Is a Semi-Custom Brand Right For You?

Have you stepped into the whirlwind world of small business ownership and feel the pressure to position yourself in a stand-out way? Speaking from experience, it’s wise to make your brand identity a priority. In a sea of same-ness these days, your branding is often your golden ticket either to success or a swift exit. But not every business is ready to invest time and resources into from-scratch custom branding. We get it! So, you might be wondering if a Semi-Custom Brand is right for you—could it just be your game-changing move? Let’s dive into some key reasons why it might be your small biz’s new best friend (and when it’s not).

A Semi-Custom Brand is Budget-Friendly

First off, let’s talk investment. A Semi-Custom Brand offers a savvy and professional solution without breaking your wallet. While some premade brand kits cost upwards of $2,000, ours are at most $695 (plus we offer payment plans). When looking into custom branding, you’ll likely find packages starting at roughly $3,000+. With our brand kits, you’ll get all the essentials—logo suite, color palette, brand pattern, and more—tailored to your biz vibe, all at a fraction of the cost.

They’re Timeline Friendly

Time’s another biggie. With a Semi-Custom Brand Kit, you can get a full brand identity much faster than a custom process. Some are a few weeks, and some are a 2-day turnaround (depending on the amount of editing rounds you receive, etc.) Our Semi-Custom Brands have a week turnaround time, and we offer some additional time if there are add-ons or extra edits needed. If you’re hoping to establish your business quickly, transforming a kit might be the way to go.

A Brand Kit is Professionally Transformed

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, consistency is key. A word to the wise here: be cautious about going for the cheapest kit out there. While these might seem intriguing at first, it’s important to do initial research. Find out if the seller will actually customize the kit for you or if you’ll have to do that yourself. Also, are there limits on the number of kits sold to maintain uniqueness in the marketplace? When building trust with your dream customers, having consistent and professional branding is so important. Our kits are sold only twice, and we transform the whole thing for you from start to finish to ensure cohesion. So, no fancy design software is needed on your end!

Is a Semi-Custom Brand Right for You? Maybe Not…

As much fun as we have with our Semi-Custom clients, there are many times when custom branding is the better move for a business. We recommend going with a brand kit if you’re a new business or simply need something fast. Think of them as a stepping stone. You’ll likely hit a point when it’s time to present your business in a more authentic way. Many of our custom clients started out with a DIY or Semi-Custom kit in order to gain momentum and have outgrown it. If you’re more established, are witnessing growth, or simply want to position yourself strategically from the get-go, a custom brand identity will serve your business best in the long term.

How to Choose a Brand Kit

Here are some pro tips when selecting a Semi-Custom Brand kit for your business:

• Do initial research into the designer and understand what the customization process will be like.
• Look at their results: What client experiences do they have to show for? Any before and afters?
• Really consider your business goals and target audience—what will they resonate with? What do your competitors look like?
• Find a kit with a style you envision (what’ll you have: modern, edgy, romantic, playful?)
• Evaluate your brand name vs. the example the kit comes with. If you select a kit with a one-word business name but yours has three, it’s important to consider that yours will likely look different in terms of logo layout.
• Review what the purchase comes with so you have your expectations met from the get-go. We’re talking turnaround time, what elements can be edited, payment plan options, etc.
• Know your timeline: Some kits can be transformed right after purchase, while others require you to connect with the designer to schedule a customization day.

A Semi-Custom Brand kit isn’t just a purchase—it’s a game plan (especially for new businesses). Want to browse ours? Check ‘em out here.