This article is a condensed version of my book, Starting a Web Design Business. Starting a Web Design Business is available in paperback from Amazon or as an e-book.
How to Start a Web Design Business on a Shoestring Budget
Many people are considering doing freelance work or starting a small, home-based business due to the global economic recession. Unemployment figures are frightening and the job market is worse than many of us can remember. Web design is a great home-based business for anyone who is Internet savvy and detail oriented.
I have worked as a freelance web designer for more than a decade. During the past ten years I have learned a lot about what works well and what does not work well in the web design business. I have also watched the industry mature and change as it continues to evolve.
The Internet has been referred to as a “disruptive technology” because it has completely transformed so many aspects of modern life. The Internet has permeated nearly every aspect of society, from communication to banking, and from research to shopping. The Internet has changed our world to the extent that most people have a hard time remembering life before the Internet.
This amazing technology, coupled with the universal mainstream adoption of the technology, has created exciting new business opportunities for entrepreneurs. Many people now earn a respectable living working from the comfort of their home in jobs or businesses that were not even invented a few short years ago. The web design business is one of these new opportunities afforded by the popularity of the Internet.
As Internet usage continues to rise around the globe companies are constantly in need of web design services. Some large companies hire web designers and web programmers to maintain their websites. However, most smaller businesses (and a lot of larger business too) contract out their web design and web content needs to freelance web designers or web design businesses.
Web design businesses are also ideally suited to starting and operating on a limited budget. (This assumes, of course, that anyone interested in starting a web design business probably already owns a computer and has access to the Internet!) Web design businesses can be easily run from a spare room at home, a corner in the living room, or even from a local Internet cafe. In more than a decade as a web designer I have never had a client want to visit my “office.” Most communications are handled via e-mail or phone with an occasional visit to their office.
Web Design as a Business
The web design business could not have been imagined by most people just a few short years ago. I graduated from high school in 1988 and knew only one person besides my who owned a “home computer.” Computers were only beginning to be implemented in business and the World Wide Web would not yet be invented for another year.
The Internet is clearly the driving force behind the popularity of personal computers. E-mail, Internet chat, music and video downloads, instant access to reference material, and e-commerce all owe their very existence to the Internet. Without the Internet none of these popular services would be possible.
The web design industry has changed considerably over the ten years that I have been involved in the industry. In the 1990s most websites were simple, static sites with content that rarely changed. Most sites today are dynamic and powered by database applications. Modern sites may be updated daily or even many times each day. The type of sites customers need may be somewhat different now than in the past; however, businesses still need websites designed, set up, and maintained. The market may evolve and change but businesses will always need someone to take care of their website.
Legal Considerations
Starting any businesses involves many decisions, including some legal considerations like which business structure to use. A comprehensive discussion of the legal considerations for a web design business is beyond the scope of this article but many resources are available to provide more information about this topic (both online and in print).
Some early decisions you will need to make include:
- should you rent office space or work from your home
- which business structure should you use (sole proprietor, corporation, etc.)
- what type of record keeping system will you use for your business
- how will you prepare your tax filings
- does your state/local government require you to obtain a business license
I have always operated my web design business from a home office. Commercial rent and utilities are far too expensive for me to consider office space a viable option. I would not personally consider rented office space for my web design business unless I had employees or a customer base that expected to be able to come to my office frequently.
Business structure decisions may be limited by the state in which you live. For instance, the state that I currently live in offers no business structure other than sole proprietor to individuals. I would need to take on a partner in order to file any type of corporate business application. Which business structure you should choose for you web design business will depend on your circumstances and what options your home state provides. Contact the Secretary of State in your home state (or visit their website) for more information on business structures available in your home state.
Small business bookkeeping is actually not as scary as it may sound. Modern accounting programs like QuickBooks by Intuit make it fairly easy to keep accurate records and generate very useful business financial reports. Accurate financial records are key to business success. It is impossible to know if you are making money or losing money without good records and reports. Accurate business records will also help you (or your accountant) claim all business deductions you are entitled to when you file your tax returns. Your accountant will be able to help you configure your accounting software to best meet the needs of your web design business.
