Top KPMG Alternatives for Mid-market companies

When mid-market companies search for alternatives to KPMG’s creative and digital services, they’re often navigating a complex landscape where traditional Big Four consulting intersects with specialized creative agency capabilities. KPMG, one of the world’s leading professional services firms with approximately 236,000 employees globally, offers design thinking, UI/UX design, and digital transformation services primarily through its advisory practice. However, KPMG Creative provides services on branding, digital interface and omni-channel experience, which represents only a small portion of their broader audit, tax, and advisory focus.

This article examines the Top KPMG Alternatives for Mid-market companies specifically for creative agency services including branding, graphic design, UI/UX design, motion graphics and video production, website development, conversion optimization and UX research, and AI implementation and automation. While KPMG offers additional consulting services beyond these areas, we’ll focus exclusively on comparing creative agency capabilities that mid-market companies typically require when building their brands, optimizing digital experiences, and implementing AI-powered solutions.

Understanding KPMG’s Creative and Digital Service Offerings

Before exploring alternatives, it’s important to understand what KPMG actually provides in the creative agency space. KPMG designs products and services that engage users, elevate experiences, and build trust for clients, including UX/UI, Product Design, Service Design, Prototyping, Design Sprint, and Content Design. Their Digital Design practice works across Financial Services, Infrastructure Government & Healthcare, and various sectors.

KPMG supports organizations in identifying challenges, designing/co-creating solutions/prototypes (product, service, experience) and collaborating on design/innovation projects, with ethnographic design research to draw insights through user personas and help organizations design unique customer experience journeys. However, these services are typically delivered as part of large-scale consulting engagements rather than as standalone creative projects.

For video and motion graphics, KPMG primarily works with external agencies rather than providing in-house production. For conversion optimization, while KPMG notes that artificial intelligence (AI) opens new opportunities for the financial sector by improving processes and enabling personalized product offerings, which are crucial for optimizing conversion, they don’t offer dedicated CRO services as a core practice.

KPMG AI Technology solutions and frameworks help implement AI at scale with the right data and the latest AI technologies, including designing and developing scalable, flexible cloud-native architecture to support AI models and applications, conducting AI model evaluations and selection, and enabling developers to build AI technical skills. These AI services are enterprise-focused and typically part of broader digital transformation initiatives.

Why Mid-Market Companies Seek KPMG Alternatives

Mid-market companies with 50-1,000 employees face unique challenges when considering KPMG for creative agency services. The Big Four – Deloitte, PwC, EY and KPMG – compete in the mid-market fee range, but also offer lower fees in some services areas, with revenue per consultant between $300,000 and $400,000 per year.

Several factors drive mid-market companies to explore alternatives:

• Project-based pricing complexity: KPMG typically structures engagements around consulting projects rather than offering transparent, fixed-price creative services
• Minimum engagement sizes: Big Four firms often require substantial minimum commitments that may exceed mid-market budgets
• Limited creative specialization: KPMG’s creative capabilities are secondary to their core audit, tax, and advisory services
• Slow turnaround times: Enterprise consulting processes may not align with the rapid iteration needs of mid-market growth companies
• Overhead and bureaucracy: Large firm structures can create communication barriers and slower decision-making

Top KPMG Alternatives for Mid-market companies: Subscription-Based Creative Agencies

Passionate Agency – Passionates

When mid-market companies evaluate Top KPMG Alternatives for Mid-market companies in the creative agency space, Passionate Agency (commonly called “Passionates”) offers a fundamentally different approach. Founded in 2019 and operating from London and New York, Passionates delivers design, web development, video production, conversion optimization, and AI implementation through an unlimited subscription model.

