consultancy positioned toward mid-market and enterprise work. I'd particularly consider them if you want senior-level attention without going to a large agency.
• Point B Communications Inc — Best if you want brand + ongoing marketing. They’re an independent full-service Chicago agency whose work starts with strategic discovery and extends into creative, campaigns and marketing. A good choice if the website is going to be the beginning of a broader marketing overhaul.
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency — Best if the website experience is the centerpiece. They combine branding, UX/UI, web design and development, with a Chicago office downtown. I'd include them if you want a particularly polished digital presence.

A couple of more specialized options

Caliber Brand Strategy + Content Marketing is interesting if your biggest challenge is messaging and positioning—particularly if the firm has grown through acquisitions or has trouble articulating why a sophisticated business should choose you over another accounting firm.

Flamingo Agency is much more accounting-specific: they explicitly market website design to CPAs/accounting firms and have accounting-related work in their portfolio. Flamingo Agency I'd consider them if website execution and SEO matter more than a major brand repositioning, but for a true mid-market firm I would probably start with the agencies above.

There’s also an unusually relevant case study from VALMAX: they created the name, identity and website for Chicago accounting/financial-consulting firm Allegro Grey. Their case study specifically describes the problem as differentiating an accounting business from competitors with dated, overloaded websites. VALMAX That's worth reviewing even if you ultimately choose someone else.

How I'd narrow it down

If I were running the selection process, I'd invite 4 agencies to pitch:

I'd give all four the same brief and specifically ask them to show:

1. How they'd reposition an accounting firm in 2026 — not just make it prettier.
2. How they'd differentiate you from the Big Four, regional firms, and boutique advisory/accounting competitors.
3. Their approach to partner/expert bios—these are often among the highest-value pages for professional-services firms.
4. How they'd structure the site around industries, services and buyer journeys rather than an internally organized service menu.
5. How they'd turn the brand into proposals, presentations, LinkedIn, recruiting materials and other partner-facing touchpoints.
6. Who actually does the work. You want the senior strategist/creative director you meet in the pitch involved after the contract.
7. What they believe the website should accomplish commercially—lead generation, cross-selling, recruiting, M&A credibility, referral conversion, or all of the above.

One important distinction: I'd make them solve the positioning before showing you a logo. If an agency immediately starts talking about colors, typography and a new homepage without asking what you want the firm to be known for, I'd move on.

If you tell me roughly your firm's size/revenue, core services (audit/tax/advisory/CAS/etc.), target clients, and whether you want “conservative premium” vs. “modern/differentiated,” I can narrow this to 3 Chicago agencies I'd actually put into an RFP, including likely budget/timeline and what to ask each one.

I'd give all four the same brief and specifically ask them to show:

1. How they'd reposition an accounting firm in 2026 — not just make it prettier.
2. How they'd differentiate you from the Big Four, regional firms, and boutique advisory/accounting competitors.
3. Their approach to partner/expert bios—these are often among the highest-value pages for professional-services firms.
4. How they'd structure the site around industries, services and buyer journeys rather than an internally organized service menu.
5. How they'd turn the brand into proposals, presentations, LinkedIn, recruiting materials and other partner-facing touchpoints.
6. Who actually does the work. You want the senior strategist/creative director you meet in the pitch involved after the contract.
7. What they believe the website should accomplish commercially—lead generation, cross-selling, recruiting, M&A credibility, referral conversion, or all of the above.

One important distinction: I'd make them solve the positioning before showing you a logo. If an agency immediately starts talking about colors, typography and a new homepage without asking what you want the firm to be known for, I'd move on.

If you tell me roughly your firm's size/revenue, core services (audit/tax/advisory/CAS/etc.), target clients, and whether you want “conservative premium” vs. “modern/differentiated,” I can narrow this to 3 Chicago agencies I'd actually put into an RFP, including likely budget/timeline and what to ask each one.

• VSA Partners, Inc. - 600 W Chicago Ave #250, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Fifty Thousand Feet - 500 W Madison St #1000, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• ColorJar - 1000 W Fulton Market #213, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Caliber Brand Strategy + Content Marketing - 320 W Oakdale Ave Apt 401, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Substance - 314 W Superior St, Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60654
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Blue Daring - 162 W Hubbard St Ste 400, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Point B Communications Inc - 600 W Fulton St #710, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Two by Four/twoxfour - 10 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Cultivate Brands - 111 N Wabash Ave Ste 100-1066, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d look beyond generic “Chicago web design” shops. You want an agency that can make a professional-services firm feel more modern and differentiated without sacrificing credibility, and ideally can handle both the brand refresh and the website.

I’d put these on the shortlist:

My top 6 to consider

1. VSA Partners, Inc. — best for a sophisticated, strategic repositioning

• Chicago-based and particularly strong in brand strategy, positioning, identity and integrated creative.
• Their experience with B2B and financial-services-type organizations makes them especially relevant.
• Best if you're thinking “we need to change how the market perceives us,” rather than simply “our logo and website look dated.”
• Likely the most strategically ambitious option on this list.
• Fifty Thousand Feet — best for premium, polished brand work

• A Chicago brand consultancy with a strategy + design + digital orientation.
• I'd consider them if you want the firm to look larger, more established and more premium while still feeling contemporary.
• Particularly interesting for an accounting firm competing with larger regional/national firms.
• ColorJar — best boutique option for a true brand refresh

• Boutique brand strategy/design consultancy in Fulton Market.
• Their positioning suggests a good fit for mid-market organizations rather than small-business logo projects.
• I'd shortlist them if you want a more hands-on senior-team relationship and a distinctive identity rather than an agency-heavy process.
• Design In Chicago — best integrated brand + website option

• Combines branding, web design/development and digital marketing under one team. Design in Chicago
• This is attractive if you don't want the classic problem of one agency creating the brand and then handing the website to another vendor.
• Their West Loop location also makes them geographically convenient from River North.
• Flamingo Agency — best accounting-specific web experience

• They explicitly market website design for accounting firms and CPAs, including discovery, messaging, design/build and launch. Flamingo Agency
• I'd view them more as a website specialist than my first choice for a substantial mid-market brand transformation.
• Worth talking to if the brand is fundamentally sound and the bigger problem is the website.
• Caliber Brand Strategy + Content Marketing — best for positioning/messaging

• Particularly interesting if your challenge is less “make us prettier” and more “help us articulate why sophisticated clients should choose us.”
• Their focus includes positioning, brand voice, audience-specific messaging and content strategy.
• I'd consider them either as the primary partner or as a strategy/messaging partner alongside a web/design shop.

A couple of wild cards

• Substance — a strategy-first Chicago branding firm. Interesting if you want a serious organizational rebrand rather than a cosmetic refresh.
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency — downtown Chicago firm combining branding, web, UX and development; potentially a good middle ground between a brand consultancy and a digital agency.
• Blue Daring — right in River North on Hubbard Street, with strategy, naming, identity and brand-system capabilities.

How I'd narrow it for your firm

If I were running the RFP, I'd probably invite VSA, Fifty Thousand Feet, ColorJar, Design In Chicago and Caliber to an initial conversation.

I'd give them the same brief:

“We're a successful mid-market accounting firm. Our current brand and website don't reflect the sophistication of our clients or where we're going. We want to modernize our positioning, visual identity, messaging and website without looking like a tech startup or abandoning the trust associated with accounting.”

Then ask each agency to show 2–3 examples of professional-services/financial/B2B work, explain how they'd approach positioning before design, and give you a rough investment range.

One important distinction: don't let the pitch become a logo exercise. For an accounting firm, I'd put considerably more weight on positioning, messaging, service architecture, partner/team presentation, case studies, thought leadership and conversion paths than on the logo itself. Agencies like VSA, ColorJar and Caliber are more interesting to me for that reason.

If you tell me roughly firm size/revenue, your primary client segments (middle-market companies, individuals, PE, family businesses, etc.), and your approximate budget ($50–100k, $100–200k, $200k+), I can narrow this to the 3 agencies I'd actually invite to pitch and explain why.

