Introducing The Agency Route

As it’s been a few months since we welcomed a new author to Business of Design online, we are pleased to introduce Dave Carlton, Principal and Creative Director of The Vyant Group.

The Vyant Group is a unique branding, marketing and package manufacturing agency with a different agency business model (a manufacturing component). With over 14 years of agency experience, Dave is the leader and driving force behind The Vyant Group. In addition to supervising the company’s day-to-day operations, he sources the creative talent and fuels the culture to provide a motivating and energetic environment. As a Creative Director who champions his clients’ goals and objectives, Dave supervises all activity related to client brand development, strategic marketing and communication programs.

Winning numerous design awards, his work has also been featured in several books. The most recently published work is featured in “Unique Packaging”, a hardbound published by HarperCollins.

As a member of the Board of Advisors for the Brooks Institute’s Visual Communication program, Dave continuously takes time to meet and offer opportunities to recent design graduates.

After reading about his dedication, I wasn’t surprised when Dave came back with this personal quote:

With my experience in business and design, I welcome the opportunity to give back by teaching future designers what to avoid when starting their own companies.

Giving back is also a goal of Business of Design online, so there’s certainly a fit.

In The Agency Route, Dave will write about what he knows, which is all things small to mid size agency: making the decision between freelancing and agency, setting up, choosing location, hiring and firing, working with vendors, marketing, and finally, making the decision to leave agency work.

You can read more about Dave in our authors section.

The Team @ Business of Design online,
cat - nt - jay

Please give a warm welcome to Jess Sand, BoDo’s author of sustainability

At The Sustainable Studio, Jess will be share insights and resources on designing sustainability. She’ll talk not only about designers and their work, but the clients and communities they depend on.

Well versed on the issue of sustainable living, writer and designer Jess Sand blogs at Small Failures: Sustainability for the Rest of Us . With a diverse background (office overlord, prep cook, poet, number cruncher, honky tonk DJ, bartender, teacher, marketing manager) she also blogs at Bar Stories.

An enviable lass, Jess’s marketing, writing and design skills are based in cultural San Francisco at Roughstock Studios.

This is all good timing actually. When Eric Karjaluoto and Peter Pimentel of smashLAB contacted us about their new project Design Can Change, Jessica was well into formatting her series on the same subject, sustainable design. Like minds, yes?

You can read more about Jess on BoDo’s visiting authors page.

The BoDo Team
cat - nt - jay

Welcome to Monday!

For all of you coming back, welcome! To those of you who are new here, welcome!

Unfamiliar with BoDo? Then check out the archives to see if there’s anything of interest.

Wondering what’s been going on? Well, first we had the launch. Without you.

Throughout the week, we introduced our visiting authors - Alina with Alina’s In-sights, Jay with Ask jay, Stefan with Bean’s Biz, Mark with Creative Coaching, Tammy with Creative Conversations, Josh with Cube Two, Tom with Dyer Straits, Erin with Erin Reviews, Robert with Freshly Squeezed Branding, Neil with Marketing Minute and Liz with Write with ME.

Opting to skip an introduction, Cat’s at the helm behind BoDo Notes, Podcast Humpday, Resourceful Friday, Sunday Stressbusters, Weekly Recaps and the odd poll.

The first series was a brief intro to subjects surrounding the running of a design business - BoDo Niblets. It was also a brief intro to some of the people you’ll be seeing often on BoDo.

Next up was the start of Neil’s Marketing Minute, the 10 Top Marketing Missteps Series. He’ll be going over the 10 top mistakes designers make when marketing their practice.

At the same time as the Missteps Series, the Designers Working With Series began. DWW starts out with designers giving their experiences with running a creative business. Be prepared for three weeks of designers, then three weeks of writers, then three weeks of photographers, etc. Covered will be the industries designers find themselves working with. And sometimes more.

If you’d like to join in on the Designers Working With series, or if you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact us.

thanks for stopping by,
The BoDo Team
cat - nt - jay

Good Monday Morning all!

