I was in a recent discussion with a designer about whether or not start up businesses should hire a fully experianced high priced designer to create their business logo and stationery or would it be better to use a cheaper freelancer or a service like the sitepoint contests.

Whilst I agree that you get what you pay for to a certain extent I also believe that if you are starting a business with a limited budget then spending a large chunk of your start up budget on design and fancy business stationery may not be the best use of funds.

I often encounter small businesses that have spent a tonne of money on getting a fancy website and business stationery designed but have not gained any customers from it. I believe that perhaps getting a lower cost logo created initially and channeling your resources into what really matters - making sales - would be a better use of start up funds.

After all getting enough customers is the key to any new business. When the phone is not ringing and you are wondering how to pay the bills sitting looking at a fancy logo and stationery isn’t going to be much consolation.