Commissioning a Logo in Switzerland: What You Get and What It Costs
Commissioning a logo in Switzerland: Fiverr, freelancer, or agency? Realistic prices in CHF, what each budget level delivers, and what to watch for.
A logo for CHF 49. Or for CHF 15,000. Both exist. Both are sold in Switzerland. And both are called “logo design” on paper.
The question is not whether you need a logo. Of course you do. The question is: what do you actually get for your money? And how do you tell whether the price someone quotes you is justified?
If you are currently searching for logo design services, you have probably already noticed: the price range is absurd. And nobody explains why. Here are the numbers, the differences, and the truth that most providers will not tell you.
What a Logo Costs in Switzerland: Four Price Tiers
Under CHF 500: Fiverr, 99designs, and DIY Tools
For CHF 49 to 500, you get a logo from a platform. Usually created by someone working with stock elements, asking no questions about your business, and “delivering” within 48 hours.
What you get: a PNG file. Maybe a JPEG variant. No vector graphic, no exclusive rights, no variants. The logo looks passable on screen but cannot be printed on a business card without becoming pixelated. And the biggest problem: there is no strategy behind it. No briefing, no research, no positioning. The logo is based on whatever the designer happened to think looks “nice.”
Who this works for: a personal project, a temporary event, a prototype you will replace in three months anyway.
Who this does not work for: any business that wants to win and retain clients.
CHF 500-2,000: Budget Freelancers and Design Students
In this range, you find career starters, design students, or overseas freelancers with Swiss clients. You typically get a briefing conversation, two to three drafts, and one round of revisions. Files come as vectors, sometimes with a basic colour definition.
What is missing: strategic groundwork, logo variants for different applications, and a system that extends beyond the logo itself. The designer creates what you tell them to. Whether the right thing is being designed — nobody asks that question.
CHF 2,000-5,000: Solid Freelancers and Small Studios
This is where professional logo work begins. Here you get a structured briefing, competitive analysis, several concepts with reasoning, revision rounds, and clean final artwork in all formats.
Good freelancers in Switzerland work in this segment. You get solid craftsmanship, often including a colour palette and font selection. What is typically missing: a well-thought-out logo system with multiple variants and strategic positioning as a foundation.
CHF 5,000-8,000: Logo with Strategy
This is where the real difference starts. The logo does not come from a guess — it comes from analysis. Who are you? What do you stand for? Who do you want to reach? What is the competition doing? The answers to these questions drive the design.
You get a logo system: primary version, compact version, icon. All defined within a visual system, with clear rules. Plus a colour palette, typography, and a guidelines document that ensures the brand stays consistent.
With Tanner Schadstoffsanierung, we went through exactly this process from day one. A logo system that works on vehicles, on workwear, on construction site signage, and on the website. Three defined variants with application rules. The result: a presence that looked consistent on every surface from the start, without anyone having to guess which version fits.
Why Cheap Logos Get Expensive (And What to Clarify First)
The maths go like this: you save CHF 4,000 by ordering a logo for CHF 500 instead of CHF 5,000. A year later, you realise it does not work on the new company signage. That it is unrecognisable in black and white. That you cannot use it as an app icon. That clients confuse it with three other businesses.
So you have a new logo made. Properly this time. CHF 5,000. On top of that come the switching costs: new business cards, new vehicle lettering, new website adjustments, new social media profiles. Before you know it, you are at CHF 8,000 to 12,000. For something that would have cost CHF 5,000 if the logo had been done right the first time.
This is not a hypothetical scenario. It happens every week. I see it with nearly one in three clients who come to us: the logo is the symptom. The problem is that nobody asked the right questions before the design work began.
Before you commission anyone, clarify these four points:
Positioning. Do you know what your business stands for? If not, a logo is the wrong first project. You need clarity first. A logo without positioning is decoration. More on this in positioning for founders.
Application areas. Where will your logo be used? Digital only? Print too? On vehicles? On textiles? The more applications, the more important a logo system becomes instead of a single logo.
Budget and expectations. What do you want to invest, and what do you expect in return? A logo for CHF 800 and a logo for CHF 6,000 are two different products. Either can be the right choice. But you need to know what you are buying.
Usage rights. Do you own the logo? Fully? Exclusively? Or just a licence? On platforms like Fiverr, this is often unclear. In Switzerland, it is legally relevant. Clarify this before payment, not after.
Comparison: What You Get at Each Price Tier
| Fiverr (CHF 50-500) | Freelancer (CHF 2,000-5,000) | Studio with Strategy (from CHF 5,000) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Briefing | Online form | Conversation | Workshop |
| Strategy | None | Minimal | Positioning + analysis |
| Concepts | 1-3 drafts | 2-4 drafts | 2-3 strategically grounded concepts |
| Logo variants | 1 version | 1-2 versions | Logo system (3+ variants) |
| File formats | PNG, JPG | Vector + pixel | All formats, all applications |
| Colour palette | No | Partial | Primary and secondary colours, defined |
| Typography | No | Partial | Type system for web and print |
| Guidelines | No | No | Yes, including application rules |
| Exclusive rights | Often unclear | Yes | Yes, fully |
| Revision rounds | 1-2 | 2-3 | Until sign-off |
| Timeline | 2-5 days | 2-4 weeks | 4-8 weeks |
The table shows: this is not about “expensive vs. cheap.” It is about different products that all go by the name “logo.” If you order a logo for CHF 200 and expect a logo system with strategy, you will be disappointed. If you know what you are buying, you make the right decision.
I get asked this a lot: can you not just get a cheap logo and upgrade later? Technically yes. But “later” in practice means: when it hurts. When clients mention your unprofessional appearance. When you no longer want to share the link to your own website. If you can afford to do it properly now, do it. If you cannot, plan it as the next step. Both are legitimate. The main thing is knowing where you stand.
Our Offer in Context
Our Minimum package at CHF 6,500 includes a logo system with three variants, colour palette, typography, and design guidelines. All built on a strategic foundation. Fixed price, clear scope, no surprises.
It is not the cheapest option. But it is the option where you will not need to start over in five years.
If you are unsure what you need right now: a Brand Check brings clarity. Ten minutes, an honest assessment, no sales pitch. And if the answer is “you do not need a logo right now,” we will tell you that too.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a logo cost in Switzerland? +
A professional logo in Switzerland costs between CHF 2,000 and CHF 8,000. On platforms like Fiverr you can get logos for CHF 50-500, specialist freelancers charge CHF 2,000-5,000, and studios with strategic grounding start at CHF 5,000. At Alchemy Zurich, a logo system is included in the Minimum package from CHF 6,500.
Can I get my logo made on Fiverr? +
Technically yes. But Fiverr logos come without strategy, without exclusive usage rights, and often without vector files. For a side project, that might be enough. For a business that wants to present itself professionally in Switzerland, it is not.
What is the difference between a logo and a logo system? +
A logo is a single mark. A logo system includes multiple variants (primary logo, compact version, icon) optimised for different applications. A system works equally well on your website, a business card, or a vehicle.
How long does it take to have a logo designed? +
On Fiverr: 2-5 days. With a freelancer: 2-4 weeks. With a studio including a strategy phase: 4-8 weeks. The timeline depends on how much groundwork goes into positioning.
Do I need a logo or a full branding? +
If you only need a single mark, a logo is enough. As soon as you want a consistent presence that works across your website, social media, and print, you need a logo system as part of a branding project. Most businesses underestimate this difference.
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