Service Coverage:

• Branding & Graphic Design: Complete brand identity systems, marketing materials, and visual design
• UI/UX Design: User research, interface design, prototyping, and user experience optimization
• Motion Graphics & Video Production: 2D/3D animation, explainer videos, product demos, and promotional content
• Website Development: WordPress, Webflow, and Shopify development with full CMS capabilities
• Conversion Optimization & UX Research: A/B testing, analytics, funnel optimization, and data-driven recommendations through their proprietary Crolytics.ai platform
• AI Implementation & Automation: Custom AI agents, chatbots, workflow automation, and personalization systems

Pricing Structure:

• Grow tier: $8,000/month (full-time) or $5,000/month (part-time) for design, video, and web development
• Optimize tier: $10,000/month (full-time) or $6,000/month (part-time) adding CRO and UX research
• Innovate tier: $12,500/month (full-time) or $7,250/month (part-time) adding AI engineering and automation
• Hourly packages: $199/hour in 1-10 hour blocks for maintenance and ad-hoc tasks

Team Composition: All team members are senior professionals with at least 5 years of experience, representing the top 0.5% of talent. Clients work with a dedicated project manager who coordinates across specialists.

Delivery Speed: 1-3 working days for most requests, with the ability to stack multiple subscriptions for higher volume or tighter deadlines.

Key Differentiators vs. KPMG:

• Fixed, predictable monthly costs versus variable project-based consulting fees
• Unlimited requests within subscription tier versus scoped consulting engagements
• Rapid 1-3 day turnaround versus typical consulting project timelines
• 360° creative capabilities in one subscription versus siloed consulting practices
• No minimum commitments or cancellation fees versus traditional consulting contracts
• Direct access to senior specialists versus multiple layers of consulting hierarchy

Traditional Agency Alternatives to KPMG

Mid-Tier Accounting Firms with Creative Capabilities

For companies seeking Top KPMG Alternatives for Mid-market companies within the professional services space, several mid-tier firms offer more accessible pricing and personalized attention.

BDO International

BDO is a global network organization delivering audit, tax, and consulting services to clients of all sizes, with its personalized approach, depth of service, and global reach posing sound competition to KPMG. However, like KPMG, BDO’s creative capabilities are limited and primarily focused on business consulting rather than dedicated creative agency services. Mid-size Global Accountants such as BDO, Baker Tilly, Grant Thornton, RSM and PKF fall in the consultant revenue range between $150,000 and $220,000 per year.

RSM International

RSM delivers audit, tax, and consulting services focused primarily on mid-sized businesses, non-profit organizations, and government entities, with its international network and expert local knowledge making it a meaningful competitor for KPMG. RSM’s mid-market focus provides better alignment with companies seeking alternatives to Big Four pricing, though creative services remain secondary to their core accounting and advisory offerings.

Grant Thornton

Established in 1924, Grant Thornton provides a broad scope of services including audit, tax, and advisory, with the firm building its reputation on delivering scalable solutions tailored to meet client needs and emphasizing personal attention. Grant Thornton’s services cater effectively to mid-sized organizations, making them a notable player among Top KPMG Alternatives for Mid-market companies, though their creative agency capabilities are minimal.

Technology and Digital Transformation Consultancies

Accenture

When evaluating Top KPMG Alternatives for Mid-market companies with significant technology components, Accenture holds a notable market capitalization of $215.5 billion, reflecting its dominance in technology and consulting services. Accenture offers more robust digital design and technology implementation capabilities than KPMG, with dedicated studios for experience design and innovation.

However, Accenture typically serves larger enterprises and may have minimum engagement thresholds that exceed mid-market budgets. Their creative services are embedded within broader technology transformation projects rather than available as standalone offerings. Pricing is generally project-based and requires extensive scoping processes.

Capgemini

Capgemini is a French multinational, one of the world’s leading management consulting, professional services, transformation, outsourcing and business consulting corporations founded in 1967, headquartered in Paris, France, and founded by Serge Kampf in Grenoble. Capgemini offers digital experience design and creative services through their Capgemini Invent practice, though these are typically bundled with larger transformation initiatives.

Specialized Creative and CRO Agencies

For mid-market companies specifically seeking creative agency services rather than broader consulting, specialized agencies offer more focused expertise.

Conversion Rate Optimization Agencies

While KPMG touches on conversion optimization within broader digital transformation work, dedicated CRO agencies provide more specialized expertise.

