What Does Branding Cost? And is it Worth it!?
In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore not just what you might invest but why those investments matter and what returns you can expect.
By Adam Charlton · 10/10/2024
Posted in Insight
Making informed decisions about brand investment can feel overwhelming. Whether you're a growing startup in Brighton’s North Laine or an established business in Hove’s creative quarter, understanding the actual costs of professional branding helps you plan for success.
Understanding professional branding investment
Think of professional branding like building a house. Just as you wouldn't start construction without architectural plans, you shouldn't build a brand without proper strategy and planning. And just as house costs vary based on size, materials, and complexity, branding investments vary based on your business needs, market position, and growth goals.
Professional branding investments typically range from £5,000 to £50,000+. For instance, a local café might invest £5,000-£10,000 in a focused brand development project, while a growing tech company might invest £30,000-£50,000 in a comprehensive brand programme that positions them for national expansion.
However, I am not saying that’s what we charge! – More on that at the end…
The building blocks of professional branding
Strategic development and research (20-30% of Investment)
This foundational phase is like creating architectural plans for your house. It involves deep research and strategic planning that guides everything that follows.
A Brighton-based sustainability consultancy recently invested £8,000 in this phase alone, which included:
Competitor analysis of 12 similar firms across the South East
In-depth interviews with 20 existing clients
Market positioning workshop with key stakeholders
Development of core brand messaging and values
This investment helped them identify an underserved market niche and develop messaging that resonated deeply with their target audience, leading to a 40% increase in qualified leads within six months.
Visual identity development (30-40% of investment)
Building on strategic foundations, this phase creates the visual elements that bring your brand to life. Last year a biotech company invested £15,000 in their visual identity development with us, which included:
Three to five rounds of logo concept development
Complete colour palette and typography system
Custom icon set for their software interface
Brand pattern development for marketing materials
Comprehensive brand guidelines document
Implementation and rollout (30-50% of investment)
This is where your brand comes to life across all customer touchpoints. Like furnishing and decorating your newly built house, implementation transforms your brand from concept to reality. The investment here varies significantly based on your needs.
For example, a fashion retailer invested £20,000 with us in their implementation phase:
Website redesign: £8,000
Store signage and environmental graphics: £5,000
Packaging design and production: £4,000
Social media templates and assets: £3,000
What drives investment levels?
A single-product business typically requires less investment than a company with multiple service lines. Consider two recent Brighton clients:
A speciality coffee shop invested £7,000 in their brand development, focusing on:
Core brand strategy
Visual identity
Menu design
Basic website
Social media templates
In contrast, a professional services firm with three distinct service lines invested £25,000 to develop:
Overarching brand architecture
Sub-brand strategies
Complex visual system
Multiple audience messaging frameworks
Comprehensive marketing materials
Measuring Return on Investment
Professional branding typically delivers returns in several ways.
Immediate Returns (0-6 months):
Website conversion rate improvements (typically 10-30%)
Social media engagement increase (average 40%)
Employee satisfaction boost (15-25% improvement)
Medium-term returns (6-18 months):
Customer retention increase (20-35%)
Average transaction value growth (15-40%)
Marketing efficiency improvements (20-30% cost reduction)
Long-term returns (18+ months):
Market share growth
Premium pricing potential
Improved talent attraction
Reduced customer acquisition costs
Helping our clients make wise investment decisions
Before committing to a brand investment, we talk with our potential clients to evaluate:
Current brand performance metrics
Competitive position
Growth objectives
Available resources
Implementation timeline
For budget-conscious clients, we will often propose a phased approach:
Phase 1 (Month 1-2): Strategy and core identity
Phase 2 (Month 3-4): Website and digital presence
Phase 3 (Month 5-6): Marketing materials and rollout
This approach helps manage cash flow while maintaining quality, and we regularly suggest it when talking to prospective clients. As Brighton is a new market for us, we’re positioning our agency as completely price-transparent. If you would like to learn more, check out our branding packages*.
Remember: Professional branding is an investment in your business's future value, not just an immediate expense. The right investment level aligns with your growth goals while considering current resources and market demands.
*Are you a Brighton-based business looking to rebrand or create a new brand? We might have something in common…
We’ve been busy building our sister agency in Hong Kong and recently relocated home to Brighton! As we establish our branding agency, we’re looking to partner with local companies looking to refresh their brand, which, in turn, will help us build our local success stories.
If you would like more information, please contact us.
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About the author —
Adam is the co-founder of Attend The Way, a Brighton-based branding agency. Adam helps build brands for companies at every growth stage, from startups to industry leaders. Adam has consulted and built brands for some of the world’s most recognised companies.
