How do you set up your own web design company?

 

Do you want to be your own boss? If you work as a web designer, the prospect of going out on your own and setting up your own web design company seems tempting.

But it is not such a simple task. You will need to learn a whole new set of skills, from bookkeeping and marketing to taking practical steps to assess whether or not you have enough money to start and survive to the threshold of profitability.

1. Adjust your mental structure

Being your own boss is an attractive prospect, but keep in mind that a boss's job is not always easy.

If you work as a web designer in a company, you probably spend your entire working day doing web design. It is the responsibility of others to win clients, draft contracts, manage finances, define company strategy and goals, etc.

When you set up your own web design company, all of these other tasks are yours. While you can afford to hire other people to take care of some of them, you will still need to manage those people.

The ultimate argument is that the core business of designing great websites becomes a smaller part of your workday when you go on your own. And if your business grows and becomes successful, you will need to stop doing it all at once and become a full-time manager.

You might think that you can be anything for everyone, offering both the “cheap product” sites for customers who want them, and the more expensive, carefully designed sites for customers willing to invest more.

But business doesn't quite work that way. Businesses earn a reputation for doing some type of work, and your agency portfolio will reflect that. It's OK to have some variations and different levels of service at different prices. But make sure you think about what kind of website and service your typical customer will want, and position yourself to meet those needs.

2. Be clear in your offer

Web design is a crowded field. What makes you different from the other thousands of design companies out there?

Maybe you've done much work for law firms, for example, and understand their specific demands. Or maybe you're storming the local market, targeting the small businesses in your town, and giving them the local touch.

“Promise less and deliver more. Go above and beyond and surprise the customer with something they didn't ask for. Add value where they least expect it. And always, ALWAYS honor your Your word is everything in business. If you say you will send a pro forma tonight, then do it tonight. If you say the site will be live Friday, put it online Friday. -Don't promise. Set realistic timings for project tasks and add a margin of safety. There are risks that your client has promised a deadline to their boss, and when you don't meet it, it messes her up. "

You can also differentiate yourself by the type of service you offer.

So think about what else you can offer customers. In addition to having a fantastic site, what are your objectives? How can you help them achieve these goals? Even if you don't have the expertise to offer something like a broad spectrum digital marketing solution, can you partner with someone who can?

Once you are clear in your offer, you need to create a compelling identity. Point yourself up with a good name (check out this series for some advice on how to name your business ), heal your design and branding, and of course, it goes without saying that you have to put it all in. an impressive website with a great user experience.

3. Have financial clarity

One of the things that can keep you from starting your own business is the financial burden. Can you really afford to give up that regular salary and start your own business from scratch?

To answer this question, you need to create a complete financial model.

Start by defining your business model, and make some assumptions about how many clients you can have and how much they can pay, but also how much your expenses may be - both capital and operational.

Then you can calculate the breakeven point: the point at which you make enough money to cover your costs. Obviously, the goal is to make a profit, not just cover your costs, but when you're just starting out, you need to know how long it takes you to break even and figure out if you have enough money set aside for it. Get you to this point.

If this all sounds complicated, don't worry - I wrote a tutorial called From Idea to Stall that walks you through the entire process of creating a financial model for a startup.

To make sure you're on top of your personal finances, you can also read the  Freelancer's Guide to Effective Budgeting. And if you're not sure how much to charge, take a look at this guide to invoicing.

4. Communicate

Being a great web designer doesn't mean you will necessarily be able to run a great web design company. I've mentioned the financial side of things before, but you'll need some other skills.

“Learn to be a great communicator. Sometimes web designers are sheltered in agency studios where they can focus 100% on creativity. In business, you have to master the art of communication and go.

5. Find help

Unless you have a ton of money in the bank, you probably won't be able to hire employees early on. But even in those early days where you do everything yourself, start looking for opportunities to outsource the work, partner with other people, or eventually recruit employees to help you.

6. Continue to carry out your personal projects

With all the work involved in starting a new business, it would be tempting to let some of your personal projects slip away. You know, the blog that takes up so much of your time, or the forum that you contribute to with your expert advice for zero rewards.

Of course, you have to be selective. Starting a business will take a long time, and something has to be sacrificed. But maybe you could give up your Game of Thrones addiction, and not the blog that can get you fame.

So take a look at how you spend your time - may be even formally record it for a week or two - and identify areas where you can free up some time. But try to keep doing anything that shows the world something about your expertise, knowledge, or opinions in web design, even if it doesn't deliver immediate tangible results.

Following steps

The next step is to start your business. I first wrote, "take the plunge," but now that's the wrong metaphor. You could quit your job tomorrow and invest your new

business savings if you want, but most people prefer a more gradual approach.

Start by doing the initial research I outlined in this tutorial to have a clear idea of ​​what approach you will take and how finances will work. If you are sure it will work, then go for it. But if you're not sure, then maybe you should start with some freelance jobs in your spare time, set up the website, and do things like marketing and networking, so you can start building. Your client portfolio and recommendations, while you have the safety net of your daily job.

This way, you can gradually build your business and go full time when you are ready to do so. Starting a new project doesn't have to be a sudden plunge. It also doesn't have to be scary or risky. You can go at your own pace, consider your own situation in life and your responsibilities, and only go deep when you are OK with the water temperature.