BUDGET DESIGN INK - How much should a logo cost in 2023/24?

Create A Timeless Logo That Your Clients Will Remember!

How much should a logo cost in 2023/24?

Startups spend too much on branding

I run a branding studio in New York and while logo design is my own profession, I know from experience and talking to hundreds of startups and business owners that when starting a business, most entrepreneurs don’t have the budget to work with a designer or hire an agency. Very small businesses and consultants usually have a budget around $300 to $1500.

Startups that have raised money from investors are ready to spend more; the numbers vary highly but range from $5k to $150k. The higher ranges include a website and a few starter assets, such as business cards.

Although working with a professional who will guide you through the process of creating a quality logo seems best, there are situations where it makes sense to pull out your own design skills and use an online logo maker or simply type your brand name out in one of these startup fonts.

What is a quality, professional logo?

A professional logo process starts with having a brand strategy in place. Without the analysis of your competitive landscape and your company’s positioning considered, a logo design isn’t worth much.

Why? Because a logo is an identifier for a brand, just like a friend’s red hair or her high-pitched voice—a logo helps your customer identify your company on a shelf or when scrolling through her social media feed. And usually, that logo comes with other brand identity elements, such as a color palette (e.g. on the packaging, on a business card, or on a website); a logo comes with a voice of tone (e.g. on a website’s headlines or your customer support tickets) and so forth.

A quality logo is a result of sorting through all of the aspects that need to be communicated.

A good logo is functional. It’s generally readable and it works in small on a website when viewed on a phone. A good logo with a focus on functionality has only one or two colors (for minimal costs on printed marketing materials) and works in black and white (for a logo version on a flyer with partners, for example).