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2026 Pricing Guide

How Much Does a Branding Agency Cost?

From brand strategy and identity design to complete rebrands, understand what professional branding services cost and what to expect at each investment level.

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$5,000 - $500,000+
Project Range
8-16 weeks
Typical Timeline
23%
Revenue Increase from Consistent Branding
5-7
Impressions to Remember a Brand

Your brand is the foundation of how customers perceive your business. A strong brand differentiates you from competitors, builds trust, and commands premium pricing. Professional branding is an investment that pays dividends for years.

Branding agency costs vary based on project scope—from logo design and visual identity to comprehensive brand strategy and positioning. Small businesses might spend $5,000-$15,000 for essential brand elements, while enterprise rebrands can exceed $500,000.

This guide breaks down branding costs by project type and agency tier. Whether you're launching a startup, refreshing an existing brand, or planning a complete rebrand, you'll understand what to budget and what deliverables to expect.

The best branding investments come from understanding your strategic needs first. A logo alone won't transform your business—but a cohesive brand strategy with consistent execution can be the difference between blending in and standing out.

Typical Marketing Agency Pricing

Below are some pricing tier examples

Essential Brand Package

$5,000 - $15,000

Best for: Startups, small businesses, entrepreneurs, brand refreshes

Core brand identity elements for startups and small businesses. Includes logo, color palette, typography, and basic guidelines. Perfect for businesses launching or refreshing their visual presence.

  • Logo design (3-5 concepts, 2 revision rounds)
  • Color palette development
  • Typography selection
  • Basic brand guidelines (10-15 pages)
  • Business card design
  • Social media profile assets
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Complete Brand Identity

$25,000 - $75,000

Best for: Growing businesses, Series A/B startups, market repositioning

Comprehensive brand development including strategy, positioning, visual identity, and extensive brand guidelines. For businesses ready to build a distinctive, lasting brand presence.

  • Brand strategy and positioning
  • Competitive analysis
  • Logo and visual identity system
  • Comprehensive brand guidelines (40-60 pages)
  • Marketing collateral templates
  • Website design direction
  • Brand voice and messaging framework
  • Photography and illustration direction
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Enterprise Rebrand

$100,000 - $500,000+

Best for: Fortune 500, mergers/acquisitions, major pivots, global brands

Full-scale corporate rebranding for large organizations. Includes deep strategic work, stakeholder research, brand architecture, and rollout planning across all touchpoints.

  • Executive stakeholder interviews
  • Customer and market research
  • Brand architecture development
  • Master brand and sub-brand system
  • Global brand guidelines
  • Internal brand training
  • Rollout strategy and timeline
  • Environmental and signage design
  • Digital experience guidelines
  • Ongoing brand governance support
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Factors That Affect Costs

Scope of Work
Logo-only projects cost less than full identity systems. Adding brand strategy, messaging, and extensive applications increases investment but creates a more cohesive, effective brand.
Agency Reputation
Top-tier branding agencies (Pentagram, Landor, Wolff Olins) command premium rates based on their portfolio and expertise. Boutique agencies may offer similar quality at lower price points.
Research Requirements
Enterprise projects often require customer research, competitive audits, and stakeholder interviews. This strategic foundation is essential for major brands but adds significant cost.
Number of Applications
Every additional touchpoint (packaging, signage, uniforms, vehicles, digital platforms) requires design work. Complex brands with many applications cost more to develop consistently.
Timeline
Rush projects typically incur 25-50% premiums. Quality branding takes time for strategy, exploration, refinement, and stakeholder alignment. Plan for 2-4 months minimum.
Revision Rounds
Most proposals include 2-3 revision rounds. Additional revisions, scope changes, or extensive stakeholder reviews increase costs. Clear decision-making processes reduce overages.

What's Included at Each Level

Feature Essential Brand PackageComplete Brand IdentityEnterprise Rebrand
Brand Strategy Basic positioning Comprehensive Deep research-based
Logo Concepts 3-5 5-8 8-12+
Brand Guidelines 10-15 pages 40-60 pages 100+ pages
Revision Rounds 2 rounds 3 rounds Unlimited
Collateral Design Business cards only Full suite Complete ecosystem
Messaging Framework
Stakeholder Research Limited Comprehensive
Rollout Support Guidance Full management
"Our rebrand was a significant investment, but within 18 months we saw a 40% increase in brand recognition and were able to raise our prices by 25% with no pushback from customers."
CEO , Consumer Products Company

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should a startup budget for branding?
Startups should budget $5,000-$25,000 for professional branding, depending on complexity. Essential packages ($5,000-$15,000) cover logo and basic identity. Complete identity packages ($25,000+) include strategy, messaging, and comprehensive guidelines.
What is the difference between a logo and a brand identity?
A logo is one element of your brand identity. A complete brand identity includes logo, color palette, typography, imagery style, brand voice, messaging, and guidelines for consistent application. Investing in the full identity creates a stronger, more cohesive brand.
How long does a branding project take?
Essential brand packages take 4-8 weeks. Complete identity projects typically require 8-16 weeks. Enterprise rebrands can take 6-12 months due to research, stakeholder alignment, and rollout planning. Quality branding cannot be rushed.
Is a cheap logo from a crowdsourcing site worth it?
Crowdsourced logos ($100-$500) often lack originality, may have copyright issues, and don't include strategic thinking. Professional branding is an investment in differentiation and credibility that pays off long-term. Cheap logos often need to be replaced within a few years.
What should I look for in a branding agency portfolio?
Look for diversity of work, evidence of strategic thinking (not just pretty pictures), case studies with business results, brands that feel appropriate for your industry, and consistent quality across projects. Ask about their process and who will work on your project.
When should a business rebrand?
Consider rebranding when: your brand looks dated compared to competitors, you're entering new markets or audiences, after a merger or acquisition, when your business model has fundamentally changed, or when your brand no longer reflects your values and positioning.
What is included in brand guidelines?
Brand guidelines document proper logo usage, color specifications, typography, imagery style, brand voice, messaging, and application examples. Comprehensive guidelines ensure consistency across all touchpoints and make it easy for teams and vendors to represent your brand correctly.
Should I hire a freelancer or an agency for branding?
Freelancers can be cost-effective for basic identity work. Agencies offer broader expertise (strategy, copywriting, digital), structured processes, and continuity if one team member leaves. For strategic branding or complex projects, agencies typically deliver better results.
What is brand strategy and why does it matter?
Brand strategy defines your positioning, target audience, key messages, competitive differentiation, and brand personality. Strategy ensures your visual identity communicates the right things to the right people. Without strategy, even beautiful design may miss the mark.
How do I measure the ROI of branding?
Track brand awareness surveys, website traffic growth, customer acquisition costs, ability to command premium pricing, employee recruiting metrics, and customer loyalty. Lucidpress research shows consistent branding can increase revenue by up to 23%.
What happens after the branding project is complete?
You'll receive final files, brand guidelines, and templates for ongoing use. Some agencies offer ongoing brand support retainers for new applications, brand training, and governance. Plan for implementation costs (signage, website, collateral updates) separately.
Can I trademark my new logo?
Yes, and you should. Your branding agency should provide trademark-ready files. Trademark registration costs $250-$750 per class through USPTO and takes 8-12 months. Conduct a trademark search before finalizing your brand to avoid conflicts.

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