Write the initials of your business on a sheet of paper. Below that write, in five words or less, what your company does. This is your slogan. Initials are easier to incorporate into a design than the full business name. If your business is named "Golden Real Estate" you might want to consider using gold or yellow colors in your design. You might consider incorporating the silhouette of a house into your image. If you were based in Florida consider using a tropical theme. Use name, the type of business and location when designing your logo or brand.
Open your word processing software and look at the font selection. Find one you like and type out your business's initials in the largest font size available. Type the five word or less description of your business in the same or similar font style style using a smaller font size. Print a couple of copies of the lettering and set them aside. Look through the clip art selection that comes with your software or go online and search "royalty free clip art." Find a simple image (simpler images are easier to incorporate into logos or brands) that fits your business. Print a few copies and set them aside.
Cut out your initials, description or slogan and image. Arrange them on a separate sheet of paper with the initials on top, the image in the middle and the slogan on the bottom. When you find a satisfying arrangement carefully tape them down with transparent tape. You now have a logo.
Creating a brand is similar. A brand is a symbol that is synonymous with your business. If you are a friendly person selling real estate it might be a house with a smile formed from it's windows and doors. Use your clip art image to create your brand. A silhouette of a house, for example, can be modified to include a smile by drawing one in.
When you're satisfied with your logo or brand take it to a commercial printer and have them digitally clean up the image. Many printers specialize in this part of the process. They can transfer the image to a DVD for future use.