What is part of a corporate design?
Corporate design (CD) is everything people see of your brand: logo, colours, fonts, imagery, icons and the rules for how everything works together. It is the visible part of the corporate identity, which also includes values, language and behaviour.
| Component | Guide price (CHF) | Guide price (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Logo incl. variants (horizontal, stacked, icon, one colour) ★ | CHF 2'300 – CHF 7'600 | €2,400 – €8,000 |
| Colours & typography ★ | CHF 800 – CHF 2'300 | €800 – €2,400 |
| Mini style guide (1–2 pages) ★ | CHF 800 – CHF 2'300 | €800 – €2,400 |
| Visual system & brand universe (key visual) | CHF 4'600 – CHF 18'200 | €4,800 – €19,200 |
| CI manual / brand guidelines | CHF 3'000 – CHF 12'200 | €3,200 – €12,800 |
| Image style & art direction | CHF 1'200 – CHF 4'600 | €1,300 – €4,800 |
| Icons & illustrations | CHF 1'500 – CHF 7'600 | €1,600 – €8,000 |
| Logo animation & motion design | CHF 1'200 – CHF 4'600 | €1,300 – €4,800 |
| Brand hub (online brand portal) | CHF 3'000 – CHF 12'200 | €3,200 – €12,800 |
★ = essential kit every startup needs.
All prices excl. VAT. Agency figures = StartupBrander guide prices for professional branding agencies (market research, September 2026). Other ranges are rough market values and depend heavily on experience and scope.
Three typical packages
| Package | Includes | Guide price (CHF) | Guide price (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | logo with variants, colours & fonts, mini style guide | CHF 3'800 – CHF 12'200 | €4,000 – €12,800 |
| Growth | starter + visual system (key visual) + brand guidelines | CHF 11'400 – CHF 42'600 | €12,000 – €44,800 |
| Complete | all components incl. imagery, icons, motion and brand hub | CHF 18'400 – CHF 71'400 | €19,400 – €75,200 |
Most startups begin with the starter package and expand the corporate design for a funding round or market launch. What matters is that the agency designs a system from the start that can be extended later – not just a logo.
How long does a corporate design take?
- Logo with colours and fonts: usually 4–8 weeks
- Complete corporate design with guidelines: usually 8–16 weeks
The process is almost always the same: briefing and strategy, 2–3 design directions, refinement of one direction, handover of files, style guide and templates. More on the page Logo & corporate design.
Example: budget for the first year
A typical B2B startup invests roughly in:
| Component | Guide price (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Starter kit (logo, colours, fonts, mini style guide) | €4,000 – €12,800 |
| Business stationery (business cards, letter template, email signature) | €1,000 – €2,700 |
| Company website (5–10 pages) | €6,400 – €19,200 |
| Pitch deck | €3,200 – €12,800 |
| Total | €14,600 – €47,500 |
The visual system and brand guidelines often follow in the second year – when team, channels and budget grow.
What comes after the corporate design?
- Business stationery: business cards, letterhead, email signature
- Website – more in the guide How much does a website cost?
- Pitch deck and presentation templates
- Social media templates, trade-fair booth, packaging
Common mistakes
- Ordering only a logo and leaving colours, fonts and rules for «later» – that costs more in the end.
- Design before strategy: without clear positioning the design may please, but it will not sell.
- Too many opinions: five people commenting on every draft double the revision rounds. Decide beforehand who decides.
- No source files: without source files and rights you depend on the agency for every change.
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