Let’s get real: branding isn’t the garnish on your business, it’s the plate the whole meal is served on.

An audience notices it in seconds, investors judge you on it before you even speak and your future self will either thank you or curse you depending on how you set it up now.

So, how much should you actually budget in Canadian dollars, here in 2025?

Spoiler: it’s not a $200 logo from Fiverr or a “designed in Canva at 2am” template.

Professional branding starts at approximately $3,000 CAD. From there, it scales with your ambition, and yes, with your postal code. Designers in Toronto, Vancouver, or Montréal often charge more because of overhead and demand. Smaller cities or towns might be easier on the wallet, but the professional baseline is consistent across Canada.

**branding isn’t just deliverables, it’s conversations.**

**Talk to your designer about your goals, your strategy, and what you’re building.** The more context they have, the better they can create a brand that grows with you, not just a logo you outgrow in a year.

1. Bare Essentials: $3,000 – $6,000 CAD

The entry package: just enough to look professional, not enough to overcomplicate.

Logo design ($1,000 – $2,000): Clean, versatile, and scalable. Not a “clip art with vibes” Canva template special.
Basic brand guidelines ($1,000 – $1,500): Colours, fonts and logo usage so your identity doesn’t get butchered in Word docs.
Simple website ($1,500 – $3,000): A few pages, mobile-friendly, actually optimized and not a Canva landing page knockoff.

→ Best for: new founders, consultants or small businesses that need to look credible and consistent.
→ Pro tip: Even at this level, talk to your designer about your 1–2 year goals. A thoughtful designer can build with your next step in mind.

2. Mid-Range: $7,000 – $20,000 CAD

Here’s where you move from “side hustle” to established brand.

Comprehensive brand package ($4,000 – $8,000): Logo variations, extended palette, typography and a robust brand guideline.
Multi-page website ($4,000 – $10,000): Custom layouts, better UX and light e-commerce functionality. Importantly, this is also where accessibility standards should enter the conversation; contrast, font sizes, alt text and navigation for users of all abilities.
Collateral & templates ($1,000 – $3,000): Pitch decks, social templates, stationery professionally designed so you’re not wrestling with Canva text boxes.

→ Best for: businesses stepping into bigger rooms, pitching to investors, selling online or scaling operations.
→ Pro tip: Ask your designer if they’re building websites to accessibility standards. Accessibility isn’t optional anymore, it’s part of professional credibility.

3. High-Level: $25,000 – $80,000+ CAD

This is “we just closed funding” energy. At this level, branding isn’t just visuals, it’s baked into your growth strategy.

Full brand system ($10,000 – $25,000+): Strategy, naming, market research and full visual + verbal identity.
Custom website/platform ($12,000 – $30,000+): Complex builds, integrations or heavy e-commerce with accessibility baked in at every stage.
Brand collateral at scale ($5,000 – $15,000): Packaging, signage, booth design, investor decks; stuff you cannot hack together with Canva stock icons.
Creative direction & campaigns ($10,000 – $20,000): Campaign concepts, content creation, photography direction.

→ Best for: funded start-ups and ambitious scale-ups that need a brand strong enough to win investors, customers, and market share.
→ Pro tip: Share your big-picture strategy, funding goals, launch plans, investor decks etc. At this level, your designer isn’t just executing, they’re a creative partner.

Questions to Ask Your Designer Before You Commit

Think of this as your checklist, because picking the right designer is half the battle:

Credentials: Do diplomas or professional memberships matter to you?
Sector experience: Is it important that have worked in your industry or something similar?
Accessibility: Do they design websites to meet WCAG 2.2 AA standards? Can they explain how?
Sustainability: Do they operate a sustainable practice? (like us)
Flexibility: Are they open to phased work, retainers or flexible payment terms?
Scalability: Can they grow with you? If you scale from indie to funded startup, will they still be the right partner?
Process: How do they handle revisions, timelines and multiple stakeholders?
Style fit: Does their portfolio feel like a match for your vision or are you forcing it?
Skill set: Is it important that they can also design motion graphics and edit videos?

A good designer won’t just answer these, they’ll guide you through the “why” behind them.

TLDR:

Your branding budget should align with your stage, goals, and ambition.

$3k–6k: You look credible
$7k–20k: You look established
$25k–80k+: You’re building an empire

*And remember: pricing shifts across Canada. A branding package in Toronto, Vancouver, or Montréal will likely sit at the higher end of these ranges, while smaller cities can come in lower. But no matter where you’re based, professional branding generally starts at $3k - that’s a good entry point for real, lasting work.

If you’re serious about growth, talk to your designer, ask the right questions, and invest in a brand that scales with you.

✌️ KV

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