How to Start Your Own Graphic Design Business & Run it From Home
1) Get a degree in Graphic Design
2) Get signed up for ForGraphicDesignersOnly.com
3) Work for free to get some good portfolio pieces.
4) Go to the library lots and read all about starting your own business, marketing, graphic designers, self-promotion, working with graphic design clients, logo design, brochure design, web site design, html, pearl, java, quickbooks, and bookkeeping.
5) Talk with business owners in your community about their business and the running of it. (Ask which phone book they use and if they are involved in any networking groups. Ask where they advertise and how they do their taxes and bookkeeping. Ask how long it took them to turn a profit.)
6) Practice staying out of debt, keeping a detailed budget, and balancing your checkbook. Learn how to say "No" to telemarketers, friends, and salespeople. If you have a personal credit card, get out of that habit and stay out for at least 1 year. If you can't stay out of debt in your personal life, you won't make a profit and stay out of debt as a business owner, either. Don't start your own business for money. If it is just for money, don't. Plan on staying out of debt in your business.
7) Surf the internet and learn what is needed that you do well. Focus on that.
8) Prepare: Create an Identity and marketing pieces. Find Contracts.
9) Save up as much money as you can. Here are some realistic figures, which you probably won't be able to afford all at once: Advertising in the phone book: $500 for one year (6 months before it will appear and you'll get business from it, you sign up); Web Site $150 for one year; Printing of Marketing items and contracts $200; Computer, Printer, Scanner and Software: $3000; Scan/Print/Copy/Fax: $300; Postage & envelopes: $100; Graphic Artist's Guild $300; Local Chamber of Commerce $400; Car ad $50.
10) Buy a business license from your city and apply for a business name with your state.
11) Prepare for a client.
12) Join the Graphic Artists Guild if you have a web site. The amount of traffic you get to your site will rank you higher on Google. If you don't have a web site, at least buy their book at amazon.com.
13) Join AIGA: The Professional Association for Design BEFORE you purchase Adobe products. You will get a 15% discount on all adobe products. For being a member, I also went to an instructional seminar put on by an Adobe Certified Instructor at the Salt Lake Art Center. It was awesome!
14) If you are a local Northern Utah artist, join the Palette Club of Ogden. It is a great way to make friends who understand you, inspire you, encourage you and help you to sell your art or earn awards for your work. The 2nd Tuesday of every month at 6:30, we meet in the Ogden Arts building on 25th and Washington, and receive instruction from a different artist who specializes in one medium or teaches us about a topic like framing or getting work into galleries. At $20/yr., it is awesome!