If one focuses on the biggest brands in the business world, there is a very visible trend in the way they handle their logos, marketing and brand.  The reason for this is the brand can and should be the most valuable asset of the company.  If you start your business with amateur logos, business cards, etc, your brand will not turn into an added value.  Starting off small can unveil a harsh reality for several reasons like instability, looking too small, or an unfocused approach.

Stability is probably the best quality a business can have when it comes to brand and logos.  The less you change your logo, colors, fonts, etc, the more clients will trust and respect you.  Therefore, if you start off amateur and then change things around when you become larger, it creates a gap between you and your initial clients.

Additionally, when you start off with rough looking images, business cards, and designs, you will probably look like a very small business and will never compete with your larger, more established competitors.  Your company needs to have a big initial impact in order to be able to compete with the big boys.  Designs can never look rough or unpolished because it creates a feeling in the clients that you’re not completely focused on the company, therefore you’re not focused on them.

About half of the small businesses that are started in the US fail in the first few years, and the biggest reason is bad marketing.  Your strategy, including logos corporate imagery has to stand out from the beginning, or you will be swallowed whole by your competitors.  Considering this, the question shouldn’t be can you afford a good logo to start your business, it should be can you afford not to have one long-term.