• Trungale, Egan + Associates - 8 S Michigan Ave #2310, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
• McGuffin Creative Group, Inc. - 566 W Adams St, Ste 440, Chicago, IL 60661
• Silva Brand, LLC - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd floor, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• ColorJar - 1000 W Fulton Market #213, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Caliber Brand Strategy + Content Marketing - 320 W Oakdale Ave Apt 401, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Bluedog Design - 403 N Carpenter St, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• Landor - 333 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Devarj Design Agency - 180 N Stetson Ave Suite 3500, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• The Motion Agency - 325 N La Salle Dr Ste 550, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• SEO Design Chicago - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Crosby Associates - 1714 N Crilly Ct, Chicago, IL 60614, United States

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid treating this as a generic “logo + website” project. You want an agency that can make a traditionally conservative professional-services firm feel more distinctive, modern, and commercially sophisticated without sacrificing trust.

Based on current Chicago agency offerings, I’d put these on the shortlist:

My top 6

1. Trungale, Egan + Associates (TE+A) — probably my first call

• Particularly interesting because its published work includes financial services, with branding, websites, strategy materials and ongoing marketing.
• Seems well suited if you want the refresh to extend beyond visual identity into positioning, messaging and business development.
• Good fit for a firm that wants to look sophisticated rather than “startup flashy.”
• McGuffin Creative Group, Inc. — strong financial-services fit

• Their positioning is explicitly around financial services and healthcare, with branding, messaging, digital and print.
• I'd investigate them if your firm has a substantial advisory/wealth/transactional component and wants a more institutional-quality brand.
• Their “strategy first” approach is attractive for a true brand refresh rather than a cosmetic redesign.
• Silva Brand, LLC — strong B2B/professional-services option

• Particularly compelling if you have multiple audiences—business owners, CFOs, executives, referral partners, etc.
• Their work spans positioning, messaging, design and digital experiences, with experience in financial/investment and other professional-services organizations.
• A good candidate if differentiation and messaging are bigger problems than the logo itself.
• ColorJar — best boutique strategy/brand option

• Boutique Chicago brand strategy and design consultancy.
• Strong emphasis on positioning, differentiation, messaging, identity systems and brand architecture.
• I'd consider them if you're willing to invest heavily in the thinking and positioning before getting into the website.
• Caliber Brand Strategy + Content Marketing — best if thought leadership matters

• Particularly interesting for an established professional firm that wants its expertise to become a stronger marketing asset.
• They emphasize positioning, messaging, brand voice and content rather than simply making things look better. Their own site specifically talks about established businesses whose websites don't adequately communicate what differentiates them. High Caliber Branding
• I'd shortlist them if partners want to become more visible through insights, articles, case studies and LinkedIn.
• Flamingo Agency — best accounting-specific website specialist

• This is the outlier: they're explicitly targeting accounting firms, CPAs and bookkeepers and have published accounting website work. Flamingo Agency
• Their typical project is more SMB-oriented, so I'd use them if the priority is a highly efficient website project rather than a major strategic repositioning.
• Probably not my first choice for a genuinely mid-market firm undergoing a significant brand transformation.

One more I'd seriously look at

Bluedog Design is worth an exploratory conversation if you're looking for something more strategic. They're positioned around business, brand and portfolio strategy rather than simply creative production. That's potentially valuable if the firm has multiple practices or is trying to move upstream into larger clients.

And if you're comfortable with a much larger/global agency, Landor has a Chicago office and brings considerably more brand-transformation firepower—but I'd only go there if the ambition and budget are correspondingly large.

How I'd narrow it down

For your particular situation, I'd probably invite TE+A, McGuffin, Silva Brand and ColorJar to pitch.

I'd give all four exactly the same brief:

“We're an established mid-market Chicago accounting firm. We want to modernize our positioning, visual identity and website while retaining the trust and credibility we've built. We want to compete for larger, more sophisticated clients and distinguish ourselves from the sea of generic CPA firms.”

Then ask each agency to show you:

• 2–3 comparable professional-services rebrands they've actually done.
• How they'd differentiate an accounting firm without resorting to the usual navy/blue/gray CPA aesthetic.
• Their approach to positioning and messaging, not just visual identity.
• Who actually does the strategy and creative work day-to-day.
• How they approach website information architecture and conversion—not merely visual design.
• What they'd expect the firm's partners to provide during the project.
• A realistic all-in budget for strategy + identity + website + content, rather than pricing the logo separately from everything else.

The biggest thing I'd watch for: don't let the agency start designing before it can articulate what the firm should own in the market. A beautiful accounting website that still says “we provide tax, audit and advisory services” isn't really a brand refresh.

If you tell me roughly firm revenue/headcount, target client (e.g. $10M–$100M businesses vs. individuals), and your approximate budget ($50K, $100K, $200K+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies and rank them by fit, including which ones I'd expect to be strongest on brand strategy vs. website execution.

• VSA Partners, Inc. - 600 W Chicago Ave #250, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Fifty Thousand Feet - 500 W Madison St #1000, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• ColorJar - 1000 W Fulton Market #213, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Point B Communications Inc - 600 W Fulton St #710, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Blue Daring - 162 W Hubbard St Ste 400, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Caliber Brand Strategy + Content Marketing - 320 W Oakdale Ave Apt 401, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Two by Four/twoxfour - 10 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Substance - 314 W Superior St, Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60654
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Cultivate Brands - 111 N Wabash Ave Ste 100-1066, Chicago, IL 60602, United States

For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d bias toward agencies that understand B2B/professional-services positioning, not just agencies that make attractive websites. The best partner should be able to make you look more differentiated and advisory-led while still feeling credible to CFOs, owners, and referral partners.

Here’s the shortlist I’d consider:

• VSA Partners, Inc. — Best for a sophisticated, high-end repositioning. VSA combines brand strategy, positioning, identity, digital, and marketing, and has specific experience understanding financial-services businesses. This is the choice if you want the new brand to feel materially more premium and differentiated, not merely "updated." Adcetera
• Fifty Thousand Feet — Best for an upscale professional-services brand. They're particularly strong on strategy-led identity, editorial-quality design, storytelling and digital experiences. I'd put them high on the list if your goal is to move away from the generic CPA visual language.
• ColorJar — Best boutique option. They're positioned around end-to-end brand strategy and design and appear geared toward mid-market/enterprise work rather than small-business logo projects. A potentially good balance between senior strategic thinking and a more personal agency relationship.
• Design In Chicago — Best integrated brand + website option. They're in the West Loop and explicitly combine branding, web design/development, digital marketing and content production. Their site also describes working with growing businesses in River North and the West Loop. Design in Chicago
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency — Best for brand + UX/web craft. They're a downtown Chicago creative agency with branding, UX/UI and development capabilities, making them worth considering if the website experience is as important as the identity itself.
• Point B Communications Inc — Best for brand + ongoing marketing. Their work spans brand development, creative and broader marketing, so I'd consider them if this project is really the beginning of a larger growth/marketing program rather than a one-time rebrand.
• Blue Daring — Interesting local boutique. They're on Hubbard Street in River North and focus on brand strategy, naming, identity systems and guidelines. I'd investigate their B2B/professional-services portfolio before putting them on the final RFP list.
• Flamingo Agency — Best if website/SEO matters more than a major brand transformation. They specifically market accounting/CPA website work and have experience with professional-services firms. I'd view them as a more practical web-focused alternative rather than the first choice for a substantial brand repositioning. Flamingo Agency

One wildcard I'd seriously investigate

Phire Group isn't a Chicago-only agency, but it may actually be one of the most relevant specialists for your situation. They explicitly work with accounting, tax, audit, consulting and advisory firms, including regional and Top-100 accounting firms, across positioning, identity, websites, culture, recruiting, M&A and growth. Phire Group

That's a different proposition from hiring a general Chicago branding shop: they already understand the peculiarities of selling accounting/advisory services.

