How to hit $100,000 + in your design business: step by step
Here’s your path to a $100K per year design business! 🚀
This list will help you focus on the right things to be working on for YOUR stage of business.
And as you read through the list take note of where your current gaps are.
I have business templates and courses that help you with almost every issue raised in this post. So come and upskill yourself so you can move up a revenue bracket this year! 🎉🎉
$0-$36K per year
Characteristics and where to put your focus:
No (or very few) metrics tracked
Poor lead generation strategies
No sales strategy
No strategic systems or processes in place.
Lack of legal or other operational documents.
Poor planning or strategy
Unhealthy habits and self sabotage
No delegation or outsourcing
Low confidence
Hobbyist branding
Poor social media strategy
Taking any client that comes along
Poor onboarding experience for clients
Poor project management
Not sure how to price
Generally making it up as you go along!
$36-60K per year
Characteristics and where to put your focus:
Basic metrics tracked
Basic systems in place - digital filing in place
Legal and operational documents in place
Procrastination is common
Annual goals but not normally financial or strategic
Some daily health habits implemented
Some outsourcing - especially household tasks
Confidence growing as you gain experience
Relying on basic organic strategies for lead gen
Basic sales strategy and funnel in place
Visual branding in place - but inconsistently used
Basic content strategy in place - content is inconsistent
Product/market fit has been established
Scope creep is common - doing a lot of unpaid work
Rudimentary client onboarding in place
Some systems set up for tracking projects
Simple pricing model but work not well time tracked
$60-100K per year
Characteristics and where to put your focus:
Metrics dashboard set up and monitored
SOP and a process for capturing systems
Cash reserves are building
Time and tasks are batched for max productivity
Solid goals in place including revenue
Start + end of day routines set up
Some business work is outsourced
High levels of confidence in delivering high quality work
Reliance is still on organic lead gen but more sophisticated and consistent
More complex sales strategy in place with multiple funnels
Branding consistent across all collateral
Compelling daily content created
Product/service mix + additional revenue streams
Full client journey is mapped
Systems in place for managing client projects
More complex pricing models + all project time is tracked
$100K ++ per year
Characteristics and where to put your focus:
Qualitative and quantitative metrics tracked via dashboard
Systems/processes clearly defined
Strong positive cashflow
Consistent action + high levels of productivity
Clear vision with corresponding action steps
High energy and healthy daily habits
High $ value placed on your time
Fully confident in what you're doing + excellent client leadership
Mix of organic and paid lead gen strategies
Steady stream of sales flowing from sophisticated sales strategy
Strong brand presence
Sophisticated content and social media strategy
1:1 time maxed out. Only accepting 'A' clients. Moving away from 1:1 time to 1:many models (e.g. online products)
Client journey clearly documented from lead through project completion
Full client workload is mapped in project planner
Value based pricing has been implemented
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Courses and Templates for Designers and Architects
DO YOU WANT TO….
Improve your professionalism?
Find more clients?
Bring in more revenue?
Create better systems and processes?
Then check out my business courses and templates for designers and architects.
These courses and templates leave you with work done - not just a long list of things you need to do next. We have a really strong focus on taking action and getting things created that improve your business.
Enjoy the rest of your day!
Clare x
Dr Clare Le Roy
