We get calls every day asking the question,”How much does a logo cost?” I hate to answer this way, but it depends. How much does a house cost? How much does food cost?
I can tell you what we charge and our ballpark number, but it really depends on the client. We charge $85 per hour. My standard logo process is 20 hours, so that’s $1,700. Here’s our general process:
- We spend 10 hours researching, sketching, laying out comps, and refining our initial designs.
- We present at least 3 designs (usually in black and white so the marks can be judged on even ground).
- We spend 10 hours refining the chosen design, choosing colors, and creating the final files and standards.
That process isn’t possible for every client. I’ve worked with start-ups that just didn’t have the budget. I’ve had clients with no logo hire me to design their website, so I kinda throw in a logo as part of the process. In other words, we can be flexible because we charge by the hour.
There are websites that will design a logo for $99. There are firms that won’t design a logo for less than $5K. You might get lucky for $99, but generally, you get what you pay for.
How can you determine your logo design budget? Here are some factors:
- How much money do you have? That’s a huge factor.
- How will the logo be used. Website? Letterhead? Signs? Uniforms? Vehicles? You wouldn’t put a $99 logo on an airplane.
- Do you have a concept? Sometimes what makes the process more expensive is that the idea is complicated or bad. In general, it’s good to narrow the scope of ideas.
- Is this a re-design of an existing logo?
- What business are you in?
- What is your logo worth to you?
I hate to admit it, but the straight answer is that it depends.
