What is it and who is it suited to?

Design or development?

Growing the venture

Tips for success

  • Specialise - Choose to focus on a particular sector: so you could go after the museums or charity sector, for instance. By doing that you get really in depth information and a real understanding of the sector. You can become known in that industry as the best premier designer for universities, museums, etc. Having that specialism, from an industry point of view, and also from a company’s point of view, is a really good idea: it’s a brand value.
  • Watch out for ‘scope creep’ - Sign off spec, and sign off each stage of production. Changes later drain resources and demoralize. Know your limits, and get paid help if you are going beyond them.
  • Have a good website - A website is your shop window, whether you’re selling goods or services online. Web design and development business are selling creativity, skills and technology, so they need to make sure that their website shows off their capabilities. Customers will not trust you with their website if you’re not able to entice them with your own.
  • Control cashflow - Take a deposit, invoice in stage payments and spend at least some money on regular targeted sales activity. Play to the areas you know – nothing works better than a relevant case study.


Useful contacts