Two things in life are certain, as the saying goes, and they are death and taxes. Business tax returns can become quite complex and it almost always advisable to have an accountant prepare your returns. The general rule is that your accountant will probably save you far more than you pay in accounting and tax preparation fees. There are many deductions available to small business owners but the rules are often confusing. To make matters worse, many tax rules change from year to year. Accountants regularly take classes to stay on top of the complex tax regulations and are likely to save you money in the long run.
Business licenses are required by many cities and villages. This is something that seems to be less common in rural areas than in urban areas. Ideally your city or town clerk’s office should have this information on their website. However, many governments have been ludicrously slow to migrate information to the Web so you may have to call or visit to inquire about business licenses. Usually a business license simply requires filling out a short application and paying a filing fee (usually renewable annually). My experience has been that this is usually just one more tax and the application is more informational than anything. It is wise to pay the fee if your municipality requires a business license rather than risk being fined or penalized for not obtaining the license.
Marketing and Advertising
Every business needs to engage in marketing and advertising in order to attract customers. The simplest and most effective form of marketing and advertising is “word of mouth” referrals from satisfied customers. Unfortunately, this requires customers to work so new businesses will need to jumpstart their advertising in order to find customers.
Networking or social marketing is a powerful (and low-cost) method of marketing your business. Networking seeks to leverage existing relationships to find customers. The reality is that most people, including business owners and decision makers, would rather do business with someone they know than with someone they do not know. This is not to say that a business owner will not do business with a stranger, but they often prefer to do business with a friend or acquaintance. You can use this to your advantage by respectfully asking for people’s business (not by spamming them though).
Direct marketing to local businesses can also be an effective way of jumpstarting your web design business. Many businesses prefer to deal with local service providers rather than an unknown service provider in a distant city. Cold calling, or visiting target businesses “door to door” can be a great way to meet local business owners and find new customers. This approach does require the ability to handle rejection from prospective customers but can still pay off with new customers.
Obviously you will want to use the Internet in your business marketing. Make sure your business website is top notch and conveys a professional image to potential customers. Remember that you only have one chance to make that first impression! Your website should be search engine optimized for the markets you want to target. For instance, you may want to dedicate a page on your site to your location and any local businesses you work with already. This will improve your search engine ranking for web design services in your town or city. Similarly, you may want to create several pages dealing with any market niche you service. This will improve your search ranking for web design services in your market niche.
Printing is easy to forget about in the Internet age. However, you will at least want to have quality business cards printed. You will have many opportunities to hand out business cards to potential customers. Business cards should have your name, your company name (if you use one), enough information about your business to describe what services you offer, and your contact information (website address, e-mail address, and phone). You may also choose to have multi-part contract forms printed or other promotional literature like brochures or flyers.
Formal advertising options include advertising in your local newspaper, pay-per-click advertising, banner advertising, direct mail campaigns, and advertising in trade association publications. Which options are best will depend on the type of customers you are seeking to attract and your advertising budget. It is always a good idea to test marketing campaigns with some type of quantifiable data so that you can measure performance. Blind marketing campaigns can consume your entire advertising budget without producing any meaningful return on your investment.
Hosting Providers and Domain Registrars
Domain registrations and web hosting are two closely related income streams that should not be ignored. Some business customers may already have a domain name registered and hosting set up. These customers may only want you to provide design or content. However, many businesses, particularly those without an existing web presence, may want you to handle the domain name registration and hosting as well. Domain name are typically renewed annually and hosting is typically renewed monthly (though either can be renewed for longer periods). The actual income from either source is small by itself but quickly adds up with multiple accounts. Domain registrations also provide residual income each month that requires little or no work on your part.
Some hosting providers offer reseller accounts that will allow you to easily set up customer hosting accounts and even integrate billing. This is quite convenient since billing for hosting can get complicated once you start amassing more than a few hosting accounts.
There are many excellent hosting providers to choose from and more than a few not-so-good hosting providers. Carefully check out any hosting provider in advance and research what their customers are already saying about them. Cheap is not necessarily a good thing when it comes to web hosting. Remember, your customer will not be calling the hosting provider when their site is down – they will be calling you. Save yourself these headaches and choose an affordable, quality hosting provider.
