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Starting a Business

K

KEV1N

Platinum Member
I have a partner and have recently fancied the thought of having a little web design business. We have the technical skills and the background but have no idea as to where to start when it comes to running this type of small business. Does anyone out there have any pointers, or have been in the same position?
 
Maybe I should just sell "Girl So Hot" Tshirts! You bastards will never let me live that one down!
 
First and foremost, you need clients. I started a consulting company (S-corporation) about a year ago, but I only did so when I had the clients to support it. Is this venture going to be your primary source of income? If you plan on just doing a few jobs a year, then it's really not much of a tax issue; however, if you plan on paying your salaries this way, you definitely need to consult a CPA. I pay my salary, and the rates of those I employ on projects, through my company.

I wasn't much help, but this is a subject that requires more expertise than you'll likely find on here. Spend a few hundred and let someone set you straight, imo. I would also read this book as it discusses very well the different types of companies, the taxes, etc.

Good luck!
 
start building a portfolio of designs and getting contacts of businesses that need a website or needs a redesign of their current website.
 
portfolio is key. Start making and keeping a database of templates for sites you plan on building. figure out the target market you are willing to do design for. be prepared to answer 1000s of questions from clients... will you do shopping carts? how will they update the site?

Price list too. the cool thing is that you can negotiate prices. always start high but not too high.

want a site to look up to in web design? www.2advanced.com
 
heh 2advanced.com is mostly flash and dynamic web languages integrated. They rock, but it's not something most businesses who want a website look for. Besides, 2A charges upwards of $25k minimum per job. They're strictly hardcore. Nobody will ever touch them.

I think the most important detail to be questioned here is.. will this be your full time job or just something on the side.
 
The market is pretty permeated if you to start from scratch. If you know people w/ small businesses that need a website, you can build for them, get a good portfolio and go off of referals from there.
 
Tip: When preparing a proposal, make sure you spell everything correctly and use proper grammar. I declined to work with two companies solely because they couldn't even proofread their porposals.
 
Decide on a market you will target
Set up a site with all your information
Pick a company name and get whatever done through state you need to for a business license or whatever
Open a bank account for it
Make adveritising/marketing material
Decide on pricing

Then, just go out and start. It's a lot about being a salesman.

Don't expect profits for a long time, I"m in the no profit portion of my business right now, because I"m still setting things up 😛

Oh, and avoid business with a friend
 
I know man. You had people from all over the place willing to send you their digital camera's. Didn't a fellow AT'er even come to your work prepared? HAHAHAHA. And that thread has soo many responses as well.

Good times man.

But about the web design....I got nothing.





KeyserSoze
 
Originally posted by: AgaBooga
Decide on a market you will target
Set up a site with all your information
Pick a company name and get whatever done through state you need to for a business license or whatever
Open a bank account for it
Make adveritising/marketing material
Decide on pricing

Then, just go out and start. It's a lot about being a salesman.

Don't expect profits for a long time, I"m in the no profit portion of my business right now, because I"m still setting things up 😛

Oh, and avoid business with a friend
Click to expand...

Oh man i can agree with the business with a friend. I started a computer store with a friend of mine about 2 years ago. The idea was to do mainly online sales so we wouldnt need a store.

Besides him doing stupid stuff like giving friends/family stuff at cost and other dumb stuff.
HE would also only want to work 9-5. thats it. just straight 9-5 even when we had a contract we had to fill. I tried to tell him when you are a owner you NEED to be there until the job is done. NO matter how long it takes.

IT just did not work out. Thank god i broke even on it. I will never partner with friends
 
Well, this will be a side job. Ironically my 8-5 is a web designer and web app developer for a Northern CA university. I guess what I'm getting is, start small. We need to pick a name and establish our own site first... then establish pricing and maybe do some free sites for people to start it up.

And about going into business with a friend.. why would you avoid that? I know to never sell a car to a friend, and stuff like that, but it seems like a good idea to start something like this up with someone you know.
 
as an internet consultant I have only one priority: making money for my clients.

If you can show that what you are able to offer them will make them at least a decent return on investment...then they'd be stupid not to hire you...

web design for businesses is about marketing...

if you are a web designer, you really are a marketer...
 
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