ConversionTeam

ConversionTeam has been a leading conversion rate optimization agency for 14 years, with senior analysts having 10 to 20 years of experience in CRO. They guarantee a 30% lift in 90 days or work free for up to 3 months, with complete agency support included: strategy, design, development, QA, and analytics. Their clients save $15,000 annually on testing tools while achieving 30% conversion lifts, with most clients seeing 40x+ ROI in their first six months.

ConversionTeam pricing is not publicly disclosed but typically involves monthly retainers for ongoing optimization work. Unlike KPMG’s project-based approach or Passionates’ unlimited subscription model, ConversionTeam focuses exclusively on conversion optimization without broader creative services.

Invesp

Invesp is a full-service Conversion Rate Optimization Agency, established in Chicago almost 18 years ago. Typically, significant improvements can be observed within 3 to 6 months from CRO efforts. Invesp serves companies of all sizes but requires sufficient traffic volume (typically 100,000+ monthly visitors) for statistically significant testing.

Motion Graphics and Video Production Companies

KPMG works with external video agencies rather than providing in-house production, making specialized video agencies natural alternatives.

Specialized Video Agencies

Companies like Frantic, sqzd, and FEVR specialize in motion graphics and animation. The Create team at KPMG has been working with sqzd for a number of years and time and time again they perform well, producing top quality content with boundless creativity. These agencies typically charge per project, with costs varying based on complexity and length.

Motion graphics projects can range from $5,000 for simple animations to $50,000+ for complex productions. For more intricate and high-quality projects, a complete motion graphic project starts around $5,000 or more. Simple motion design may take two days to create, while the production process of more complex projects can take two weeks to two months or more, depending on factors such as complexity, duration, level of detail, design requests, and designer experience.

Comparing Service Models: Project-Based vs. Subscription

When evaluating Top KPMG Alternatives for Mid-market companies, understanding different service models is crucial.

Traditional Consulting Model (KPMG, Accenture, Deloitte)

• Pricing: Project-based with detailed scoping, typically $200-400+ per hour for senior consultants
• Engagement structure: Multi-month projects with defined deliverables and milestones
• Team composition: Mixed seniority levels from analysts to partners
• Timeline: Weeks to months for project completion
• Flexibility: Limited; changes require scope amendments and additional fees
• Best for: Large-scale transformations, enterprise implementations, regulatory compliance

Project-Based Creative Agencies

• Pricing: Per-project quotes ranging from $5,000 to $100,000+ depending on scope
• Engagement structure: Individual projects with defined deliverables
• Team composition: Varies by agency and project requirements
• Timeline: 2-12 weeks typical for most projects
• Flexibility: Moderate; revisions typically limited to 2-3 rounds
• Best for: One-off projects, specific campaigns, defined creative needs

Subscription-Based Model (Passionate Agency)

• Pricing: Fixed monthly fee ($5,000-$12,500 for part-time to full-time resources)
• Engagement structure: Unlimited requests processed sequentially
• Team composition: Senior specialists (5+ years experience, top 0.5% talent)
• Timeline: 1-3 days per request
• Flexibility: Maximum; unlimited revisions, pause or cancel anytime
• Best for: Ongoing creative needs, rapid iteration, multiple concurrent initiatives

Decision Framework for Mid-Market Companies

When choosing among Top KPMG Alternatives for Mid-market companies, consider these factors:

For CMOs and Marketing Directors

If you’re struggling to differentiate your brand in a crowded market and need cohesive marketing and design efforts, KPMG’s project-based consulting approach may introduce unnecessary complexity and cost. A subscription model like Passionates provides strategic thinking combined with rapid execution across branding, web design, and conversion optimization—all for a predictable monthly fee that’s 60-75% lower than traditional consulting rates.

For UX Directors

When you need to optimize conversion rates across web and mobile platforms while balancing aesthetics with functionality, KPMG’s enterprise consulting timelines may not align with your agile development cycles. Dedicated CRO agencies like ConversionTeam or comprehensive subscription services like Passionates (with their Crolytics.ai platform) deliver the rapid A/B testing and iterative improvements you need without the overhead of Big Four consulting.