Web Design Business Software
Starting a web design business will require some computer software. The software you use will depend on several factors though, including budget, personal preferences, and the type and level of services you intend to offer. You will need a text editor, graphic software, and an office suite at a minimum. The good news is that these programs are all available for free by using open source software! Many web designers also like to use a visual XHTML editor. These are much harder to find in non-commercial versions.
Text editors are arguably the most versatile piece of software you will install on your computer. In fact, probably the only software I use as much as a text editor is a web browser. Microsoft’s Notepad is fairly anemic and few programmers hold a favorable opinion of the application. I currently use the Scite SC1 editor freely available from Scintilla. I have also used Notepad++ in the past. Any decent text editor will work but most modern versions now include syntax highlighting (very useful for hand coding or editing), line numbering, word count, and other handy features.
Text editors are essential for any type of scripting (PHP, JavaScript, etc.). Many web designers, me included, still prefer to design and edit sites in a text editor rather than risking problems with a visual HTML editor altering code. Even if you like to use a visual editor to develop sites it is sometimes convenient to use a text editor when you just need to check something quickly.
Visual HTML editors have advanced considerably over the past decade and most web designers now use some type of visual editor to speed site development. Many options are available when choosing a visual HTML editor.
Popular visual HTML editors include Microsoft Visual Web Developer, CoffeeCup HTML Editor, and Adobe Dreamweaver. These applications are all commercially available in varying packages with varying costs. Microsoft Web Developer and CoffeeCup HTML Editor both do offer a limited-feature free version. KompoZer is an interesting (and free) project currently under development. KompoZer is a continuation of the abandoned Nvu project.
Each visual HTML editor has its’ own set of features, advantages and complications. Which editor is best (or if any of them are best) will be determined by your preferences, budget, and the type of development you are doing.
Graphic design software is most frequently used for photo and image editing. However, decent graphic design software is also essential for making banners, logos, and site graphics. Graphic design software can be quite costly depending on which program you purchase.
Popular graphics programs include Adobe Photoshop, Corel Paint Shop Pro, and Gimp. Adobe Photoshop is the industry standard but carries a price tag that might well be more than your monthly rent payment. Corel Paint Shop Pro (formerly Jasc Paint Shop Pro) is a great program with a much more affordable price. Gimp is a powerful, open source program that is available for free. Gimp will likely take care of everything you need to do unless you are a real graphic designer (in which case you probably already have Photoshop).
An office suite of software is essential for routine business tasks, like proposals, invoicing, presentations, and basic bookkeeping with spreadsheets. Regardless of how high-tech the web design business may be there are still occasions when you will need to type a letter, prepare a presentation or use a spreadsheet. Customers are also likely to send you documents periodically.
Some popular office suites include Microsoft Office, OpenOffice.org, and Corel WordPerfect. Microsoft Office is, of course, the industry standard. Office and WordPerfect both carry outrageously high price tags though. OpenOffice.org is the up and coming office suite of choice for many people. OpenOffice.org does everything you would expect an office suite to do – but without the price. OpenOffice.org is freely available and will import and export Microsoft Office documents.
The Importance of Standards Compliance
Standards compliance is something of a buzz word these days but is something that every web designer should be striving to achieve and maintain. Developing websites that comply with current, International standards is best practice and should always be the goal. Sites that are standards compliant should work satisfactorily in every modern web browser – whether desktop, laptop, or handheld.
Many web designers have a bad attitude about web standards. They seem to think that standards are implemented to hold them back or to make their job difficult. Nothing could be further from the truth! Web standards allow web designers to design one site that works in all browsers rather than designing multiple copies of each site to accommodate several different browsers. As the Internet continues to grow and more mobile devices are used to access the Internet it becomes even more important to design to industry standards. It is simply impossible to predict what devices will be used to access a website. Standards-compliant sites are the only way to guarantee that everyone can access a site.
