Going Solo Identity
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- WhiteFace
I'm in the process of setting up on my own but not sure whether to brand myself as a one-man-band or masquerade as a bigger set-up. At the moment I'm leaning more towards using company name as I reckon it leaves more room to expand, anyone been through the same thing?
Thanks fuckers
- uan0
- jtb260
The age old question. My take.
Do you want to grow it into a small shop?
Yes => Give it a name.
No => Be yourself.
- fyoucher10
Most definitely a shop, not ur own thing. I thought the same thing when I first started, "I don't plan on turning into a shop, I'll just be a freelancer". But shit happens, you get more clients, bigger clients don't want freelancers they want folks that can handle the larger projects, and you find yourself in the situation of needing to expand or risk losing clients. You can only do so much yourself. Now I'm stuck and if I want to change it, it's a major overhaul of everything (which is a ton of shit). So I'm just sticking with what I started with, but wish I didn't.
- jtb260
I mean, you could always take the old school approach portrayed in Mad Men. Name it after yourself, and then if/when you eventually partner up with another Solo artist you then call the company by both of your last names. :P
- Following Mad Men's lead is always good practice. :)MondoMorphic
- Drink. Cheat on your partner. Drink more. Kill the pitch. Blow up your entire life. Drink.jtb26
- nocomply0
My business is branded using my own name. I want it that way because I'm truly selling myself, my experience, my expertise, etc... I delegate less than 10% of my total work so it makes sense.
But if you ask me the name thing is overrated. It's about your reputation and your relationships with clients more than anything else. If those things are solid and your name isn't "fuck you studios," then it really doesn't matter very much.
Clients care about your work and your reliability. I think it's other designers that care about the name.
- yeah, absolutely true with existing clients and clients in your industry but with new clients you won't have a relationship with and may not know who you are.fyoucher1
- freedom1
If you give yourself a name like WhiteFace Studio, you can just be a branded commercial version of yourself.
You can act like a studio but don't pretend that you are bigger than you are. I see interviews with designers where they talk about "we" and "us" and then I find out they are just one or two people and they look like frauds.
- monoboy0
I trade on my name. I won't change it until I grow, employ folk and get a studio in town.
People buy people anyway, tis all about your reputation. Why not build on that first.
And never try and pass yourself off as bigger. *cough*
- randommail0
Ask yourself this question:
Will a client's project ever require you to subcontract another person, company, or vendor? If so, you will probably want to protect yourself with some form of Corporate Veil; and thus go with a name different than yours. For example, Smith & Co.If not, you are truly a solo-freelancer, and thus there's no need for a company name.
- Knuckleberry0
I masquerade as a larger business to some day be a larger business. I actually just setup my S Corp this morning to try and avoid the amount of taxes I paid last year.
- doesnotexist-1
your business is an illusion
- benfal990
Small Buro
smallburo.com is available
- set0
Name is irrelevant
- Irrelevant. That's a terrible name.iCanHazQBN
- I should've said Hi Irrelevant. I'm Redundant. Nice to meet you.iCanHazQBN
- Thanks for reading my comments. It means a lot to me.iCanHazQBN
- Cool storyset
- vaxorcist0
What sort of clients?
If very corporate, thrn your name or a not snarky business name that can be remembered.
If your clients are ad agencies,or even media companies.... then almost any name ... see how production studios have names like "worldwide pants"
- MrAbominable0
depends on your level of hustle. if you're not out there shucking and jiving like you're the next big micro-wank then you're best being a guy that does brilliant things, because the clients will see through that shit right quick if there are any cracks in the veneer.
i assume you do or would like to do identity and branding work, maybe it would be a good idea for you to give yourself your own questionnaire about who you are and what your business is first and figure out the model first. imho.
best of luck. i've done both. neither terribly successfully. award winning... but working class.
- formed0
If you are the brand - your designs are just superb, then stick with your real name.
If you aren't a brand or anyone else, come up with a company name.
- Fax_Benson0
Best of both worlds - make up a new name for yourself.
- 'Michael Green - Millionaire Web Marketer'
or something like that.Fax_Benson - Hey it worked for Paul Rand (Peretz Rosenbaum)mrpt
- 'Michael Green - Millionaire Web Marketer'