Best PR Firms in San Francisco (2026): Top Bay Area Agencies

By the Everything-PR Editorial Team
Updated October 16, 2026.

Related: PR Firms Directory · New York · Los Angeles · Boston · Washington DC

San Francisco's leading PR firms include Edelman, the world's largest independent PR agency, followed by Bateman Group (Mission North), one of the largest SF-headquartered independents, and crisis specialist Singer Associates. The market is anchored by the Bay Area's technology economy: enterprise software, SaaS, cybersecurity, AI infrastructure, fintech, and venture capital.

The leading PR firms in San Francisco at a glance

Rank	Firm	Founded	Specialty	Why they rank
1	Edelman	1952	Technology, consumer, corporate reputation	World's largest independent PR firm; largest SF network presence
2	Bateman Group (Mission North)	2003	Technology PR	50-249 employees; clients incl. Checkr, New Relic
3	Singer Associates	2000	Public affairs, crisis management	Clients incl. Levi's, Airbnb, Stanford University
4	OutCast Agency	1997	Tech PR (Next 15-owned)	Founders shaped modern tech comms (later Facebook, a16z)
5	Karbo	2001	B2B/consumer tech, content, digital	Integrated earned media + content + digital marketing model
6	Landis Communications (LCI)	1990	Healthcare, tech, real estate, financial	PRGN member; clients incl. Planned Parenthood, Benefit Cosmetics
7	MSR Communications	1999	B2B technology, consumer lifestyle	Independent SF firm blending tech and lifestyle PR
8	Channel V Media	2008	Technology PR	Clients incl. Oracle, Breezometer
9	Merritt Group	1996	Government, healthcare, security	Clients incl. Microsoft, Fidelis; SF office of national practice
10	10Fold	1995	Big data, software technology	$250,000+ minimum; clients incl. Rockwell Automation
11	Finn Partners	2011	Marketing and communications	SF office of national independent; clients incl. Epic Games, Lululemon
12	UPRAISE Marketing + Public Relations	2003	Finance and technology PR	Clients incl. Charles Schwab, Microsoft
13	Segal Communications	2017	Food & beverage, retail, events, nonprofit, hospitality	Boutique consumer/lifestyle shop; clients incl. Westfield Valley Fair, Malibu Farm

The San Francisco PR market is weighted toward B2B technology, enterprise software, and the venture-backed startup sector, with consumer brand and corporate reputation work running secondary to the dominant tech specialty. For the vertical pillars driving that demand, see Everything-PR's coverage of Technology Communications, Enterprise SaaS, Cybersecurity, Fintech, Startups & Venture, and B2B Marketing.

The Leading PR Firms in San Francisco

Edelman

Edelman was founded in 1952 by Daniel J. Edelman. CEO Richard Edelman leads a firm of 6,000+ employees globally, the largest independent PR firm in the world. Its SF office serves the Bay Area technology, consumer, and corporate-reputation client base. Clients including Advil and Dove.

Bateman Group (Mission North)

Bateman Group was founded in 2003 by Fred Bateman. The firm has 50 to 249 employees and a $25,000+ minimum. Technology PR with clients including Checkr and New Relic. Now operates as Mission North, see EPR's Mission North profile.

Singer Associates Public Relations

Singer Associates was founded in 2000 by President Sam Singer. The firm has 10 to 49 employees and a $10,000+ minimum. Public affairs and crisis management. Clients including Levi's, Airbnb, and Stanford University.

OutCast Agency

OutCast Agency, founded in 1997 by Caryn Marooney and Margit Wennmachers, was the San Francisco firm that helped shape modern tech communications. Next 15 Communications Group acquired the firm in 2005. Both founders went on to define modern tech PR: Marooney at Facebook and GV, Wennmachers at Andreessen Horowitz.

Karbo

Karbo (formerly Karbo Communications) is a San Francisco-based integrated technology PR, content, and digital marketing agency founded in 2001 by Julie Karbo. The firm specializes in scaling B2B and consumer technology brands through earned media, content development, and digital marketing.

Landis Communications

Landis Communications Inc. (LCI) is a San Francisco-based integrated marketing communications firm founded in 1990 by David Landis. The firm is a PRGN member agency with deep practice areas in healthcare, technology, real estate, and financial services. 10 to 49 employees. $10,000+ minimum. Clients including Planned Parenthood and Benefit Cosmetics.

