As you drive down a street, as you read a magazine, as you look online – you see “brands”, all of these brands are known and remember by their products and services, but most of the time they are recognized by their small business logo.

A small business logo plays a critical part to the success of your small business for more reasons then you think.

Sure it is the logo of your company, sure it’s something people will see and try to remember, sure it’s on your business cards, your website, social media..etc but the one spot where a logo really counts and plays an important role is in your business plan.

Your Small Business Logo and Your Business Plan

When you are creating a business plan and go through all of the various sections which explain who you are, what you want to do, how you will do it, discuss your competition, your business funding needs and provide the financials – when done, your next step is the cover page.

A proper cover page for your business plan contains certain information:

• The business name
• Your address
• Contact information
• and your small business logo.

This means that the first thing a person who is looking at your business plan will see, will be your businesses logo.

No matter if you’re just developing your business plan as a guide for your business, sort of like a blue print. Or if you’re looking for investors or applying to government funding programs , your business logo will be critical as again it’s the first glimpse into your business.

Is a small business logo needed for everyone?

There are plenty of business owners who simply don’t have a business logo and don’t need one, it is always recommended.

If you have a numbered corporation, you probably don’t want to create a business logo stat says 12345678 Ontario Corp; but most numbered companies do have operating names such as something that is related to what you do – so yes, even you can have a small business logo.

However if your business is a back end style business and nobody will ever see the name, not even on a business card, a letterhead or anywhere – you may not need a business logo.

It is nice to have though. As a business owner, you should be proud of your business and having a nicely designed small business logo, shows that.

Applying for Small Business Funding/Financing

If you’ve created your business plan and have determined you’re in need of funding for your business to cover those small business startup costs, you most likely will have to fill out some applications, send in your business plan and apply for the funding.

Your small business logo is critical here.

Think about it like this – when applying to a government funding program where the person in charge of approving or denying the funding has to go though hundreds if not thousands of applications before the funding deadline, and where all business plans and all applications look the same – there is nothing standing out that would call his/her eyes to your business plan.

Unless that thing can be a perfect business logo!

Your small business logo and and perhaps a business card with your logo could be the attention grabbing thing you need for your business plan and funding application to be picked up.

So the next step – if you have logo already created, great! Add it to your business plan.

If however you’re thinking of getting one made, while there are a ton of logo design websites out there, we here at Canada Startups partner with a real great company called Logo Lulu which creates stunning business logos for many of our members (and our members get a discount – be sure to ask about it when you’re a member).

To get started with your business plan, use the business plan builder tool and to get your logo created, use Logo Lulu.