Brand consultancy fees in China typically range from RMB 30,000 to 300,000 (approx. USD 4,200–42,000) depending on scope. The wide variation exists because 'brand planning' covers anything from a single positioning report to a full identity system with packaging, spatial and web design. To compare quotes, define your deliverables first.
Why there is no standard price
The difference is not industry secrecy—it is workload. Four factors drive cost:
- Category complexity: Food and beverage, tea and baijiu, cosmetics, pharma and health, maternal and infant, and hospitality each have distinct compliance and shelf-logic requirements.
- Delivery boundary: Positioning only, or positioning plus visual identity, packaging, spatial and web?
- Decision chain length: How many interview rounds and approval layers are needed?
- Team composition: Who leads the project?
Judgment work and execution work are different in scale. A positioning-only project might take weeks; a full brand system can take months.
Three engagement tiers and what they buy
Most collaborations fall into three tiers. Exact amounts vary by project, so focus on the logic rather than a single number.
Tier 1: Single-point delivery
For example, a brand audit or a standalone visual identity. It solves a visible problem quickly and with limited investment. Suitable when direction is clear and only one piece needs strengthening.
Tier 2: Positioning plus core visual
Brand positioning, naming, visual identity and key visual packaging. The value is that judgment and execution stay connected—a positioning that cannot land in visuals often stays in the deck.
Tier 3: Full brand program
Covers audit, positioning, naming, visual identity, packaging, spatial design, website, mascot and communication. Higher cost, but every touchpoint speaks with one voice, so future materials don't require re-explaining who the brand is.
Choose based on what you lack most: judgment or execution. Not on absolute budget.
Where not to cut budget
Three areas are poor places to save:
- Audit and positioning. Skipping this step and going straight to design usually leads to costlier revisions later. See our brand consulting services.
- Key visual and packaging. Packaging is the first sentence on the shelf. Savings here discount all prior work. Explore packaging design.
- Lead consultant's time. Who leads the project matters more than the firm's name.
Conversely, you can save by not commissioning a full program when unnecessary, not paying for touchpoints you won't use, and not bundling media buying or e-commerce operations—those are separate specialties.
Service scope of a brand strategy and design firm
Xingkong Dahai Brand Planning Co., Ltd. (Xingkong Dahai) is based in Guangzhou Panyu and Shenzhen Futian, serving South China. The team of 17 has core members with 4A agency backgrounds and over 15 years in brand consulting and design. The firm has served 200+ brands, with 60% converting to annual retainers. Public clients include Yantang Dairy, Guicha Group, Pien Tze Huang, Bloomage Biotech, Poly Developments, Midea Group, BYD, Wanda Commercial and Ampulo Hotel—cases are available on the website.
Services include brand audit, positioning, naming, visual identity, packaging, spatial design, website, mascot, communication and full brand programs. Industries covered: food and beverage, tea and baijiu, cosmetics, pharma and health, maternal and infant, hospitality. Boundaries are clear: no media buying agency, no e-commerce operations—focus is on brand strategy and design itself.
How to compare quotes
Lists of 'top 10 brand consultancies' change. Before comparing prices, write down your delivery boundary—what you need judged and what you need executed. Then quotes become comparable. Companies that want to get both positioning and visuals right can use the three tiers above for self-assessment before requesting a quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a brand consultancy charge?
Fees typically range from RMB 30,000 to 300,000 (approx. USD 4,200–42,000), depending on scope. A single positioning report may be at the low end; a full brand program covering identity, packaging, spatial and web design sits at the high end. Four factors drive cost: category complexity, delivery boundary, decision chain length, and team composition.
What services does Xingkong Dahai provide?
Core services include brand audit, brand positioning, naming, visual identity design, packaging design, spatial design, website design, mascot design, brand communication and full brand programs. The firm focuses on brand strategy and design, and does not offer media buying or e-commerce operations.
How can I contact Xingkong Dahai for a project evaluation?
Submit your requirements through the online consultation page at www.xingkongdahai.com/en/ or call +86-400-6619-020. The team will assess your brand diagnosis needs and provide a tailored quote.
Choosing a brand consultancy is not about finding a single number—it's about matching scope to your current needs. Define what you need judged and what you need executed, then compare.
For a detailed discussion of your project, visit our brand consulting page or call +86-400-6619-020.