Starting design company in south wales

Originally posted by: htmlhero
I am looking into setting up a design and development company in south wales.

We will offer, web, CD cover, advert, poster, flyer design and development.

I hope to work from home but spend a lot of time travelling out to clients to work on their projects face to face.

I know a lot about computing and web development, a fair bit about design, but very little about business.

I am looking at a company like 'Business in focus' for help, and have been looking into setting it up as a Limited company.

any tips, help or ideas?

One thing I'd suggest is to focus on the one thing you are best at, rather than trying to do everything.

You listed quite a range of activities, encompassing design, development and advertising. I've yet to meet someone who is capable of carrying out such a wide range of activities with a good level of competency.

I'll use our company to illustrate. We have a designer, who is exceptionally good at graphic design for the web, with particular focus on user interface design. What he does none of the rest of us can do at anything like the same quality - it takes time and talent to be that good.

We also have an application architect, who designs application flow and databases. She's very good at her job, and again, does it to a far better degree than anyone else can.

I do the application development, the actual coding. I can't do design, and don't have the intuitive feel for complex data relationships required for large database design.

As such, I'd suggest you look at your skills, and focus on developing the ones which you're best at and which you enjoy the most. You can then put these to use either as a freelance or by joining forces with others whose skills compliment your own.

HTH
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0845 009 8230

UK web solutions

well i currently work on about 4-5 international websites, make adverts for international companies which appear in international magazines, and i have also worked on CD sleeve projects.

I think this qualifies me to do the lot, also with a degree in computing it makes it official.

i now just need the business skills
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For great deals on web site and graphic design come to spundesigns.com

hi there

We work mostly with young businesses and start ups and we have put quite afew useful tips and advice on our free website which you are welcome to peruse - see ...

www.opendoors-newbusiness.co.uk

My business partner Antony Wolfson can also give you some general advice by phone for free if useful - we were where you are now 5 years ago so we are very sympathetic!

Good luck!
Kind Regards
Maurice Flynn
MD