FAQ

Questions we answer before the first brief lands.

Plain answers about who we are, how we scope work and what we will not promise. If your question is not here, write to [email protected] or use the contact form.

"BrandDock" — are you a shipping or logistics company, a marina, or a brand-management software platform?

None of those. Our studio sits on Rodyk Street at Robertson Quay, on the Singapore River, and "dock" is the metaphor we liked: a place where something is brought alongside, worked on properly, and sent back out. We are a brand, content and creative studio — positioning, identity systems, art direction, messaging, content production, social programmes and campaign creative.

There is nothing to sign up for: no app, no dashboard product, no asset library, no template shop and no course. The .pro TLD is branding only and has nothing to do with "going pro" or making money online. We do not guarantee reach, virality or sales, and we do not buy followers or engagement — reach and results depend on your product, market and budget. See our Terms and footer disclaimer for full limits.

How does a first consultation or discovery work?

After you submit an enquiry, we schedule a thirty-to-forty-five minute video call or studio visit. We ask about audience, existing brand assets, competitors, timeline, internal capacity and budget range. You leave knowing whether we are a fit, what a sensible first phase might look like and what we would need from you to begin. There is no fee for this initial conversation and no obligation to proceed. Engagements begin only when both parties sign a scope of work.

What budgets should we expect — and how are projects scoped?

Indicative Singapore dollar ranges appear on our Services page. Brand strategy projects often fall between S$8,000 and S$18,000 for SMEs. Identity systems S$12,000–S$35,000. Messaging and copy S$4,000–S$15,000 per project. Content and social retainers from roughly S$3,500–S$4,500 per month. Campaign work S$15,000–S$45,000 depending on channels and asset volume.

Final fees depend on deliverable list, rounds of revision, production complexity and timeline compression. We quote fixed fees where scope is clear and time-and-materials only when discovery must precede definition. Rush timelines may incur a scheduling premium. We will tell you if your ambition exceeds your budget rather than quietly cutting quality.

Project engagement or monthly retainer — which do you prefer?

Both. Foundational work — positioning, identity, launch campaigns — usually suits a fixed project with defined deliverables and a completion date. Ongoing editorial, social production and brand stewardship suit retainers with a monthly hour or output cap. Retainers include a named lead, a standing check-in and rollover rules spelled out in the agreement. We do not lock clients into multi-year contracts; renewal is by mutual agreement each quarter or month depending on the arrangement.

How long does work take — and what affects timelines?

Identity and positioning projects typically run eight to fourteen weeks. Campaign concepts six to ten weeks. Copy-only engagements two to six weeks. Content retainers begin once editorial rhythm is agreed — usually within three weeks of signing. Timelines slip when client feedback cycles exceed agreed windows, when new stakeholders appear mid-project, or when scope expands without a change order. We build realistic schedules upfront and flag conflicts early rather than silently absorbing delay.

How do you use AI tools — and who owns the output?

We use AI-assisted tools for research synthesis, first-draft copy, image variation exploration and production efficiency — always with human review. Strategy, positioning decisions, final copy, art direction choices and client-facing recommendations are owned by senior staff on the project. We do not paste unedited machine output into deliverables. Client data submitted for projects is not used to train public models beyond what your agreement and our Privacy Policy permit. You receive ownership of final agreed deliverables as stated in your scope of work; third-party fonts, stock assets and licensed tools remain subject to their respective licences.

How is enquiry, client and campaign data handled?

Contact form data is processed under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and stored only as long as needed to respond and, if you become a client, to perform the contract. Campaign materials, audience insights and confidential briefs are handled under NDA where requested, with access limited to project team members. We do not sell personal data. Analytics cookies, if you consent, may collect anonymised usage data as described in our Cookie Policy. For access, correction or withdrawal of consent, email [email protected].

What do you explicitly NOT do?

We do not guarantee search rankings, viral reach, lead volume, sales, ROI or ROAS. We do not buy followers, bot engagement or fake reviews. We do not practice black-hat SEO or deceptive advertising. We do not sell marketing courses, get-rich programmes or downloadable template packs as our primary offer. We are not a shipping, freight, logistics or marina business. We are not a software platform or SaaS product you subscribe to. We do not provide trademark registration, legal clearance or intellectual-property prosecution — those stay with qualified counsel. We do not offer investment, trading or income-generation advice.

How does reporting work on retainers?

Project-based work ends with a handover memo listing files, usage notes and recommended next steps — not a vanity metrics deck. Retainers include a monthly summary: what shipped, what is queued, blockers on your side and ours, and qualitative notes on performance where you share analytics access. We report honestly when something underperformed rather than cherry-picking the one good week. Detailed performance reporting tied to revenue is available only when explicitly scoped and when you provide data access.

How does a project actually start after we say yes?

We issue a scope of work covering deliverables, timeline, fees, payment schedule, revision rounds and assumptions. On signature and receipt of the agreed deposit, we schedule kickoff, request access to existing assets and confirm the single point of contact on your side. Kickoff is working time — not a second sales pitch. Change requests outside scope are handled via written change orders before work proceeds. Final files release on settlement of the agreed fees unless otherwise negotiated.

BrandDock studio team in discussion at Robertson Quay office