Inspired by his entrepreneurial father, Mark Mallender decided to take the plunge in February and launch his own web design business – Together Solutions. Here he tells Startups.co.uk how he did it.
Startup profiles go straight to the hub of the action by speaking to entrepreneurs who have literally just started up. We find out what made them decide to start their own business, how they got it off the ground, the obstacles they’ve overcome and the barriers they still face. We’ll look at their hopes and aspirations for the future, and then, in six months time, we’ll go back and find out how they’re getting on.
Mark Mallender
22
Together Solutions Website Design and Web Services
Web Design and Web Services
February 2004
Starting my own business, and being my own boss was something I always wanted to do, and was inspired to do so by my father who ran his own business for many years. I had never previously had the capital to begin my own venture – although I knew that web design and support services was a products I could provide to a high standard
Together Solutions is a Manchester based business, although we can operate globally. We provide a low cost, professional service on web design, web maintenance, e-commerce, dynamics, content management, search engine submission and various other forms of quality service.
Our small business package starts at £250 which includes a 3 page website, designed by qualified designers to Microsoft Certified Professional standard.
We can cater for very small, new businesses, or large established businesses.
Our first business idea was the ‘Together Complete’ package. Our research showed that there was a market for this type of package and so our designers set about creating the software to deliver it, and the Together Complete package was launched with our business in February 2004 and has been a huge success already.
It provides a high quality, professional 3 page website, consisting of a homepage, portfolio or information page, and a ‘contact us’ page with contact form.
My inspiration came from my father, who proved to me over the years that working for yourself was the most rewarding way to spend your working life.
Popular demand for all of our services, particularly the Together Complete package, has proved, as my research and gut instincts told me, that there was a market for this type of business.
I contacted fellow web designers who I have grown to know well and asked for advice, which they provided. I then contacted my bank to arrange a business account, and arranged for 0845 telephone numbers to create the professional, established image.
We researched into the types of products and services which were already available and found a considerable gap in the market.
There were lots of very small web design businesses, who could offer designs for a very low cost, but when you looked in their portfolio, there was hardly any individuality to their designs. Plus, they had no customer service, after care or technical support service.
This then went to the other extreme of large businesses who would not accept less that £10,000 for a design contract.
Therefore, we were able to discover that there was a gap in the market for businesses who wanted to spend around £250-£1000 on a quality design.
We spoke to many businesses who already had websites to discover if there were any aspects of service which were not acceptable. Results showed that many businesses found a lack of communication, a lack of explanation and a lack of technical support and maintenance, had caused them to lose faith in the web design service which has been offered to them by other companies.
More awareness of the help available, and making it easier to get that help and information, would be greatly beneficial.
I used a business plan provided to me by my bank, which was very well structured and clearly allowed me to break down all of the information.
My business plan is a useful resource, but it has not, as yet, had any significant effect. I will always intend to follow my business plan as my business grows.
Very little – the final cost for the set up of Together Solutions did not over run the earmarked £5,000 budget.
The set up cost of my business was funded personally. I approached companies who I have used before and grown to trust.
Funding is usually done on a personal basis, with full accounts being retained – now that we are beginning to establish ourselves and make money, we are able to begin paying money owed back into personal accounts.
The main provision is, that most of the resources and equipment we have can be used for a variety of different things and therefore, the style of which we work can easily be changed. At the moment though, this has not been an issue.
I stopped working for an employer in December 2003 and began the process of setting up my own business straight away. Together Solutions was established in February 2004.
I found the transition a great change to my working way of life but I thoroughly enjoyed it and am delighted with the results to far!
I do both. I am work from home and my main reason for doing this, is because it can keep costs very low.
We have a small office, which is used for our design studio, although the cost of keeping this office running is very low due to being family orientated.
Working from home, and our designers working from home unless otherwise requested, means our prices are kept unbelievably low.
Too many! Around 45 per week at the moment.
It is very difficult to set to routine in this type of work, because when work comes in, you need to act on it straight away otherwise you may lose the customer.
However, if I have promised something will be done for a customer on a timescale, you can assure it will be done. On occasions, I haven’t even noticed it go dark!
I do go under the heading of a sole trader, but I sub-contract my designers on what has become a regular basis.
This is done, again to keep costs very low by not having regular employees, and it prevents designers having to commit themselves, and allows then to take on other work with different companies.
We have run advertising sections in local and national newspapers, and are working towards promoting our partner programme, in which individuals and other businesses can earn 10 per cent commission.
Making a good profit, and growing, whilst still providing the first class service which we currently offer.
Getting the balance between keeping our prices down, and developing our service and business size.
Our website was designed ourselves. I could talk for hours about the benefits and important features of a website, but I won’t bore everyone!
We have now settled on our design, although our website grows regularly. It can sometimes take 4 or 5 attempts to get a website looking and functioning just right if done independently – our designers get it in one!
I would like to make a comfortable profit – as everyone does. But enjoyment of work, and good customer service and support are my key focuses.
Getting my foot in the door was difficult – knowing where to start with advertising and promotional was the biggest challenge.
?
Ambition, drive, determination, patience, and lost of self encouragement. There will be many times when you feel like packing it all in – but you must be able to hold out through those times.
Go for it – life is too short.