No, we are not perky, oh-so-cheerful morning people. That’s the beauty of being able to write these posts a week or two in advance. And always after the caffeine has kicked in. Sometimes in the evenings even. When we are perky. Sometimes. Well, wait a sec. Back up. We won’t go as far as perky, cheerful maybe.

(perky only happens when Jay feeds Cat too many cappuccino frappes)

So it’s Monday morning and you’re cruising around BoDo. Welcome! If you’re new to BoDo, check out BoDo Niblets: The Starting Out and Setting Up series.

If you’d like to know what BoDo has in store for the next couple of months, read Promises, Promises, Promises from last Fridays post.

If you check out our sidebar you can find out more about the BoDo team and our visiting authors. You can even read about BoDo and Ask jay a question if you like.

We have a pretty decent archive structure, so feel free to nose around a bit.

While you’re there, please join in the conversation as we’d love to hear from you.

thanks for stopping by,
The BoDo Team
cat - nt - jay

Promises, Promises, Promises
Of More Things to Come …

The 10 Top Marketing Missteps series

For many designers, marketing is one of those tasks that often gets put on the back burner. Worse, when folks do get around to doing something, they make typical mistakes. In this series, Neil will be addressing the top ten marketing goof ups so you don’t make the same blunders.

The Designers Working With series

When learning how to work with industries surrounding and sometimes touching on design, there are several ways to go. Books and trade publications instruct, as do classes (for some). Potentially expensive, winging it is common. An additional option is sitting at the feet of experienced pros, either at an in-house position, or under a few wings.

To start the conversation, in the past months Cat’s been interviewing to get advice, tips, hints and musings on the subject.

7 Questions went out to writers, photographers, illustrators, marketeers, programmers, printers and pre press specialists:

• What are the main points that you’d expect / want designers to know before contacting you about a project?
• When working with designers, what do you see as the top problem areas?
• How do you work?
• How should a company or individual in your profession be chosen?
• At what point should your profession be brought into a project?
• How do you charge?
• How can a designer improve their skills in your industry?

The same questions went to designers, but with changes to question 1 and 2:

• As a professional designer, what are the main points you want clients (potential and present) to know before contacting you about a project?
• When working with clients, what do you see as the top problem areas?

Those coming into the business of design, as well as seasoned business owners, just might find this series an interesting read.

If you’ve like to submit to the series, contact Cat.

And there’s more

Coming up will be talk of business plans, book reviews and interviews, podcasts, primping, playing and relieving stress.

Until then,
The BoDo Team
cat - nt - jay

WHEW! We made it to the end of the Starting Out and Setting Up Series. You’re ready skill-wise, taking it personally, honey has the money, and the clients, oh my! Location has been decided, you’re equipped and accounting for your actions. Right?

If that’s so, on with the hat tipping

What’s ‘hat tipping’ you ask? It’s where we review a series in its entirety, while thanking those who took the time to get back to us. It’s also where we acknowledge that it takes time to respond to requests such as ours.

If you’d like to take the time for a future series, contact Cat. There’s always a series in the works she can attach to you.

Starting at the beginning …

First up was the Series Introduction where Mark McGuinness opened with a quote.

In Are You Ready? Tammy Lenski had a comment to share. We then went over to Daniel Schutzsmith’s Graphic Define for even more.

On the experience side of Are You Ready?, we asked the question, was Jay ready? We found out how Leslie was ready, Neil made ready, Alina’s ready, Stefan was ready and Cat wasn’t.

In Taking it Personally, we borrowed Seth Godin’s point, which we followed with Ten Traits of Successful Business Owners.

On the experience side of Taking it Personally, Stefan’s determined, Leslie’s been practicing, Neil’s backpacking, Alina’s evolving, Danita has no regrets, Jay bites, and Cat’s bossy and barks.

In Alina’s In-sights, Alina took it further with Corporate Grinding.

In Clients, Oh My! we discussed the feasibility of starting out with none, one, four or more.

On the experience side of Clients, Oh My! we found that Leslie was covered, Neil was covered too, Stefan had it made, Jay’s been lucky and Cat’s been roaming about.

