How Much Does Branding Cost for a Small Business in Melbourne? (2026 Guide)
McKinnon Hotel Brand Refresh.
In Melbourne, professional branding for a small business typically will cost $3,500 - $15,000 depending on two main things: the experience of the designer or studio and the scope of work involved.
Most brand designers will offer a few tiers to choose from – a logo only, a full brand identity, or a full brand identity with website build included.
Why "Branding" Isn't Just One Price
Pricing for branding will vary based on what work is to be completed at the request of the client. From our 10+ years in the industry we’ve found most people come to us wanting:
Just a Logo - Brand mark and sometimes colour palette
Brand Identity - Logo, colour, typography, guidelines and rollout
Brand Identity & Website - Everything included above + website design & build
As you would expect the amount of work completed by the designer will increase exponentially from options 1-3.
The Cost of Branding by Tier
DIY / Online Tool - $0 - $500
Logo generators, templates and no real strategy.
Freelance / Solo Designer - $1,500 - $5,000
Custom logo, basic identity, limited guidelines.
Design Studio - $5,000 - $15,000
Discovery, Strategy, full identity system, comprehensive guidelines.
Small-mid agency - $8,000 - $25,000
Strategy, identity, multiple stakeholders, rollout support.
Large Agency ($30,000+)
Enterprise research, multi-market rollout.
What Actually Moves the Price
Designing a brand is a lot like building a house and the foundations need to be solid from the get go. A successful design process involves research, insights, creativity and problem solving. Some tangible factors that will dictate the price of a quote:
Number of design concepts and rounds of revisions
Level of strategy involved
Scope of work (packaging, signage, social templates, print, web)
Industry complexity (regulated industries, multi-location businesses)
Timeline (Quicker turnarounds cost more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need brand strategy if I'm a small business?
We believe that every brand should have a minimum level of strategy involved so they know who they are, who they service and how that effects how they talk to their customer literally and visually. This does not mean you need a 20 page document analysing every decision you make, but we believe some groundwork is beneficial to every aspect of building a brand identity.
How long does a brand identity project take?
Typically to build a brand identity from start to scratch we take 4-6 weeks. If there is a deep dive into strategy upfront, that can add extra time, likewise if a website is to be designed and built that will add extra time after the brand identity is built.
Can I do branding myself and upgrade later?
This really depends on your goals for the business and how you want to be perceived. For the most part we think it’s important to put your best foot forward and working with a designer who has years of experience and insights can help further elevate your brand right off the bat. Saying that, we have had clients who originally had done the branding themselves and then came to us to upgrade once they had time behind the business.
What's included in a typical branding package?
Typically it includes the primary logo and variations, colour palette and typography recommendations, brand collateral and comprehensive guidelines. The important thing is to be transparent and discuss with your designer what things you need for your business to be up and running so they can quote you accurately.
Curious what this would actually look like for your business? Check out our services guide to see our packages, then get in touch and I'll help you figure out which one fits or tailor something in between if your project needs it.