The Creative Company
The Creative Company is a Madison, Wisconsin-based, woman-owned marketing and public relations agency founded in 1989 that serves mission-driven organizations with PR, crisis communications, media training, website design and SEO, video production, and branding services through monthly retainers and project engagements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersMadison, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Creative Company does
The Creative Company, Inc. is a privately held, woman-owned marketing and public relations agency founded in 1989 by Laura Gallagher and headquartered at 622 West Washington Avenue in Madison, Wisconsin. The firm operates with an intentionally small senior team (1-10 employees) and delivers an integrated suite of services spanning public relations, crisis communications, media training, website design and SEO, video and photography production, corporate branding, and fractional outsourced marketing leadership. Its proprietary frameworks include the Hero's Journey Brand Discovery Process, an Earned Media Suite with 24/7 news monitoring, and a PRSA- and Logos Institute-certified crisis communications methodology.
The agency primarily serves mission-driven and purpose-led organizations across education, affordable housing, healthcare, food systems, government, and nonprofit verticals, with named clients including Gorman & Company, Ascendium Education Group, Willy Street Co-op, One City Schools, Madison Police Department, NaviCu, and Bella Domicile. Pricing is structured around monthly retainers ($1,500 to over $7,500) and project-based engagements ($5,000 to $20,000+), with most clients engaged in ongoing partnerships billed against annual budgets. The firm is nationally certified as a Women's Business Enterprise by WBENC (2025), holds parallel state and city WBE and SBE certifications, maintains an A+ BBB rating, and has accumulated more than three decades of industry recognition including 2025 IC100, 2025 PRSA Wisconsin Awards, MarCom and Telly Awards, SBA Women in Business Champion, and Governor's Trailblazer distinctions. There is no disclosed revenue, external funding, or parent organization; ownership and executive leadership remain concentrated in the founder.
The Creative Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Creative Company
- Legal name
- The Creative Company, Inc.
- Website
- https://thecreativecompany.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Creative Company is a Madison, Wisconsin-based, woman-owned marketing and public relations agency founded in 1989 that serves mission-driven organizations with PR, crisis communications, media training, website design and SEO, video production, and branding services through monthly retainers and project engagements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Creative Company industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Relations and Marketing Agency Services
- NAICS
- Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Public Relations Agencies (54182)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Creative & Brand Campaign Development (BPAFAAAB), Video/Film Creative Agencies (Concept-to-Creative) (MPAAAAAG)
Keywords
Where The Creative Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madison
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Creative Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Ongoing Monthly Retainers: Most clients work through ongoing partnerships billed monthly against an annual budget, providing consistent access to senior-level strategists, designers, and content creators who know the client's brand.
- Project-Based Work: Fixed-scope projects ranging from $5,000-$20,000+ depending on complexity and deliverables. Includes branding projects, website development, video production, and PR campaigns.
- Hourly Consultation: Strategic consultations and expert guidance billed at hourly rates for crisis communications, media training, and specialized advisory services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | $1,500 to $5,000 Per Month |
| Subscription | Monthly | $5,000 - $7,500 Per Month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Over $7,500 Per Month |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Project Between $5,000 - $20,000 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Creative Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Creative Company is a full-service public relations and marketing agency that provides integrated strategic communications, branding, public relations, crisis communications, media training, website design and SEO, video and photography production, and outsourced fractional marketing leadership for mission-driven organizations. The firm delivers these services through ongoing monthly retainer partnerships and fixed-scope projects, supported by a small senior in-house team that operates as an embedded extension of each client's marketing function.
Product overview
The Creative Company is a full-service marketing and public relations agency offering an integrated suite of professional services. The core offerings include Public Relations (with Crisis Communications, Active Crisis Counsel, and Media Training sub-services), Website Design & SEO, Visual Storytelling (video and photography production), Corporate Branding, and Outsourced Marketing services. The company operates as a service-based agency rather than a software platform, providing strategic counsel and execution across all marketing disciplines. Services are offered through ongoing partnerships billed monthly or project-based engagements, with a focus on mission-driven organizations and purpose-led brands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Public Relations Services Strategic public relations including earned media, media relations, stakeholder communication, and thought leadership positioning for brands and organizations. Service is offered via ongoing retainer partnerships and project-based engagements.
- Crisis Communications Crisis planning, rapid response support, spokesperson preparation, and reputation protection for organizations facing urgent or active situations. Delivered by a PRSA- and Logos Institute-certified team.
- Active Crisis Communications Counsel Immediate crisis response support for urgent situations, including senior team assessment of risk, urgency, and engagement suitability for organizations in active crisis scenarios.