How I'd narrow it

If I were running your RFP, I'd probably invite 5 agencies:

1. VSA — premium/strategic benchmark
2. Fifty Thousand Feet — sophisticated brand benchmark
3. ColorJar — boutique strategic alternative
4. Design In Chicago — integrated brand + website option
5. Phire Group — accounting-industry specialist

I'd specifically ask each to show 2–3 examples of professional-services or financial-services repositioning work, and I'd make them explain how they'd differentiate you from the sea of accounting firms using some combination of navy, blue, gray, "trusted advisor," partner headshots, and generic business photography.

The key question isn't "Can you redesign our logo and website?" It's "Can you make a mid-market accounting firm look like the obvious choice for sophisticated businesses that need more than compliance?"

If that's the strategic objective, I'd put VSA, Fifty Thousand Feet, and Phire Group at the top of the first round.

The key question isn't "Can you redesign our logo and website?" It's "Can you make a mid-market accounting firm look like the obvious choice for sophisticated businesses that need more than compliance?"

If that's the strategic objective, I'd put VSA, Fifty Thousand Feet, and Phire Group at the top of the first round.

• Fifty Thousand Feet - 500 W Madison St #1000, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• VSA Partners, Inc. - 600 W Chicago Ave #250, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Clique Studios - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1075, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Blue Daring - 162 W Hubbard St Ste 400, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• ColorJar - 1000 W Fulton Market #213, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Substance - 314 W Superior St, Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60654
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Point B Communications Inc - 600 W Fulton St #710, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Caliber Brand Strategy + Content Marketing - 320 W Oakdale Ave Apt 401, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Two by Four/twoxfour - 10 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Cultivate Brands - 111 N Wabash Ave Ste 100-1066, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid choosing purely on “best Chicago branding agency.” You want a shop that can make a professional-services firm feel more differentiated and contemporary without becoming flashy or losing institutional credibility, and ideally can carry the new positioning through the website.

My shortlist would be:

The three I'd put on the RFP

1. Fifty Thousand Feet — if you're saying, “We have outgrown our current identity and want to look like the firm we're becoming.” Their combination of brand strategy, identity, storytelling and digital makes them especially interesting for a substantial refresh. Expertise

2. Clique Studios — if the website is the centerpiece. Their offering spans content strategy, UX research, messaging, web design, engineering, CMS, SEO and analytics, so you have less risk of the brand agency handing the finished identity to a completely separate web shop.

3. Walker Sands — I'd add them if your firm is particularly focused on B2B growth, advisory services and business development. They have a Chicago office and explicitly specialize in B2B brand strategy, audience research, messaging and creative identity. More importantly, there's unusually relevant evidence: they did a branding + website modernization project for an investment firm, including positioning, stakeholder research, sitemap/UX, copy, WordPress development and launch. Clutch Walker Sands Walker Sands

That last one is a particularly good analog for an accounting firm.

One wildcard: an accounting-specialist agency

I'd also interview Phire Group even though it's not my first choice if your goal is a distinctly Chicago creative transformation. They explicitly specialize in accounting, tax, audit, consulting and advisory firms and work on positioning, identity, websites, culture, recruiting and growth. Their client list includes substantial regional and national accounting firms. Phire Group

That gives you an interesting comparison: “Do we want an agency that deeply understands accounting?” vs. “Do we want an agency that can make us look unlike an accounting firm?”

For a mid-market firm, I'd probably favor the latter—but make sure they understand professional-services buying behavior.

What I'd put in your RFP

Don't ask agencies simply to “refresh our brand and website.” I'd ask them to address:

• Positioning: What should differentiate us from the other 20 accounting firms prospects could call?
• Audience segmentation: Middle-market companies, owners, CFOs, family businesses, PE-backed companies, etc.
• Advisory vs. compliance: How do we make higher-value advisory work feel central rather than making the firm look like a tax/audit commodity?
• Partner credibility: How do you modernize the firm without making senior partners uncomfortable with the new identity?
• Website conversion: What should a prospective CFO/owner understand in the first 10 seconds?
• Thought leadership: How should insights, events, publications and partner expertise become part of the site?
• Recruiting: Can the same brand make the firm more attractive to experienced hires?
• CMS/governance: Can your marketing team actually maintain the site without calling the agency for every change?
• Measurement: What happens after launch—SEO, analytics, conversion optimization, content, etc.?

I'd also make “show us three relevant professional-services projects and tell us what changed commercially” a requirement. Don't let agencies win the pitch solely with beautiful screenshots.

If I were running the selection, my first calls would be Fifty Thousand Feet, Clique Studios and Walker Sands, with Phire Group as the accounting-specialist benchmark. That gives you four meaningfully different approaches rather than four agencies that all pitch essentially the same thing.

2. Clique Studios — if the website is the centerpiece. Their offering spans content strategy, UX research, messaging, web design, engineering, CMS, SEO and analytics, so you have less risk of the brand agency handing the finished identity to a completely separate web shop.

3. Walker Sands — I'd add them if your firm is particularly focused on B2B growth, advisory services and business development. They have a Chicago office and explicitly specialize in B2B brand strategy, audience research, messaging and creative identity. More importantly, there's unusually relevant evidence: they did a branding + website modernization project for an investment firm, including positioning, stakeholder research, sitemap/UX, copy, WordPress development and launch. Clutch Walker Sands Walker Sands

That last one is a particularly good analog for an accounting firm.

One wildcard: an accounting-specialist agency

I'd also interview Phire Group even though it's not my first choice if your goal is a distinctly Chicago creative transformation. They explicitly specialize in accounting, tax, audit, consulting and advisory firms and work on positioning, identity, websites, culture, recruiting and growth. Their client list includes substantial regional and national accounting firms. Phire Group

That gives you an interesting comparison: “Do we want an agency that deeply understands accounting?” vs. “Do we want an agency that can make us look unlike an accounting firm?”

For a mid-market firm, I'd probably favor the latter—but make sure they understand professional-services buying behavior.

What I'd put in your RFP

Don't ask agencies simply to “refresh our brand and website.” I'd ask them to address:

• Positioning: What should differentiate us from the other 20 accounting firms prospects could call?
• Audience segmentation: Middle-market companies, owners, CFOs, family businesses, PE-backed companies, etc.
• Advisory vs. compliance: How do we make higher-value advisory work feel central rather than making the firm look like a tax/audit commodity?
• Partner credibility: How do you modernize the firm without making senior partners uncomfortable with the new identity?
• Website conversion: What should a prospective CFO/owner understand in the first 10 seconds?
• Thought leadership: How should insights, events, publications and partner expertise become part of the site?
• Recruiting: Can the same brand make the firm more attractive to experienced hires?
• CMS/governance: Can your marketing team actually maintain the site without calling the agency for every change?
• Measurement: What happens after launch—SEO, analytics, conversion optimization, content, etc.?

I'd also make “show us three relevant professional-services projects and tell us what changed commercially” a requirement. Don't let agencies win the pitch solely with beautiful screenshots.

If I were running the selection, my first calls would be Fifty Thousand Feet, Clique Studios and Walker Sands, with Phire Group as the accounting-specialist benchmark. That gives you four meaningfully different approaches rather than four agencies that all pitch essentially the same thing.

• Adcetera Chicago - 750 N State St Fl 7, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Plan B - The Agency Alternative for the AI Economy® - 10 W Hubbard St #5w, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Trungale, Egan + Associates - 8 S Michigan Ave #2310, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
• Silva Brand, LLC - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd floor, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• VSA Partners, Inc. - 600 W Chicago Ave #250, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• McGuffin Creative Group, Inc. - 566 W Adams St, Ste 440, Chicago, IL 60661
• Devarj Design Agency - 180 N Stetson Ave Suite 3500, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Point B Communications Inc - 600 W Fulton St #710, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Crosby Associates - 1714 N Crilly Ct, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Substance - 314 W Superior St, Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60654
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Envisionit - 130 E Randolph St #1600, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Michael Lee & Associates - 1201 North LaSalle Dr, Ste 502, Chicago, IL 60610
• Glantz Design - 1881 Oak Ave, Evanston, IL 60201, United States

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid agencies that are primarily consumer/restaurant creative shops. You want a partner that can make an accounting firm feel more differentiated and modern without sacrificing trust, credibility, or technical sophistication.