MSR Communications

MSR Communications is an independent San Francisco PR firm founded in 1999, specializing in B2B technology and consumer lifestyle PR.

Channel V Media

Channel V Media was founded in 2008 by President and Founder Gretel Going. The firm specializes in technology PR with 10 to 49 employees and a $10,000+ minimum. Clients including Oracle and Breezometer. See EPR's Channel V Media profile.

Merritt Group

Merritt Group was founded in 1996. CEO Alisa Valudes Whyte leads a 10 to 49 person team focused on government, healthcare, and security marketing and PR. Clients including Microsoft and Fidelis. This is the SF office of the broader Merritt Group practice.

10Fold

10Fold was founded in 1995 by CEO Susan Thomas, originally as Trainer Communications, and was renamed 10Fold in 2015. The firm has 10 to 49 employees and a $250,000+ minimum. Big data and software technology PR. Clients including Rockwell Automation.

Finn Partners

CEO Peter Finn leads the SF office of the broader independent firm, founded in 2011. Marketing and communications. Clients including Jack Daniels, Epic Games, and Lululemon.

UPRAISE Marketing + Public Relations

UPRAISE was founded in 2003. President Tim Johnson leads a 10 to 49 person firm with a $5,000+ minimum. Finance and technology PR. Clients including Charles Schwab, Container Store, and Microsoft.

Segal Communications

Segal Communications was founded in 2017 by CEO Sarah Segal. The firm has 10 to 49 employees and a $5,000+ minimum project. Segal has honed its focus to food & beverage, retail, events, nonprofit, and hospitality. Clients including Westfield Valley Fair, Malibu Farm, and St. Anthony Foundation.

---

The Bay Area PR Specialty

San Francisco PR firms specialize in B2B technology more deeply than firms in any other U.S. market. Enterprise software, SaaS, cybersecurity, AI infrastructure, fintech, venture capital, and emerging technology categories make up the bulk of the work. The press pool that covers the Bay Area, including TechCrunch, The Information, Axios Pro, the WSJ tech desk, Bloomberg Technology, and a long tail of specialist trade press, is the relationship infrastructure that Bay Area tech PR firms maintain.

For readers focused on specific verticals inside the Bay Area PR market: Enterprise SaaS communications sits at the center of the Bay Area's technology base. Cybersecurity PR has grown as a distinct specialty behind the Bay Area's security and AI-infrastructure clusters. Fintech PR is anchored by the San Francisco financial and payments sector. Startups & Venture communications tracks the ongoing venture capital and founder narrative that runs through every Bay Area firm on the list.

Hiring a PR Firm in San Francisco

A strong PR firm can be a critical component of a brand's success. For brands looking to work with a San Francisco PR agency, the firm choice usually comes down to four factors: sector specialization (B2B tech, consumer tech, healthcare, financial services), firm size and seniority (boutique versus mid-market versus network), pricing and minimums, and the depth of the firm's relationships with the press pool that covers your specific category. The firms above span the range across each.

How to Choose: Comparison FAQs

Bateman Group vs. Karbo for an enterprise tech mandate: which fits? Bateman Group (Mission North) operates at larger scale (50-249 employees, $25K+ minimum) for bigger enterprise technology programs. Karbo integrates content and digital marketing alongside PR, making it better suited to a scaling B2B/consumer tech brand that wants earned media plus content strategy in one shop.

10Fold vs. Channel V Media for big data/software PR: which one? 10Fold specializes specifically in big data and software technology at a higher project minimum ($250,000+), suited to large enterprise programs. Channel V Media operates at a more accessible $10,000+ minimum with a broader tech client base (Oracle, Breezometer), making it the better fit for a mid-market technology brand.

Singer Associates vs. a global network for a crisis situation: which fits? Singer Associates is the most consistently cited SF specialist for public affairs and crisis specifically, with deep Bay Area relationships (Levi's, Airbnb, Stanford). A global network (Edelman, Finn Partners) makes sense if the crisis extends beyond the Bay Area and needs multi-market coordination.

---

→ PR Agency Profiles Directory

→ By city: New York · Los Angeles · Boston · Washington DC · Philadelphia · London

→ By specialty: Technology · Enterprise SaaS · Cybersecurity · Fintech · Startups & Venture · B2B Marketing · AI Communications