How to Start a Webdesign Business

Thinking of Going Into Business?

I started a webdesign business back in 2002. Even though I live in a very small town with only 1200 people, my business thrived for five years until I shut it down so I could do something else with my time. Most of my business was local.

Now I've transformed my webdesign site into a blog that tells people what they need to know to start a webdesign business. I like being able to tell people the tricks of the trade that took me many months to learn. It isn't an easy process to get it all together, so I like being able to help others.

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Plan Your Business

...writing a business plan helps organize your efforts.

Start by writing a business plan. This will force you to think about how you would like it to work out. While writing, you're likely to be hit by lots of amazing inspirations. Get wild with it. Write your heart out - you will be amazed at what you end up with.

Here are the sections of a business plan:

Business Description
1. Location
2. Legal Structure
3. Nature of Business
4. Owner's Resumé
5. Business History
6. Goals

Products and Services
1. Products
2. Services
3. Advertising
4. Suppliers
5. Production
6. Quality
8. Costs

Market Information
1. Market Areas
2. Market Trends
3. Target Markets
4. Competition
5. Niches

Marketing Strategy
1. Mission Statements
2. 1 to 3 Year Marketing Goals
3. Marketing Strategies
4. Marketing Timeline
5. Marketing Budget

Pricing
1. Direct Expenses Per Unit
2. Monthly Overhead
3. Pricing Strategies

Facilities
1. Location, Size, and Zoning
2. Age and Condition
3. Expansion Opportunities

Management and Personnel
1. Management Expertise
2. Key Personnel
3. Organization Chart
4. Staffing Plan
5. Sub-Contracting Plan

Benefits to Community
1. Jobs Created
2. Building Rehabilitation
3. Meeting Community Needs
4. Increased Community Tax Base

Financial Management
1. Record Keeping
2. Bookkeeping
3. Start-Up Costs
4. Financing Plan
5. One Year Cash Flow Projection

Conclusion
1. Statement of Commitment
2. Restatement of Goals & Objectives

Get More Training

When you go professional, you'll need up-to-date information of the best kind. That's why I recommend classes at Eclectic Academy. They are reasonably priced (currently only about $30 per six-week class).

Their current class offerings include:

CSS
Designing Websites using HTML
FP Themes - Eliminate the "Canned Look"
DreamWeaverMX
Introduction to JavaScript
Expression Web Designer
PHP
SEO The Write Way
FrontPage 2002/2000
FrontPage 2003
SQL for Database-driven web sites
The Power of cPanel
Grant Writing
Learn which font works best
Access
More Prospects, More Revenue: Using eMarketing to Grow your Business
Adobe InDesign
PowerPoint
Basic Virtual Office Assistance
QuickBooks
Basic Drawing/Layout in Word
Quicken
Ebooks for Fun & Profit
Typography
Effective Newsletters for Your Business
Word
Excel
Plus a variety of Photoshop, Flash and other graphics classes.

Get Legal

...make your business respectable.

If you're serious about owning a web design business, you must do it legally. That means getting a business license. Every state and locality varies on how a business license is obtained, and the costs involved.
more on this topic

Books To Help You Learn

...in this business, you can never learn enough.

Before I opened my webdesign business in 2002, I bought a book about HTML and read it cover to cover even though I knew a lot of HTML and had already designed many websites. If you're really interested in doing webdesign, it won't be hard to read the necessary books. I learned a lot from reading that book. It got me on the right track from the beginning. I can't say enough for continual self-education - you need that to become the webdesigner who can take on difficult projects without fear.

HTML, XHTML, and CSS, Sixth Edition (Visual Quickstart Guide)

by: Elizabeth Castro

Amazon Price: $23.09 (as of 07/06/2009)

Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML

by: Eric Freeman, Elisabeth Freeman

Amazon Price: $26.39 (as of 07/06/2009)

CSS Mastery: Advanced Web Standards Solutions

by: Andy Budd, Simon Collison, Cameron Moll

Amazon Price: $22.04 (as of 07/06/2009)

CSS: The Definitive Guide

by: Eric Meyer

Amazon Price: $29.69 (as of 07/06/2009)

JavaScript: The Definitive Guide

by: David Flanagan

Amazon Price: $31.49 (as of 07/06/2009)

Start a Knowledge Base

...keep track of the cool things you learn about web design.