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an international consortium that develops internationally-accepted, open-source standards for the Internet. W3C’s stated mission is “to lead the World Wide Web to its full potential by developing protocols and guidelines that ensure long-term growth for the Web.” These may seem like loft goals, yet they are absolutely essential. Anyone who has been developing websites for any length of time remembers all too well the nightmare of browsers without standards compliance. (For that matter, anyone that attempts to develop sites that work the same in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer as in every other browser still knows why standards are important!)
Expanding Your Web Design Business With Freelancers
Sooner or later you will be faced with a project that is beyond the scope of your abilities and skills. This leaves you with the option of turning down the project (and the revenue) or finding a freelancer to complete the portion of the project you cannot handle. Subcontracting out parts of a project to freelancers has become increasingly common as websites have become more complicated.
Working with a freelancer (or several) allows you to expand your business and offer more services to your customers. However, this also complicates your business because you are now relying on other people to complete critical projects. Remember to build extra time into each project if you plan to subcontract out part of the work. This will provide you with a time buffer if you run into problems with the work.
It is also a good idea to have a customer sign off on the project scope before you contract with a freelancer. Only after you are clear on what the customer needs should you ask a freelancer to bid on the project.
Deciding to hire a freelancer is one thing. Finding the right freelancer is something else altogether! How do you go about finding a freelancer for your web design project?
Fortunately, there are companies that specialize in connecting freelancers with people who need help with a project. Elance, Guru, and RentACoder all help to match up freelancers with available projects. The competitive nature of the bidding at these sites usually means the employer is able to have the work done at a good price. (Some people criticize these sites because the prices may tend to be too low because of the competition.)
Another option for finding freelancers is through a local university of technical college. Any school with an IT program is likely to have plenty of skilled students who could use some extra work. It may be best to work through the administration and ask for recommendations to be sure that your prospective freelancer has adequate skills and training.
Finally, you can always advertise on Craiglist, Monster, Dice or in your local help wanted directory for a freelance programmer or designer. You should probably have a basic freelance agreement ready if you plan to contract with someone directly. A standard freelance agreement will usually include a non-disclosure clause, payment terms, and will also specify whether the freelancer is an employee or an independent contractor. Presumably you will be looking for an independent contractor if the work is only periodic and per diem. An Internet search should turn up plenty of standard agreement templates you can adapt to your own needs. (You can, of course, have your attorney handle this for you – for a fee.)
It is also a good idea to review the IRS definition of an independent contractor versus an employee. Classifying a freelancer as an independent contractor is perfectly legal, but the IRS prefers that everyone is treated as an employee and thus subject to income tax withholding. Make sure you understand the distinction before you hire a freelancer. This is not an issue, of course, when using freelance sites.
Conclusion
Starting a web design business is an exciting venture. Best of all, web design businesses are well suited to starting as a shoestring business. While some things may be easier if you do have some cash to invest in the business, it is quite possible to start your web design business with no investment provided you already have a computer and Internet access.
Starting any business requires a lot of hard work. Web design is no exception. However, if you enjoy computers and the Internet, web design can also be a fun business. This business also allows you to earn residual income from every hosting customer as hosting and domain name registrations continue to bring in revenue long after the original sale.
There are plenty of decisions to make as you consider launching your web design business. The good news is that in many cases you can start simple or cheap and upgrade software or services as you earn some money. Expensive software licensing fees can be avoided because all of the software you need for your web design business is freely available as open source software; expensive business fees can be avoided by operating as a sole proprietor rather than incorporating. You can always change to more expensive options at a later date if it seems more beneficial to your business.
The future for the web design industry looks strong. The Internet continues to grow at a rapid pace and new technologies like mobile Internet are only beginning to see mainstream adoption. Many businesses still have not caught on to the usefulness and importance of a web presence. These businesses will require web design services in the foreseeable future if they hope to remain competitive in a global economy. The rapidly changing nature of the Internet also guarantees that businesses that already have a web presence will need their sites updated and overhauled. This trend also assures web design companies of residual work for many years to come.
This book was designed to provide you with a solid overview of the web design industry. We have discussed the highlights of starting a web design business without becoming too burdened with small details. We have also looked at ways to start a web design business on a shoestring budget. This business model does not require thousands of dollars in capital to be successful. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and get started with your shoestring web design business!
