| | |  | New Business | Home » » Start & Run a Graphic Design Business | | | | | | | Description: | | This book shows artists and designers how they can start their own successful freelance graphic design business. It costs little to start a graphic design business which makes it an attractive opportunity for anyone with an artistic eye. All it requires is a computer, an Internet connection and design skills. And it's the kind of business that can easily be run from the home!The graphic design business has changed significantly over the past few years. Photo- and art-sharing websites, social networking sites, and low barriers to setting up websites have all driven a demand for fresh new graphics, and provided numerous opportunities for graphic artists to reach new markets and customers. This book will show you how to capitalize on these opportunities, market your business, find clients, and stay organized. Like all books in the Start & Run series, this book is written in an easy, step-by-step format. The included CD-ROM has forms and worksheets that will help you get your business running. | | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Michael Huggins | | Paperback:
| 200 pages | | Publisher:
| Self Counsel Press | | Publication Date:
| March 15, 2009 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 1551808501 | | Product Length:
| 9.6 inches | | Product Width:
| 8.2 inches | | Product Height:
| 0.6 inches | | Product Weight:
| 0.9 pounds | | Package Length:
| 9.7 inches | | Package Width:
| 8.3 inches | | Package Height:
| 0.6 inches | | Package Weight:
| 0.9 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 6 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 6 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 found the following review helpful:
 Chuck Full of Great Stuff, incl. CD rom!Oct 15, 2009
By Lisa Jackson
"LJDesign"
I recommend this book. It is very detailed, informative and well-written. I have owned my own solo graphic design business, which I run from home, for 3 years. The first part of this book would have been great for me when starting up, the second half is good for me now. If you don't know already, you can get podcasts, toolkit and weekly informative newsletters online free along at [...]. This will whet your appetite if you cannot order this book now, or to use while waiting for it to come in the mail. (Cover design excuse: It is part of Self Counsel Press Business Series.)
What this book Covers:
Sections which would be helpful if you haven't yet started your graphic design business:
1. Should you start a graphic design business (is it worth it? Yes!
2. You are a businessperson primarily.
3. Partnerships and Alternatives
4. Setting up: company structure, company identity, and business location.
Sections which are helpful to me:
5. Marketing: Niche, Targeting, Marketing Plan, Online, Portfolio, Capabilities kit.
6. Doing the Work: Proposal, Contract, Repeats & Referrals, Client Problems, Your Creative Process, Hiring Photographers & Illustrators, Pricing Your Services
7. Sample Forms & Worksheets
CD Rom for PC
This includes sample sheets, forms, time tracking sheets, sample pricing matrix (excel) & helps, tips, checklists, podcasts and toolkit
6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
 Good book but CD is NOT Macintosh OSX compatible.Mar 26, 2010
By Music Lover
Guess I'm looking at the black dot on the page, but I can't believe a book for graphic designers would have a CD that was not OSX compatible. Other than that it is a good resource.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Great Start Up Book!Apr 04, 2010
By Emina D. Sehovic
"six26studio.com"
This is a great book with lots of valuable information. Huggins teaches you the steps on how important is to be organized, but also points out how to do presentations when you are with clients, proposals, invoicing, contracts and all the necessary things you need to know when you are in the business. The book is so easy to read I think I read through it within two days. Not only do you get a book but you get all of the important forms that you need when you have a design business. One of the readers complained that the CD is in PC version only. Yes, but if you email Huggins regards this; like I did. You will get a download file with everything within couple of hours. Everyone should get this book who is looking to start and better their graphic design career.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Great Book on Getting Organized and Creating the Design Business You Want.Mar 31, 2010
By S. Middler
Huggins has written a wonderful book for the graphic design creative that helps us get organized, find clients, get the job done and keep track of it all.
When I get involved in a project I am totally immersed in what I am doing. I forget to keep track of things. The forms and suggestions in the book made it easy to form good business habits, leaving me with more time to make money and to be able to tell precisely where I was making the most money.
This book is full of great ideas, suggestions and the forms to help you grow a profitable graphic design business. There is a CD with the book but it is PC based. Michael Huggins has made those files available for us Mac users. I can't thank him enough for that. The forms are so useful.
A well organized book that covers everything you need to run a great and profitable design business. An excellent reference book to keep on the shelf to answer your graphic design business questions. I highly recommend it.
Sharron Middler
[...].
Decent Overview of Running Your Own Design BusinessMar 04, 2012
By Patterson
For those seeking a basic, quick, and general guide to get them started in setting up shop, this is a great book. It will not teach you design; the author correctly assumes you already know what you're doing in that arena. I already have a few of these business books, and I didn't really learn anything new, but it was a good overview. Solid advice.
This book doesn't go too in-depth with any one topic, if you're expecting that I suggest looking up "Talent is Not Enough: Business Secrets for Designers" by Shel Perkins or "the Designer's Guide to Marketing and Pricing" by Ilise Benun.
On a technical note, maybe somebody already commented on this, but I was dismayed that the accompanying CD is formatted for Windows only. I'm sure it mentioned that somewhere, but seriously, for design professionals, most of us are going to be in a Mac environment. It's a shame that whoever made that decision doesn't know their audience too well; at the very least, the CD should work on both platforms. So I wasn't able to look at any of the cool stuff that's on it, otherwise I'd leave feedback for that too.
See all 6 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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