Planning your logo budget

Every logo is different, which makes it impossible to give a flat price for any particular design. This being the case, all graphic designers use different methods to determine the cost for developing a logo.

We will describe some of the most common methods for logo pricing below. Try out the interactive logo design cost calculator. If you are a designer looking for tips on how to bill clients, check out this great article on billing clients.

Depending on where you will want to use your logo, which should be on every item associated with your business. You will want your logo to look good in black and white as well as in color. Make sure you request both versions from a designer.

There are three common types of logo pricing used in the design industry today.

• Hourly Rate

• Fixed Price

• Package Rates

Charging Hourly

A very common way for graphic designers to charge is by the hour. Depending on the experience, location, and many other factors, the hourly rate can be anywhere from $8.00 (outsourced overseas) to $500.00 per hour (For a high-level consultant)! This is a huge difference but I have seen both and just about everything in between. See Below for common rates.

The important thing is to make sure the logo designer is worth the rate they charge. Always check with the designers past clients and remember – you really do “get what you pay for”. To see average rates and earnings for designers you can check out this report on how much Graphic Designers earn.

Flat Fee Pricing

Many graphic design firms will give you a set price to deliver a logo design. They will usually give you a few variations to choose from. Make sure you have a thorough and complete requirements list before you begin the project. Make sure you get it in writing so you both have clear expectations.

Flat Fee Logo Design Examples:

• Professional Agency: $1000 – $5000

• Independent Firm: $500 – $3000

• Freelancer: $250 – $2500

• Offshore Designer: $100 – $250

• World Famous Designer $1,000,000

Logo Package Rates

Many graphic design firms will have pre-made packages that are usually cheaper than asking for several things piece by piece. Many graphic designers will have a package rate then allow you to request customization at an additional charge. Packages will usually include multiple versions of the logo. Files in bitmap and vector format. Different resolutions, grayscale and black and white versions. And often they will include a business card design or some other collateral designs that integrate the logo.

Choosing a Designer

There has been a huge trend in corporate America to outsource IT and logo development work overseas because of the drastically lower rates that people will work for in countries like India, South America and eastern Europe. Large companies have built offices in these locations to enjoy the low cost of the local labor pool, this can help their bottom line. The big difference between a large company using a overseas workforce and small company or individual is that the large companies usually have management in place to keep things running smooth.

Beyond the Logo: Building a Brand

Another thing to consider is that you will likely need more than just a logo. And your logo will appear in many places. The obvious places are on your business cards and website. But you will also want black and white versions for invoices, letterhead and envelopes. Additionally you will want to come up with a color scheme for your company. It should be well thought out and tested before deciding on hiring a logo designer Your logo may be the personification of your company identity, but it is not the only identifying image.

A good logo designer will have experience with many aspects of the design and implementation of your entire identity as a company. If you are just looking to get a quick and cheap logo created, there are certainly many designers out there that can help you. But when you get serious about creating a brand for your company, you will want someone with more experience. if you are also planning on getting a website, check out how much does a website cost?

A basic guide for about 10 hours of work is:

Student: $100 – $200 ($10-$20/hour)

Freelancer: $200 – $1000 ($20-$100/hour)

Expert Consultant: $500 – $2000 ($50-$200/hour)

Company: $700 – $2500 ($70-$250/hour)

Common hourly rates:

• Student/Offshore: $10-$30/hour

• Freelancer: $35-$100/hour

• Expert Consultant: $50-$200/hour

• Company: $75-$150/hour

Logo Design 101