I’d put these on the shortlist:

1. Adcetera Chicago — Best overall fit

• River North, at 750 N State.
• Strong combination of brand strategy, identity, digital, content, and marketing.
• Their Chicago practice specifically emphasizes B2B brand work and has a structured brand-development methodology. Adcetera
• I'd consider them if you want the refresh to be more than "new logo + prettier website."
• Plan B - The Agency Alternative for the AI Economy® — Best River North boutique option

• Actually in River North, at 10 W Hubbard.
• Offers branding, positioning, identity and website/marketing capabilities.
• Particularly interesting if you want a hands-on, senior-level agency relationship rather than a large-agency process.
• Trungale, Egan + Associates — Best financial-services pedigree

• Downtown Chicago.
• Their work spans strategy, branding, web and integrated marketing, with explicit experience in financial services.
• I'd interview them if your firm does sophisticated advisory, wealth, transaction, or other finance-adjacent work.
• Silva Brand, LLC — Best B2B/professional-services positioning

• Near the Loop at 211 W Wacker.
• Strategy-led branding with experience across professional services, investment/financial services, real estate and other B2B organizations.
• Potentially a particularly good fit if your real problem is "we've outgrown how we currently describe ourselves."
• VSA Partners, Inc. — Best high-end strategic option

• Chicago-based and substantially more sophisticated/strategic than a typical web-design firm.
• Strong brand strategy and B2B/financial-services experience.
• I'd talk to them if you're contemplating a meaningful repositioning and have a healthy budget.
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency — Best brand + website execution

• Downtown Chicago.
• Combines identity, UX/UI, web development and digital under one roof.
• Worth considering if the website experience itself is a major part of the refresh.

One agency I'd add specifically because you're an accounting firm

phiregroup.com is worth putting on the RFP list even though it's not the obvious "Chicago agency" choice.

They specifically specialize in accounting, tax, audit, consulting and advisory firms, including regional and Top-100 firms, and offer brand positioning, identity, websites, culture/recruiting and growth work. Phire Group

That's a significant advantage: they already understand that an accounting-firm brand has to speak simultaneously to clients, referral sources, prospective employees and partners.

How I'd narrow it down

If I were running the selection process, I'd probably invite 4 agencies to pitch:

I'd also keep VSA in reserve if you're willing to make this a larger strategic engagement.

One thing I'd not do is send an RFP that says "we need a new website." I'd frame it as "brand positioning + identity refresh + digital experience" and ask each agency to show how they'd translate your firm's actual competitive advantage into the new brand. Otherwise, you'll get six beautiful websites that all look vaguely like accounting firms.

If you tell me roughly your firm's revenue/employee size, primary client types (middle-market companies, PE, individuals, etc.), and your rough budget ($50k / $100k / $250k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies and tell you exactly what I'd ask each one to pitch.

For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d look less at general “pretty website” shops and more at agencies that understand professional services positioning, trust-building, thought leadership, recruiting, and lead generation. Your brand refresh should probably move you away from “CPA firm brochure site” territory toward a more differentiated advisory-firm presence.

Here’s a Chicago shortlist I’d put in front of a partner group:

A few accounting-specific / lower-cost website specialists exist too, but I’d be cautious for a mid-market firm trying to elevate its market position. For example, Flamingo Agency specifically markets accounting-firm websites and could work for a straightforward redesign, but it may not provide the deeper brand strategy you’d likely want from a firm-level refresh. www.flamingoagency.com

My suggested shortlist to interview

If I were running the selection process, I’d invite 4–5 firms:

1. VSA Partners — if you want a premium advisory-firm brand
2. Adcetera — if you want strategy + execution under one roof
3. Solid Digital — if website performance and lead generation are priorities
4. ArtVersion — if design quality is the main differentiator
5. Point B — if messaging and positioning are the hardest problems

Questions I’d ask every agency

• “Show us a professional-services firm you repositioned, not just a consumer brand.”
• “How would you differentiate an accounting firm beyond tax, audit, and advisory?”
• “How do you handle partner bios and thought leadership so they become business-development assets?”
• “What is your recommended CMS and why?”
• “How do you measure success 6–12 months after launch?”
• “Who will actually do the work: senior strategists/designers or junior production staff?”

For a River North accounting firm, I’d expect a serious engagement to land roughly in the $40k–$150k+ range depending on whether this is a visual refresh only or a full repositioning, messaging overhaul, photography/content system, and custom website. I’d avoid choosing purely on portfolio aesthetics—the biggest gains usually come from clarifying the firm’s niche, audience, and point of view.

• McGuffin Creative Group, Inc. - 566 W Adams St, Ste 440, Chicago, IL 60661
• VisualFizz - 875 N Michigan Ave 31st floor, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Plan B - The Agency Alternative for the AI Economy® - 10 W Hubbard St #5w, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Devarj Design Agency - 180 N Stetson Ave Suite 3500, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Simple Truth - 314 W Superior St Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Point B Communications Inc - 600 W Fulton St #710, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Caliber Brand Strategy + Content Marketing - 320 W Oakdale Ave Apt 401, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Cultivate Brands - 111 N Wabash Ave Ste 100-1066, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Trungale, Egan + Associates - 8 S Michigan Ave #2310, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Build Accounting - 1425 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d look beyond generic web shops and prioritize agencies that understand professional-services positioning, trust-based buying, B2B messaging, and brand systems—not just making a prettier logo.

I’d put these on the shortlist:

1. McGuffin Creative Group, Inc. — Best fit if you want financial/professional-services credibility.

They specifically emphasize financial-services work and offer branding, identity, strategy, messaging, and digital/creative execution. That makes them particularly interesting for an accounting firm that wants to look more sophisticated without becoming flashy.

2. VisualFizz — Best B2B/modern-growth option.

They focus on established B2B companies and combine brand positioning, creative, web, SEO and marketing. I'd consider them if the goal is to reposition the firm around advisory/growth rather than simply "CPA services."

3. Plan B - The Agency Alternative for the AI Economy® — Interesting River North option.

They're actually in River North and offer brand identity, positioning/messaging, sales collateral, web development and broader digital/CRM capabilities. Could be a good fit if you want the website to become part of a larger business-development engine.

4. Devarj Design Agency — Strong brand-first candidate.

Their process explicitly starts with brand review, positioning/messaging and differentiation before visual development. They also cite professional-services/financial-firm work and have substantial rebranding experience. Devarj Design Agency, Inc.

5. Simple Truth — Good strategy + communications option.

They're in River North and cover brand strategy, positioning, websites, content and communications. I'd look here if your refresh involves a meaningful change in how the firm talks about itself—not merely visual modernization.

6. ArtVersion® Creative Agency — Best design-led option on my list.

They're an established Chicago agency doing branding, UX/UI, web and development in-house. Good candidate if the desired outcome is a noticeably more premium digital presence.

7. Point B Communications Inc — Good integrated-agency alternative.

Their work spans brand development and broader advertising/communications, with a more hands-on agency model. I'd consider them if you're looking for an ongoing marketing partner rather than a one-time rebrand.

One wildcard: Adcetera

adcetera.com is worth a conversation. They're literally in River North, and their offering spans positioning, messaging, identity, brand launches and customer experience. They describe their Chicago practice as working with companies of different sizes and types, so they could handle a fairly substantial repositioning. Adcetera

How I'd narrow it

For your specific situation, my first three conversations would be:

Then I'd add Devarj if the brand strategy/repositioning component is particularly important.

One thing I'd avoid: hiring a firm whose core pitch is "we build accounting websites." For a mid-market firm, the opportunity is usually much bigger than a website redesign—you want to answer why a sophisticated business should choose your firm over the other 50 credible Chicago accounting firms, and then make the website express that distinction.

If you tell me roughly your revenue/employee size, target clients (e.g. $10–100M privately held companies, PE-backed companies, individuals, etc.), and approximate budget ($50K / $100K / $200K+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies I'd actually invite to pitch, including what I think each would likely be strongest/weakest at.