If you don't have a knowledge base for your webdesign business yet, start today. Start collecting all those tidbits of information that tell you how to do neat tricks with your webdesigns. Anytime you learn something new, you can keep the information in your new knowledge base. This knowledge base can be located online for others to use too.

Keep Up With News on the Industry

As a webdesigner, you'll constantly have to stay aware of new developments, plus work to improve your knowledge and techniques. These websites will help you do this.

Smashing Magazine: Smashing Magazine is a weblog dedicated to web-developers and designers.
bunnyhero dev: Blog about Flash CS3 and web development.
Web Designer Wall - Design Trends and Tutorials: Web Designer Wall topics focus on web design, tutorials, and modern design trends.
Tutorialized: Links to hundreds of tutorials on topics of interest to web designers.
Vitamin: A resource for web designers, developers and entrepreneurs.
UX Magazine: The user-experience magazine.
WordPress Training: WordPress training videos and blog tutorials.
Ten Web Development Tips I Wish I’d Known Two Years Ago: Hindsight = 20/20... we're all in a learning process as web designers, and every now and then we find a new technique that saves us a lot of time and effort. This article attempts to help guide new web designers on the path.
PromotionWorld : 7 vital knacks of professional web designer while designing creative website: What should a professional web designer know how to do?
6 Steps To Bake SEO Into The Web Design Process: Despite tough economic times, and advertising budgets being pulled back in almost every sector I know of, companies are still ...

The Web Design Business Poll

Articles from my Klamath Design blog

... on how to start a web design business

Web Design Ideas: If you're planning a career as a web designer you should start as soon as possible to collect your favorite designs to keep as inspiration. Here are some sites that collect great web design treasures.
Graphic Background with Whitespace for Text: Code for a web page with a graphic in the background, and whitespace for the text area.
Backups Can Save Your Web Design Business: Backing up your web design business files may save you from a business information blackout.
Applying For A Business License: Web design businesses need to get business licenses to operate legally.
Redesigning Web Sites, Proposals and Portfolios: Sales pitches to prospective redesign clients should be well thought out using proposals and portfolios.
Free Sample Service Invoice For Web Design Businesses: Free service invoice for web design business owners.
Why I Started My Web Design Business: Starting a web design business came as a surprise to me, but it was profitable and worth doing.
The New Web Designer In Town: If you want to start a web design business, learn everything you can about it first.

Starting a Web Design Business

I like this designer's ideas on starting a web design business. This is Freddy of WebDizeo. Excellent work, Freddy!!! ((Obviously one of those very talented up-and-coming designers that will contribute a lot to the internet as days go by.))

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The Downside of Design

...good idea to read all perspectives before starting.

Every profession has a downside. Design can be isolating, demanding, and time consuming. Read the articles behind these links to get more information on what it is really like to be a web designer.

What I Hate About Becoming a Designer | Jeremy Adam Davis: It's been a year since I started to get more into the design aspect of computers but I'd like to share some things that frustrate me as I make this

Web Design News

...from Google News.

Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

More ideas on how to start a web design business

How To Start A Web Design Business: Small business web design.
Starting A Home Based Web Design Business: Klamath Design helps people starting a web design business. My tips for home based web design businesses come from my experience as a former web design business owner.

Your comments are welcome...

Let me know what you think.

Lensmaster

LindaJM wrote...

in reply to Lara - I'm glad you asked! I'm about to start a ten-posting section on my blog, Klamath Design, that will start with an article on creating a marketing plan.

Posted January 19, 2009

Lensmaster

Lara wrote

Like the lens...but there is nothing on marketing your web design service. :( Would love to know how you promoted your services!

Posted January 18, 2009

Lensmaster

Joan4 wrote...

Great lens! You have such a broad range of knowledge and experience! Thank you for sharing!

Posted June 18, 2008

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