A logo for your small business is as important as the name. A beautifully designed logo is a client’s first interaction with your business, which they retain as a memory forever. Your logo can be text, an image, or a combination of both and should have a symbolic association with your brand that stays in the client’s memory. When it comes to establishing your business, a logo is crucial for marketing, brand building, and recognition.

Types of logo design
Logos are a combination of text and visuals. You can create millions of logos using multiple colors, fonts, styles, and designs. The seven main types of logo design are:

Lettermark logo
Lettermark logos consist of letters that could be the company’s or its founders’ initials. If the name of your business is lengthy, you can use letter mark logos to represent your brand. Lettermark logos are powerful symbols for brand identity. Many well-known brands are known by the businesses or their founder’s initials rather than their full names.

Wordmark logo
As the name indicates, the wordmark logo uses the business’s name in elegant fonts and colors, representing its vision and mission. A wordmark logo is ideal for companies with short and distinct names.

Pictorial mark logo
Pictorial logos are visuals or images that become icons of the brand. When you see the symbol, you automatically remember the company. Pictorial logos are ideal for companies that have strong brand recognition. The picture can represent the name, the product, or what you do.

Abstract mark logo
Abstract mark logos are pictorial logos but contain abstract or geometrical images that may or may not represent your name, product, or service. You can use your business concepts and vision to create abstract images that represent your brand over time.

Mascot logo
Mascot logos are typically caricatures or cartoon characters that are fun and can serve as brand ambassadors for your business. Mascot logos are ideal for businesses that deal with families, children, food, sports, and entertainment.

The combination mark
A combination mark logo combines elements like letters, words, images and mascots. The trick is to create an uncluttered logo integrating all these elements. Combination marks are ideal for food and fashion businesses. The advantage of combination marks is once you have gained good brand recognition, you can revisit the logo and retain only one element that truly represents your work.

Emblems
Emblems are logos that use badges, crests, and seals and are ideal for businesses with long historical and cultural significance. Emblem logos are ideal for educational institutions, financial institutions, art galleries, museums, century-old auto or wine companies, and new companies operating based on traditional values and systems.

Cost of logo design
Traditionally logos were created with the help of a team of designers, advertising and marketing and brand specialists. For small businesses or start-ups, this can become an expensive affair. Today, many software tools and editing software can help you create a logo in a few minutes – provided you are clear about your expectations. You can create a logo for free or hire specialists if you are unsatisfied with your efforts. Some recognized and world-class brand imaging specialists charge about $5,000 to $10,000 for branding packages, including creating a logo. A professional agency may charge $2,500 just for logo design.

Some logo design companies charge you hourly, including brainstorming, design and delivery. You can also look online for logo design services, which offer their services for fees ranging from $20 to $300. They will research extensively and look through registered trademarks and patents to ensure that there are no copyright violations or plagiarism issues and that the logo they suggest is not similar to any existing logos. You can also use the services of young design students or freelancers who may have new and creative ideas but are not expensive.

Deals for logo design
Logo design companies may offer deals like:

Quick turnaround time
Unlimited revisions
Ownership rights
Stickers and badges with approved logo

Logo design companies also offer a logo design package, a digital folder containing different variations of a logo modified and ready to print in cards, letterheads, banners or posters.

The best option for creating a logo for your business
Consider your company’s size, budget, and vision when you think of a logo design. Talk to multiple brand and design agencies to see if they can completely understand your business vision and value. Once you feel confident about your shortlist, choose a designer or company offering multiple designs and logos that are scalable, versatile, and consistent with your concept. Get quotes from these agencies and understand their estimated delivery time before choosing one that offers you the best terms.

Some leading logo design companies include the following:

Digital Silk
Propaganda
Ignite Visibility
Flow State Branding
PKG Brand Design
Vistaprint

Some online agencies that are popular for creating logo designs are:

LOGO.com
Looka
LogoMakr
BrandMark
DesignHill
Fiverr
Upwork