This article is a condensed version of my book, Starting a Web Design Business. Starting a Web Design Business is available in paperback from Amazon or as an e-book.
How to Start a Web Design Business on a Shoestring Budget
Many people are considering doing freelance work or starting a small, home-based business due to the global economic recession. Unemployment figures are frightening and the job market is worse than many of us can
remember. Web design is a great home-based business for anyone who is Internet savvy and detail oriented.
I have worked as a freelance web designer for more than a decade. During the past ten years I have learned a lot about what works well and what does not work well in the web design business. I have also watched the industry mature and change as it continues to evolve. I actually wrote an entire e-book about starting a web design business recently and decided to offer some of the highlights here on Associated Content free of charge!
The Internet has been referred to as a “disruptive technology” because it has completely transformed so many aspects of modern life. The Internet has permeated nearly every aspect of society, from communication to banking, and from research to shopping. The Internet has changed our world to the extent that most people have a hard time remembering life before the Internet.
This amazing technology, coupled with the universal mainstream adoption of the technology, has created exciting new business opportunities for entrepreneurs. Many people now earn a respectable living working from the comfort of their home in jobs or businesses that were not even invented a few short years ago. The web design business is one of these new opportunities afforded by the popularity of the Internet.
As Internet usage continues to rise around the globe companies are constantly in need of web design services. Some large companies hire web designers and web programmers to maintain their websites. However, most smaller businesses (and a lot of larger business too) contract out their web design and web content needs to freelance web designers or web design businesses.
Web design businesses are also ideally suited to starting and operating on a limited budget. (This assumes, of course, that anyone interested in starting a web design business probably already owns a computer and has access to the Internet!) Web design businesses can be easily run from a spare room at home, a corner in the living room, or even from a local Internet cafe. In more than a decade as a web designer I have never had a client want to visit my “office.” Most communications are handled via e-mail or phone with an occasional visit to their office.
Web Design as a Business
The web design business could not have been imagined by most people just a few short years ago. I graduated from high school in 1988 and knew only one person besides my who owned a “home computer.” Computers were only beginning to be implemented in business and the World Wide Web would not yet be invented for another year.
The Internet is clearly the driving force behind the popularity of personal computers. E-mail, Internet chat, music and video downloads, instant access to reference material, and e-commerce all owe their very existence to the Internet. Without the Internet none of these popular services would be possible.
The web design industry has changed considerably over the ten years that I have been involved in the industry. In the 1990s most websites were simple, static sites with content that rarely changed. Most sites today are dynamic and powered by database applications. Modern sites may be updated daily or even many times each day. The type of sites customers need may be somewhat different now than in the past; however, businesses still need websites designed, set up, and maintained. The market may evolve and change but businesses will always need someone to take care of their website.
Legal Considerations
Starting any businesses involves many decisions, including some legal considerations like which business structure to use. A comprehensive discussion of the legal considerations for a web design business is beyond the scope of this article but many resources are available to provide more information about this topic (both online and in print).
Some early decisions you will need to make include:
- should you rent office space or work from your home
- which business structure should you use (sole proprietor, corporation, etc.)
- what type of record keeping system will you use for your business
- how will you prepare your tax filings
- does your state/local government require you to obtain a business license
I have always operated my web design business from a home office. Commercial rent and utilities are far too expensive for me to consider office space a viable option. I would not personally consider rented office space for my web design business unless I had employees or a customer base that expected to be able to come to my office frequently.
Business structure decisions may be limited by the state in which you live. For instance, the state that I currently live in offers no business structure other than sole proprietor to individuals. I would need to take on a partner in order to file any type of corporate business application. Which business structure you should choose for you web design business will depend on your circumstances and what options your home state provides. Contact the Secretary of State in your home state (or visit their website) for more information on business structures available in your home state.
Small business bookkeeping is actually not as scary as it may sound. Modern accounting programs like QuickBooks by Intuit make it fairly easy to keep accurate records and generate very useful business financial reports. Accurate financial records are key to business success. It is impossible to know if you are making money or losing money without good records and reports. Accurate business records will also help you (or your accountant) claim all business deductions you are entitled to when you file your tax returns. Your accountant will be able to help you configure your accounting software to best meet the needs of your web design business.
