Creative, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business [Paperback]

Joy Deangdeelert Cho (Author), Meg Mateo Ilasco (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 2010

As the hipster classic Craft, Inc. did for crafters, this book will teach all types of creatives illustrators, photographers, graphic designers, animators, and more how to build a successful business doing what they love. Freelancing pros Meg Mateo Ilasco and Joy Deangdeelert Cho explain everything from creating a standout portfolio to navigating the legal issues of starting a business. Accessible, spunky, and packed with practical advice, Creative, Inc. is an essential for anyone ready to strike out on their own.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Meg Mateo Ilasco started her freelance business, Mateo Ilasco, in 2005 and is the author of Craft, Inc. and the Craft, Inc. Business Planner. Meg lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Joy Deangdeelert Cho launched her design business, Oh Joy!, in 2005. She works with clients nationwide and authors an award-winning design blog. Joy lives in Philadelphia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; 1 edition (July 28, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811871614
• ISBN-13: 978-0811871617
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 7.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,430 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > Arts & Photography > Business of Art

More About the Author

Meg Mateo Ilasco is a writer, designer, and illustrator in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the principal of the eponymous stationery and housewares company, Mateo Ilasco . She's authored several books including the best-selling business book "Craft, Inc."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great resource!, October 1, 2010

By 

dannielle - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creative, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business (Paperback)

I found this book to not only be an interesting read but very informative too. It starts off as a guide for those who have never freelanced before but as you move on through the chapters it suggests that you have started your business and by the end it talks about the future.

It is a great book for those who are starting out at the very beginning but is also useful for people (like me) who have been working for themselves for a while. There is information on setting up a portfolio, what kind of person you need to be to be able to do this sort of work and has a big focus on those that work for clients.

For me, the best parts of the book were the profile interviews with other creative freelancers who are successful in their own business as well as the chapters on pricing, agents and balancing work and personal life.

The pricing chapter was particularly helpful to me, so much so that I actually wished I could hug the authors when I read it.

I also appreciated the chapter on finding an agent and whether that might be the right decision for you. The balancing of work and personal life (something I'm not that great at) was also helpful, especially from a standpoint from someone who's been-there-done-that.

The book is honest and funny at times and it doesn't make the world of freelancing sound like a whole lot of long lunches and never ending holidays, which I think adds to its usefulness. But it doesn't make it sound like a hell that you'll wish you never entered either. I will also note that while it is written for an American audience, other than the parts about becoming a business in a legal sense and the tax requirements, it seems pretty universal and certainly applicable to Australian and international readers.

I will be keeping this book close to hand so that I can refer to it over and over, I think it will be a great resource and I'm already considering buying another copy for a friend of mine who I think will benefit from it too.

Thanks to Meg and Joy for writing this resource, I think it's the kind of book that will stay relevant for years to come.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for established freelancers!, September 1, 2010

By 

Meg Lewis (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Creative, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business (Paperback)

I haven't been freelancing for long, but I've been in the game long enough to not be too much of a newbie. I knew a lot of the nuts and bolts information about freelancing, but Creative Inc. was such a motivational help to keep me going strong! It's so nice to read a book on this topic without being discouraged about legal jargon and business plans galore! Creative Inc. is the perfect mix of detailed information and friendly advice. The interviews with a diverse selection of freelancers is also really encouraging. Everyone in the book really understands what you are going through and has been there themselves. I think this book is a great buy for any type of designer/creative looking to work for themselves. Hey, if you're stuck behind a cubicle, read this and it will certainly change your life.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fresh & simplistic approach to a complex topic., September 13, 2010

By 

Nicole LaFave "nicolelafave.com" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creative, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business (Paperback)

Creative, Inc. was a very helpful & quick read this past month for me. I have hit a point in my freelance career where I will need to decide to grow, to start a studio name, and do a lot of more serious planning as this skill of mine becomes more of my full-time focus. The girls did a great job in this book giving you just enough information to get you asking all the right questions, without overly complicating topics that could probably each have their own sets of books because they can get involved. It's a perfect insight for a native to the industry (like me) or a new graduate or younger professional trying to gather all the information before making an informed decision. There are a lot of interviews from real professionals from all different creative industries, such as graphic designers, animation freelancers a CPS's insight on taxes and illustrators.

If you are thinking about freelancing and want to get an idea of how to start, what is involved and where to go from here, this book is for you.
If you are working in the business, feel stuck, scared or just need some inspiration to get things moving, this $11 is well spent for a quick read to get your mind moving again.

I look forward to more in the future.
(specifically on the topic of when and how to decide to start using a studio name vs. your own as a freelancer!)
wink wink.