Is it possible to have a cohesive, custom brand on a small business budget?

I believe every business deserves access to cohesive branding and web design — no matter its size.
But let’s be honest, that can get tricky.

Brand designers typically price their packages based on a few things:

Back in June, I decided to push myself creatively in the biggest way possible: a 30-day brand design challenge. The rules were simple but brutal—design one complete brand every single day, record the process, and post it on social media.

Do you ever wonder why certain brands look the same across every platform? Or why it’s so easy to spot a brand in the wild just from a color or an emblem? That’s the power of a cohesive brand.

Here’s the thing: if you’re asking this question, I’m going to assume you either DIY’d your website or hired the cheapest designer you could find. Don’t worry — we all start there. But let me help you out of that rut and break down the 3 biggest mistakes keeping your website from converting the way you want it to.

You think you’ve gotten ahead for your 2026 business launch/rebrand. But the truth is? You’re most likely Whether you like it or not. Now you’re probably thinking, “Mariah, what the hell does this have to do with branding and 2026?” Well, let me tell you! 2026 is only 4 months away. Within those 4 months there are 19 weeks, 135 days, and 3 holidays. Sounds like plenty of time, right? But do you know how long branding and web design actually take?

You wake up one morning and decide you want to start your dream cozy coffee shop in downtown Seattle. You suddenly realize… There is a coffee shop on every single corner in Seattle, so what makes you so special?