If you are thinking of taking your company to the next level this year, getting a great logo design can help turn your business idea into a money-making project. This begs the question: how much does a logo design cost?
From designing yourself to working with a graphic designer or agency, the cost of a logo can range from VND 50,000 to VND 500,000,000+, with several options in between. Mid-range options include buying a logo from an online logo design site (usually starting at VND 500,000) or a design crowdsourcing site (starting from VND 2,000,000).
But the truth is, there are a lot of factors that influence how much you will pay for your logo design. Here’s what you need to know before choosing how to create your logo.
Logo design pricing elements
Designing a logo with or without outside support is an iterative and multi-step process that includes research, brainstorming, sketching, and several design concepts.
That’s why custom logo design packages can vary widely not only in price (from almost free to several hundred million dong) but also in the amount of time and effort required to get the job done. .
There are many factors that affect the cost of logo design.
- Design process. The most affordable option is to use an online logo maker or better yet a freelance designer. The most expensive option is to work with a graphic design company.
- Design expertise. Not all professional designers offer the same level of skill. A logo design purchased for $15 from Fiverr will likely be of lower quality than a graphic designer with 10+ years of experience running their own design business.
- Location. If you want to work directly with a designer, costs will vary by location. A logo designed by someone living in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh will cost much more than someone living in a small town.
- Modification process. Working with a professional logo designer will often involve revisions to get your logo just right. But if you fix it more than once, you will most likely be charged an extra fee.
- Logo quality. If you are after a highly customized logo design idea that includes hand-drawn illustrations and custom fonts, your logo will cost over VND 2,000,000. Buying a logo from an online platform using pre-made templates you can customize will cost you under $2,000,000.
Don’t worry – we’re here to guide you through the cost of a logo design and what each option includes.
Method 1: Do it yourself
If you’re looking to be flexible with your design ideas, you might want to try designing your own logo. But creating a logo design that fits your brand and can be used across channels is a challenge.
The biggest expense will be your own time creating the logo on paper and choosing the right design software to put the sketch to use.
We want to warn you that there is a reason why people pay to design a logo. Designing is not easy, especially without a background in design.
The good news is, if you’re designing your own you’ll have full creative control, and there are online tutorials to assist you as you learn logo design software (such as those below!).
Sketch
Available only for Mac OS X, Sketch costs $99 for a one-year license . Vector-based design software that will allow you to export your logo in a variety of formats: PDF, SVG, PNG, JPG and EPS. While Sketch is slowly becoming a favorite tool in the design community, it’s not meant for print design as you can’t export the logo in printer-friendly CMYK colors.
Adobe Illustrator
Illustrator is the design industry’s vector graphics application and is built to work with other Adobe programs. You can export your work in more than ten formats for digital and print use. Access the software through an Adobe Creative Cloud membership for $20.99 per month for an annual plan or $31.49 for a monthly plan .
Vectr
A free (but basic) vector graphics editor , Vectr can be downloaded to your desktop or used online. The program offers useful in-app lessons. Files can be exported in both raster and vector formats, including AI, PNG, JPG, and SVG.
Canva
Canva’s premium subscription costs $149.00 CAD annually or $12.95 CAD paid monthly. The program has more than 1000 logo templates to customize and allows you to download your finished work as JPG, PNG, PDF or GIF.
Option 2: Buy and customize a logo template
Pre-made templates cut down on some of the effort and time required to create high-quality logos from scratch.
Since you need software to customize the design, most of the sample logo files are compatible with Adobe Illustrator. Again, you will need a paid subscription to these programs. Then it takes time to change the colors and change the generic text to your brand name.
These templates can come with more than just a logo, offer branding packages, and social media designs. Make sure you read the sample description to know what you’re getting, including the file types included.
And remember: using a template means that others may have a logo very similar to the one you choose. We don’t want you to spend your hard earned money on an overused and unoriginal design!
Creative Market
There are over 49,000 logo templates on Creative Market to explore, ranging in price from $2 to $500. Most models range in price from $19 CAD to $39 CAD. This cost includes a plan with two licensing options: standard, for businesses that don’t exceed 500 sales, and extended, for unlimited sales. Expect to spend three times the listed cost on license renewals.
Adobe Spark
You will find hundreds of logo templates on Adobe Spark that are advertised for free. The problem is that you will have to pay for Adobe Spark software to edit them for $9.99 per month. Adobe Spark is specially designed for solid design conscious users who want more control in designing their own flyers, social media graphics and even videos!
GraphicRiver
With nearly 58,000 templates, GraphicRiver offers low-end templates from around $10 USD. Premium packages can reach the $200 mark . Most of the non-exclusive logo packages on this site will cost you between 30 USD and 50 USD and come with vector based files.
On Etsy, you’ll find a variety of logo designs to choose from with prices ranging from $15 USD to $250 USD. Some sellers will work with you to customize your design for an additional price. Pay attention to the file type you will get, ideally you should get a source or vector file so you can make changes or scale the file as needed in the future. In some cases, sellers will offer files in Adobe Illustrator and even Canva.
Option 3: Use an online logo design website
No need to buy or learn design software, online logo design websites can be the cheapest option on the market. Some sites do not charge for the service at all, you only pay when you are ready to download the logo files.
An online logo maker can create hundreds of logo variations using basic information about your company and design preferences; Then you can edit and adjust the model you like.
But beware: even though online logo design websites have a low price bracket, the quality of the designs can vary considerably. While there are free ones on the market, the paid option is more likely to give you the exact files you need to confidently use your logo. Plus, you can get additional customer support with a paid option if you have any questions.
