Sumy Designs will be celebrating our 5th anniversary next month, and we often get asked for advice on starting up a business, how to get clients, how to advertise, etc. So I have a few tips for anyone who wants to enter this field. If you are serious about starting a business in web design, there are a few steps you need to take.
- Incorporate: Take the legal steps to protect yourself and your business. Get an EIN from the IRS and file the appropriate papers with your state to obtain your LLC, either sole proprietorship or partnership or whatever. Yes, it’s a hassle, but it’s to protect your interests in the event that someone decides to sue you in this sue happy world. Also, it shows your clients that you are a real business and not some random person who is going to disappear in the night. (We’ve received a fair amount of business from clients who had designers who did disappear. It happens.)
- Develop Your Website: Take the time and invest in your own website. It’s your first impression. I have actually talked to freelancers who don’t have their own website. If you are a web designer, and you don’t have a website, what are you telling your clients? How are they seeing what you can do? Get a domain and develop your website and do it right. This is very important. And also, keep it up to date!
- Set Appropriate Prices: Are you good at what you do? Then value your work. Put appropriate prices on what you offer. You have a skill that other people don’t have. Don’t sell yourself short. Often times clients will be wary of designers with prices too low, because extra low prices scream “inexperienced!” If you don’t value your work, other people won’t either.
- Take Credit Cards: I know, freelancers hate to hear this. But if you are going to run a virtual business, then you have to take credit cards, especially if you want to get paid regularly. I know the fees suck, and you lose a percent of your income to pay those fees, but in exchange, you get more business and get paid regularly. (No, Paypal doesn’t count, although you can accept that in addition to credit cards and checks.)
- Get a Contract: With every client you take, you are entering a business agreement with someone. Get it in writing. Don’t make it up yourself, find an attorney who can draft the appropriate contract that will protect your interests in the city/state where you reside. It’s really hard to force someone to pay for your work, or defend yourself, if you didn’t get a contract signed before starting a project.
- Get a Deposit: Don’t wait until you’ve put 40 hours into a site to get paid. You are opening time in your schedule to work on a project, you need to get a good deposit to ensure your client’s project is a priority. Develop a payment plan and make sure your clients know when and how you expect to be paid. There’s nothing worse than putting hours into a website, only to have the person decide they changed their mind and don’t want a website after all!
I love my job. I love being a small business owner, and I love working with new people from all over the country. Running a business is a lot like parenting. You have to set rules and boundaries and you can’t ignore the less fun parts of the job. It’s all important.
I hope this helps some budding web designers out there!
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