Two things in life are certain, as the saying goes, and they are death and taxes. Business tax returns can become quite complex and it almost always advisable to have an accountant prepare your returns. The general rule is that your accountant will probably save you far more than you pay in accounting and tax preparation fees. There are many deductions available to small business owners but the rules are often confusing. To make matters worse, many tax rules change from year to year. Accountants regularly take classes to stay on top of the complex tax regulations and are likely to save you money in the long run.
Business licenses are required by many cities and villages. This is something that seems to be less common in rural areas than in urban areas. Ideally your city or town clerk’s office should have this information on their website. However, many governments have been ludicrously slow to migrate information to the Web so you may have to call or visit to inquire about business licenses. Usually a business license simply requires filling out a short application and paying a filing fee (usually renewable annually). My experience has been that this is usually just one more tax and the application is more informational than anything. It is wise to pay the fee if your municipality requires a business license rather than risk being fined or penalized for not obtaining the license.
Marketing and Advertising
Every business needs to engage in marketing and advertising in order to attract customers. The simplest and most effective form of marketing and advertising is “word of mouth” referrals from satisfied customers. Unfortunately, this requires customers to work so new businesses will need to jumpstart their advertising in order to find customers.
Networking or social marketing is a powerful (and low-cost) method of marketing your business. Networking seeks to leverage existing relationships to find customers. The reality is that most people, including business owners and decision makers, would rather do business with someone they know than with someone they do not know. This is not to say that a business owner will not do business with a stranger, but they often prefer to do business with a friend or acquaintance. You can use this to your advantage by respectfully asking for people’s business (not by spamming them though).
Direct marketing to local businesses can also be an effective way of jumpstarting your web design business. Many businesses prefer to deal with local service providers rather than an unknown service provider in a distant city. Cold calling, or visiting target businesses “door to door” can be a great way to meet local business owners and find new customers. This approach does require the ability to handle rejection from prospective customers but can still pay off with new customers.
Obviously you will want to use the Internet in your business marketing. Make sure your business website is top notch and conveys a professional image to potential customers. Remember that you only have one chance to make that first impression! Your website should be search engine optimized for the markets you want to target. For instance, you may want to dedicate a page on your site to your location and any local businesses you work with already. This will improve your search engine ranking for web design services in your town or city. Similarly, you may want to create several pages dealing with any market niche you service. This will improve your search ranking for web design services in your market niche.
Printing is easy to forget about in the Internet age. However, you will at least want to have quality business cards printed. You will have many opportunities to hand out business cards to potential customers. Business cards should have your name, your company name (if you use one), enough information about your business to describe what services you offer, and your contact information (website address, e-mail address, and phone). You may also choose to have multi-part contract forms printed or other promotional literature like brochures or flyers.
Formal advertising options include advertising in your local newspaper, pay-per-click advertising, banner advertising, direct mail campaigns, and advertising in trade association publications. Which options are best will depend on the type of customers you are seeking to attract and your advertising budget. It is always a good idea to test marketing campaigns with some type of quantifiable data so that you can measure performance. Blind marketing campaigns can consume your entire advertising budget without producing any meaningful return on your investment.
Hosting Providers and Domain Registrars
Domain registrations and web hosting are two closely related income streams that should not be ignored. Some business customers may already have a domain name registered and hosting set up. These customers may only want you to provide design or content. However, many businesses, particularly those without an existing web presence, may want you to handle the domain name registration and hosting as well. Domain name are typically renewed annually and hosting is typically renewed monthly (though either can be renewed for longer periods). The actual income from either source is small by itself but quickly adds up with multiple accounts. Domain registrations also provide residual income each month that requires little or no work on your part.
Some hosting providers offer reseller accounts that will allow you to easily set up customer hosting accounts and even integrate billing. This is quite convenient since billing for hosting can get complicated once you start amassing more than a few hosting accounts.
There are many excellent hosting providers to choose from and more than a few not-so-good hosting providers. Carefully check out any hosting provider in advance and research what their customers are already saying about them. Cheap is not necessarily a good thing when it comes to web hosting. Remember, your customer will not be calling the hosting provider when their site is down – they will be calling you. Save yourself these headaches and choose an affordable, quality hosting provider.
