Graphic Design: Going Alone

[rach2027]

I currently work as a graphic designer but am starting to think about going freelance or starting my own business. Does anyone have any bits of advice that may help me?

[spaced]

Freelance is risky as you are never guaranteed work, and starting your own business would be excellent, but be prepared for lots of competition.

[Jonrhys]

hey there, I'm setting up my own business in audio design. Would you be able to send me some info and examples?

[Ghostrider]

Speak to a start up advisor at your local Business Link. They will help you with things like business planning, marketing, newtorking etc.

[plonker]

Be wary of sending your work to anyone without Terms and Conditions. When you set up your business, you will get people copying your work and then not paying you.

[Jonrhys]

The idea is, I have an external company that currently carry out all the design work and I'm looking to create that side of it within my own company. If anyone has a website or would be interested let me know.

[mattfox]

I'm also setting up something that involves, amongst other things, web hosting.

If you'd like a good deal, let me know! :D

[The artist]

Get a damn good accountant!

[rach2027]

thanks for your replies. I'm off to a business start-up exhibition in Glasgow tomorrow for tips and advice... so if anyone in the area is wanting to start their own business they should pop along too.

[jason1980]

Hi I worked as a freelance logo and website designer to fund my accountancy courses. I designed many websites for companies north of england whilst designing none in Devon (where I live) It was all through word of mouth. To get a good start up to 'give myself a portfolio' the first 5 logo designs I did for �50 and the first 2 websites I did for �100 regardless of the amount of pages. The other company buys the domain name and you design the pages and then upload. I stipulated that my offering the first few cheap I could use them to showcase for other potential clients who often requested to view previous work. I also paid about 25 - 35 a month for google adwords.

Since qualifying in accountancy I gave up designing. The longest part of the job is making the rewrites and changes which can be so tedious which I guess you know already.

You don't need a good accountant. Just keep a two page record of money in on one side, money out on the other. Gross profit is total of all your sales less what you have spent to get those sales like software to design = cost of sales. Net profit, the amount you declare to inland revenue and the amount you are taxed on is Gross Profit less all the other expenses like advertising, misc purchases, paper, and other stuff. Its quite simple.

Good luck

[nicola25!]

Hi

I work as an innovation advisor for the public sector. Hopefully you got loads of help at new start scotland event.

I recommend you go to your local business gateway and also look on Scottish Enterprise website they offer ebusiness seminars that are useful.

http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/sedotcom_ho me/events.htm?Category=All&Region=All

Best of Luck