A brand designer creates the visual identity for your business, including your logo, color palette, typography, and other design elements that represent your brand. At Unlock Collective, we go beyond just creating pretty designs – we develop strategic brand identities that communicate your unique value and connect with your ideal audience. Our collaborative process ensures your brand authentically represents your business while standing out in your market.

Professional branding is an investment that varies based on your specific needs and business goals. At Unlock Collective, our brand identity packages typically range from $2,000-$8,000, depending on the complexity and deliverables required. We believe in transparent pricing and creating custom solutions that provide maximum value for small businesses and entrepreneurs. We're happy to provide a personalized quote after discussing your unique needs during our discovery call.

A comprehensive branding project typically takes 4-8 weeks from start to finish. This timeline allows for thorough research, strategic development, creative exploration, refinement, and implementation. We break our process into clear phases with defined milestones to keep your project on track. For businesses with urgent needs, we may offer expedited options when our schedule permits.

This depends on your current situation and goals. A new logo might be sufficient if you're just starting out or if your current branding largely works but needs a refresh. A complete rebrand is more appropriate when your business has evolved significantly, you're targeting a new audience, or your current brand no longer represents who you are. During our initial consultation, we'll assess your needs and recommend the approach that best supports your business objectives.

Website costs vary widely based on your specific requirements, functionality needs, and the platform used. Our custom website projects typically range from $2,000-$12,000. We primarily build on user-friendly platforms that empower you to manage your site after launch. Each website quote is tailored to your specific needs after a thorough discussion of your goals, technical requirements, and content needs.

A professional website typically takes 4-10 weeks to complete, depending on the complexity and your team's responsiveness with feedback and content. This timeline includes strategy, design, development, content integration, testing, and launch. We'll provide a detailed project schedule during our kickoff meeting so you know exactly what to expect and when.

Yes! We understand that websites require ongoing care to remain secure, functional, and effective. We offer website maintenance packages that include regular updates, security monitoring, performance optimization, and technical support. We also provide training so you can make simple content updates yourself if you prefer. Our goal is to ensure your website continues to serve your business effectively long after the initial launch.

As a queer-owned and operated agency, we bring unique perspectives and a deep commitment to authentic representation. We specialize in working with small businesses, entrepreneurs, and underrepresented communities, bringing big-agency expertise with boutique-level personal attention. Our approach combines strategic thinking with creative execution – we don't just make things look good; we ensure they work effectively to achieve your business goals. We also prioritize education, empowering you to understand and participate in the process rather than keeping you in the dark.

Consider these signs: you're struggling to attract your ideal clients, your messaging feels inconsistent or unclear, you're not seeing results from your current marketing efforts, or you feel overwhelmed trying to manage marketing yourself. If you're experiencing any of these challenges, professional marketing support could help. Our approach focuses on creating sustainable, authentic marketing strategies that align with your business values and capacity.

Our marketing consultations include a comprehensive review of your current marketing efforts, clarification of your business goals and target audience, identification of opportunities and challenges, and development of actionable recommendations tailored to your specific situation. We provide strategic guidance on the most effective channels, messaging approaches, and tactics for your business. You'll leave with clear next steps and priorities to improve your marketing effectiveness.

Absolutely! Small businesses and solopreneurs are our specialty. We understand the unique challenges you face – limited time, budget constraints, and wearing multiple hats. Our services are specifically designed to provide professional-quality creative and strategic support that fits within the realities of small business operations. We offer flexible packages and prioritize teaching you practical skills you can implement yourself moving forward.

While we work across various industries, we have particular expertise in service-based businesses, creative entrepreneurs, wellness practitioners, sustainable and ethical businesses, and LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC-owned ventures. Our diverse client experience allows us to bring fresh perspectives while understanding the specific needs of different market sectors. What matters most is not your industry but your commitment to building an authentic, purpose-driven business.

The first step is to complete our project inquiry form on our website or schedule a discovery call. During this initial conversation, we'll discuss your goals, timeline, budget, and project needs to determine if we're a good fit for each other. If we are, we'll provide a detailed proposal outlining our recommended approach, deliverables, timeline, and investment. Once approved, we'll send a contract and initial invoice to secure your spot in our schedule.

Yes! We understand that investing in professional creative services is significant for small businesses. We offer flexible payment plans for most projects, typically structured around project milestones. For larger projects, we generally require a deposit to begin work, followed by installment payments throughout the project timeline. We're committed to making quality design and marketing support accessible to small businesses through manageable payment options.

To ensure your project's success, we'll need information about your business goals, target audience, competitors, brand preferences, and any existing brand assets or guidelines. For website projects, we'll also need content (text, images) and information about functionality requirements. Don't worry if you don't have all of this prepared – part of our process includes guidance and questionnaires to help you articulate this information effectively.

Your involvement is crucial to creating authentic work that truly represents your business. We view our relationship as a collaborative partnership rather than a hands-off service. You can expect regular check-ins, feedback sessions, and approvals throughout the process. That said, we respect your time as a business owner and structure our process to make efficient use of your input at key decision points, rather than requiring your attention for every small detail.

Our collaborative process is designed to minimize this risk through thorough discovery and ongoing communication. However, we understand that creative work is subjective. Our packages include revision rounds to refine the work based on your feedback. If you're fundamentally unhappy with a direction, we'll discuss your concerns and find a solution together. Our priority is delivering work you're proud to represent your business, and we're committed to achieving that outcome.

Absolutely! Education is a core part of our mission. We provide comprehensive training on how to use and maintain your new website, properly implement your brand assets, and effectively manage your marketing tools. This training is typically included in our packages and can be customized to your specific needs and technical comfort level. We also provide detailed documentation and guides for future reference.

Yes, we can provide support and recommendations when printing your marketing materials, ensuring color accuracy and professional quality. We have established relationships with reliable print vendors for various needs – from business cards and brochures to signage and promotional items. We can either manage the printing process for you or provide print-ready files with specifications for you to use with your preferred vendor.

A creative consultant provides strategic guidance and practical solutions for your visual identity, marketing approach, and business positioning. As creative consultants, we help you identify opportunities to strengthen your brand presence, clarify your messaging, and implement effective marketing tactics that align with your capacity and resources. We combine big-picture strategy with actionable recommendations, serving as both visionary partners and practical problem-solvers for your business challenges.