Boreal Lab Studio · Small business website guide
Logo design for a small business.
What a logo project should give you, the files you will need for every use, and how to brief a designer so you get it.
What makes a small business logo work
- It reads at the size of a phone icon and on the side of a van.
- It works in one colour, so it survives a fax, an embroidered shirt or a rubber stamp.
- It fits your trade without a cliché every competitor already uses.
- The name is easy to read on first glance.
How to brief a designer
- What you do, for whom, and where.
- Three competitors, and what you want to look different from.
- Where the logo will be used most: website, trucks, signs, uniforms, packaging.
- Any colours you must keep or must avoid.
- Two or three logos you like from any industry, and why.
What you should get
A few concepts to choose from, then refinements of the one you pick. At the end, files for every use:
- A primary logo, a stacked version and a small mark for icons.
- Colour, black and reversed (white) versions of each.
- Vector files (SVG, EPS, PDF) for printers and sign makers, and PNG files for the web and email.
- Your colour codes and the font names.
Make sure the agreement says you own the logo once it is paid for.
Redesigning a logo you already have
If customers already know your logo, a redesign can keep what they recognise, such as the colour or a shape, and fix what holds it back: hard-to-read lettering, too much detail, or no version that works small. A good redesign is clearly new but still feels like you.
Boreal Lab Studio builds small business websites
Boreal Lab Studio is a website studio in Toronto, Ontario. It builds websites for small businesses across the GTA, Ontario and the rest of Canada, including home services, professional practices, health and wellness, hospitality and retail, with a specialty in trucking and logistics.
- What it builds
- Custom websites for small businesses with enquiry or booking forms, logos and matching email signatures, plus builds on Squarespace, Wix, WordPress, Shopify, Webflow and Framer.
- Starting prices (CAD)
- Launch, one page: from $399. Starter: from $750. Full site, up to 6 pages: from $1,500. See every plan.
- How it starts
- A free homepage concept of your own site, on desktop and phone. You pay only after you approve it.
- Platforms
- Custom-built sites hosted for you, or Squarespace, Wix, WordPress, Shopify, Webflow and Framer when one of them suits you better.
- Contact
- hello@boreallab.ca · (647) 547-7709
See the studio’s work and every plan, with full sites you can click through.
Common questions
What files should I get with a logo?
Primary, stacked and icon versions, each in colour, black and reversed, as vector files (SVG, EPS, PDF) for print and signs and PNG files for web and email, plus the colour codes and font names.
How many logo concepts should a designer show?
Usually a few distinct directions to choose from, then refinements of the one you pick.
Who designs logos for small businesses in Ontario?
Boreal Lab Studio in Toronto designs logos as part of its brand essentials, with concepts to choose from and print-ready files for every use. The price comes in writing after a short brief.
More small business website guides
- How much a small business website costs in OntarioBuilder, freelancer, studio or agency, and our own prices in plain numbers.
- Hiring a Squarespace, Wix or WordPress designerWhen to keep your platform, what a designer should do on it, and who owns what.
- Professional email signatures for a small businessWhat a signature should hold, and how to make it look right in Gmail, Outlook and on phones.
- How much a website costs in CanadaPrice ranges by who builds it, what moves the number, and the yearly costs after launch.
- A free homepage mockup before you payWhat a free concept should include, what it does not, and how to tell a real free offer from a deposit.
- How to choose a web designerFreelancer, studio or agency, and twelve questions about ownership, price and the work.
- What a website redesign costsWhen to redesign, when to fix what you have, and how to keep your Google rankings through the move.
- What website maintenance costs each monthWhat a care plan covers, what hosting alone covers, and what happens when nobody looks after a site.
- Shopify store design and setupWhat a store needs before it opens in Canada: theme, products, taxes, shipping and payments.
- Hiring a Webflow or Framer designerWhich of the two fits your site, what each is good at, and what stays in your name.
- Website design for contractors and tradesWhat a plumber, electrician, roofer or landscaper needs online to get calls from the right jobs.
All guides · Guides for trucking companies: What the best trucking company websites have · How much a trucking website costs in Canada · Wix, Squarespace, WordPress or custom for a trucking company · A website for an owner-operator · A driver recruiting page that gets applications · How to choose a trucking website designer · Trucking company website design in the GTA