Home Baking Business Logo: 5 Checks Before You Pay

On this page

1. What should a home baking business logo do first?
2. Which files should you ask for before you pay?
3. How do you check a logo at label size?
4. How do you pick colors that print well?
5. What does a logo cost you after the design fee?
6. What should you check before you approve the final file?

Your home baking business logo has to work in places you may not think about yet: a 2 inch sticker, a market banner, and a phone screen. The checks below keep you from paying twice for the same mark. Start with the name, then match the mark to it. If you are still choosing a name, read home baking business names first.

What should a home baking business logo do first?

The first job of your logo is to be recognized at a glance. A customer scrolling on her phone should see your mark and know it is you. That means simple shapes and strong contrast, not fine lines or tiny text. If you cannot read it from across the room, make it simpler before you print.

A logo with three colors and a drawing of a whisk may look lovely on a screen. Print it at 2 inches and see if the whisk still reads. If it does not, simplify. Pick one clear shape and one clear name. Let the label do the rest.

Which files should you ask for before you pay?

A designer may send you a picture file that looks fine on screen. Ask your printer what file they need for labels. Then ask the designer for that file. Ask for a high resolution image for your phone and your shop. For style ideas that print well, see baking business logo ideas.

1. 1

   Ask your printer which file they need

   Call your label printer and ask what file type they want. Then ask the designer for that exact file.

2. 2

   Ask for a high resolution image

   Ask for an image you can use on your phone and on your shop. Check that the edges are clean.

3. 3

   Ask for a one color version

   Ask for a version with one color so you have a choice for cheap labels and stamps.

4. 4

   Ask for a black and white version

   Ask for a black and white version so you can see the logo without color.

5. 5

   Ask who owns the files

   Get it in writing that you own the final files. You do not want to pay again to use your own logo.

How do you check a logo at label size?

Print your logo on a plain sheet of paper at the size of your smallest label. Tape it to a jar or a box. Step back three feet. If you cannot read the name, the logo is too busy. Do the same test on a dark background and on a light background.

How do you pick colors that print well?

Ask your printer for a proof on the paper you plan to use. A proof shows you how the colors will look before you pay for a full run. Do this before you approve the final file.

What does a logo cost you after the design fee?

Ask your printer for a price on a short run before you approve the final file. A logo that needs a special ink or a custom label size may cost more each time you order. A cheap logo that cannot be printed cheaply is not cheap. If you are still setting up, how to start a small baking business from home walks through the first costs.

For example, say you pay a designer once. That is a one time overhead. Use your own ingredient and labor numbers to price a cake. If you add the logo cost to your overhead, your margin after all three is what you keep after each sale. Brevl is $20 a month with no cut of your sales, so your overhead stays flat.

What should you check before you approve the final file?

Before you say yes, put the logo on a mock label, a mock business card, and a mock market sign. Check the spelling of your business name. Check that the colors match what you can print. Ask for the files in a folder you can find later. Then pay.

Ask the designer to show the logo on a white background and on a dark background. Ask for a version with no tagline and a version with the tagline. You may need both. A logo that only works one way will limit your labels.

• Home baking business names: check the name before the logo
• Baking business logo ideas: five styles that print well
• How to start a small baking business from home: six steps

Common questions

Do I need a professional designer for a home baking business logo?

No. You can draw a simple mark yourself or use a template. The important part is that the final file prints cleanly at label size. If you pay a designer, ask for the vector file and a one color version before you send the final payment.

What file type is best for printing labels?

A vector file is best for printing because it scales without blur. Ask for an SVG, EPS, or PDF vector file. A high resolution PNG is fine for your phone and your shop, but it is not the file a printer wants for a label run.

How small should my logo work?

Your logo should work at the size of your smallest label, often a 2 inch sticker. Print it at that size and step back three feet. If you cannot read your business name, simplify the mark before you print any labels.

Can I change my logo after I start selling?

Yes, but a change means new labels, new cards, and a new file for your shop. That costs money. Check the logo on a mock label and a mock sign before you approve it. A small test now saves a reprint later.

General information, not legal or tax advice.