Do you need a brand before a website?
Usually yes, and it costs less than doing it the other way round. Here’s how to tell which situation you’re in.
The short answer
If you don’t yet have a logo, colours and fonts you’re happy with, sort those first. A website is built on top of a brand: every page uses its colours, every heading uses its fonts, every button follows its tone. Build the site first and change the brand later, and you pay to redo the site.
If you already have a brand you like, even a simple one, go straight to the website. The site can tidy things up as it goes.
What “a brand” actually means here
Not a 60-page brand book. For a small business, brand foundations are: a logo that works large and small, on light and dark; two or three colours that are yours; fonts for headings and text; a sense of how the business talks; and a short set of rules so all of it stays consistent whoever uses it.
That’s a two-to-three-week job, from £1,500. It’s the groundwork a website, a van, a shopfront and an Instagram account all share.
Three situations, three answers
| Your situation | Do this |
|---|---|
| No logo yet, or one made in a hurry you don’t love | Brand first, then website. The site will be designed on the brand from day one. |
| A logo and colours you’re happy with | Straight to the website. The designer works with what you have and tightens it where needed. |
| A logo you’re unsure about | Get an honest opinion before committing either way. A refresh is often enough, and it’s cheaper than a full rebrand. |
Doing both at once
The most efficient route for a new business is to do brand and website with the same person, brand first and website straight after. There’s no handover between a logo designer and a web designer, no mismatch between the two, and the website doesn’t sit waiting for files.
With me, that’s brand foundations from £1,500 followed by a website from £2,800, usually eight to nine weeks end to end. I price the two together so nothing is counted twice.
Can you build first and brand later?
You can, and sometimes you should: if you need to be online next week to take bookings, a simple one-page site with a plain wordmark is better than nothing. Just go in knowing it’s a stopgap, and keep the site small so it’s cheap to redo.
What I’d avoid is spending £3,000 or more on a full website and then rebranding six months later. At that point most of the design work has to be done again.
What to do next
Look at your current logo at the size of a phone app icon and on a dark background. If it still works, build the website. If it falls apart, start with the brand. And if you’re genuinely not sure, send me a link and I’ll give you a straight answer in a couple of days, free.
Next step
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