Custom Design Genius

This is the WORST company to get a logo from. They harass and try to upsell you non stop. They called multiple times to upsell a website before logo was even finished. It took weeks to get a satisfactory logo, afterwards they try to intimidate you into paying an extra $1500 to “trademark” your logo even though their website advertises 100% rights included. They will not stop reaching out with upsells and threats. THEY ARE SCAMMERS STAY AWAY "

Misleading Business Practices – Hidden $1,500 Fee After Logo PurchaseI purchased a “Custom Package” from Custom Design Genius for about $190 on October 1, 2025, which was advertised to include 100% ownership rights for completed logos. After weeks of communication, and hours of me driving the creative design work on a very simplistic logo, the company refused to release my final approved artwork unless I paid an additional $1,500 for what they called a “nationwide certification” or copyright/trademark process — something never mentioned in their advertising, invoice, or pre-payment discussions.This requirement was only raised after design completion and payment, which I believe is deceptive and inconsistent with their stated terms. I have disputed the charge with my credit card provider and filed complaints with consumer protection agencies. I caution others to avoid engaging unless the full terms are provided upfront in writing. "

Let me start off by saying, it started with them creating my logo for me. This was back in April of 2025. They made me feel as though I needed or had to have certain things for my newly started business. For example, they made it seem like I had to have a trademark for my logo and said it would be $1250 for the entire state and upwards of $6500 for international. They started early so that they could build a case for why I'd need it. Secondly, when i didn't move fast enough on the ADA requirement for my .com site, I checked my site one day and they had added a picture of a "ADA violation ad by google" on top of my site. I knew it was them, but I couldn't prove it. They knew it would get my attention and that I'd pay to get my site back up and running properly. They charged my American Express 2 times for something I didn't authorize. They lied and said I'd get a refund! I had to call my bank and get it straightened out. I still have the email from Sean (head of billing) where he says I would get a refund, and after they found out I called my bank and said I wouldn't be getting a refund and instead would send out (labels) for $521 that I already told them were too expensive. More recently, I received a text message that I was in violation of infringement and that I needed to pay $5000 to settle everything. Or that I could get into lots of legal trouble including up to prison time. So much more happened along the way. However, these are just the highlights. Then I check my bank statements and see a charge for $1030 for marketing that I didn't ask for. The charge was linked to another website, that I"d never seen before. I found out that it was (Custom Design Genius) behind another scam when speaking with Mark my web developer (who is behind the scam/scheme as well) told me that (Sean) wanted to speak to me about a dispute for $ 1030 . That's how I discovered they were behind it. They claim it was for marketing that I never ask for. Let me tell you, I believe Sean (head of billing) is the mastermind behind the schemes however, he has some enablers as well ( Joshua & Mark ). They both work alongside him as well. I will say, Mark does excellent work and comes off as nice. However, it’s all a facade. They have extremely dangerous work ethics. They all work together, and Sean has them both and maybe others, wrapped around his fingers real tight!!!! Like others have said in the review, I should have read the reviews before I started working with them, but I didn't. He gets Mark and Joshua to do their dirty work. Then when you don't comply, Sean or Joshua will try to intervene and come in for the kill. There's no other way to say it other than what it is, You can't just talk about it and make negative comments. We must take action!! THEY ARE PROFESSIONAL SCAMMERS!! They must be stopped by any means!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

