| 1. Planning | | | | 4. Graphics & Copyright Issues |
| You must start off with a business plan that is | | | | You need to remember that images and graphics |
| workable and realistic. You need to identify your target | | | | cannot just be culled off the internet and used without |
| market based on the skill-set you possess, and your | | | | thought. This could cause you to be in breach of |
| ability to fulfill the projects that may come your way. | | | | copyright laws and lead to possibly costly legal trouble. |
| You need to think about whether larger projects are | | | | If you are not prepared to shell out on royalty |
| the best to start with considering that starting your | | | | payments for images, you must have a ready source |
| own web design business may mean your finances | | | | of free-to-use images, such as iStockPhoto, Royalty |
| are in limbo for a while. A longer project may mean | | | | Free Photos, or |
| you have to wait longer to get paid, unless you can | | | | 5. Graphic Design Tools |
| organize staged payments. You must also consider | | | | As images and graphics play such an important part in |
| whether to aim for a niche market that suits your | | | | web design, when starting your own web design |
| particular abilities, or identify the services most | | | | business you must have suitable graphics editing |
| sought-after by clients, and tailor your skills to fit the bill. | | | | software. This should be fit for purpose in that you |
| 2. Business Acumen | | | | must be able to create the effects you want whilst |
| Around half of all businesses fail within the first five | | | | not being fazed by a host of applications that are too |
| years. Just because you do not have a shop or rented | | | | complex or unnecessary for your personal needs. |
| office or any stock does not mean you are not running | | | | Adobe Photoshop may be in this latter category, and it |
| a small business. Starting your own web design | | | | is expensive, so you could look around for an open |
| business makes you every bit as susceptible to failure | | | | source option instead. |
| as the next person if your business head is not | | | | 6. Legalities & Book-Keeping |
| screwed on right. You must know how to deal with | | | | This takes in such matters as drawing up contracts |
| clients, accountants, bankers, and know how to keep | | | | for your various projects that cover both parties, to |
| your business records in good order. | | | | managing your accounts. Starting your own web |
| Time-management and conflict resolution are required | | | | design business without getting your paperwork in |
| skills, and you must be able to cope with stresses and | | | | order leaves you open to all sorts of legal and financial |
| deadlines. The right temperament is crucial. | | | | shenanigans further down the line. If this is an area you |
| 3. Web Authoring Tools | | | | are unsure about, you are better off paying lawyers |
| Web designers must be able to create a simple web | | | | and accountants to cover these jobs. It is a false |
| page by coding in HTML, but you need to find the web | | | | economy to skimp on these, go the do-it-yourself |
| authoring tools that best suit the way you work, and | | | | route, and find you overlooked something essential. |
| the requirements of your operating system. Starting | | | | Remember also that you should form a legal business |
| your own web design business without the correct | | | | entity to protect yourself and create the most |
| tools for the job is jumping the gun. | | | | tax-efficient situation for yourself. |