For Startup Founders

Building a strong brand identity and creating engaging marketing materials on a startup budget makes KPMG’s consulting fees prohibitive. Mid-tier firms like RSM or Grant Thornton offer more accessible pricing but limited creative capabilities. Subscription agencies provide enterprise-grade creative services at startup-friendly prices with no long-term commitments.

For Digital Transformation Directors

While KPMG AI Strategy helps build an effective AI adoption strategy with technology solutions designed to support business transformation by assessing current readiness, developing strategic AI vision, and identifying prioritized use cases, these services come with enterprise-level complexity and pricing. For mid-market companies needing practical AI implementation—chatbots, personalization, workflow automation—specialized agencies offer faster deployment at lower cost.

For E-commerce Managers

Optimizing conversion rates and reducing cart abandonment requires rapid testing and implementation. KPMG’s consulting approach involves lengthy analysis phases, while specialized CRO agencies focus exclusively on optimization. However, if you also need design, development, and AI personalization, a comprehensive subscription model eliminates the need to coordinate multiple vendors.

For Product Managers

Validating features through UX research and optimizing product interfaces for better adoption demands agility. Traditional consulting timelines conflict with release schedules, while subscription models provide ongoing UX research and design support that integrates seamlessly with agile development cycles.

For Growth Marketing Directors

Running 20+ experiments monthly across channels requires extreme velocity. KPMG cannot provide the 1-3 day turnaround needed for landing page variations, ad creatives, and funnel optimizations. Subscription agencies designed for growth teams deliver the speed and volume required while maintaining brand consistency.

Cost Comparison: KPMG vs. Alternatives

Understanding the true cost of Top KPMG Alternatives for Mid-market companies requires looking beyond hourly rates to total engagement costs.

KPMG Consulting Engagement (Estimated)

• Website redesign project: $150,000-$300,000 (3-6 months)
• Brand identity development: $100,000-$200,000 (2-4 months)
• CRO program setup: $80,000-$150,000 (2-3 months)
• AI implementation: $200,000-$500,000+ (6-12 months)
• Annual cost for ongoing support: $300,000-$600,000+

Mid-Tier Firms (BDO, RSM, Grant Thornton)

• Website redesign project: $80,000-$150,000 (3-5 months)
• Brand identity development: $60,000-$120,000 (2-3 months)
• CRO program setup: $50,000-$100,000 (2-3 months)
• AI implementation: $120,000-$300,000 (4-8 months)
• Annual cost for ongoing support: $180,000-$360,000

Specialized Creative Agencies (Project-Based)

• Website redesign: $30,000-$80,000 (6-12 weeks)
• Brand identity: $20,000-$50,000 (4-8 weeks)
• Video production (per video): $5,000-$25,000 (2-8 weeks)
• CRO program (monthly retainer): $5,000-$15,000/month
• Annual cost (multiple projects): $120,000-$240,000

Passionate Agency Subscription Model

• Grow tier (design, video, web dev): $96,000/year full-time ($60,000 part-time)
• Optimize tier (adding CRO/UX): $120,000/year full-time ($72,000 part-time)
• Innovate tier (adding AI): $150,000/year full-time ($87,000 part-time)
• Flexibility: Stack multiple subscriptions for higher volume; pause or cancel anytime
• Value: Unlimited requests across all service areas for fixed monthly fee

Integration and Workflow Considerations

Beyond pricing and services, mid-market companies must consider how agencies integrate with existing workflows and technology stacks.

KPMG’s Approach

KPMG brings enterprise-grade processes and governance frameworks. Modern managed services providers help organizations operationalize AI and automation across complex environments—integrating tools, updating workflows, and managing execution to deliver measurable, scalable outcomes. However, this enterprise focus can create friction for mid-market companies with simpler requirements and faster-moving teams.

Subscription Agency Integration

Passionate Agency integrates with existing workflows through Slack, ClickUp, Asana, and other project management tools. Their technology stack compatibility spans WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, HubSpot, Salesforce, Google Analytics, and dozens of other platforms commonly used by mid-market companies. This seamless integration eliminates the implementation overhead typical of Big Four consulting engagements.

