How To Start A Website Design Business

Overview of How To Start A Website Design Business:

In our fast-paced world of technology, website designers are in high demand.

A normal day may be spent first planning the layout of a new website for a small business.

Afterwards, coding the format and text and editing any images. You may later that day have a meeting with another business or organization. This meeting is used to develop a big picture idea of their website needs or to finalize small details.

Website Design Business Considerations:

There are a few things to consider before starting your website business. First, consider whether to have an office. As a website designer, most work can be done from a laptop anywhere. However, having an office to hold meetings can bring credibility to your work.

You may also want to consider earning certifications in specific programs. This may not be important to smaller clients but larger organizations may require it.

Also, familiarize yourself with multiple design programs like Photoshop, Movie maker, Dreamweaver, Web Studio and others. The larger your skill set the more business you can do.

Tasks, Skills, and Issues, Needed:

Whether you do all the work yourself, hire, or subcontract, here's a list of tasks, skills, and issues that need attention:

Marketing, advertising, networking, sales
People Skills: Employees, Customers, Vendors, etc.
Scheduling
Staying current with business matters such as licenses, insurance, and permits
Money management
Bookkeeping
Invoicing clients

Basic math skills
Problem solving skills
Organizing and tracking projects
Coding web sites
Editing pictures
Designing logos (possibly)
Inserting or creating web content
Meet with clients to determine site design/layout
Understanding of Search engines is a plus
Understanding of W3C
Basic understanding of Server Management
Knowledge of web design techniques
Extremely computer literate
Basic understanding of IT and/or internet communications
Good understanding of computer hardware and software
Good organizational skills and attention to detail

Approximate Daily Hours Needed:

General Hours of Operation: - Generally speaking, your business hours are your own. With the exception of meeting clients which normally falls within business hours of 9 to 5.

Employees Needed To Run A Web Design Business:

During the start up phase, you can run this business single-handedly. Once Your Business is up and running successfully, you may need to hire the following:

Web designers

Researchers

Advertising specialists

Content Writers

Record/Bookkeepers

Receptionists

Licenses:

In addition, to a Business License, you will need a Federal Employee Identification Number (EIN), insurance and possibly incorporation paperwork such as an LLC.

Approximate Minimum Start up Cost:

Bare Essential: - Entrepreneur Magazine estimates that a website design business startup can run between $2,000-$10,000 USD. However, this is to purchase all equipment and software. More than likely, you already own most of the necessities.

Necessary Equipment:

Necessary Start-Up Equipment & Supplies:

General Office Equipment

General Office Supplies

A quality laptop with a several hundred gigabytes of hard drive space

Software (Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Movie maker, etc.)

Your own quality website

Printer

Cell phone

Supplementary Equipment: - Equipment or helpful products that you can acquire to once your business is off and running:

Digital camera

High end authoring software

Scanner for photos and slides

Video equipment

DVD/copy equipment to save websites as backup

External hard drives for backup copies of sites

Quality desktop PC or Mac with lots of memory

Servers (possibly)

Monthly Expenses To Consider:

Internet access
Utilities
Office Rent/Lease
Web Domain Fees
Software Fees
Phone/cell phone
Permits
Advertising/Marketing
Wages
Hosting Fees

Pros And Cons:

The Pros of Running a Website Design Business:

You get to be very creative

Your hours are your own

Stable industry with growth potential

You can Charge maintenance fees for maintaining the client's website

The Cons of Running a Website Design Business:

Some clients can be particular and not understand how processes work

You may be under very tight deadlines

It is a competitive industry

Type of Customers You Need to Attract:

Website design is booming right now. More and more business and organization are getting their name out on the web. Clientele will include small businesses, non-profit organizations, and community groups.

Statistics:

According to A List Apart, a group who surveyed web designers, about 50% of all web designers have a bachelors and about 66% had a bachelors or higher. However, nearly 50% of web designers said that their majors were not relevant to web design.

A List Apart, also noted that the majority of start-up web designers earned between $20,000 and $60,000 USD a year.

For the most current statistics in the web design field, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Revenue:

Website design can be extremely lucrative with the average website design charge being around $500 for a 10-page site. The more complex sites are naturally more money.

You can make an additional average of $35/month if you also provide website hosting.

Website Design Business Resources:

Industry-Specific Websites:

Website Design

Courses:

Web design courses - class catalog

Web Design Schools

Online Web Design Courses

Your Guide to Web Design Schools, Courses, and Training

Online Web Design Home Study Course

Online Graphic Design Degree : Resources & Information

Forums:

Web Design Forum

Graphic Design Forum and Web Design Forum

Web Design Forums

The Web Designer Forum Community

Franchises:

Bloom tools

Webmaster Web Design Opportunities

Associations:

Web Design and Developers Association

Software:

Adobe® Dreamweaver® CS5

Coffee Cup

Web Studio 5.0

NetObjects Fusion Essentials

Other:

How to Set Up Your Web Designer Office What Equipment is Vital and What Can Be Eliminated?