What it costs to create a brand, and how we charge
Creating a brand costs what your category, markets and order size make it cost. We keep our fee separate from what you pay to third parties, so you can see each part.
How much does it cost to create a brand?
The cost of creating a brand is the sum of two very different things: the fee for the work of building it, and the money that goes to third parties such as factories, laboratories, attorneys, carriers and advertising platforms. In most product brands the second part decides the total, and it depends mainly on the category, the number of markets and the size of the first order. That is why a single figure for every project would mislead you.
We set out our fee by stage in a written proposal, after a first review of your brief, which is free. The proposal fixes the fee per stage and the scope behind it. You may stop at any gate and pay only for the stages completed. What was finished is yours to keep.
Third-party costs are quoted by those providers, and you see them as separate items. If any goods or services are to pass through our company, the proposal says so. Before speaking to anyone, you can estimate your margin and cash needs with the calculator, and see how the stages and gates work.
What is in our fee, and what is paid separately
The exact split is written in your proposal. Here is the general logic.
| Item | In our stage fee | Paid separately to third parties |
|---|---|---|
| Strategy and business case | Research, numbers, positioning, recommendation | Paid market data or studies, if you approve them |
| Naming and trademark | Name creation, language checks, preliminary screening | Attorney fees and official filing fees |
| Identity and packaging | Design, artwork, coordination with printers | Printing, physical samples, tooling for packaging |
| Assortment | Analysis, range plan, cash plan | Samples bought for comparison |
| Manufacturing | Specification, factory search, negotiation, coordination | Goods, moulds and tooling (factory), third-party audits and inspections |
| Compliance | Requirements map, test plan, file preparation, label check | Laboratory tests, certification bodies, responsible-person services, legal opinions |
| Freight and customs | Coordination as agreed | Carrier, insurance, duties and taxes |
| Launch | Plan, budgets, briefs, starting materials | Advertising spend, marketplace fees, photography or production if external |
We do not publish fees here, because the scope differs too much between projects to make a useful figure. Ask for a written proposal.
What moves the total cost
When comparing quotes, check whether these have been counted.
- Category: regulated products need more tests, documents and qualified producers
- Number of markets: each may add trademark filings, labels, translations and a local responsible party
- Number of products and variants: each multiplies minimums, artwork and tests
- Packaging: custom shapes and special finishes cost more than stock formats
- Original development: tooling and engineering for OEM against a ready base
- Order size: lowers the unit price but raises cash at risk
- Factory location and shipping method: unit price is not the same as landed cost
- Trademark situation: crowded classes or oppositions add attorney work
- Launch channel: retail terms, marketplace fees and advertising differ widely
- How much your own team does: tasks kept in-house leave the proposal
Frequently asked questions
Why don’t you publish a price list?
Because our fee depends on scope: a single market and a simple product is a different job from a regulated range in several countries. After a brief, you get a written proposal with a fee for each stage, so you can compare it and decide.
Is the first conversation free?
Yes. The first review of your brief costs nothing and carries no obligation. If we think the idea will not pay back, we tell you.
What happens if I stop halfway?
You pay only for the completed stages and keep their results. There is no charge for later stages you do not order. Commitments already made with third parties, such as a placed factory order, follow the terms of those contracts.
Do you take a commission from factories?
Any compensation arrangement relating to a factory or a supplier has to be stated in your proposal. Ask about it directly, and ask the same of any sourcing agent you compare us with, because “free” sourcing is usually paid for inside the unit price.
What is the cheapest way to test a brand idea?
Check the numbers first, then sell something small: pre-orders, a white label batch or a single product in a single channel. The cost of a small failed test is much lower than the cost of a large failed batch.
Have a product idea? Check it before you buy stock.
Send a short brief. We tell you what we think, including when we think you should not do it.
Tell us about your brand
A few lines are enough: what you want to sell, where and to whom. We reply with an honest view of feasibility, the stages you need and the next step.
- No obligation: the first review of your idea is free
- If we think the idea will not pay back, we say so
- Your idea stays confidential; we can sign an NDA
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