So you want to start a business (or revamp an old one)? Great! You probably want to nail down a solid brand for your new venture. What’s the next logical step? Start shopping for designers. NO! Wrong answer. And you thought you were ready! Not so much.

In the coming weeks, I will write a series of posts that outline the various stages and actions that occur when you are working with a designer. Today’s post is all about the beginning. This is what should happen BEFORE you start looking for a graphic or web designer to develop your brand.

These tips and advice should not be taken as the only way the creative process takes place, but rather as a guide for how it can be made simpler and less expensive for both you and your chosen designer.

1. Decide on a business name. This does not mean you can pull words out of thin air and jumble them together a la “Facebook.” This means you need to do some research. Find out who your competitors are, what their names are, and what their brands are all about. Remember – the goal here is to stand out from the crowd. You do not want anything similar to your competitors for both logical and legal reasons. Pull out the thesaurus and look up words that speak to you. There are tons of articles and websites dedicated to naming a business. Just be as thorough as you can when choosing a name, and be sure to check on the domain name possibilities to make sure you have options for your website domain. Type all your name choices into Google and see what comes up. You’d be surprised.

(As a side note, I included this step because it is important for you to have a clear idea of what you want your business to “look” like. Part of that is choosing a good name that is meaningful to both you and your clientele.)

2. Check out your competitors. This goes hand-in-hand with number one. If you don’t know what your competitors are doing, how will you know what kind of website or logo you want to have for your own business? Do. Your. Research. A designer will also check out your competitors, but it is your responsibility as a small business owner to have some basic ideas for your logo and website. Your designer can’t just pull ideas out of thin air. And, if you require the designer to do all of the research for you, you can bet your last buck that you will be paying more for their services. Time is money, folks.

(Make notes and share them with your chosen designer. Keeping track of links and images you like will help your designer in the creative process.)

3. Know your clients (or potential clients). The designer can’t tell you who to market your services or products to. The designer is NOT the expert in your field. YOU are. Don’t expect them to just know. Write out a detailed and well-researched description of who your customers are. I can guarantee that this will affect the outcome of your design. It will if you’ve hired a good designer, anyway.

4. Know what you want. This should come naturally if you’ve done steps 1-3. There’s nothing that makes the design process more difficult (and expensive!) than an indecisive business owner. Come to your designer prepared, with notes, and with a clear idea of your business goals. The less time the designer and you spend on making revisions to your designs, the less money you will spend.

5. Know your budget. Know exactly what you want to spend on your logo and website. This may require a little research for the going rates for logos and websites, but keep in mind that a good design doesn’t have to cost you your firstborn child. Be sure to share your budget with your designer. Most will ask for one. If you don’t share it, the designer may go overboard and you’re stuck with a bill you can’t afford, or features and services you don’t need or want. If you have $500 to spend, ask the designer what you can get for that. If it’s more than you need, ask what you can get for $400. Don’t be afraid to ask for a quote.

6. Prepare your mind. Remember that you may not get the designer you want because of availability or pricing issues. It may take weeks or months to find the right person for the job. Prepare yourself for weeks of creative development. These things don’t happen in a day. Plan for your business launch to take place when your branding and website are complete, and prepare your mind that this timeframe will probably be a couple of months out, in some cases.

Always remember that the designer can’t read your mind. You must communicate, you must be prepared, and you must be open-minded and flexible on some things. Securing a logo and website for your business does not have to be difficult. Knowing what to expect should help ease your fears about working with a designer and should help you understand where the designer is coming from.

Next in the series – Choosing a Web Designer. Have more tips for preparing to work with a designer? Please share!