Feature from NAWBO One: The ROI of Branding
We’re proud to share an article originally written by Julie Kostic, Founder of JK Creative and member of NAWBO Orlando, for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) One blog. In this piece, Julie dives into the real value of branding, and why cutting corners on design often costs more than investing in a strategic, cohesive visual identity.
Julie shares insights from her years of experience helping brands, from nonprofits to corporate clients, transform their image, attract stronger opportunities, and build lasting trust through great design.
Read the full feature below, or check out the original post on NAWBO One blog for more inspiring stories from women entrepreneurs.
The ROI of Branding: Why Skimping on Visuals Costs You More Than You Think
Blink and you’ll miss it, because it takes just 50 milliseconds for someone to size up your business online. In that micro-moment, potential clients, partners and investors decide whether you look like the real deal or a risky gamble. Yet so many entrepreneurs treat branding like an afterthought—a logo slapped together with clip art, Canva templates that look just like everyone else’s and a website thrown together like a last-minute Halloween costume.
Here’s the truth: your visuals aren’t just pretty wallpaper or a “nice-to-have.” Branding is the foundation your business needs to build real success. Done right, branding doesn’t just make you look good; it helps you attract better clients, charge what you’re worth and unlock doors you didn’t even know existed.
Branding Is So Much More Than a Logo
A logo alone won’t carry your business to the finish line. Your brand is your business’s first handshake with the world—and it needs to be a memorable one. Show-stopping branding weaves together:
A logo with genuine personality, backed by a confident color palette and typography
Photography or illustration styles that tell your story without saying a word
Consistent, polished layouts that make your marketing materials feel intentional, not accidental
A website that doesn’t just exist but makes visitors pause and take notice
Graphics and templates that say, “We’ve got our act together,” across every channel
When these pieces work in harmony, you build a brand that commands attention and earns trust—two things that are worth their weight in gold.
The Hidden Costs of Skimping on Branding
DIY logos and pieced-together websites might seem like savvy money-savers, but what you “save” upfront often comes back to haunt you—in your wallet and your reputation:
Opportunities Slipping Through Your Fingers: Prospective clients won’t hang around if your brand doesn’t inspire confidence. They’ll click over to a competitor who looks like they mean business.
Costs That Balloon Over Time: What starts as a “budget-friendly” hack usually turns into paying more to fix branding that didn’t cut it the first time—plus, you can never get back lost time.
Partnerships and Funding Left on the Table: Investors and partners judge professionalism before they meet you. An outdated or haphazard brand can quietly tell them to walk away.
The ROI of Professional Branding
Branding isn’t just about looking polished; it’s about planting seeds of credibility, authority and growth. According to Lucidpress, consistent branding can increase revenue by up to 23 percent. That’s not marketing fluff—it’s a real difference that lands straight in your bottom line.
Here are three real-life transformations from our work at JK Creative that prove investing in branding pays off:
Turning a Nonprofit Gala into the Event Everyone Talks About
A national nonprofit we partnered with hosted an annual fundraising gala, but their event branding looked like it was hastily thrown together on Canva. We stepped in and revamped everything with stunning, cohesive visuals. The result? Guests and sponsors viewed the event in a fresh, elevated light. Attendance and fundraising goals are gaining new momentum.Helping a Biotech Consultancy Go from Generic to Genuine
A biotech consultancy came to us with a logo so bland it could’ve been any business on the block, plus a DIY website that said, “We’ll figure it out later.” We crafted a modern, distinctive brand and a website that radiated professionalism. Soon after, they began attracting new leads and signing contracts with international clients who praised their polished presence.Helping a Solo Sustainability Consultant Punch Above His Weight
A sustainability consultant realized his outdated visuals were sending the wrong message. We helped him refresh his logo and website into a sharp, modern brand. Before long, he was winning bigger contracts—and prospects assumed he had a full team behind him. That’s the magic of great branding: it helps even the smallest operations play in the big leagues.
Where to Start: Smart Branding Investments
You don’t need a Fortune 500 budget to build a brand that turns heads. Invest wisely, and you can lay a rock-solid foundation for success. Here’s a quick checklist to get you started:
Logo and Color Palette
Design a logo that stands out and a color scheme that captures your vibe.Templates for Consistency
Create templates for proposals, social media and presentations so every touchpoint says, “We’ve got this.”A Website That Makes an Impression
Your website is your digital front door—make sure it invites people in and shows them you mean business.Brand Guidelines
Document how to use your visuals so your brand looks just as sharp when your team grows or you work with outside partners.Regular Brand Checkups
Every three to five years, ask yourself: “Does our brand still match who we are and where we’re going?” If not, it’s time for a refresh.
Conclusion: Your Brand Is an Investment—Not a Line Item
Whether you’re a brand-new founder or a seasoned entrepreneur ready to level up, remember: your brand isn’t just how you look. It’s how you make people feel—and that’s what opens doors, wins trust and sets you apart. When you invest in professional, cohesive visuals, you’re not just making a good impression, you’re making a lasting one.
Because in business, first impressions aren’t fleeting—they have staying power. So make yours unforgettable.
Ready to invest in your brand?