Web Design Business Software
Starting a web design business will require some computer software. The software you use will depend on several factors though, including budget, personal preferences, and the type and level of services you intend to offer. You will need a text editor, graphic software, and an office suite at a minimum. The good news is that these programs are all available for free by using open source software! Many web designers also like to use a visual XHTML editor. These are much harder to find in non-commercial versions.
Text editors are arguably the most versatile piece of software you will install on your computer. In fact, probably the only software I use as much as a text editor is a web browser. Microsoft’s Notepad is fairly anemic and few programmers hold a favorable opinion of the application. I currently use the Scite SC1 editor freely available from Scintilla. I have also used Notepad++ in the past. Any decent text editor will work but most modern versions now include syntax highlighting (very useful for hand coding or editing), line numbering, word count, and other handy features.
Text editors are essential for any type of scripting (PHP, JavaScript, etc.). Many web designers, me included, still prefer to design and edit sites in a text editor rather than risking problems with a visual HTML editor altering code. Even if you like to use a visual editor to develop sites it is sometimes convenient to use a text editor when you just need to check something quickly.
Visual HTML editors have advanced considerably over the past decade and most web designers now use some type of visual editor to speed site development. Many options are available when choosing a visual HTML editor.
Popular visual HTML editors include Microsoft Visual Web Developer, CoffeeCup HTML Editor, and Adobe Dreamweaver. These applications are all commercially available in varying packages with varying costs. Microsoft Web Developer and CoffeeCup HTML Editor both do offer a limited-feature free version. KompoZer is an interesting (and free) project currently under development. KompoZer is a continuation of the abandoned Nvu project.
Each visual HTML editor has its’ own set of features, advantages and complications. Which editor is best (or if any of them are best) will be determined by your preferences, budget, and the type of development you are doing.
Graphic design software is most frequently used for photo and image editing. However, decent graphic design software is also essential for making banners, logos, and site graphics. Graphic design software can be quite costly depending on which program you purchase.
Popular graphics programs include Adobe Photoshop, Corel Paint Shop Pro, and Gimp. Adobe Photoshop is the industry standard but carries a price tag that might well be more than your monthly rent payment. Corel Paint Shop Pro (formerly Jasc Paint Shop Pro) is a great program with a much more affordable price. Gimp is a powerful, open source program that is available for free. Gimp will likely take care of everything you need to do unless you are a real graphic designer (in which case you probably already have Photoshop).
An office suite of software is essential for routine business tasks, like proposals, invoicing, presentations, and basic bookkeeping with spreadsheets. Regardless of how high-tech the web design business may be there are still occasions when you will need to type a letter, prepare a presentation or use a spreadsheet. Customers are also likely to send you documents periodically.
Some popular office suites include Microsoft Office, OpenOffice.org, and Corel WordPerfect. Microsoft Office is, of course, the industry standard. Office and WordPerfect both carry outrageously high price tags though. OpenOffice.org is the up and coming office suite of choice for many people. OpenOffice.org does everything you would expect an office suite to do – but without the price. OpenOffice.org is freely available and will import and export Microsoft Office documents.
The Importance of Standards Compliance
Standards compliance is something of a buzz word these days but is something that every web designer should be striving to achieve and maintain. Developing websites that comply with current, International standards is best practice and should always be the goal. Sites that are standards compliant should work satisfactorily in every modern web browser – whether desktop, laptop, or handheld.
Many web designers have a bad attitude about web standards. They seem to think that standards are implemented to hold them back or to make their job difficult. Nothing could be further from the truth! Web standards allow web designers to design one site that works in all browsers rather than designing multiple copies of each site to accommodate several different browsers. As the Internet continues to grow and more mobile devices are used to access the Internet it becomes even more important to design to industry standards. It is simply impossible to predict what devices will be used to access a website. Standards-compliant sites are the only way to guarantee that everyone can access a site.