In keeping in the spirit of the series, Ask jay settled on five quick tips for getting new clients.

In Where’s the Money, Honey? it dipped into serious talk.

On the experience side of Where’s the Money, Honey? Chris discussed his money management, Stefan and Leslie did too. But Neil, he had no money, honey.

In Location, Location, Location we mulled over the pros and cons of working in or out. Writer ME “Liz” Strauss shared her location of choice, with a reminder that “it’s supposed to be fun.”

On the experience side of Location, Location, Location, Abhijit was happy at home, Leslie was dedicated, Neil was located, Jay’s domainly SOHO and Cat’s now online.

So, How Equipped Are You? By opening doors, cupboards, and drawers, we scrambled to put together a new business wish list.

On the experience side of How Equipped Are You?, Neil was equipped, Leslie was steady, Jay started out with loads of tools and Cat didn’t need as much.

We went back to the money issue with Who’s (ac)Counting now? This is where we put together another list. We’ve been told lists are good.

On the experience side of Who’s (ac)Counting Now? Neil’s into numbers, Stefan’s into services, Leslie recommends accountants and Jay minds her own business. Then there’s Cat, with a box.

On a roll, Ask jay came in with Seven ways to get organised.

We ended with the results of the Niblets Series poll, announced in the beginning.

In the coming months we’ll enlarge on each of the issues touched on in the Starting Out and Setting Up Series. Until we do, in alphabetical order, we’d like to thank those who helped make this series a success.

Abhijit Nadgouda | Freelance Software Professional
iface Consulting

Alina Hagen | Visual Communication Designer
Alina Design | Creative Latitude | BoDo Author | Alina’s In-sights

Chris Tomlinson | Visual Communication Designer
Gonik Design & Print | Gonik Blog

Danita Reynolds | Principle/Creative Director
Creative Expertise | NO!SPEC

Dr. Tammy Lenski |
I Can’t Say That! | Lenski Strategic | BoDo Author | Creative Conversations

Leslie Burns-Dell’Acqua | Creative/Marketing Consultant & Coach
Burns Auto Parts–Consultants | Burns Auto Parts blog | Podcast | Book

Mark McGuinness | Coaching Creative Professionals
Wishful Thinking | BoDo Author | Creative Coaching

ME “Liz” Strauss | Business Writing
Successful Blog | Letting Liz Be | Liz Strauss.com | The Blog Herald | Performancing.com | BoDo Author | Write with ME

Stefan Bean | President/Creative Director
Pulse Creative Partners, Inc. | BoDo Author | Bean’s Biz

Thomas (Tom) Stephan | Director of Something Clever
BoDo Author | Dyer Straits

An lastly,
The BoDo Team
cat - nt - jay

In the previous post we jotted down a list of expenses to start you off. Below, Neil, Leslie, Stefan, Jay and Cat talk about the practicalities of the money side of business.

Neil’s into numbers

During my office era, we had our accountant do everything. We focused on the business of design. Our accountant focused on crunching numbers. When we set the business up, one of the first things we did was start a relationship with a bank and set up a separate business account.

Today, I’m a one-man show and do my bookkeeping with QuickBooks Pro. It’s easy and I can generate all sorts of reports, do my invoicing, time sheets and such. Come tax time, I run out the general ledger, profit and loss statements, etc and my accountant takes it from there.

Neil (nt) Tortorella | Marketing Manager
Tortorella Design | The Marketing Mind | Creative Latitude | BoDo Team | Marketing Minute

Stefan’s into services

When I looked at the fact that the time I spend doing my own payroll amounts to quite a bit of non-billable hours, the choice for me was really pretty simple. Since we are a smaller firm, payroll services are really inexpensive and they’ll even take care of sending the taxes.

However, we do have an accountant that handles our year end tax preparation and will help with reconciling the account as well as any taxes associated with business income. Other than that, I still manage my own payables and receivables using Quickbooks.

