Branding designers and small branding studios build visual identities for businesses: logos, color palettes, typography, brand guidelines, and the files that go with them. Invoices usually cover a discovery phase, design rounds, final file delivery, and any add-ons such as stationery, packaging, or a brand strategy workshop.
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Most branding work is priced as a flat project fee, often split into phases (discovery and strategy, concept development, refinement, and final delivery). Packages are common, such as a logo-only package, a core identity package, and a full brand system. Hourly rates are used for small tasks, retainers, and out-of-scope changes, typically $75-200 per hour depending on experience and market. Many designers include a set number of concepts and revision rounds in the fee and bill extra rounds separately. Usage rights, trademark-related work, and rush timelines can add to the price. Third-party costs such as stock fonts, stock imagery, printing, and domain or trademark filing fees are usually passed through at cost or with a small handling markup.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Logo design (logo only, 2-3 concepts) | flat fee | $500-3,500 |
| Core brand identity (logo, palette, type, basic usage rules) | flat fee | $2,500-10,000 |
| Full brand system with guidelines document | flat fee | $6,000-25,000 |
| Brand strategy workshop and positioning | per workshop | $1,000-5,000 |
| Business card, letterhead, and stationery set | flat fee | $400-1,500 |
| Packaging or label design | per SKU | $500-3,000 |
| Additional revision rounds beyond contract | per hour | $75-175 |
| Brand refresh or ongoing design support | monthly retainer | $750-4,000 |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand identity project, Phase 1: Discovery, questionnaire, competitor review, and moodboard (50% deposit invoiced separately) | 1 flat fee | $900.00 | $900.00 |
| Brand identity project, Phase 2: Logo concepts (3 directions) and one refined direction | 1 flat fee | $2,200.00 | $2,200.00 |
| Color palette, typography selection, and secondary marks | 1 flat fee | $900.00 | $900.00 |
| Brand guidelines PDF (16 pages) | 1 flat fee | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 |
| Additional revision round beyond the two included | 3 hours | $110.00 | $330.00 |
| Font licenses (web and desktop) purchased on client's behalf | 1 at cost | $145.00 | $145.00 |
| Total | $5,475.00 | ||
Notes: Final balance due within 14 days of invoice date. Final logo files and guidelines are released upon receipt of payment in full. Font licenses are in the client's name. Late balances accrue 1.5% per month.
Branding is billed in stages, and the client needs to see which milestone this invoice covers and how it ties to the contract.
It ties the invoice to the agreed scope, deliverables, and revision limits if there is any dispute.
Listing the logo suite, file formats, and guidelines shows what the client is paying for and supports the final payment.
Extra changes need a clear record so they do not look like a surprise charge.
Itemizing these separately, with receipts available, keeps them distinct from your design fee.
Stating that ownership transfers on full payment protects you and tells the client when they can use the final files.
It shows the running total and avoids confusion about what is still owed.
A deposit of 30-50% before work begins is standard in branding, and many designers will not start without it. The rest is often split at a midpoint milestone and at final delivery, or billed as one balance at completion. Common terms are due on receipt or net 14 for final invoices, with net 30 more typical for corporate clients. Late fees of 1-1.5% per month are common if stated in the contract. Most designers hold the final, unwatermarked files and ownership transfer until the last payment clears. Payment is usually accepted by ACH, card, or check, and card fees are sometimes passed on to the client.
Billing at kickoff, concept approval, and delivery keeps cash flowing and gives you a natural pause if a client stalls on feedback.
Share watermarked or low-resolution previews during the project and release vector files and guidelines only after the final payment. State this in the contract and on each invoice.
Include a set number of rounds in the fee, such as two. Track extra rounds in hours and bill them at your hourly rate so scope creep gets paid.
Fonts, stock photos, printing, and trademark filings should be listed separately. Get client approval before buying anything large.
If a client goes quiet for 30 or 60 days, your contract can allow you to close the project and invoice for completed phases. Reference it when you send the invoice.
Most branding designers quote a flat project fee because clients want a known cost and value the result, not the hours. Hourly billing works better for small edits, add-on work, and anything outside the original scope.
Between 30% and 50% is typical, and 50% is common for smaller projects. Larger projects are often split into three payments: at kickoff, after concept approval, and at delivery.
Usually when the final invoice is paid in full, as stated in your contract. Until then, you keep the rights and the client holds only a license for approved previews. Your contract should say this, and the details can vary by state and agreement.
Yes. The fee covers the creative work, not only the chosen option. Your contract should say that concept development is billed at the milestone regardless of whether the client picks a direction.
It depends on your state. Some states tax digital goods or design services, and others do not. Check with your state revenue department or an accountant before you decide how to bill it.
Send a Branding estimate for approval, then turn it into an invoice when the work is done.
Branding estimate template