As you drive down a street, read a magazine, or browse online, you see countless “brands.” These brands are known for their products and services, but most of the time they are recognized by their small business logo.
A small business logo plays a critical role in the success of your business for more reasons than you might think.
Yes, it appears on your business cards, website, and social media—but the place where a logo truly counts and makes a strong first impression is in your business plan.
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Your Small Business Logo and Your Business Plan
When you’re creating a business plan and move through all the sections describing who you are, what you want to do, how you will do it, your competition, your funding needs, and your financials—the next step is the cover page.
A proper business plan cover page should include:
- The business name
- Your address
- Contact information
- Your small business logo
This means the very first thing someone reviewing your business plan will see is your logo.
Whether you’re developing your plan as a guiding blueprint for your business or preparing it for investors or when applying to government funding programs, your business logo is critical—it provides the first visual identity of your brand.
Is a small business logo needed for everyone?
There are business owners who operate without a logo—and while it’s not mandatory, it’s always recommended.
If you have a numbered corporation, you may not want a logo that literally says “12345678 Ontario Corp,” but most numbered companies operate under a more brand-friendly name. In that case, yes—a small business logo is still valuable.
If your business is strictly backend, never public-facing, and your business name never appears on cards, letterheads, or anywhere else, you may not technically need a logo. But it is still nice to have. As a business owner, you should feel proud of your brand, and having a nicely designed small business logo helps convey professionalism.
Applying for Small Business Funding / Financing
If you’ve created your business plan and determined you need funding to cover your small business startup costs, you will likely need to submit applications along with your business plan.
Your small business logo becomes especially important here.
Imagine applying to a government funding program where the decision-maker must review hundreds or even thousands of applications before a deadline. Most applications and business plans look identical—nothing stands out.
Except a strong, memorable logo.
Your business logo—and even a business card with your logo—can be the attention-grabbing visual that draws the reviewer’s eyes toward your application.
If you already have a logo, great—add it to your business plan immediately.
If not, and you’re thinking of getting one made, there are many logo design websites available. However, Canada Startups partners with an excellent company called Logo Lulu, which creates stunning small business logos for many of our members. (Members also receive a discount—be sure to ask about it once you join.)
To get started with your business plan, use the business plan builder tool. And to get your logo created, try Logo Lulu.