You also have the option of signing up for an additional Website Branding Kit that will provide you with hundreds of templates for branded flyers, invoices, business cards, and social media graphics. Design the look and feel you want in seconds and use these designs to effectively market your business.
Option 4: Thanks to the logo design community
Think of crowdsourcing like a contest: you post a detailed logo summary into the community of designers, including how much you’re willing to pay for a design. Freelancers can then submit their unique designs for a chance to be chosen.
Once the design is complete, the designer will send your logo in a variety of files to get you working right away. Take a look at some of the options below.
99designs
99designs hosts seven-day competitions divided into two rounds: qualifying and final. You have the opportunity to give designer feedback and up to two weeks to review the final submitted designs before selecting a winner.
Four different logo packs range in price from $399 to $1699 USD. The most expensive option is exclusively for what they call “top level” designers. You will have to pay for your design contest upfront (before you receive any logo files). But it comes with a money-back guarantee.
DesignCrowd
You can set a three, five, or 10-day deadline for your design contest on DesignCrowd and provide a detailed design brief. Launch a contest for $129 USD and you can expect to get up to 50 designs from a handful of designers. They also offer a money-back guarantee.
DesignHill
Through DesignHill, crowdsourcing for a logo starts at $249, while top designers start at $699. While you can choose a contest length that suits your needs, you will have to pay the cost upfront.
Option 5: Hire a freelancer logo designer
Tapping a freelance designer means you’ll be working with a professional to create a professional logo design. They will make your ideas come true. Depending on the skill of the designer, a new logo can cost you anywhere from 2,000,000 VND to 50,000,000 VND . When choosing a freelancer find out how much experience they have and how they charge (hourly vs. project).
A less experienced freelancer will probably charge less, but you may not get the results you want.
Through various platforms, there are design communities online that you can search to find one that meets your needs. But keep in mind that this will take time!
Dribbble
While it offers a free basic membership, to find designers to hire, Dribbble charges $299 USD per month or $199 USD per month for the basic designer search plan .
Through the platform, you set how much you are willing to pay, the type of work required, and the level of experience you are looking for. Designers set their own hourly rates, which can range from $15 to $200 per hour based on their experience.
Fiverr
You set the style, file format, price range, and design term through Fiverr. You will then need to pay a designer upfront for their work. Costs are typically between $25 and $150 per hour (depending on your currency). Fiverr offers three plans — basic, standard, and premium — each with its own set of design and file download options. For a simple logo design, packages usually range from $50-$100 .
Upwork
Billed as the largest freelance exchange in the world, most designers will charge between $10 and $200 per hour . A basic account is free, in addition to a 3% transaction fee.
If you upgrade to a pro account, Upwork will recruit freelancers for a flat fee of 500 USD and an additional 20% transaction fee . Upwork also allows you to keep your money in an escrow account, which means that designers have to complete the work in order to get paid.
Option 6: Hire a logo design company
The most expensive logo option available is to hire a company/agency to do the work for you.
Companies charge up to VND 20,000,000 for a professional logo design, with some companies reaching the VND 100,000,000 to VND 200,000,000 mark . That can be too expensive for those just starting out.
When considering an agency, here are the things to keep in mind:
- Deposit: Expect to pay up to 50% of the cost of a logo design before an agency gets to work.
- Contract: Not all agencies will require you to sign a contract. If you do, you will legally be required to pay the full fee upon completion of the work.
- Time: Supported by the design team, the agency can take the time to design your logo. It usually takes a week to get a demo.
Additional costs to consider
Once your logo is complete, consider completing your company’s visual identity with custom designs for social media and business cards. Establishing a brand identity and trademark registration may also be on your list.
These costs can add up quickly, so keep them in mind when choosing (and budgeting) a logo design option.
How will you use your logo?
Before you make a choice, take a step back to learn how you’ll use that logo across branded channels and apps.
Will your logo only exist digitally or do you plan on printing it on business cards and other marketing materials? The answer to that question can vary the type of logo file format and color variations you’ll need.
There are two basic types of image files: raster and vector .
Raster files are measured in DPI (dots per inch) and have a .jpg, .png, or .gif file extension. Since raster files are based on a pixel grid, you run the risk of icon distortion when resizing the image.
Vector files , on the other hand , can be scaled to any size without loss of quality—from Instagram profile pictures to subway station ads. They can be opened, edited and saved in different programs and have file extensions of .ai, .eps, .svg or .pdf.
While you can make high-resolution raster files work for you, they’re not ideal for all applications. Vector files are what you want to make sure your logo looks good on branded assets.
And when it comes to color variations, make sure you’re getting light, dark, and full-color versions of your logo for your branding needs, as well as versions with transparent backgrounds.
Export options for colors can also vary: RGB is used for digitally rendered logos, and CMYK is best for printed products (Pantone can work for both).
Choose the right option
Even if you’re just starting out in business, a logo is the starting point for building your brand identity .
With your ideal logo in mind, think about how you will present your brand online and offline. Then find the logo design package price that’s right for you.
Remember your options based on logo cost and design needs are as follows:
- For less than 2,000,000 VND, you can design your own logo or buy and customize a template if you have some editing skills.
- Online logo maker is an affordable logo design option. If you don’t want to buy design software but still want to control the process then it might be the best way for you!
- More to spend? You can check out the design community service or hire a designer or freelance agency if it seems like a good fit.
Whichever option you choose, we wish you the best in your logo creation journey!