- Media Training Customized training to prepare executives, spokespersons, and stakeholders for media interviews, press conferences, and public speaking with confidence and clarity.
- Website Design & SEO Services Website design, development, and search engine optimization to create high-performing, conversion-focused digital presence. Includes ongoing maintenance, security, and SEO optimization.
- Visual Storytelling (Video and Photography Production) Professional video and photography production including brand videos, testimonial videos, social content, explainer videos, nonprofit campaigns, and advertising commercials.
- Corporate Branding Brand identity development including logo design, brand positioning, messaging frameworks, and full brand identity systems, delivered through the proprietary Hero's Journey brand discovery process.
- Outsource Your Marketing (Fractional CMO) Full outsourced marketing department providing fractional CMO leadership, strategic team access, and ongoing partnership billed monthly against an annual client budget. Delivered via monthly retainers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $2.1 million in earned media value generated for Gorman & Company through national media placements
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The Creative Company
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Creative Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Creative Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- WBENC (Women's Business Enterprise National Council)coreThe Creative Company has earned certification as a Women's Business Enterprise through WBENC. This certification required extensive documentation and review of ownership, financials, governance, and day-to-day operations confirming the business is truly owned, controlled, and led by women.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Creative Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Core Creative: Milwaukee, WI-based brand storytelling and integrated marketing agency serving purpose-driven and consumer brands. Comparable as a Midwest creative agency with a similar mix of branding, PR, video, and digital services.
- 5W Public Relations: Independent U.S. PR firm offering media relations, crisis communications, and integrated marketing to consumer, corporate, and nonprofit clients. Comparable as an independent full-service PR competitor with crisis communications capabilities.
- Hiebing: Madison, WI-based full-service marketing agency offering brand strategy, PR, content, digital, and media services to regional and national brands. Directly comparable as a Midwest full-service creative/marketing firm of similar scope and scale.
- M Booth: Independent U.S. public relations and communications agency known for earned media, brand storytelling, and purpose-driven work. Comparable as a similarly sized, independent, brand-storytelling-focused PR firm.
- Hanson Dodge (HD): Milwaukee-based creative agency offering branding, integrated marketing, and digital work for consumer brands. Comparable as a Wisconsin-based creative agency with overlapping service lines (branding, digital, content).
Others
Broad incumbents
- Edelman: Global public relations and communications firm offering media relations, crisis communications, and brand strategy across industries. Comparable as a top-tier PR firm with which TCC competes for premium and crisis engagements.
- Weber Shandwick: Global public relations and integrated marketing network with deep crisis, corporate, and consumer practice areas. Comparable as a large incumbent in PR and integrated communications that competes for the same RFPs.
- Porter Novelli: Global public relations agency focused on purpose-driven and corporate communications. Comparable given TCC team pedigree (e.g., prior Porter Novelli experience on staff) and overlapping client mission-driven positioning.
- Laughlin Constable: Historic Chicago/Milwaukee full-service advertising and PR agency serving retail, consumer, and B2B clients with significantly broader scale. Comparable as a Midwest full-service communications competitor with deeper media-buying and analytics capabilities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Creative Company social profiles
Digital presenceThe Creative Company compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
The Creative Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Creative Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
The Creative Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Creative Company M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Creative Company
What does The Creative Company do?
The Creative Company is a full-service public relations and marketing agency that provides integrated strategic communications, branding, public relations, crisis communications, media training, website design and SEO, video and photography production, and outsourced fractional marketing leadership for mission-driven organizations. The firm delivers these services through ongoing monthly retainer partnerships and fixed-scope projects, supported by a small senior in-house team that operates as an embedded extension of each client's marketing function.
Is The Creative Company a public or private company?
The Creative Company is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Creative Company founded?
The Creative Company was founded in 1989. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Creative Company based?
The Creative Company is headquartered in Madison, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Creative Company make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Ongoing Monthly Retainers are the primary driver. The others are project-Based Work and hourly Consultation.
Who are The Creative Company's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Core Creative, 5W Public Relations, Hiebing, M Booth and Hanson Dodge (HD). Ruder Finn is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Edelman, Weber Shandwick, Porter Novelli and Laughlin Constable.
Does The Creative Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Creative Company.
What industry is The Creative Company in?
The Creative Company's product category is Public Relations and Marketing Agency Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAAAAA, Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies, with a secondary code of BPAFAAAB, Creative & Brand Campaign Development. Its NAICS code is 5418 and its SIC code is 7311.