Designing a Successful Brochure: A Guide for Small Business Owners

Creating a brochure for your small business is a powerful way to communicate your brand, showcase your offerings, and attract new customers. However, as a busy small business owner, you may not have the time to dive into the nitty-gritty of design. That’s why we’ve created this ultimate checklist—a quick, practical guide to help you collaborate effectively with your designer and ensure your brochure is successful.

This checklist will streamline the process, save time, and confidently achieve professional results.

Step 1

Define Your Brochure’s Purpose

Before diving into design, be clear on your brochure's goal.

What’s the goal? E.g., promote a product, showcase services, or attract event attendees.
Who is your audience? Identify key demographics and needs.
How will it be used? Will it be handed out, mailed, or displayed digitally?

Step 2

Craft a Strong Brief for Your Designer

Provide your designer with all the details they need for a smooth process.

Business overview: Include your brand story, target audience, and mission.
Goals: Clearly state the brochure’s purpose and desired outcomes.
Content: Supply written copy, including headlines, descriptions, and contact details.
Imagery: Share high-quality images or request stock photo recommendations.
Examples: Provide brochures or designs you admire to inspire the creative direction.

Step 3

Plan Your Content Layout

A well-organised layout makes a brochure easy to read and visually appealing.

Cover: A strong headline and a compelling image that grabs attention.
Inside pages: Group related content logically, using headings and subheadings.
Call to action (CTA): Encourage readers to take the next step (e.g., call, visit, buy).
Contact details: Make your phone number, email, and website easy to find.

Step 4

Choose the Right Format

Pick a format that aligns with your content and distribution needs.

Size: Common sizes are A4, A5, or tri-fold. Choose what fits your content best.
Digital vs. Print: Decide whether to print physical copies, create a digital PDF or both.
Paper quality: Opt for professional-grade paper if printing to enhance credibility.

Step 5

Nail the Design Essentials

These design fundamentals ensure your brochure stands out.

Brand consistency: Match fonts, colours, and styles to your brand identity.
Legibility: Use clean fonts and avoid clutter.
Imagery: Include high-quality photos or illustrations relevant to your message.
Balance: Leave white space to avoid overwhelming the reader.
Proofreading: Double-check all text for errors before finalising.

Step 6

Review and Test

Get feedback and ensure the brochure meets your expectations before printing or distributing.

Internal review: Review it yourself and gather input from your team.
Audience test: Share a draft with a few trusted customers for feedback.
Final tweaks: Address all feedback before going live.

Step 7

Distribute Strategically

A brochure’s impact depends on getting it into the right hands.

In-person: Hand out at events, conferences, or your store.
Direct mail: Include it in customer packages or mail it to prospects.
Digital distribution: Upload it to your website and share it via email and social media.

Why Partner with a Professional Designer?

A professional designer saves you time, ensures quality, and helps you stand out from competitors. Collaborating with a solo design studio means personal attention to detail and tailored solutions for your business.

Let’s create a brochure that works as hard as you do.

Want to keep this checklist handy or share it with your team?
Click the image link to download the polished PDF version.