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an international consortium that develops internationally-accepted, open-source standards for the Internet. W3C’s stated mission is “to lead the World Wide Web to its full potential by developing protocols and guidelines that ensure long-term growth for the Web.” These may seem like loft goals, yet they are absolutely essential. Anyone who has been developing websites for any length of time remembers all too well the nightmare of browsers without standards compliance. (For that matter, anyone that attempts to develop sites that work the same in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer as in every other browser still knows why standards are important!)
Expanding Your Web Design Business With Freelancers
Sooner or later you will be faced with a project that is beyond the scope of your abilities and skills. This leaves you with the option of turning down the project (and the revenue) or finding a freelancer to complete the portion of the project you cannot handle. Subcontracting out parts of a project to freelancers has become increasingly common as websites have become more complicated.
Working with a freelancer (or several) allows you to expand your business and offer more services to your customers. However, this also complicates your business because you are now relying on other people to complete critical projects. Remember to build extra time into each project if you plan to subcontract out part of the work. This will provide you with a time buffer if you run into problems with the work.
It is also a good idea to have a customer sign off on the project scope before you contract with a freelancer. Only after you are clear on what the customer needs should you ask a freelancer to bid on the project.
Deciding to hire a freelancer is one thing. Finding the right freelancer is something else altogether! How do you go about finding a freelancer for your web design project?
Fortunately, there are companies that specialize in connecting freelancers with people who need help with a project. Elance, Guru, and RentACoder all help to match up freelancers with available projects. The competitive nature of the bidding at these sites usually means the employer is able to have the work done at a good price. (Some people criticize these sites because the prices may tend to be too low because of the competition.)
Another option for finding freelancers is through a local university of technical college. Any school with an IT program is likely to have plenty of skilled students who could use some extra work. It may be best to work through the administration and ask for recommendations to be sure that your prospective freelancer has adequate skills and training.
Finally, you can always advertise on Craiglist, Monster, Dice or in your local help wanted directory for a freelance programmer or designer. You should probably have a basic freelance agreement ready if you plan to contract with someone directly. A standard freelance agreement will usually include a non-disclosure clause, payment terms, and will also specify whether the freelancer is an employee or an independent contractor. Presumably you will be looking for an independent contractor if the work is only periodic and per diem. An Internet search should turn up plenty of standard agreement templates you can adapt to your own needs. (You can, of course, have your attorney handle this for you – for a fee.)
It is also a good idea to review the IRS definition of an independent contractor versus an employee. Classifying a freelancer as an independent contractor is perfectly legal, but the IRS prefers that everyone is treated as an employee and thus subject to income tax withholding. Make sure you understand the distinction before you hire a freelancer. This is not an issue, of course, when using freelance sites.
Conclusion
Starting a web design business is an exciting venture. Best of all, web design businesses are well suited to starting as a shoestring business. While some things may be easier if you do have some cash to invest in the business, it is quite possible to start your web design business with no investment provided you already have a computer and Internet access.
Starting any business requires a lot of hard work. Web design is no exception. However, if you enjoy computers and the Internet, web design can also be a fun business. This business also allows you to earn residual income from every hosting customer as hosting and domain name registrations continue to bring in revenue long after the original sale.
There are plenty of decisions to make as you consider launching your web design business. The good news is that in many cases you can start simple or cheap and upgrade software or services as you earn some money. Expensive software licensing fees can be avoided because all of the software you need for your web design business is freely available as open source software; expensive business fees can be avoided by operating as a sole proprietor rather than incorporating. You can always change to more expensive options at a later date if it seems more beneficial to your business.
The future for the web design industry looks strong. The Internet continues to grow at a rapid pace and new technologies like mobile Internet are only beginning to see mainstream adoption. Many businesses still have not caught on to the usefulness and importance of a web presence. These businesses will require web design services in the foreseeable future if they hope to remain competitive in a global economy. The rapidly changing nature of the Internet also guarantees that businesses that already have a web presence will need their sites updated and overhauled. This trend also assures web design companies of residual work for many years to come.
This book was designed to provide you with a solid overview of the web design industry. We have discussed the highlights of starting a web design business without becoming too burdened with small details. We have also looked at ways to start a web design business on a shoestring budget. This business model does not require thousands of dollars in capital to be successful. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and get started with your shoestring web design business!