Stefan Bean | President/Creative Director
Pulse Creative Partners, Inc. | BoDo Author | Bean’s Biz

Leslie recommends accountants

I have separate accounts and I do my own bookkeeping, but I have a background in it. I use QuickBooks and I recommend it to others. I also recommend getting a good accountant. They can save you loads of money–much more than they cost. If a creative simply will not follow this advice, I recommend TurboTax for tax preparation (it integrates well with QB and is relatively easy to use).

Also, I firmly believe that a creative should spend as much of her/his time doing what s/he does best, not screwing around with stuff they aren’t so good at, with the intention of saving money. An accountant and a bookkeeper are great tools to help a creative be creative and not get bogged down with stuff s/he doesn’t do well.

Leslie Burns-Dell’Acqua | Creative/Marketing Consultant & Coach
Burns Auto Parts–Consultants | Burns Auto Parts blog | Podcast | Book

Jay minds her own business

Putting time aside to get through the administration tasks is vital for every business owner. Even if you hire staff to take the drudgery off your hands, you have to know how your profitability and cash flow are going at any time.

I use MYOB for my accounts: It has all the features I need and my accountant imports the end of year file straight into their software. At least once a fortnight, I make sure my accounts are up to date and everything in my red tray (the repository of all my paperwork) is processed and filed away.

My diary has all the important dates: payment and document lodgment dates clearly marked with leadup reminders for those that need me to do some preparation.

Jeanette (jay) Wickham | Systems Manager
FastCoconut.com | NO!SPEC | BoDo Team | Ask jay

Then there’s a Cat in a box

I started out with a box.
When the box was full,
it was time to get a new box,
a bigger box,
or handle the accounts.

Kidding.

I’m pretty bad at money management. Luckily, along with my “if you don’t have it don’t spend it” policy, I have a “if you don’t have the mindset, hire someone who can” philosophy.

When I got to the point where the stress of keeping up with designing, clients, staff, marketing, accounts, etc., was overwhelming, I knew I had to do something creative. I paid to have an employee trained on MYOB. Problem solved. Mostly.

Catherine (cat) Morley | Project Manager
Creative Latitude | NO!SPEC | Katz-i | FastCoconut.com | BoDo team

The recap of the Starting Out and Setting Up Series is on Friday. YEAH! It’s over! [dancing a jig here] Apologies. We’ll stop screwing around and get on with an introduction to the second Ask jay, where she also deals with the money issue.

Until then,
The BoDo Team
cat - nt - jay

On Monday we had Where’s the Money, Honey? And we’re betting you thought that was that on the subject. Problem is, dealing with money in business never ends. There’s budgets, taxes, and, did we say taxes?

Determining how much it will take

How do you know how much money you’ll need to start up? Easy. Draft a budget. Okay … maybe not so easy, but you’ve got to start somewhere. Fire up your spreadsheet software of choice and start crunching numbers. It might not be a pleasant chore, but it’s a necessary one.

Start by making yet another list

• Target salary (be realistic)
• Rent, or house payment (or percentage)
• Auto expenses (include petrol and upkeep)
• Furniture payment or rental
• Accounting fees
• Insurance
• Legal fees
• Taxes
• Loan payments
• Bank charges
• Computer payments
• Software and upgrades
• Dues and subscriptions
• Reference books
• Internet charges
• Marketing expenses
• Office supplies
• Postage
• Telephone
• Utilities
• Travel

Digital spreadsheets enable you to play with numbers. They also force you to take a realistic view of your situation.

It’s a good idea to draft pro-forma (projected) budgets for three and five years. In that mix goes projected revenue and additional expenses.

If you are not confident in your abilities when it comes to business accounting, one way to improve is by taking a short course at your local college, government funded business start-up group, or Chamber of Commerce. If you learn best on your own, check out what’s available at your local bookstore, or at an online bookstore such as amazon.com.

The Internet has hundreds of online courses on offer. Some free, some for a small fee. Although we don’t have the time now, we’ll get into those at a later time. Promise.

Next up, the BoDo team, visiting authors and guests will share how they’ve handled the money aspects of running a design business.

Until then,
The BoDo Team
cat - nt - jay