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid treating this as a generic “logo + website” project. You want an agency that understands professional-services positioning, partner/stakeholder buy-in, credibility, and a website that actually helps win larger advisory clients and recruits.

I’d put these firms on the shortlist:

One non-Chicago specialist I'd absolutely interview

Phire Group is worth breaking the geographic rule for. They specifically specialize in accounting and advisory firms, including regional, national and Top-100 firms, and offer brand strategy, positioning, identity, websites, culture, recruiting and M&A-related branding. phiregroup.com

For an accounting firm, that domain expertise is meaningful. I'd put them in the pitch process alongside 2–3 Chicago agencies.

My suggested RFP shortlist

If I were running the selection process, I'd probably invite five:

1. Substance — strongest candidate for strategic rebrand
2. ColorJar — boutique/high-design alternative
3. VSA Partners — heavyweight strategic option
4. Design In Chicago — integrated brand + website execution
5. Phire Group — accounting-industry specialist

That gives you a useful spread rather than five agencies selling essentially the same thing.

One important caveat: I wouldn't select based primarily on who has the prettiest portfolio. For your firm, I'd ask each agency to show 2–3 examples of professional-services or other trust-based B2B organizations where they changed the positioning, not merely the visual identity. Then ask what they would do differently for an accounting/advisory firm trying to look less commoditized.

If you tell me roughly firm size/revenue, your target clients (e.g. $10M–$500M companies), services (tax/audit/advisory/CFO/etc.), and whether you're looking for a $50K, $100K, or $200K+ engagement, I can narrow this to the 3 agencies I'd actually invite to pitch.

For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid agencies that are primarily consumer-brand shops or generic “web design” vendors. You want a partner that can make a professional-services firm feel more modern and differentiated without sacrificing trust, expertise, and credibility.

I’d put these on the shortlist:

1. VisualFizz — strongest overall fit
   • Explicitly focused on B2B and established/mid-market companies, with branding, web, SEO and growth marketing under one roof. www.visualfizz.com
   • Particularly interesting if the refresh needs to improve positioning and lead generation, not just aesthetics.
   • They're at 875 N Michigan, so very convenient from River North.
   • My pick if: you want a modern B2B brand that also has a measurable marketing engine behind it.

2. Symmetri Marketing Group — strongest B2B brand specialist
   • Their positioning is unusually close to your brief: B2B branding, positioning/messaging, identity, digital experience and web development.
   • River North location at 40 E Huron.
   • My pick if: the real problem is that the firm has become commoditized and you need to rethink why clients should choose you, not simply redesign the site.

3. ArtVersion® Creative Agency — strongest design-forward option
   • Chicago-based creative agency with branding, UX, web and in-house development capabilities.
   • Good candidate if you want the new site to look substantially more sophisticated than the typical accounting-firm website.
   • My pick if: partner/leadership perception and visual differentiation are major goals.

4. Plan B - The Agency Alternative for the AI Economy® — convenient River North option
   • Actually located at 10 W Hubbard and offers branding, messaging/positioning, sales tools and web/digital execution.
   • Worth considering if you want a relatively hands-on Chicago agency rather than a large integrated shop.
   • My pick if: you want an accessible local partner and potentially an ongoing marketing relationship.

5. Design In Chicago — good integrated creative option
   • Combines branding, web development, digital marketing, graphic design and video/photo rather than treating the website as an isolated project.
   • West Loop rather than River North, but close enough that location shouldn't matter.
   • My pick if: you want brand + website + ongoing content/marketing production.

6. LoSasso Integrated Marketing — worth a look for complex professional services
   • Established Chicago B2B agency with experience spanning financial services and professional services, alongside other complex B2B categories. www.b2bmarketing.net
   • This is a more strategic/integrated choice than a pure design studio.
   • My pick if: you're looking beyond the website toward a broader marketing repositioning.

How I'd narrow it

If I were running your agency search, I'd invite four firms to pitch:

I'd deliberately make the brief “brand repositioning + website”, rather than “website redesign.” For an accounting firm, the biggest opportunity is often moving away from “we do accounting, tax and advisory” toward a sharper proposition around who you serve, what business problems you solve, and why your firm is meaningfully different.

One other option I'd keep in reserve is ColorJar. It's a boutique Chicago brand-strategy/design consultancy and appears oriented toward mid-market/enterprise branding rather than small logo projects.

If you give me your approximate annual revenue, target client size/industries, current website, and rough budget ($50k / $100k / $200k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies and tell you what I would ask each one to pitch.

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid agencies that are primarily consumer-brand or generic SMB web shops. You want a partner that can make the firm feel more differentiated and premium without losing institutional trust, and that can carry the new positioning through the website, partner bios, service pages, proposals, recruiting, etc.

My Chicago shortlist

A couple of particularly relevant signals from the research: Grady Campbell has a Chicago office on N. Franklin and explicitly lists financial, private equity, law and business among its markets; it also recently launched a website for specialty-finance company Dimension Credit. www.gradycampbell.com Adcetera has a River North office and offers a fairly comprehensive brand strategy/identity process, including brand refreshes and repositioning. www.adcetera.com

I'd also put ArtVersion® Creative Agency and ColorJar on the first-call list if the goal is to look meaningfully different from the typical accounting-firm aesthetic.

One wildcard: an accounting-specialist agency

Flamingo Agency is worth knowing about because it specifically markets accounting/CPA website work and has actual accounting/tax-planning projects in its portfolio. www.flamingoagency.com

I'd not make them my first choice for a mid-market firm's brand refresh, though. Their positioning appears much more geared toward smaller accounting practices and efficient WordPress builds. For your situation, I'd favor a stronger brand/positioning agency and make the website part of that larger exercise.

Who I'd actually invite to pitch

If I were running the search, I'd probably make it a 4-agency RFP:

1. ArtVersion — sophisticated brand + digital
2. Design B&B — brand strategy/identity
3. ColorJar — strategic differentiation
4. Plan B — local, integrated brand + website + marketing

I'd add Grady Campbell as a fifth if you want someone with particularly strong financial/professional-services credentials. www.gradycampbell.com

The key in the RFP would be not to say "we need a new logo and website." I'd frame it as: "We want to reposition a growing mid-market accounting/advisory firm, clarify our differentiation, refresh the identity, and translate the new positioning into a high-conviction digital experience." That will attract much better strategic talent.

If you tell me roughly firm revenue / employee count, target clients (e.g. PE-backed companies, owner-led businesses, family offices), and your approximate budget ($50k, $100k, $200k+), I can narrow this to the 3 agencies I'd hire and what I think each would likely cost.

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid agencies that are primarily consumer/restaurant/SMB web shops. You want a partner that can make the firm feel more modern and differentiated without sacrificing the trust, sophistication, and credibility accounting buyers expect.

I’d put these agencies on the shortlist:

My top 3 for your situation

1. MonogramGroup — I'd start here.
The combination of middle-market orientation + brand strategy + website + professional-services sensibility is unusually close to what you've described. Their positioning is much more "help an established business become more valuable/differentiated" than "let's make your logo cooler." www.expertise.com

MonogramGroup

2. Mabbly — I'd interview them if your objective is aggressive growth.
Their current positioning around professional services is particularly relevant to an accounting firm: they recognize that these businesses sell expertise and relationships, rather than products, and their offering connects positioning, brand, website and business development. www.mabbly.com

Mabbly

3. McGuffin — I'd interview them if you want a more conservative, financial-services-savvy transformation.
Their banking/financial-services portfolio gives them a good instinct for the line between "modern and differentiated" and "too flashy for a serious accounting firm." mcguffincg.com

McGuffin Creative Group

One I'd add as the "wild card": Substance

If you're contemplating something more fundamental than a visual refresh—e.g. "we've outgrown our old accounting-firm identity and need to say something much more compelling about who we are"—I'd talk to Substance. Their emphasis is on research, positioning, messaging and visual identity rather than simply website production. isubstance.com

Substance

What I'd actually do

I'd run a 3-agency pitch, probably:

1. MonogramGroup
2. Mabbly
3. McGuffin

Give all three the same brief and ask them to address:

• What they think is currently wrong with your firm's positioning
• How they'd differentiate you from other Chicago accounting firms
• Proposed brand territory / positioning
• Visual identity direction
• Website information architecture
• How they'd turn partner expertise into compelling web content
• SEO and AI-search implications
• How the site would support referrals, prospective clients and recruiting
• Who specifically will do the work
• Fee and timeline

I'd not make the pitch primarily about logo design. For a mid-market accounting firm, the biggest opportunity is usually turning "we provide accounting/tax/advisory services" into a much sharper answer to "Why should a sophisticated business choose you instead of another firm?"

