Kwaku Amprako is a brand identity designer and founder of Akrivi — pioneering BIDA (Brand Identity Design Automation) to empower designers to create with more speed, precision, and less stress.
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Brand Guidelines Examples for Startups in 2026
How big brand guidelines should be for startups - with examples and downloadable templates.
If you are designing a brand for a startup, you might be wondering how big the guidelines need to be.
Do they need a massive 50-page book like Uber or Apple? Probably not.
Startups move fast. They need something they can actually use, not a heavy manual that sits in a folder gathering dust. But the size of the document really depends on the scale of the startup you are working with.
In this post, I will break down exactly what to deliver based on the client type, and show you how to build these variations quickly using Guideit.
The Solopreneur
If your client is a solo founder or a local business, they don't have a marketing department. They just need to know what hex code to use on Instagram.
Sometimes for these clients, a single sheet is perfect.
It should fit on one 1920x1080 artboard. On the left, you place the primary logo. On the right, you list the color palette and type hierarchy rules.
Or a medium brand guidelines template that covers just those basics. They can pin in Slack or send to a freelancer. It solves 90% of their problems without overwhelming them.
You can also download our free brand guidelines templates for a quick start.
The VC-Backed Company
If you are working with a startup that just raised significant funding, the expectations change.
These companies have investors watching them. They need to look established and trustworthy to protect that investment, of course you cannot hand them a one-page sheet.
For this scale, you need a proper document (usually 15-30 pages). It needs to include:
- The Brand Positioning: Mission, Vision and Tone of Voice to show strategic thinking.
- Logo Usage: Logo backgrounds, minimum size, clearspace, to ensure the logo is used the right way.
- Colors: Primary and secondary palettes and their respective codes.
- Graphic Elements: Icons, patterns, illustrations for intuitive and inclusive design.
- Corporate Assets: Letterhead, business cards to easily view how the brand sets to present itself in print.
- Photography: Composition, use and misuses of imagery.
- Application: Mockups showing the brand on merchandise or software interfaces.
This level of detail signals to the market that this is a serious company.
For more comprehensive layouts, check out my list of brand guidelines examples.
How to Create Both Versions Fast
You don't need to build these manually. With Guideit, you can generate a professional base for any size client in seconds.
The automated templates in Guideit are versatile.
1. For a Solopreneur
You can use the Corporate or Contemporary template, generate the full book, and then simply delete the extra pages, leaving just the Logo, Colors and Typography. May be with 2-3 applications.
We are bringing single page templates in the upcoming Guideit V1.1 updates.
2. For a VC-Backed Startup
You can use the Tech or Swiss templates to generate the full, detailed system instantly.
We are bringing large templates with more assets in the upcoming Guideit V1.1 updates.
Watch Tutorial: How to create a short brand guidelines
Ready to Generate?
Your job as a designer is to give the client what they actually need. By matching the size of the guidelines to the stage of the company, you provide value they can use immediately.
Generate for Free with Akrivi Studio.
Conclusion
A seed-stage startup does not need the same rules as a VC-backed company. Whether you deliver a simple one-pager or a full strategic document, the most important thing is that it helps them stay consistent as they grow.
