by Claire Jones
Entering the world of self-employment can be attractive prospect. Workers in 'dead end' jobs looking to ditch what might be the lifeless humdrum of 9 to 5 they know so well, to make that leap towards the freedom of working for themselves and the potential to earn millions... they are ready to transform themselves into fully-fledged self sufficient successes within the world of business!
Whether you are looking to freelance or set up shop as a web developer on a larger scale, when it comes to establishing your own business, the idea of being your own boss may seem like an easier way of earning - working from home on small manageable projects with no one but yourself and your client to report to.
'Freelancing - it sounds so good! No more office politics! Bye-bye boss! You're out there on your own, wind in your hair, no expenses and clients aplenty. Every job is a new job, with a great hourly rate. Variety is the spice of life!'
If only it was that simple. What may initially seem like a dream job may stop
you in your tracks when the realisation of what lies before you sets in. That is, what may challenge the not so
business-savvy are the practical aspects of self employment they didn't see coming. Legal advice, contracts, copyright issues, intellectual property, financial accounts, tax, overheads, insurance,
equipment, staff holidays/sick leave, and outsourcing are just a few details that may be overlooked.
How will you market your business? How will you ensure projects are completed on time and on budget? Who do you go to for advice? How will you deal with clients' complaints?
At the risk of resorting to scare tactics, this is where the Web Design Business Kit will help you calmly deal with the challenges ahead. In this 'personal business consultant' kit, information is provided on how to start, build and expand your ideas into a profitable success. Using case studies and relevant information from his personal experiences, Brendan Sinclair takes you through the fundamentals of running your own web design business, from your initial thoughts and ideas right through to ensuring you keep your working practices ticking over in a winning fashion.
This is not only a book for beginners, however. Whilst the initial chapters place emphasis on clarifying your reasons for choosing to work for yourself and establishing strategies for the successful launch of your business, further into the book Sinclair explores the finer details of marketing, sales and client service, looking at positioning your business for longer term accomplishment. The practicalities of taking on staff, leasing office space and briefing subcontractors are covered in the final chapters, coupled with appendices, case studies, interviews, documentation, and resources designed to help your business flourish over the years ahead.
Folder 1 contains five parts:
Folder 2 contains samples of, and templates for, the documentation Sinclair uses in his business every day. This content is broken into six areas:
There is also a CD-ROM containing electronic copies of the above documents.
Throughout the text Sinclair urges the reader to assess the needs of your company in accordance with budget and justify your actions to ensure a profitable outcome. Although his philosophy may seem largely like simple common sense, the points highlighted are helpful and constructive.
One particularly useful section of the book is the chapter "Market your business". It is easy to instantly consider traditional forms of advertising to market your business - large-scale newspaper advertising, radio adverts, flyers, etc - but unless your approach targeted towards your prospective clients then they may not prove to be worthwhile or financially viable exercises.
For the more experienced entrepreneur the book encourages you to carry out an examination of what it takes to move your business forward, that is, identifying your existing skills and who you might need to employ to gain the skills in which you currently lack. Sinclair looks at the idea of 'Leveraging' - using the people, skills, marketing and systems already put in place in order to source new business, as well as a detailed exploration of the financial aspects of your enterprise, with hints and tips on managing expenditures and maximising profits.
This book is a thorough, comprehensive guide aimed at both those starting out and those running an existing operation looking for some extra guidance. Generally the advice is not specific to the area of web development, so it is useful whether you are looking to enter this field or are working in an unrelated area. There is substantial generalised advice, hints and tips, and despite at times reading like an esteem-enhancing self-help book, the text is particularly motivating and inspiring.
A highly recommended kit for freelancers and SMEs alike.
The "Web Design Business Kit" is written by Brendon Sinclair and published by Sitepoint. The kit costs $247.00 (£130.44) and can be ordered from Sitepoint at www.sitepoint.com/books/freelance1.
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