For context, Chicago's current agency market has plenty of highly rated branding firms, but the relevant distinction is whether they understand B2B/professional-services buying rather than simply having good-looking portfolios. clutch.co

If you tell me roughly firm size/revenue, your client sweet spot (e.g. $10–100M companies, PE-backed, family businesses, professional services), and your rough website/branding budget, I can narrow this to 3–4 agencies and rank them by fit, likely cost, strengths/weaknesses, and who I'd contact first.

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid agencies that are primarily logo shops or consumer-advertising firms. Your sweet spot is an agency that understands professional-services positioning, partner/stakeholder buy-in, credibility, and a website that actually supports business development.

I’d put these on the shortlist:

My top 4 for your situation

1. Substance — I'd interview them first if "brand refresh" really means Who are we, how should we be perceived, and why should a CFO/owner choose us? They're particularly oriented toward organizational rebrands and complex stakeholder environments. toimi.pro

2. ColorJar — I'd put them in the pitch if you want something strategic but boutique. Their positioning around mid-market/enterprise branding makes them particularly relevant to your size. www.sortlist.com

3. Fifty Thousand Feet — Strong candidate if you're trying to move the firm from "traditional accounting firm" toward premium business advisory firm visually and verbally. Their offering spans brand strategy/identity, digital, content and activation.

4. Marcel Digital — I'd include them if the new site needs to become a genuine BD engine: organic search, conversion paths, analytics, landing pages, etc., rather than primarily a brand expression.

One other agency worth a look is Caliber Brand Strategy + Content Marketing. They're especially interesting for an established, closely held business because their model emphasizes senior-level brand strategy, positioning, messaging and content rather than just production.

One I'd specifically investigate

Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding is worth putting through a competitive process because they explicitly work with B2B and professional-services firms, combining brand, website, SEO and content. www.brandvm.com

I'd also not automatically choose an accounting-specialist web shop. For example, Flamingo Agency explicitly markets accounting/CPA websites, but its offering is geared toward small accounting firms and affordable WordPress builds. www.flamingoagency.com For a mid-market firm trying to elevate its market position, I'd rather have an agency help redefine the brand than simply make the existing accounting-firm website look nicer.

How I'd run the selection

I'd invite 4 agencies to a relatively tight RFP:

• Substance
• ColorJar
• Fifty Thousand Feet
• Marcel Digital or Brand Vision

Give each the same brief: brand refresh + positioning/messaging + new website + content migration/copy + launch, and ask them to show 2–3 relevant professional-services/B2B cases.

The key question I'd ask isn't "Can you make us look more modern?" It's:

"How would you make a 30-year-old accounting firm feel like the obvious choice for the next generation of privately held businesses and their owners?"

That will very quickly separate the agencies that can actually reposition you from the ones that just produce attractive websites.

If you tell me roughly your firm's size/revenue, core specialties (tax, audit, advisory, wealth, etc.), target clients, and desired brand personality, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and give you a recommended RFP/shortlist with likely budget ranges and strengths/weaknesses for each.

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d look beyond generic “Chicago web designers.” You want an agency that can make a professional-services firm feel more differentiated and contemporary without losing trust, and ideally can connect the brand refresh directly to the new site.

My Chicago shortlist

1. Trungale, Egan + Associates (TE+A) — probably my first call
   • Particularly interesting because they have explicit financial-services experience and combine strategy, branding, web, and marketing.
   • Their positioning sounds well suited to an accounting firm that needs to communicate expertise without looking like every other CPA firm.
   • I'd ask them specifically for examples involving accounting, advisory, wealth management, or other high-trust professional services.

2. McGuffin Creative Group, Inc. — strong financial-services fit
   • Their work emphasizes financial services and healthcare, along with branding, identity, strategy, and messaging.
   • This is the kind of agency I'd consider if your refresh needs to feel credible and sophisticated rather than overtly “creative-agency.”

3. Plan B - The Agency Alternative for the AI Economy® — interesting River North option
   • They're actually in River North on Hubbard, and offer branding, positioning, identity, sales collateral and web capabilities.
   • Worth considering if you want a more contemporary brand while keeping the engagement relatively integrated.

4. ColorJar — best boutique brand-strategy candidate
   • They're a Chicago boutique focused on brand positioning, differentiation, messaging, brand architecture and visual identity.
   • I'd put them on the list if the bigger issue is “Who are we, really, and how should we present ourselves?” rather than simply needing a prettier website.
   • You'd want to confirm whether you'd use them for the website build itself or pair them with a web-development partner.

5. Marcel Digital — best if website performance matters heavily
   • Their strength is the digital side: UX, information architecture, web development, SEO, CRO and analytics.
   • Less of a pure brand shop, but attractive if the new website needs to generate measurable business-development activity rather than simply modernize the firm's appearance.

6. Caliber Brand Strategy + Content Marketing — worth a conversation for positioning/messaging
   • Particularly oriented toward established and closely held businesses.
   • I'd consider them if the firm's challenge is explaining why a mid-market client should choose you over larger national accounting firms.

7. Landor — the “go big” option
   • A major global brand consultancy with a Chicago office.
   • They can bring substantially more brand-strategy firepower, but I'd only pursue them if you're contemplating a genuinely significant repositioning rather than a conventional mid-market rebrand.

One more that caught my attention

MonogramGroup is worth putting on the RFP list even though it didn't surface in the local-business results. It's specifically described as a Chicago branding agency focused on middle-market companies, with brand invention, web development and copywriting capabilities. That's unusually close to your situation. www.expertise.com

And if accounting-industry experience is the deciding factor, Jackson Wynne has a published accounting-firm rebrand case study covering identity, website and collateral for Adams + Miles. I'd investigate whether they have Chicago availability before putting them ahead of the local firms. www.jacksonwynne.com

How I'd narrow this to 3 pitches

For your particular brief, I'd probably invite:

TE+A + McGuffin + MonogramGroup

That gives you three different but highly relevant approaches:

I'd also keep ColorJar as the wildcard if you want the refresh to be more strategically ambitious.

One thing I'd not do: start with a web agency and ask them to “refresh the brand along the way.” For an accounting firm, the biggest opportunity is usually positioning + messaging + identity → website, not the other way around.

If you tell me roughly firm size/revenue, target client ($5M–$100M businesses vs. larger), services (tax/audit/advisory/CAS/etc.), and approximate budget ($50K, $100K, $250K+), I can narrow this to 3–5 agencies and compare their likely fit, strengths, weaknesses, and expected price tier.

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid agencies that are primarily “logo + brochure” shops. You want a partner that can reposition a professional-services brand, make you look more differentiated than the typical CPA firm, and translate that into a sophisticated website that supports business development.