If you want as insightful a review as ever, I strongly encourage ANYONE considering Custom Design Genius for ANY work to read this all the way through. You will thank me later...My review sadly parallels that of many of these reviews, which I wish I would have weighted more heavily before my start with them. I started a small business and wanted SIMPLE logo design. Nothing complex, over the top, or fancy that would help me look more professional.I took the $149 package for logo design only. I know you get what you pay for, but what I got I will say I was content with. Fit my parameters and the look I was going for. The issues I encountered were with EVERYTHING that followed. Do not believe what they say on their site. PLEASE. They claim you get full ownership rights after completion and turnover, which they clearly displayed to me was not the case, despite snapshots of their site saying so, as well as one of their "chat" agents. After they handed me the final files, they kept pushing website design and hosting, and all of these other services which I simply didn't want or need. I get businesses will try to upsell services, but there's a difference between a salesperson and a stalking, relentless, doesn't understand how to accept a no-type of salesperson. So they offered to send over a preview of an example site to try and show me what they "could" do. I said ok, fine.They sent a link over which you have to sign into. I viewed what they had, and it was just a template. Fine...doesn't have anything of mine or relevant design, and I didn't ask for any, but I kindly declined and said I'm not interested. I only needed the simple logo design and files.More upselling...they then proceeded to push copyrighting and trademarking on me for the files they had created. I am a simple startup, I didn't want or need copyrighting or trademarking for my logo and didn't ask for it. But they were persistent. I thought, well maybe a protected logo no one could take wouldn't be a bad thing especially if this business takes off in the future. They were not transparent on costs...NOR DO THEY ADVERTISE THESE SERVICES. Now hear me out. The cost to personally manage trademarking and copyrighting is actually not that much, however they are SERIOUSLY overcharging for services and making claims that the USPTO has even stated to me directly are not true. After adding another $700 or so onto the bill for this process (which was what I was told was the total cost to complete everything), was the first of dozens of calls and pressures to pay more money to continue to complete and finish the process. It started seeming like an endless money pit (mind you is now almost $8k by the end of my experience with them...explained below).So now they start moving down the route of scare tactics. You won't believe this, but they start using threats about selling off my brand/logo since my company name was in the logo and stating that they would sell off all of the designs to "recoup their losses" due to my wanting to pull out of the process before it was "complete". Umm what losses? I paid you for all of the work up to that point, so there are no losses, and that also indicates that they still claim supposed ownership rights, which their site clearly states are mine.And mind you...they are calling me at ALL times of the day. Sometimes in the morning while I'm at work, in the evening, even 9PM at night, telling me I have to act now. One night they called me over 30 times in 45 minutes. I called the police. Traditional scare tactics and, quite honestly, traditional scamming tactics.I didn't have a legal team behind me from the start, and trying to bring one on after the fact would have been $$$. The outcome...now I have a logo with legit copyright and trademark filings. WAYYY more than I wanted. The cost, STRESS, and SCAMMING and/or FAILED marketing sucked life out of me. I stress out just seeing a NY phone number. I could add SO much to this to detail each part of this stressful endeavor, just please spare yourselves what I went through. AVOID THEM. "

Truly deserves zero to a half a star. They start off real nice, seemingly willing to go above and beyond immediately out of the gate. I purchased the $499 premium package and was immediately moved towards let's get going on the website. Before starting the website I agreed to pay for dedicated hosting and was advised that I owned the content, website, etc....After landing on a logo and the team immediately starts to work on a mock website, I am immediately asked to pay more money for AHA requirements, which I initially agreed to verbally, but declined later via email. Essentially I agreed to a 3 year term (xxx.xx per year) with 1 year for free. Instead They kept asking for money to reserve space for 3 years to get me to pay the entire amount upfront. I kiindly declined.After countless texts and phone calls from the company acct Mgr, even after askkng then to communicate via email, which never happened, I stopped responding to calls and text at all hours of the day.They asked for my credentials to my domain hosting site which I declined to give them, after they told me it was the only way (not true). After receiving the server names, two weeks later, I still have not received any IP information for delegation access. For everything they brought up, which woukd be an enhancement to the site, they started asking for more money. When I brought this to their attention (I was told not comes for free); when I brought up previous reviews they stated (those reviews are from people who do not want to pay).I should have read the reviews before working with this company, but the upfront customer service had me locked in. I have wasted time and money but at this rate I am willing to cut my losses and move on to a reputable and trustworthy website development company. Custom Design Genius (whom I speculate may have been Olive Logo) has great potential but as it stands today, they fit the criteria of a Scam! No real contracts, no company letter heads, no website collaboration sessions, etc...I would not recommend new business to them in the future.Disappointed Client! "