Get All Access for $5/mo

The Difference Between a Business and a Brand How do you define what a brand is, and what does it take to get there?

By Chris Kocek Edited by Dan Bova

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

What exactly is it that separates a business from a brand? Is it the number of locations? Is it revenue? Is it something you can measure in hashtags and retweets? What does one have to do before one can legitimately say, "We're not just a business anymore. We're a brand."

The idea of branding is muddled at best. Ask 10 different people what a brand is and you'll get 10 different answers. On Wikipedia, a brand is defined as "the name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that identifies one seller's product distinct from those of other sellers." That sounds impressive, but it really just means you need to be different from others.

For some brand managers, the definition of a brand is "whatever your prospect thinks of when he or she hears your brand name." In other words, your brand is your reputation.

Related: Diamond in the Rough: How This Jewelry Store's Branding Helped It Stand Out

Some people I have talked to, who think brand manifestos are just a bunch of fluff, have told me that brands are just businesses that consistently deliver a high-quality product. They point to Starbucks, Coca-Cola, Target and Apple, highlighting how these brands are where they are today because they have consistently delivered some of the highest quality products in the market for years on end.

And on the surface, like all the other definitions, there's some truth to that. When Coca-Cola launched New Coke in the 1980s, customers didn't like the taste and Coke's brand reputation was damaged. When Howard Schultz temporarily closed over 7,000 Starbucks locations in the U.S. in 2008, it was because he felt the art of pouring an espresso had been lost and he wanted to get that magic back.

Quality, like differentiation and reputation, are important foundations for building a brand, but they're still just functional characteristics. After all, there's a taqueria near my house that has over 30 locations in Texas, and they have a good reputation for delivering high-quality Mexican food for an affordable price, but I wouldn't go so far as to say they're a brand. At least not in the same way that McDonald's, Starbucks or Coca-Cola are brands.

Which brings us back to the original question -- what separates a business from a brand?

Related: How You Give Back Provides Purpose to Your Personal Brand

In my experience as a brand architect, a business becomes a brand when it transcends its category of origin. It takes an existing core equity, or a particular philosophy, and it infuses that idea into everything it does, furthering its reputation or world view one product, service or line extension at a time.

Lego, which built its reputation on "childhood imagination and creativity," has transcended its original category -- brilliantly engineered building blocks for kids -- to become one of the most iconic brands in the world today, with line extensions everywhere you look, from shoes, video games, robotics, amusement parks to their own feature length film.

Coca-Cola, which is nothing more than carbonated water and a closely guarded recipe involving sugar or high fructose corn syrup, has become synonymous with unexpected moments of happiness. This simple, yet powerful idea allows Coke to transcend the functional realm of sweet, bubbly beverages to become a symbol that people can connect with at a much deeper level.

Chipotle, by focusing on family farms, local sourcing and the ethical treatment of animals, has become a brand that is much bigger than burritos.

So the next time you find yourself wondering if you have a business or a brand, ask yourself, "What is it I'm really selling?" If the answer is something bigger than the category you're in, then you may be on your way to building a very successful brand.

Related: Building Your Brand's Warmth and Competence

Chris Kocek

Founder and CEO of Gallant

Chris Kocek is the Founder and CEO of Gallant, an Austin, Texas-based strategy and design studio dedicated to building brands for a better world. Chris is a public speaker whose talks on creativity and innovation have been featured at strategic symposiums around the country as well as TEDx. He is the author of The Practical Pocket Guide to Account Planning (Yellow Bird Press, 2013).

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Science & Technology

5 Automation Strategies Every Small Business Should Follow

It's time we make IT automation work for us: streamline processes, boost efficiency and drive growth with the right tools and strategy.

Business News

Former Steve Jobs Intern Says This Is How He Would Have Approached AI

The former intern is now the CEO of AI and data company DataStax.

Leadership

Visionaries or Vague Promises? Why Companies Fail Without Leaders Who See Beyond the Bottom Line

Visionary leaders turn bold ideas into lasting impact by building resilience, clarity and future-ready teams.

Marketing

5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Presentation

Are you tired of enduring dull presentations? Over the years, I have compiled a list of common presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Here are my top five tips.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Green Entrepreneur®

How Global Business Leaders Can Build a Sustainable Supply Chain

Businesses can build sustainable supply chains by leveraging technology to reduce environmental impact, optimize resources and track emissions while balancing operational efficiency and sustainability goals.