Going solo
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- Nairn0
As the others have said - save cash for rainy seasons and never stop selling yourself.
If you can, try and corral a competant yet out of work sales/marketing friend to do a couple of weeks promotion / cold calling for you - all you need is a handful of clients to start you off and develop a rep in your area.
If you're starting from home, set up a distinct working space so that you can have at least some seperation between free/work time.
Once you're comfortably busy, contact your local development agency - they can help you with basic yet essential legal, accounting and business matters - they may even offer you a business guru for regular meetups, which might sound a bit OTT but can be highly valuable - either from little tips on expenses and taxes, or just having someone professional to speak to frankly.
Don't consider employing anyone 'til your balls are shattered and you're on the verge of a nervous breakdown - wages are the single biggest outgoing. Even then, consider short-term contracts.
Even though it's dull and tiresome, log EVERY expenditure/incoming on a spreadsheet (wer). Just get in to the habit and do it - you'll be grateful at year's end.
Go overboard on customer relations (UK-style overboard - not US-style! :).
Don't stick to a 9 to 5, but do know when it's better to stop for a few hours.
Go to bed early and get a good night's sleep.
- Bluejam0
if you are working fulltime, leave and go freelance with a recruitment agency for a regular income whilst starting up your company. i'd really advise against trying to do fulltime and run your own company at the same time, you'll end up with no time to do things or doing everything half arsed. get a good accountant straight away and register a company name/VAT number.
not convinced with the need for a studio space (from the start) since working from home will give you a tax break, and lets face it, you will need to save as much money as possible for other such things ... hardware, office materials ...etc
good luck
- Dancer0
Nairn speaks wise words but:
Go to bed early and get a good night's sleep.
Nairn
(Jan 17 07, 05:21)This never happens, for the last 2 nights I have been working till 2-3 am!!
- blastofv0
Go overboard on customer relations (UK-style overboard - not US-style! :).
Nairn
(Jan 17 07, 05:21)What's the difference? I'm interested in how approaches to client relations vary in the UK vs US. I didn't know the US approach was particularly unique?
And incidentally, having worked as a solo designer for 3 years or so in my early 20s, I'd say the business planning, client services, marketing and all the rest of the non-design BS will make or break your solo efforts. Design is the easy part.
- Concrete0
I'm really grateful for all of your wisdom and suggestions.
I've got lots to think about.
I will of course keep you posted with any news and probably call on you for advice further down the line.Thanks again.
x
- Rand0
*the wife of him
- Dancer0
oh
and at leats get a holding page up
;p
- Concrete0
oh
and at leats get a holding page up
;p
Dancer
(Jan 17 07, 05:54)Tell me about it. Prospects aren't looking good so far, eh?
- elms0
good luck! seems like going freelance is not so easy over there
- Nairn0
heh, I was kinda kidding, blastov - we have a sterotype of overly enthused, overwrought sales people annoying the living hell out of us by ..well, by being too damned friendly. It's just not British to be so enthusiastically nice to someone you don't actually know :)
- Jaline0
I'd be a good assistant. Anyone who doesn't comply with you gets spears through their eyes.
- blastofv0
cool, yeah, I figured there was a cultural stereotype in there that I hadn't come across before... I'm just trying to keep up on the whole global business thing!
- Concrete0
I'd be a good assistant. Anyone who doesn't comply with you gets spears through their eyes.
Jaline
(Jan 17 07, 06:07)When can you start?
I may compare para's skillset before a final decision is made, if she spears too it'll be a tough one!
- Nairn0
Blastov: Cultural Learnings of Global Business Things for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of America
I often don't know why I bother.
- Jaline0
I think para's job would be different though, since she wants to be a receptionist or something. But you probably can only have one person until you become famous.
- jondj240
What P-A-T said about contracts is true. Create a secure one, but use it for absolutely every project, not just the big or long term ones. It keeps both side in line.
Also, if you haven't already, take notes of the inner-workings of the current office you are at. If its well organized and you like the system...copy their funtion and adapt it as you like. worked well for us.
- Concrete0
Thanks jon. If it has worked for wsdia then thats saying something. I think I might benefit from working at a big agency for a while for that very reason.
- blastofv0
Blastov: Cultural Learnings of Global Business Things for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of America
Nairn
(Jan 17 07, 06:12)nice one! we are glorious, aren't we :)
- blastofv0
back to the topic at hand – careful with the big agencies though...their internal workings are often a mess, and much of what they do behind the scenes won't be relevant to a small studio start up.
although sometimes it you can learn a lot by observing a place that does everything wrong.
- jondj240
yeah. its great when you can see & experience examples day in and day out. Do you think a big agency makes it more difficult though? I guess it depends on your position there.
what i mentioned in my previous post, i was thinking of small to medium sized studios, ranging from 5-20...but like i said, i guess it all depends on your position at a big office.