Customer Reviews

The Business Side of Creativity: The Complete Guide for Running a Graphic Design or Communications Business

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am not even half-way through this book and I already realize it is one of the best books I've bought in the last five years! As a web designer looking to start my own business I am just devouring the pages which are full of wisdom based on experience.

This would be a great resource for anybody who owns their own business, wants to start a business, or wants to start freelancing. It also applies across disciplines: graphic design, illustration, writing, photography, web design, multimedia, etc.

This is not a fluffy book. Every page is a great resource. I cannot say enough good things about it! Buy it now!

I had been running a web design business for about a year when I finally bought this book, and boy do I wish that I had had it when I started out -- I could have avoided so many problems.

Here are just a few of the topics this book explains about: legalities of starting a business, writing a business plan, how to write estimates and proposals (and even gives samples of both), how to bill, how to deal with troublesome clients, how to respond when clients question a price hike, how long to wait before taking action against a client who is delinquent in their bill, and what your resources are to extract final payment.

Definitely a must have for anyone looking into starting their own freelance graphic business -- I heartily recommend it!

Before I launched my freelance shop, I did a lot of research and read a lot of books. This one is by far, the best and most concise text of its kind. It starts with a general background of what it takes to start your own firm and gives you a few questions to consider before you commit. Though perhaps obvious, the questions are valid and the fact they are written in a book of this caliber gives one pause for serious introspection. From there, it only gets more useful. Absolutely everything you need to know is completely covered in a short, clear and concise fashion. Recently, Foote has released a new book entitled, The Creative Business Guide to Running a Graphic Design Business. One may consider it instead, depending on what type of shop they plan to start. Both are envaluable. If you are the creative type and find it painful to think pragmatically, you should not do without this.

I've been bugging so many people over the past year about ALL the questions this book answers. It is just a frank no-nonsense book about what it takes to run a freelance biz.

The section on HOW TO sell your work to difficult non creative clients is worth it's weight in gold. All those "Addy" designs are wasted on the floor! So few people in the working "real" world have this skill to sell their own work.

The section on estimating and getting work is awesome! The cold facts about how much to charge per hour is enlightening!

THIS is the stuff they need to teach in school.

Why? Because I left my first copy on the airplane. So honestly, I haven't read the entire book -- I skipped around. However, I didn't want to wait to write a review. What little I've read has been incredibly helpful. I've run a successful studio for 7 years, yet never had clear business practices. As a result, sometimes I would be unsure and quick to apologize for how I do business.

After reading only a few sections, I learned enough facts and got enough confirmation that my latest client relations have been way clearer and managed with more confidence. The formulas he gives are great guidelines. I no longer have to reinvent the wheel over and over again. He is very specific and thorough. For the first time ever, I have a firm grasp over my studio and where I want it to go. In fact, I just raised my rates and when a potential client asked me if I would consider a volume discount, I comfortably explained the efficiencies we bring to table and how he will be thrilled with the value of what we provide. I've never discussed money with such finesse and effectiveness.

Once the new copy arrives, both me and my partner will read it in it's entirety.

I hope the author writes a new edition. I would be curious what he would say about web design business practices specifically.

I've alread read it once and now twice, hi-liting for more emphasis. I run a very successful graphic design business, and consider this book a #1 resource. I recommend it to everyone in the design and freelance field. From starting out with minimal resources to planning the future and long-term success. Excellent strategies in pricing, sales, and working with clients. . .good and bad!

I bought this book shortly after I started out on my own in '99 doing web site development, working from my apartment. Over the last several years I grew my biz out of my apartment, moved to an office space, hired a full-time employee, hired an intern, and switched from a sole proprietorship to an S-Corporation. Cameron Foote's book is a resource I have turned to again and again and continue to use to work through the short- and long-term scenarios of owning and operating a small business. It's simply a terrific resource. If you have questions about anything from profitability to creating estimates to dealing with difficult clients to health insurance -- buy this book. If you are looking for nuts-and-bolts info on running a small business, I don't think you can go wrong with this purchase...

I started out excited about this book, then quickly realized much of what the author had to say was outdated at best, not the best advice on numerous occasions, but yet the book contained some valuable information. A bit stoneage as far as business marketing practices. One hundred pages on setting up your own studio/small business with personnel (No, thank you). If working as a freelancer in the graphics or copy arenas is your thing, its worth paying $20.00 to get something out of it.

This book does not mix words in telling freelancers what to expect, how to survive, and how to make the buisness system work for them. This is a must for any serious self-employeed freelancer (illustrator, graphic designer, or copyrighter). Everything is covered: tax issues, buisness forms, organization, presentations, marketing, bookkeeping, and proper buisness manners.

For those of us designers who have the creative right side of the brain, but tend to lack the business left side of the brain, this is an excellent resource. I would highly reccommend this book to anyone who hopes to pursue a career as a freelance designer or to start your own design company. It is fairly easy reading, and is well written to keep the creative mind from straying too far from the lesson. Overall a great book!