Web design/web hosting company - Is outsourcing the designing part feasible?

LuckyTaxi

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
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I'm not creative enough to actually sit down and put together a website. While I can code in PHP w/ mysql database, I can't bare to spend hours playing with HTML. I'm trying to put my business plan together and open up a local computer repair shop along with web hosting/web designing services. Now instead of hiring someone who knows web designing I'm thinking about maybe contacting some freelancers to do the web designing for me. Is this something that sounds feasible? I would hate to say I'm a full fledge designer, but at the same time I don't want to refer people to someone else.

If this plan does sound fairly ok, how would I split it with the designer?

70% --> designer
30% --> me?
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
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I would say 10, 15 or 20% because all you did was refer a new client to a web designer that's it.
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
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This can get hairy. If I were you, I'd start off with just the hosting part for now and only then start entertaining the idea of bringing in "dedicated" freelancers. Of course depending on who you're dealing with, you'll need to really protect yourself. I've had experience where I took 90% for the actual design/dev work and the consultant took 10% for "referrals-only". He was not involved in any other way and that's the preference from my POV. Some jobs were so small that he didn't take anything from me.
 

bmacd

Lifer
Jan 15, 2001
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my buddy does just the opposite...makes fantastic sites, but outsources the coding to his buddy. Not sure how he splits it...

-=bmacd=-
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
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Definitely feasible. Nobody I know can design a site worth sh*t and in most cases places I've worked at have outsourced it so that somebody can come in and give us a template, which we can then add functionality to.
 

LuckyTaxi

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
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Originally posted by: RossMAN
I would say 10, 15 or 20% because all you did was refer a new client to a web designer that's it.

true ... what im trying to get out of this is working with someone on a consistent basis passing off clients to them. while 10-20% does sound reasonable, I would prefer to have some freelancers who have hard times finding clients.
 

RagingBITCH

Lifer
Sep 27, 2003
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Originally posted by: lilcam
Originally posted by: RossMAN
I would say 10, 15 or 20% because all you did was refer a new client to a web designer that's it.

true ... what im trying to get out of this is working with someone on a consistent basis passing off clients to them. while 10-20% does sound reasonable, I would prefer to have some freelancers who have hard times finding clients.

Unless they're very talented starving college students, anyone with real skill and a good portfolio won't have trouble whatsoever finding clients. 70% might get you something more on the lower end of the scale.
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
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Originally posted by: lilcam
Originally posted by: RossMAN
I would say 10, 15 or 20% because all you did was refer a new client to a web designer that's it.

true ... what im trying to get out of this is working with someone on a consistent basis passing off clients to them. while 10-20% does sound reasonable, I would prefer to have some freelancers who have hard times finding clients.

If you can find those and they are desperate I'd say 30% is more reasonable.

It took me forever to form partnerships with a few local web designers. First I had to find them (not easy) then I had to contact them and make a pitch (even more difficult). Then I had to cross my fingers that they would even respond and entertain the idea.

Good luck.
 

LuckyTaxi

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
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yea someone from ATOT contacted me via email. I'll email him later with my proposals.

My thinking is I would like to be able to "resell" these website designers' work. I would like ALL work going through me being billed under my company's name. Instead of just telling clients, "Yea I know someone," I would like to be a full fledge service company.
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
78,855
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Wow that's ambitious.

If you can make it word I'd love to talk with you again and get all the details.
 

LuckyTaxi

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
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Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: lilcam
Originally posted by: RossMAN
I would say 10, 15 or 20% because all you did was refer a new client to a web designer that's it.

true ... what im trying to get out of this is working with someone on a consistent basis passing off clients to them. while 10-20% does sound reasonable, I would prefer to have some freelancers who have hard times finding clients.

If you can find those and they are desperate I'd say 30% is more reasonable.

It took me forever to form partnerships with a few local web designers. First I had to find them (not easy) then I had to contact them and make a pitch (even more difficult). Then I had to cross my fingers that they would even respond and entertain the idea.

Good luck.

I was on some networking site and found a few people who were seeking assistance to finding clients. I was on craigslist and found about 4-5 ppl who were in need of web designing in my area. So, I know there are firms who still would like to have help in finding them clients.

 

LuckyTaxi

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
6,044
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Originally posted by: RossMAN
Wow that's ambitious.

If you can make it word I'd love to talk with you again and get all the details.

after all, I got the initial idea from you! You remember, the one marketing tip you told me about.
I'll let you know after I speak with this one guy.