Category: The Agency Route
Bookmark on: del.icio.us
Dave Carlson
I have always been an entrepreneur at heart. I think as designers we love the challenge of using our creative talents to solve business problems. So about 11 years ago, I wanted the challenge of running an agency vs. just freelancing. I freelanced for about 4 years before I started my agency and hired my first employee. Then it became serious, because now I am not only responsible for my own salary, I had to find enough business to cover my employee too, which I did and took on that challenge whole-heartedly. So much so, that two years later, I began hiring my third and fourth, fifth, six, etc employees. Then I entered a whole new ball game and for a creative guy who never went to college (design or business school) this just became my entry into the school of Hard Knocks.
So before you jump right in with exciting dreams of building a big, famous, kick butt design agency, maybe you should ask yourself these soul searching questions:
Your personality
- Are you patient with people you rely on?
- Are you able to work through emotions (yours and your potential staffs’)?
- Can you stay focused on your long-term agency goals?
- Are you ok not designing as much or not at all?
- Do you enjoy the challenge of finding and closing new business?
Your finances
- Are you good at managing your money today?
- Do you have someone more qualified to manage the accounting of your agency?
- Do you have enough current business or cash reserves to weather the slow months?
- What would your initial business start-up needs be? Then what would your costs be for each?
- Would you enjoy managing the business and expenses to make a profit every month?
Your location
- Are you in a good location where you could acquire more business than you currently have today?
- Are there networks, groups or organizations that you can attend to introduce your new agency to.
- Are you working from home or do you need to lease an office?
- Are you looking for space to grow in? Then assume 250 sq ft per employee+recepetion+conference room.
- Where do you want to be located one year from now?
Your target client
- Do you know what type of work you want your agency to do or focus on?
- What projects or industries are you most passionate about?
- Will your passion for working certain projects or in specific industries bring enough business to match your personality, financial needs, and location?
- Do you know where to find the right clients?
- Do you know where to find talent with similar passions?
Dave Carlson | The Agency Route
The Vyant Group | DegreesInc | Team Author
Comments to this post:
Comment: JC Carvill says
It must have been an amazing feeling from going to freelance to going into business and hiring others. Congrats on that!! Thanks for these hints to help me when I take the next step too.
17th October 2007 Quote
Comment: Dave Carlson says
Thanks for the props JC!
Yes, it was amazing yet at the same time scary but that was ok for me because I was ready to take the risk to work for what I believed in achieving. It is great to be able to share my experiences to help others.
17th October 2007 Quote
Comment: Heather says
Thanks Dave. This was a great article. I am just starting out in the freelance world for the first time and I appreciate the critical points your article made. There’s something about seeing all your thoughts/fears/excitement spelled out in someone else’s article. It really made me think, “I can do this, but it will continue to be as challenging as it already is!”
19th October 2007 Quote
Comment: Dave Carlson says
You CAN do this and it CAN be very rewarding too. Just have a long term vision or exit strategy in mind too. I built and sold my business, so in that sense it was very rewarding (along with everything else). Now get the word out and good luck to you!
19th October 2007 Quote
Comment: Devin says
Hi Dave! First off, great article, as a young designer, not only does it give me an insight into what I could be in for in my future, but it also gives me an insight into the things that the studio I work for is going through as well.
I do have a question….you mentioned selling your business (Gateway), I’ve always wanted to know what were some of the pros and cons to that decision? Is there anything you would have done differently?
21st October 2007 Quote
Trackback: creative briefing says
Creative linking…
Here’s a list of 5 great articles and resources for the marketer, designer, and entrepreneur.
……
22nd October 2007 Quote
Comment: FireSnake Chicago Website Design says
I think another important question is whether you are comfortable doing new tasks that you never wold have had to do when working at a larger firm. When you start your own design agency, you will have to become your own salesman, accountant, marketer, etc. Are you comfortable being a jack-of-all-trades / wearing many hats?
If all you really want to do is design, starting your own design agency might not be the best thing to do because design work is be one of many things you will be doing. In fact, I would say, that’s probably one of the things I do the least the moment I started my own website design studio.
2nd November 2007 Quote
Comment: sagar kakade says
i have best knowledge in designing.
i think that how i am startrd my online business.i am from india(pune)
how i am give the deals of Customer of designing.
in india and other country.
18th January 2008 Quote
Comment: Dave Carlson says
Sagar, if you are launching an online design firm and you are going to work with clients all over the world, then maybe you should determine:
1. What projects do you want to work on?
2. What do you need to charge to make a living?
3. How are you getting the word out about your services?
There is more but its a start to get you thinking strategically about your business goals.
Good luck!
3rd March 2008 Quote
Comment: oky says
hey it’s so nice article thanks for sharing
14th June 2008 Quote
Leave Your Comments