Creating a logo is an important part of starting a small business. It’s the calling card of your business name so it should be memorable and unique. It’s going to be displayed on your business cards, invoices, letter heads, website, and advertisements. Customers see a businesses logo as an extension of your business and from it they will judge your seriousness and professionalism.
For the computer repair business I’m starting, I decided to tackle the logo design process right after I registered my business name. This is partly because I’m a superficial graphic design geek and I love me some nice sleek logo goodness. Also, I thought it was important to have a good logo in order to present a professional look for my computer support business right from the start. I wanted to make sure people understood I’m not messing around with this.
There are a few different approaches you can take with logo design. I’ll outline a few for you here and let you know what route I finally decided to take based on my needs. Keep in mind, I had a very small amount of money saved up from a couple contract gigs that I did (remember I’m not spending a dime of my own money on my business), so I included the cost for each option. I also included the time and work spent on each option, because I have a day job and I cherish my free time.
Home-grown Logo Design
Cost: Free
Work/Time spent: A lot
The most cost effective option is to design the logo yourself. There are plenty of free graphic design programs available like GIMP, which is an open source Photoshop competitor. Be careful, if you choose to do the designing yourself, because consumers can spot a home-grown logo a mile away. If you have no experience in graphic design, it will behoove you to get some pointers online. Some good resources to get you started:
Graphic Design Basics
Logo Design Tutorials
How to Design an Awesome Logo
This is the option I really wanted to take. I know I can do it, because I designed the Y.F.N.C.G. logo for this website. I still put myself in the amature/hobbiest category of graphic designers though, and I was a little hesitant to design something for my business without the proper tools or knowledge. There’s something special about having a professional’s touch, and in this case, I wanted that pro mojo.
Hire a Freelancer
Cost: Low to Pricey
Work/Time Spent: Some
Freelancers are great. They spend their days doing nothing but what they love to do. So this is your best bet if you want a highly customized, high quality graphic for your logo. It pays to do some shopping around, though. Quality and price vary widely. Make sure you check out a portfolio of previous designs. Also, make sure the person will be readily available via whatever medium you need, so you can easily communicate with them. Some of my favorite places to find freelancers:
I didn’t choose this option because most freelancers were charging too much. Also, the time it takes to communicate your ideas and request new drafts can add up. Plus, without an established firm or company to back them up, it’s a crap shoot as to the reliability of the freelancer. I’ve had wonderful experiences and not so wonderful experiences using freelancers in the past, so I thought I would avoid the potential headache this time around.
Use a Logo Design Company
Cost: Low to middle
Work/Time Spent: Very little
The great thing about companies that specialize in logo design is that they are experts in the field of logo design. They have the resources and the expertise to churn out great content. They can also keep costs low because they have a team of graphic designers pooling their resources to produce results quickly.
I finally decided to go with Logo Design Creation’s Starter Design Package. For $40 I received two initial logo concepts from which to choose from. After I chose my initial logo design, I could ask for unlimited tweaks (like color, size, style changes) until I was satisfied. Being a perfectionist hard headed, I asked for about 6 or 7 tweaks before I finally settled on the design I liked. And here is the logo I settled on:
I asked for something that conveyed fast, friendly, consumer and business computer service and I believe that’s what I received. I also asked them to include an iconic image that could stand on it’s own (the running man). The motto “Your Friendly Neighborhood Computer Guy” can be removed if necessary, since it wont be visible if the logo is a smaller size (like on business cards and stationary). They also provided the logo in many shapes, file formats, and even included information on the fonts and colors they used.
I think the folks at Logo Design Creation did a great job with my logo. I would never have been able to create a sleek, adaptable, iconic logo like this on my own. It may look simple and unassuming, but I really think it’s a logo that can stick with my company for many years into the future.
The biggest value I gain from my logo is the feeling of ownership and pride I have when I see it displayed. It’s my mark, my badge of business ownership.
Now that I have the logo created, I can easily produce professional looking business cards with my business name. I can also begin building a website around the logo.
What do you think of the logo? For the business owners out there, what was your experience with logo design? Did you choose to do it yourself or hire a professional?
