If you have a talent for it, web design is something you could turn into a small business and a decent work from home job when you do it right. However, it isn’t something most of us can just start doing. It requires the right tools and skills if you want to succeed since you’re competing for business against larger firms. You also need to have a clear plan on how to sell your services, and how much money you’ll need to actually get off the ground. Here’s how you can start a web design business from home in three steps.
Take Care of the Paperwork
Create a business plan. What are your financial goals? Outline your expenses and the minimum income you need to bring in. What are your targets for the number of projects or hours worked?
This will help you determine how much you need to charge per hour or per project. Identify pricing options and be able to defend these prices to clients. Be careful not to under-price your services.
You also need to take care of key legal concerns, and you have to budget for these expenses. For example, there are fees if you want to set up a private limited company, though you could also work as a sole trader. Understand the implications of each such as the tax paperwork that comes with it.
Open a business bank account so that your business and personal finances are separate. This is a good time to set up bookkeeping software. Learn how to create invoices and process payments before your first client meeting. It would be wise to get insurance. Your homeowner’s insurance probably doesn’t cover your home business.
Build Your Home Business from the Ground Up
Don’t try to run your web design business from your dining room table. Create a home office that is dedicated to work and keep your IT infrastructure there. You may need to buy a top of the line laptop and invest in high-speed internet.
Buy a domain name and use it for both your website and email address. This will help you be taken more seriously by clients. Build your own website because this is the first and best advertisement you have for your services. You can set up a blog on the site to help attract business. Get listed in business directories. Set up business profiles on social media separate from your personal profiles, and backlink to your new business website.
Another thing you could do is start looking at financing options. Don’t be discouraged if your credit situation isn’t great, however. If you still have a job, a payday loan could be an option. While services like Peachy Loans are popular, you could consider a Peachy payday loan alternative as well. They’re not the only option, and there are other lenders with better rates and terms out there.
Build Your Tribe
Getting clients and a steady stream of work is the hardest part of building a web design business. One strategy is getting work through social media, marketing your services to those who know you. Promote your blog because that can attract followers who refer you to their peers.
Connect with IT hardware specialists, social media specialists, SEO experts, photographers and others in related fields. You may hire them at some point, but more importantly, they may be able to refer clients to you. Come up with your “story” and elevator pitch so you can sell yourself at professional conferences and face to face meetings. And start selling yourself.
Conclusion
Setting up a web design business may seem like a lot of work, but it is possible when you have a detailed plan. Make sure that you follow these steps to the letter and start building an attractive portfolio.
