What to charge for a logo design

[eyebuzz]

One thing I can add here is this job will take you WAY longer than you think it will. Unless you have worked with a lot of clients and you know this already - it makes no difference if they are paying you nothing or $10,000 they are going to keep asking for changes and updates (and more likely the clients paying nothing will ask for more changes). I say if you have no experience than go for it - but just be realistic about your time - it may take 20 hours to get this together for them -maybe more. Definitely, ask for trade if they don't have the cash. And if you do a great job for them - don't let them go cheap in the future - come back here for more advice.

[AithinDesign]

A logo is not a brand. Only a very small part of a brand.

I just had to join when I read this

A logo is what makes a brand identifiable, it's the identity of the service and/or product of a business. It plays the major part, and NOT JUST a small part of the brand! Remember in the days of cattle rustling. The band (aka; logo) was the ranchers identity to showing ownership and quality of their product. A logo..... By all means is worth fare more than $40, no mater what! The logo will be that companies brand for their customers to identity their product from their competition product. Tell them to keep that in mind!

But $500-2000 is very high for a small start-up. Save that pricing for the big boys, like fortune 500 companies that need a re-design.

Plus they will, or should use their logo on labels, letterheads, business cards, t-shirts, beer mugs, etc., etc., etc., etc.... the list can go on. So should you charge $40 for someone identity? I don't think so! If you feel that you can't sell the logo for more. Than sell them a package! I believe the brand identity of a business should be designed with one style and using one designer for that style. If your a good or great designer, you'll find that style that works through out that companies identity.

SO OKAY... Lets not sell ourselves short! It doesn't just hurt you, but all of us, right?! TIME IS MONEY!
Even if you're just starting out.. Just know that you can do the project! Than do a great job.... DON'T GO BROKE DOING IT!

[Norrie]

Whoa! Save $500-$2000 for fortune 500 companies? Maybe if it's a logo for a seminar they're running but if it's an identity for the company themselves, let's add a zero to those numbers. For a start, the process is much longer and add to that the worth of the designer working on the project and the value of the work they produce. It's not uncommon for large household names working with reputable design agencies to receive an invoice which adds two zeros for the complete identity project. I don't know the quality of the work you produce but if it's high quality and you had previous work to back it up, I'd say $3000-$5000 for this project. In which case you wouldn't work with this bottom feeder client. But if you're inexperienced and the value of this job being in your folio exceeds the value of your hours spent, then go for it. But make sure you get beer to wash the project down with at the end. And ask for a case up front.

[SugarMag]

SO OKAY... Lets not sell ourselves short! It doesn't just hurt you, but all of us, right?! TIME IS MONEY!
Even if you're just starting out.. Just know that you can do the project! Than do a great job.... DON'T GO BROKE DOING IT!

EXACTLY. $40 for a logo design is an insult to our industry. If you need the experience, then do it pro bono. This is the logo they will use to SELL THEIR PRODUCT for the next decade at least, for goodness sake. Can you imagine them telling a supplier they want to pay $40 for 10 year's worth of hops & barley?

The fact that you're even considering doing the job for $40 implies that you don't have the chops to pull it off. But if you really feel you can do it and just need to build a portfolio/client list, do it for free or charge a REAL price. Since you're new, it'll probably take you far longer, but 20 hours is a probably a fair place to start. At your current hourly rate 20 x $25 = $500. That's an incredible value for a design that will in turn earn them so much, but at least you'll *** some real value to your (OUR) work.

Had to add - $500 - $2000 is about average for logo design for a small start up. Fortune 500 companies pay FAR FAR more.

[BBrandDesign]

If you do not get the logo right the first time, don't worry - logo design takes a lot of time and effort. If you're designing for a client, it is normal to go through as many variations as possible before they are satisfied.

[BBrandDesign]

If you do not get the logo right the first time, don't worry - logo design takes a lot of time and effort. If you're designing for a client, it is normal to go through as many variations as possible before they are satisfied.

[aarongarfields]

$40 is too little for a logo. It's a BRAND. It doesn't matter if you have experience or not. You are producing a brand. They are going to use it.

A logo is not a brand. Only a very small part of a brand.

Agree!!!

[rfyhtf]

agree

[BBrandDesign]

If you do not get the logo right the first time, don't worry - logo design takes a lot of time and effort. If you're designing for a client, it is normal to go through as many variations as possible before they are satisfied.