I’d put these firms on the shortlist:

My ranking for your situation

1. VisualFizz — I'd probably take the first meeting here. The combination of B2B positioning, Chicago presence, branding + website + SEO, and an actual accounting-firm project makes the fit unusually direct. Their Geltco work also involved creating the site's content and improving organic/local search, rather than treating the website as a purely visual exercise. www.visualfizz.com

2. Adcetera — I'd include them if you want the refresh to feel more like a meaningful firm repositioning than a website redesign. They're literally in River North and have a fairly mature brand-strategy methodology. www.adcetera.com

3. Mabbly — Particularly interesting if you're trying to move the firm upmarket toward advisory, CFO services, transaction services, wealthier business owners, PE-backed companies, etc. Their professional-services positioning is much closer to that problem than a generic web agency. www.mabbly.com

4. Substance — I'd interview them if partner consensus and strategic positioning are major issues. They're probably more than you need for a straightforward visual refresh, but potentially valuable if the firm is changing how it wants to be perceived. toimi.pro

5. Jackson Wynne — Strong wildcard because the accounting precedent is extremely relevant. I'd investigate their Chicago delivery model/location before putting them into the final three, though. Their Adams + Miles case is compelling evidence of accounting-brand experience. www.jacksonwynne.com

One thing I'd change in your RFP

Don't ask agencies simply for “a brand refresh and new website.” That's likely to produce a parade of attractive moodboards.

I'd frame the project around something like:

Reposition an established Chicago accounting firm for its next stage of growth, differentiating it from traditional CPA firms while preserving the trust and credibility that existing clients value. Develop the positioning, messaging, visual identity and digital experience needed to support that position.

Then ask each agency to show you:

1. How they'd differentiate you from other Chicago accounting firms
2. Two or three examples of professional-services repositioning, not just pretty websites
3. Their approach to partner/stakeholder alignment
4. Who actually writes the website copy
5. How they turn positioning into service-line pages and conversion paths
6. Their approach to SEO / AI search / thought leadership
7. What they'll leave you with beyond the logo—brand guidelines, proposal templates, pitch decks, LinkedIn assets, etc.
8. Three budget scenarios: brand only, brand + website, brand + website + ongoing growth

If you tell me roughly your revenue/employee size, target clients (e.g. $10–100M companies, PE-backed, real estate, entrepreneurs, etc.), and whether you're trying to look more “Big Four” or more “boutique strategic advisor,” I can narrow this to a 3-agency shortlist and tell you exactly what I'd ask each one to pitch.

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid agencies that are primarily “small-business web designers.” Your project is really a positioning + brand modernization + high-end B2B website engagement.

I’d put these firms on the shortlist:

One wildcard I'd seriously investigate

Devarj Design Agency has unusually relevant evidence for your situation. They specifically describe helping a financial firm differentiate itself from other financial firms through a new brand and website, and their portfolio includes a CPA firm. devarj.com

That's the kind of case study I'd want to see before hiring someone for an accounting-firm refresh.

Who I'd actually put into the RFP

If this were my firm, I'd invite four agencies:

1. Grady Campbell — strongest overall candidate
2. Mabbly — strongest strategy/growth candidate
3. Adcetera — strongest established B2B/finance branding candidate
4. Devarj — strongest “you understand accounting/financial-services firms” wildcard

I'd probably leave pure web shops out of the first round. For example, Flamingo Agency explicitly specializes in CPA/accounting websites, which is useful if you primarily need an efficient website build, but your description sounds like you need to rethink the firm's positioning and identity, not simply replace the website. www.flamingoagency.com

The key question I'd ask each agency

Don't ask, “Can you redesign our website?”

Ask:

“How would you reposition a 50–200 person accounting firm so that it feels like a strategic business-advisory partner rather than another traditional CPA firm?”

The quality of their answer will tell you a lot.

I'd also make them show you 2–3 examples of professional-services or financial-services brands they've repositioned, not just pretty consumer branding.

If you tell me roughly your revenue/employee size, core services (audit/tax/advisory/CAS/etc.), target clients, and approximate budget ($50k, $100k, $200k+), I can narrow this to a 3-agency shortlist and tell you which one I'd hire.

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid agencies that are primarily consumer/advertising shops. You want a partner that can make you look more distinctive and modern without losing the trust, sophistication, and technical credibility expected from an accounting firm—and ideally can carry the new positioning through the website.

My Chicago shortlist:

My top 5

1. VisualFizz — best overall fit
   • Chicago-based B2B agency with a specific focus on established/mid-market B2B companies.
   • Does brand positioning + web + creative + SEO, so you aren't handing the brand to one shop and the website to another. www.visualfizz.com
   • Their positioning work seems particularly relevant if your challenge is “we're a good accounting firm, but we look and sound like every other accounting firm.”
   • Located on Michigan Ave, so very convenient from River North.
   • I'd put them on the shortlist first.

2. Trungale, Egan + Associates (TE+A) — best if financial-services experience matters
   • Particularly interesting because they combine strategy, branding, web and ongoing marketing, and their published experience includes financial services.
   • The local-business research specifically surfaced their financial-industry familiarity and experience with multiple websites and marketing materials.
   • I'd investigate them if your firm wants a more traditional, polished professional-services positioning rather than a radical creative departure.

3. ArtVersion — best design-led option
   • Chicago design consultancy with substantial experience across brand strategy, visual identity, UX/UI and corporate websites.
   • Clutch currently lists them at 4.9/5 across 43 reviews, with branding, UX/UI and web design all meaningful parts of their work. clutch.co
   • Good candidate if your existing brand is fundamentally solid but your visual identity and digital experience feel dated.

4. Plan B — interesting River North option
   • They're literally in River North, at 10 W Hubbard.
   • Their capabilities span branding, identity, messaging/positioning and sales collateral, with strong emphasis on collaborative execution.
   • I'd consider them if you want a relatively hands-on Chicago agency rather than a large consultancy.

5. Solid Digital — best if the website is the bigger project
   • Stronger web/digital orientation: website redesign, UX/UI, design systems, branding and custom development.
   • Particularly attractive if the new site needs integrations, sophisticated content architecture, performance/security work or a CMS your marketing team can actually manage.
   • Less of a pure brand transformation play than VisualFizz or ArtVersion.

Two wild cards

McGuffin Creative Group, Inc. is worth a conversation because it has an unusually relevant financial-services + healthcare orientation and offers branding, strategy and messaging. Its West Loop location is also convenient.

And if your primary problem is positioning/messaging rather than visual identity, I'd look at Caliber Brand Strategy + Content Marketing. It's a smaller, senior-led Chicago consultancy focused on brand strategy, messaging and content for established businesses. That could be particularly useful if your partners disagree about what the firm should stand for before you spend money redesigning the website.

How I'd narrow it

I'd also not automatically hire an agency that specializes in CPA websites. For example, Flamingo explicitly focuses on small accounting firms, CPAs and bookkeepers and offers relatively inexpensive WordPress builds. www.flamingoagency.com That's useful if the mandate is “make our CPA website better,” but for a mid-market firm doing a genuine brand refresh, I'd want an agency that can help differentiate the firm strategically—not just make the existing accounting-firm template prettier.

What I'd put in your RFP

I'd ask each agency to address the same five things:

1. Positioning: How would you differentiate an established Chicago accounting firm from the Big Four, regional firms and boutique specialists?
2. Brand personality: How do you make us feel contemporary without becoming gimmicky or losing professional credibility?
3. Website strategy: How will the site speak differently to business owners, CFOs, referral sources and prospective employees?
4. Proof: Show 2–3 comparable professional-services/B2B transformations, not just beautiful consumer branding.
5. Team: Who actually does the strategy and creative work? Don't let a senior strategist sell the engagement and disappear after kickoff.

For a mid-market accounting firm specifically, my first three calls would be VisualFizz, TE+A and ArtVersion. I'd ask all three for a point of view on your positioning before asking them to show you logo concepts. That will tell you much more about whether they're the right partner.

If you want, I can also dig into their portfolios, client lists, approximate project budgets, and comparable accounting/professional-services work and rank the three best fits for your firm.

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d avoid agencies that are primarily “logo shops” or small-business web vendors. You want a partner that can translate a fairly complex, trust-based professional-services business into a sharper brand and a website that helps partners win prospects.

My Chicago shortlist:

1. ColorJar — strongest brand-refresh candidate
   • Boutique brand strategy/design consultancy in Fulton Market.
   • Particularly interesting if the goal is to reposition the firm, not simply modernize the logo.
   • Their positioning suggests they’re comfortable with mid-market/enterprise organizations and stakeholder-heavy branding work.
   • Best for: sophisticated brand strategy + identity, with a more distinctive result.

