Why is Design so Expensive?

Investing in branding and website design is just that - an INVESTMENT. 

If you’ve ever spoken with a designer and been shocked by the quote they gave you, you’re not alone.

It can be quite the surprise to realize that many designers, including myself, charge several thousand dollars for premium packages. 

So, how do designers come up with their prices? There are many factors that go into it, and today I’m going to share the big ones.

01. Design takes (a lot of) time

It may seem like a simple enough task to create a logo and choose some fonts and colors. But there are hours and hours of work that go into this. For every concept your designer sends to you, they likely tried a dozen (literally) other variations to find something that worked. 

Many designers present multiple concepts in the beginning of the process, and each of those started as an idea and then had to be sketched, digitized, refined, refined again, etc.

Even for designers that work based on a single concept method, there is still the time that goes into the strategy and creative direction. 

On average, I spend anywhere from 40-60 hours on a branding project and another 80-100 on web projects. That’s a lot of time, and I charge accordingly.

02. Design Adds Value

Design has a HUGE impact on your business. 

Think about when you go to the store and are browsing skincare products (or wine) - most people are drawn to a product simply by the way it looks. 

Branding, of course, is more than just visuals too. Think about messaging, tone, a a story that resonates. All of those things, when created with purpose, have a huge impact on how a brand/business is perceived.

When you hire a designer, you aren’t just paying for the deliverables or the hours they spend on your project - you are paying for the RESULTS that the strategy and design will create in your business.

If you knew that spending 10k on your business would help you to earn 100k, would you do it?

03. Experience and Expertise

Designers often raise their prices because they refine their skills and can add more value over time. This is no different than getting raises or promotions - you earn that.

I charge roughly 15x what I charged when I first started out. And while that may seem like some crazy inflation - I’ve also invested a tone of time and money in education and resources that have 15x the quality of what I offer.

If you’re working with a designer that has been at this awhile, or has invested in themselves as a business owner, you can expect to see that reflected in their pricing.

One last final note…

Designers run a business

This may seem obvious, but I always like to remind myself: running a business is EXPENSIVE.

From taxes and marketing, to business tools and outsourcing (and don’t forget fonts!), I personally only see about 40-50% of my revenue in my personal bank account. 

My prices take into consideration all of my business expenses as well as what I believe to be a fair salary for myself (and soon, my team).