Yes, You CAN Create Your Branding in Canva (But Here's What You Need to Know)
This might ruffle some feathers, but here’s the truth: you can absolutely create your branding in Canva — and it can even be a great idea.
Every time I say this, people come out of the woodwork to explain why you shouldn’t. But today, I’m walking you through exactly why DIYing your branding in Canva is not just possible — it’s smart, especially when you’re starting out.
#1 — It’s Perfect for Starter Branding
When you’re just getting started, everything is still in flux — your niche, your offers, your audience. You may not want to spend thousands on a visual identity yet. I changed my business about six months in after realizing what I actually enjoyed doing and who I wanted to serve.
If I’d paid for pro branding out the gate, it would’ve been a waste. Canva gives you the freedom to test, tweak, and evolve before locking things in. Then, once your business is more solid and bringing in income, you can invest in professional branding that reflects where you’re really headed.
Psst…anyone you hire for pro branding should absolutely be creating your assets in Adobe. Brand designers may offer a cheaper package to create you some simple Canva branding, and that’s okay, but if you’re spending thousands on branding, make sure you’re getting work done in Adobe.
#2 — It’s Budget-Friendly
I touched on this earlier, but it’s worth repeating: DIY branding is inexpensive. Mine cost me $12.95/mo for the Canva Pro subscription and $14.99 to license the font that I wanted.
Investing in expensive design before your business is profitable can feel like you’re working just to pay back that investment. By starting with simple, affordable branding, you keep more of your early income and avoid starting your business already in the red.
#3 — But What About Trademarking?
This is one of the biggest concerns people bring up — and yes, there’s some truth to it. If you use Canva’s premade templates or graphic elements, you can’t trademark that logo.
But Canva’s official guidance says you can trademark a logo created using just fonts, shapes, and lines — things that aren’t pre-designed by someone else. (Of course, talk to a legal pro if you’re unsure.)
#4 — Skip the PreMade Logo Templates
Aside from not being able to officially own the Canva logo templates, they’re also…not my favorite. You’re much better off creating a clean, text-based logo using your brand fonts and colors.
💡 Pro Tip: Keep it simple. A great type-based logo will take you much further than a trendy template that looks like everyone else’s.
#5 — What If You Want to Scale?
If you’re planning to put your logo on a billboard or open a brick-and-mortar shop with custom signage, you’ll probably want to hire a designer who can create your assets in Illustrator so that they’re highly-scalable.
But for most online business owners? Canva is more than enough. I’m five years in, earning a full-time income, and I’m still using the logo I made in Canva.
Here’s what I want you to remember: whatever gets you started is the right tool to use.
If you want to hire a designer from day one, go for it. But if you’re a beginner on a budget, don’t let perfectionism hold you back. Canva is a powerful tool — and you can build a beautiful brand with it.
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