2. ArtVersion® Creative Agency — strongest brand + digital combination
   • Established Chicago creative agency with branding, UX/UI and development capabilities.
   • Good fit if you want the same team thinking through identity, website experience and implementation.
   • Best for: polished, premium professional-services presence.

3. Plan B - The Agency Alternative for the AI Economy® — particularly convenient for River North
   • They're actually in River North, at 10 W Hubbard.
   • Full-service capability spanning positioning, branding, web and marketing.
   • Best for: a firm that wants one partner to handle the brand refresh and then carry it into the website and marketing ecosystem.

4. Substance — strong strategic/organizational option
   • Chicago branding and visual-communications firm with an emphasis on clarifying complex organizations and aligning stakeholders.
   • I’d consider them if your refresh involves multiple service lines, offices, partner groups or internal audiences, rather than just visual modernization.

5. Design In Chicago — good integrated brand/web option
   • Combines branding, web design/development, digital marketing and content under one team. designinchicago.com
   • More execution-oriented than some of the pure brand consultancies.
   • Best for: wanting a practical brand-to-website engagement without coordinating multiple vendors.

6. Mabbly — worth a serious look for growth orientation
   • Chicago-based and explicitly works with professional-services firms, emphasizing brand strategy, positioning, behavioral insight and integrated marketing. www.mabbly.com
   • Best for: if the website needs to become a meaningful business-development tool rather than primarily a credibility piece.

7. VisualFizz — strongest if lead generation matters
   • Focused specifically on established B2B brands and combines branding, web and search. www.visualfizz.comrawcutcreative.comwww.brandvm.com
   • Best for: an accounting firm that wants the new site tied tightly to inbound demand generation.

The three I'd put into an RFP

If I were your marketing/leadership team, I'd probably invite:

ColorJar + ArtVersion + Mabbly

That gives you three different philosophies:

I'd also put Plan B into the mix if being physically close to your River North office and having a broad, hands-on partner matters.

One important distinction: don't ask agencies simply for “a new website.” For an accounting firm, I'd make the brief about positioning + messaging + digital experience. The best outcome isn't a prettier version of the current site; it's a site that makes a prospect understand why your firm is different from the other 20 accounting firms they could call.

There are also a couple of more specialized options worth considering. Rawcut Creative, for example, explicitly markets branding and web work to financial services and professional-services businesses and describes an integrated strategy → brand → web approach. rawcutcreative.com Brand Vision similarly focuses on B2B/professional-services websites, branding and content. www.brandvm.com

If you tell me roughly your firm's revenue/employee size, whether you're CPA/tax/advisory-heavy, and your approximate budget (e.g. $50–100k vs. $100–250k+), I can narrow this to 5 agencies and rank them by likely fit, estimated budget, strengths/weaknesses, and the questions I'd ask each in the pitch.

Yes. For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d bias toward agencies that understand professional-services positioning and B2B credibility, rather than a shop that mainly does logos or generic SMB websites.

My Chicago shortlist

1. Adcetera Chicago — probably my first call
   • Particularly interesting because they’re actually in River North and explicitly do brand refreshes, positioning, messaging, identity, digital, and web.
   • Their positioning is much more strategic than “let’s make the logo prettier,” including brand research, positioning, core messaging, identity, and customer experience. www.adcetera.com
   • Their Chicago team also emphasizes B2B experience and executive-level involvement.
   • Best for: a meaningful repositioning where the website is the expression of a stronger market story.
   • Adcetera

2. Plan B - The Agency Alternative for the AI Economy® — especially worth interviewing
   • They're in River North, at 10 W Hubbard, and combine branding, messaging/positioning, creative, web development and marketing.
   • That combination could work well if you're trying to turn the website into a business-development tool, not simply a new brochure.
   • I'd specifically ask them for examples of B2B/professional-services work and how they approach differentiating an accounting firm without making it look gimmicky.
   • Best for: brand + website + ongoing marketing.
   • Plan B

3. ArtVersion® Creative Agency — strong brand/digital option
   • Chicago-based, with a substantial combination of branding, UX/UI, web design and development. Their current Clutch profile shows 4.9/5 across 43 reviews, with branding, UX/UI and web design all meaningful parts of their offering. clutch.comultipleinc.com
   • Their work seems particularly appropriate if you want the new site to feel polished, sophisticated and corporate without becoming sterile.
   • Best for: a premium visual refresh + sophisticated website experience.
   • ArtVersion

4. Multiple Inc. — best if the brand strategy is the priority
   • They're an independent brand strategy/design agency covering strategy, messaging, identity, campaigns and digital experiences. They explicitly describe a “Refresh” engagement for organizations that already have a brand but need to sharpen it. multipleinc.com
   • This could be a very good fit if your current firm has become somewhat generic: “trusted advisors, deep expertise, client-focused…”
   • Best for: figuring out what the firm should stand for before designing the new website.
   • Multiple Inc.

5. Mabbly — worth a look if growth/marketing is part of the mandate
   • Mabbly specifically talks about professional-services growth, including the challenge of differentiating expertise and navigating relationship-driven buying cycles. www.mabbly.com
   • That's unusually relevant to an accounting firm.
   • I'd consider them if you're saying, “We don't just want a prettier site; we want more of the right prospects.”
   • Best for: positioning + website + demand generation.
   • Mabbly

One specialist I'd put on the secondary list

Flamingo Agency has explicit accounting/CPA website experience and has built sites for accounting and financial firms. www.flamingoagency.com The tradeoff is that its positioning is much more toward small accounting firms and cost-efficient WordPress builds. For a genuinely mid-market Chicago firm doing a strategic brand refresh, I'd favor the five above.

How I'd run the selection

I'd probably invite 3 agencies to pitch rather than 8:

And I'd give all three the same brief. Don't ask “What would you do with our website?” Ask them to demonstrate:

• How they'd differentiate you from other mid-market accounting firms
• Their approach to positioning and messaging before visual design
• 2–3 relevant B2B/professional-services case studies
• How they'd turn service lines into compelling website journeys
• Their approach to partner/expert bios
• CMS and ongoing content ownership
• SEO migration and preservation of existing authority
• Approximate total project budget and timeline
• Who specifically will be doing the strategy and creative work

One important point: I'd avoid choosing based on the proposed homepage design. For an accounting firm, the biggest value is likely to come from getting the positioning, messaging architecture, information architecture and conversion strategy right. The visual identity follows from that.

If you tell me roughly firm size/revenue, your primary client segments (middle-market companies, PE, family-owned, etc.), and whether you're looking for a $50k, $100k, or $200k+ engagement, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and give you a side-by-side view of likely fit, strengths, weaknesses, and questions to ask each in the pitch.

For a mid-market accounting firm in River North, I’d look beyond general “website shops” and prioritize agencies that understand professional services positioning: trust, expertise, partner credibility, recruiting, referral relationships, and business development—not just a prettier homepage.

A shortlist I’d put in front of your leadership team:

My likely shortlist for your situation

If you are a $10M–$100M-ish accounting firm trying to look more like a modern advisory firm (not a commodity CPA practice), I’d probably invite:

1. ColorJar — if the biggest issue is market perception and differentiation
2. Adcetera — if partners want a more enterprise-grade brand process
3. Design In Chicago — if you want brand + website + ongoing growth support
4. VisualFizz — if accounting-industry familiarity is a major factor
5. ArtVersion — if the main need is a premium digital experience

Questions I’d ask in agency interviews

• “Show us a professional-services firm where you changed perception, not just visuals.”
• “How would you differentiate an accounting firm when competitors all say trusted, experienced, and client-focused?”
• “Who owns messaging and copywriting?”
• “How will you make partners look like advisors rather than compliance providers?”
• “What is your approach to SEO after launch?”
• “Can you build a site that supports recruiting as well as business development?”

For a River North accounting firm, I’d be cautious about hiring a low-cost web-only vendor unless the brand strategy is already settled. The biggest opportunity is usually repositioning from “accountants” to “business advisors” and making the website reinforce that.