You are starting a new business, or you have worked for years on phone calls and word of mouth. Now it is time for a website, and one question keeps nagging you: "I have no logo. Do I have to get one made first, or can the site happen now?"
The short answer: yes, you can have a website built without a logo. But some consequences depend on how you go about it. In this post I cover the options for a website without a logo, how to decide on colors and fonts, what happens if the logo changes later, and which file types you should receive when a logo is made.
Three ways to go
For someone starting without a logo, there are usually three routes:
| Route | Who it suits | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Start with a temporary text logo | Those who want to go live quickly | It will change later, so plan for it |
| Make the logo and site together | People building a brand from scratch | Takes a bit longer, decisions depend on each other |
| Logo first, site after | Those with time | The site waits until the logo is finished |
None of them is wrong. The right one depends on your urgency and how clearly you see your brand.
Starting with a temporary text logo
A text logo is simply your business name written neatly in a carefully chosen typeface. There is no symbol or shape, only the name. Many good sites, especially for small service businesses, run like this for years.
The advantages:
- It is quick and costs less, because no separate branding project is needed.
- It is simple and readable on a phone.
The downside is that it stays "temporary." If a real logo is made later, the places where it appears on the site need to change. If you know this from the start, you can ask the person building the site to set the logo up in one central place. Then changing it later does not mean fixing every page by hand.
Take a plumber in your neighborhood. The sign above the shop shows only the name, with no symbol, and nobody says "this business has no logo." The same logic works for your website.
Making the logo and the site at the same time
If you are building your brand from scratch, this is often the most efficient route. Logo, colors and typeface are thought through together, and the site takes shape around them.
Two things to watch:
- Settle who does what at the start. If a separate designer makes the logo and someone else builds the site, the two sides waiting for each other stretches the project. Agree in writing who delivers what and when.
- Do not put the logo on the site before it is approved. If an unfinished design ends up on the site, you lose both time and effort later.
Deciding on colors and fonts
Without a logo you may wonder how to choose colors and fonts. You do not need a complicated brand book. For a start, this is enough:
- One main color. A readable color that reflects your work. Aim for calm and clean for a doctor, strong and solid for a builder.
- One supporting color. For buttons and highlights.
- One heading font and one text font. Make sure they go together. Too many fonts create a mess.
- Readability. There should be a clear contrast between text and background. A page you can read on your phone in bright sun is a good page.
Simple notes like "I like the feel of this site" help a designer a great deal.
What if the logo changes later?
This is the most feared topic, and it is not as big as it seems. If the site is built properly, the logo, colors and fonts are defined in central places. When the logo changes:
- The new logo file is uploaded to the site.
- If the colors change, the main color setting is updated and flows through the pages.
- Places outside the site (your Google business profile, social media, email signature, business cards) are updated separately.
So the bigger job is not the site but what sits outside it. When you change a logo, it helps to make a list of everywhere you have used it.
I would avoid changing the logo often. Small touch-ups are fine, but a look rebuilt every year does not inspire trust.
Which file formats should you receive?
When you have a logo made, you should receive more than one picture. You need several files for different uses. Here are the technical names in everyday terms:
- Vector file (SVG, AI or PDF). A format that does not blur when enlarged. You need it for signs, stamps, vehicle wraps or large prints. This is the most valuable file; if it is lost you may have to pay to have the logo redrawn.
- PNG with a transparent background. A picture whose background is invisible.
- Colored, black-and-white and light (white) versions. You need the white version for dark backgrounds.
- A small icon version. Used in the browser tab and as a social media profile picture.
It matters to receive the originals in your own name and to back them up somewhere. Also spell out in the contract who holds the usage rights to the logo; if that is unclear to you, ask a lawyer.
Questions to ask before you start
- Do we start without a logo or make it together?
- Will changing a temporary text logo later be easy?
- If a logo is made, which files will you deliver?
Frequently asked questions
Does a site without a logo look untrustworthy?
No. If your name is clear and the site is tidy, a text logo is enough.
Can I make a logo from a ready-made example online?
You can, but someone else may have a similar logo. Also check the usage rights. In the long run a design made for you is safer.
Will I have to rebuild the site after the logo is finished?
Normally no. If the site was built properly, the logo and colors are updated and the pages stay the same.
I only have a phone photo of my logo. Is that enough?
It can be used on the site for a while, but it is not enough for printing. If possible, find the original file or have it redrawn.
Final thoughts
You do not have to postpone your site because you have no logo. Starting with a temporary text logo and changing it later is reasonable, and so is having logo and site made together. What matters is that you choose knowingly and receive the right files when the logo is made. If you would like to plan your site with logo and color choices in mind, you can write to me through my website design page.