New Category added to Resources Page:
Logo Design
And for a laugh, try Make My Logo Bigger Cream!
Wow! I love the new logo! I love the versitility, colors, and the cool little man. I think you’re right, they did a good job conveying the aspects of your business that you are looking to display.
Thanks Tim, I’m glad you share my enthusiasm for it!
That is awesome! The little man just looks like you. The feeling I got from the logo is that your service is fast and friendly.Good luck!
So, your business is almost set up?
Haha, he looks just likeme huh? I don’t know how to take that =-) I’m glad you get the feeling of fast and friendly service from the logo!
Yes, my business is almost set-up. There’s still one or two small things I need to do, but overall it’s ready to go!
I love your logo – it makes me want to break my computer so that cute little guy 9with your hlep0 can come to my house and fix it.
Haha, great! And while we’re at it, we can fix your shift key too!
Its a nice design. The character could use a little bit of work (a little too blocky, but thats my opinion), but other than that, it looks good. It does portray what you want though (quick service).
Hey Vincent, I actually thought the same thing as you initially. But the little guy has grown on me! He’s very unassuming and not too cutesy, which I appreciate. Thanks for your input, always appreciated!
I approve of the logo Matt
If any of my friends in Maryland need PC help I will direct them your way…
Thanks! Haha, so are you saying you wouldn’t recommend me before you saw the logo?! (j/k)
Nice job for $40 bucks! I am going to have to use them
I think what you said
“The motto “Your Friendly Neighborhood Computer Guy” can be removed if necessary, since it wont be visible if the logo is a smaller size (like on business cards and stationary)”
is true but instead of removing it consider adding a line of the same color.
Thanks for sharing!
Good suggestions Phil, I think that would make the logo look nicer overall!
I do embroidery and one thing people don’t consider is how well a logo will sew on a shirt if you desire to do that. The small text won’t work of course as the max size a sewn logo should be is 4″ wide. Other than that it’s great. And obviously the more complex and the more colors you have the more it’s going to cost to sew. Look at the big companies, most of their logo’s are very simple in design.
Good point! I have thought about that and if and when I put the logo on a shirt, it will be sans the tiny text. And you’re right about simplicity. That’s why I decided to ask a professional to do it, because if I had done it myself, I probably would have made it too complicated.
Since others have posted on this recently I just wanted to follow up. I have used the company “Logo Design Creations” referenced in the post several times and have to say they are the best company I have ever worked with.
They produce excellent results in a quick time frame for a cost that can’t be beat!
Two thumbs up for them! So thankful that you turned me on to them.
No I do not work for them, nor am I an affiliate…
It’s good to hear that a company I recommended has helped others. I really do think it was a great find!
I’ve used Logo Design Creation and the company stands out, in my mind, because of the speed with which they respond to any and all customer needs. Every project is handled with ease with which editing requests and updates are processed. They also have the ability to “problem-solve” and meet client expectations far and away.
I personally think they are one of the most impressive in the industry (of web design and logo creation). From the standpoint of artistic expression, LogoDesign Creation masterfully balances customer needs with the topography of modern web design.
What satisfies me the most? The ability of Logo Design Creation to synthesize the specifics of the client with the experience of the teams. I would highly recommend Logo Design Creation to just about anybody who needs a logo!! Bravo!!
I highly recommend Logo Design Creation to whoever needs a well-designed logo. I was very pleased with the design concept they presented as it was exactly what I wanted. I didn’t have a specific vision in mind for the final product but the designers listened to my criteria and delivered an excellent logo. The design staff from Logo Design Creation interpreted my vision for a logo perfectly. They incorporated all the aspects needed to communicate my company’s message. The designer was easy to communicate with and had an intuitive sense for the best solution in what I needed in a logo. They couldn’t have made the process any easier.
Overall an impressive design that you can be proud of. The logo ‘screams out’ fast and efficient service.
I do agree with the other poster about the ‘blocky’ character. I wondered if he should have had a simple smile instead of a ‘block’ face – to give the impression of friendliness. Hard to say as you wouldn’t want to complicate the design further.