Find your exact rate
Typical project work, moderate complexity.
Factor in AI tool subscriptions
Your Rate
Day Rate
$450
Project Est.
$2,200
Retainer
$8,350/mo
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Community Data
What do you actually charge?
Anonymous. Helps improve market benchmarks.
How Much Should You Charge for Brand Guidelines?
Creating brand guidelines costs $1,500–$12,000 as a freelancer. A simple one-pager for a startup runs $1,500–$3,000, while a comprehensive brand book for a scaling company ranges $5,000–$12,000.
Floor
$1,500
per hour
Typical
$5,000
per hour
Premium
$12,000
per hour
Find your exact rate
Typical project work, moderate complexity.
Factor in AI tool subscriptions
Your Rate
Day Rate
$450
Project Est.
$2,200
Retainer
$8,350/mo
Was this helpful?
Community Data
What do you actually charge?
Anonymous. Helps improve market benchmarks.
What changes the price
- Number of pages or sections in the guidelines
- Whether you're creating the brand or documenting an existing one
- Inclusion of logo usage rules and clear space specs
- Typography and colour system complexity
- Photography and illustration style guidance
- Digital vs. print application examples
- Interactive PDF or web-based format
- Number of revision rounds
Real quote breakdowns
Startup Brand One-Pager
A pre-revenue startup needs a concise brand reference sheet covering logo, colours, fonts, and tone of voice.
Breakdown
6 hours to compile and design a 2-page PDF reference guide, one revision round included.
Growing SME Brand Guidelines
A 50-person company needs a 20-page guidelines document covering all visual and verbal identity elements with usage examples.
Breakdown
20 hours strategy and writing, 15 hours design, application examples, two revision rounds, final PDF and editable files.
Comprehensive Brand Book
A Series B company rebranding needs a 60-page interactive brand book with digital and print specs, photography direction, and a brand voice chapter.
Breakdown
50 hours total, interactive PDF design, photography moodboard, tone-of-voice examples, three revision rounds, and stakeholder walkthrough.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between brand guidelines and a brand book?
Brand guidelines are a functional reference document for designers and marketers. A brand book is more expansive, often covering brand story, values, and emotional direction in addition to the visual rules.
Should brand guidelines be a PDF or a website?
PDFs are standard for smaller clients. Web-based guidelines (using tools like Zeroheight or Frontify) are better for larger teams and command a higher fee, typically 30–50% more.
Can I charge separately for brand strategy and brand guidelines?
Yes, and you should. Brand strategy (positioning, voice, values) and brand guidelines (visual/verbal system documentation) are distinct deliverables. Price them as separate line items or phases.
How do I price brand guidelines if I didn't design the brand?
If you're documenting an existing brand, your fee should reflect the audit and codification work, not design creation. Expect 20–30% less than if you built the brand from scratch.