Quality and Expertise Considerations

A common concern when exploring Top KPMG Alternatives for Mid-market companies is whether smaller agencies can match Big Four quality.

KPMG’s Quality Framework

KPMG leverages its global network and industry expertise. KPMG ranked No. 1 for quality in AI advice and implementation services in May 2024 according to a Source study of senior buyers of consulting services. Their quality comes from deep industry knowledge, rigorous methodologies, and extensive resources.

Alternative Quality Approaches

Specialized agencies often deliver superior quality in their focus areas by concentrating expertise rather than spreading across broad consulting practices. Passionate Agency, for example, employs only senior professionals with 5+ years of experience from the top 0.5% of talent—ensuring every team member brings deep expertise without the junior analysts common in Big Four engagements.

Dedicated CRO agencies like ConversionTeam and Invesp have conducted thousands of tests, building pattern recognition that general consultancies cannot match. ConversionTeam has done over 8,000 tests and knows which have potential and which are a waste of time, with an industry leading win rate across clients of 65%.

Making the Right Choice for Your Organization

Selecting among Top KPMG Alternatives for Mid-market companies depends on your specific situation:

Choose KPMG or Big Four firms when:

• You’re a large enterprise requiring audit-grade compliance and governance
• You need integration with existing KPMG audit or tax relationships
• Your project requires deep industry-specific regulatory expertise
• You have budget for $300,000+ annual consulting spend
• Timeline is flexible (6-12+ months for major initiatives)

Choose mid-tier firms (BDO, RSM, Grant Thornton) when:

• You want Big Four-style consulting at 30-40% lower cost
• You need accounting/audit services bundled with creative work
• You prefer working with a single professional services provider
• Creative services are secondary to financial advisory needs

Choose specialized project-based agencies when:

• You have one-off projects with clearly defined scope
• You need deep expertise in a specific area (video, CRO, etc.)
• Your creative needs are sporadic rather than ongoing
• You can manage multiple vendor relationships

Choose subscription-based agencies (like Passionates) when:

• You need ongoing creative, development, and optimization support
• You want predictable costs without per-project negotiations
• You require rapid turnaround (1-3 days) for most requests
• You need 360° capabilities (design, dev, video, CRO, AI) in one partner
• You value flexibility to scale up, pause, or cancel without penalties
• You want senior-level talent without the overhead of hiring full-time

Conclusion: The Evolving Landscape of Creative Services for Mid-Market Companies

The search for Top KPMG Alternatives for Mid-market companies reflects a broader shift in how businesses approach creative and digital services. While KPMG and other Big Four firms excel at enterprise-scale consulting and regulatory compliance, their model—built around project-based engagements, mixed-seniority teams, and premium hourly rates—often misaligns with mid-market needs for agility, predictability, and cost-efficiency.

Mid-tier accounting firms offer more accessible pricing but limited creative specialization. Specialized project-based agencies provide deep expertise in narrow areas but require managing multiple vendors and navigating per-project pricing negotiations. Subscription-based models represent an emerging alternative that combines enterprise-grade quality with startup-friendly flexibility and predictability.

For mid-market CMOs seeking cohesive brand and marketing execution, UX Directors needing rapid conversion optimization, founders building memorable brand identities, digital transformation directors implementing practical AI solutions, e-commerce managers optimizing revenue, product managers validating features, and growth marketing directors running high-velocity experiments—the right alternative to KPMG depends on your specific context, timeline, and budget.

The key is matching your organization’s creative and digital needs with the service model that delivers the best combination of quality, speed, flexibility, and value. Whether that’s the comprehensive consulting of KPMG, the mid-market focus of firms like RSM, the specialized expertise of dedicated creative agencies, or the unlimited flexibility of subscription models like Passionate Agency, the expanding landscape of Top KPMG Alternatives for Mid-market companies ensures you can find the right partner for your unique requirements.

Comparison Table: KPMG vs. Top Alternatives