Here's how to set your design business up for success from the start.
1️⃣ Set yourself up as a professional entity
You are going to be working on your clients’ largest financial asset (their home or business premises), so you need to take yourself and your business seriously. Register your business, set up a professional email and get client agreements/contracts created by a lawyer (don’t DIY your legal work!). You’ll also need a dedicated business bank account.
Get an accountant and lawyer early into your business so you know you are setting everything up legally and correctly. All start ups have some initial start up costs and this is where you need to invest your start up capital (not on creating a website or logo).
2️⃣ Find your first clients ASAP
Getting your first clients is your fastest path to revenue. So stop faffing around with logos and websites and start finding clients.
Reach out to family, friends or colleagues. If nobody is ready to pay, offer your services for free in exchange for testimonials and photos to build your portfolio. The goal is to gain experience, improve your skills and generate some word of mouth referrals. Document every project with before and after photos and testimonials to attract more clients.
3️⃣ Set some goals
Define what success looks like early on. Decide how much you want to earn and by when. Break it into smaller, actionable goals to stay on track.
For example: set a revenue goal to earn $100,000 in the first year then break this down into monthly goals and work out how many projects you will need to hit these goals. Without a plan you will have no idea where you’re trying to go.
4️⃣ Focus on client experience
Your reputation is your best marketing tool. Overdeliver on promises, communicate clearly and focus on making the process for your clients stress free and fun. Happy clients are more likely to recommend you and leave good reviews, which are priceless for growing your business.
I always like to think about how 5 star hotels treat their guests and apply as many ideas as I can from the hospitality industry to how I run my business.
By focusing on these steps, you’ll establish a strong foundation for success in a hugely competitive industry.
Also - make sure to watch my FREE 7 day YouTube course on how to start a design business from scratch. CLICK HERE to watch.
