Always ask for a sketch because even though it is incredibly primitive, it gives you a really good idea of what their style is, and that goes a long way!
Ask about colors, size, style, variations, themes etc. You want to take into account that some businesses want multiple logos, one as a professional logo, another as a footnote logo, perhaps another for business cards and a fourth for official letter head. I like to ask them about their business, what their strengths and weaknesses are, what they value about their business and clients and what makes them different from their competitors. Always ask about copyrights! It can be done both ways, sometimes the designer keeps the rights to a logo and other times the designer transfers those rights and ownership to the client upon payment. Ask what they are comfortable with because usually large businesses want exclusive branding and to own their brands and other intellectual property. Most small business owners won't mind either way because it won't make a difference to them. Hope this helps, if you still have questions and need to consult someone, shoot me an e-mail by visiting our contact page. desalviowebdesigns.com
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