Planning and Running a Web Design Business (below)

Sites Devoted to Business Planning and Management
Planning a Web Design Business
Home Office, Small Business Tips
Web Design Business Tips
Pricing Your Work
Pricing Your Web Design, Development Work
Working with Clients

Sites Devoted to Business Planning and Management

• American Association of Home Based Businesses (AAHB)
  Information to help with your home-based business, membership benefits, too. Free to join.
  [aahbb.org]
  
  
• Better Business Bureau (BBB)
  This highly regarded organization helps promote trust in business, both on and off the Internet. They also provide tips to building a trustworthy, credible business and maintaining a positive reputation.
  [bbbonline.org]
  
  
• Business of Graphic Design
  Annotated resources from About.com, including building your business, business forms, dealing with clients, networking, portfolios, and more.
  [about.com]
  
  
• Business Owner's Toolkit
  Whether planning or in business for years, there's an abundance of helpful tools at this site. You'll find customizable model business documents (letters, forms, contracts, policies, more), financial spreadsheet templates, checklists in abundance, official U.S. Government forms, more.
  [by CCH Inc., toolkit.cch.com]
  
  
• Fortune Small Business (FSB)
  Branch of Fortune Magazine all about small business ownership. Success stories, dot bombs and why, articles to help you run your business, investing, raising money, managing people, more.
  [fortune.com]
  
  
• Freelance Online
  Community, forum, resources, tips, news, jobs, and more. Especially for copy editing, proofreading, illustration, and design.
  [freelanceonline.com]
  
  
• Guru.com
  Popular site with articles, tips, resources and more for independent contractors, freelances, small businesses, home businesses. Includes getting started, finances, legal and tax issues, marketing yourself or your business, balancing home and work, and more.
  [guru.com]
  
  
• National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
  This powerful lobbying organization for independent business owners provides information for business owners at their site with a huge “Business Toolbox” educational resources section on every possible aspect of your business, including accounting, compensation, finance, legal issues, marketing, business insurance, equipment, legislation, managing your office, MyBUSINESS magazine, shipping issues, starting a business, the Internet and a website, and much more.
  [nfib.com]
  
  
• Online Women's Business Center (SBA)
  Articles, tips, and resources for creating, financing, building, and running a successful business. Very helpful site and a branch of the SBA.
  [onlinewbc.gov]
  
  
• PowerHomeBiz.com
  You'll find lots of information, tools and resources for a home business, from planning to preparing for retirement.
  [powerhomebiz.com]
  
  
• Small Business
  About.com's large resource area for small business information, software, tools, tips, and more.
  [about.com]
  
  
• Small Business Administration (U.S.)
  The U.S. Small Business Administration website has plenty of information about planning and financing your business, laws and regulations, local office locations, business opportunities, workshops, software, and more.
  [sba.gov]
  
  
• Small Business, Canada
  About.com's resources for planning and running a small business in Canada.
  [about.com]
  
  
• SOHO Online
  Resources for small office or home business owners.
  [soho.org]
  
  
• Startup Journal
  The Wall Street Journal Center for Entrepreneur. Lots of articles here on how to plan, run, manage a business and lots more.
  [startup.wsj.com, part of The Wall Street Journal]
  
  
• TSBJ.com - The Small Business Journal
  Extensive site with articles on just about any topic you could imagine related to a small business -- starting your business, financing, time management, business travel, technology, marketing, taxes and legal issues, and much more.
  [tsbj.com]
  
  

Planning Your Web Design Business

• Freelancing in the Web World
  Do you have what it takes to freelance, to be on your own? Webmonkey's Evany Thomas walks you through what you need to consider, the pros and cons, finding work, how to charge, and how to get started.
  [hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/]
  
  
• This Web Business, Part I
  by Scott Kramer for A List Apart. Planning A Business, including how to put together an official business plan, what needs to be considered, and more.
  [alistapart.com]
  
  
• This Web Business, Part II: Getting A Loan
  by Scott Kramer for A List Apart. Continuation of Part I above, this time going into detail about how to get a business loan. Excellent.
  [alistapart.com]
  
  

Home Office, Small Business Tips

• Are You Managing Time or Is Time Managing You?
  by Gregory P. Smith, TSBJ.com. Great tips that can go a long way with helping you improve how you use your time.
  [TSBJ.com]
  
  
• How to Manage Home Business Cash Flow Effectively
  Good points made about timely billings, deposits, and other cash flow tips.
  [powerhomebiz.com]
  
  
• Insuring Your Home Business
  Explains the reasons why you need to insure your home office.
  [nolo.com]
  
  
• The Biz Resource Group
  Wendy McClelland's site packed with inspiration, articles, tips, and information for small business owners, such as marketing, workshops, the BizResource newsletter, scheduled chats, and more.
  [bizresource.com]
  
  

Web Design Business Tips

• A Practical Guide to Working with Graphic Designers (PDF)
  (or text version via Google.com). By The Graphic Artists Guild of Albany. Insightful information for prospective clients and helpful for graphic designers and web designers and developers. Includes a typical work schedule, what can be typically expected working with a designer, a production outline schedule, and more.
  [albany.gag.org]
  
  
• Increase the Efficiency of Your Web Design Business
  Micah Cranman's short overview of basics to help your web design business efficiency, making suggestions for what to have handy and related.
  [by Micah Cranman for Sitepoint.com]
  
  
• Making the Most of Your Design Business
  By Thomas Granger for DevShed.com. Great guidelines about dealing with potential clients, setting up a contract and agreement, getting a deposit and why, and much more. Sections include an overview (Introduction) and how to separate from the amateurs. Good tips to follow.
  [05/04/2001 by Thomas Granger for DevShed.com]
  
  

Pricing Your Work

• Free Trade: Bartering your services to get what you need
  by Steven Van Yoder for guru.com. Informative article about the pros and cons of bartering, tax obligations, how to barter fairly, joining barter exchange groups, and more.
  [guru.com]
  
  
• Charging a 10% Late Fee - Yes or No?
  Guru.com's Ask an Expert section, with Rich Helmond.
  [guru.com]
  
  
• Keep fees flexible to maximize your business
  Different clients, different rates? Check out possibilities. Article by David Perlstein.
  [freeagent.com]
  
  
• How Much are You Worth?
  Helpful information for independent contractors, including rate formulas, what to keep in mind when setting rates, such as office overhead, advertising, and more. By Nolo Press.
  [usjobs.com]
  
  
• Name Your Price: How to start getting paid what you're worth
  by Robert Middleton, guru.com. Many good points made about charging for what you're worth.
  [guru.com]
  
  
• Understanding Costs and Pricing for Profit
  by josconNetworks. Excellent points made about figuring out your rates, explaining various approaches, from calculator and rate formulas to perceived value, discounts, floors and ceilings (prices, not buildings), and more.
  [josconNetworks]
  
  
• You Pay Now!
  Good article on how to handle companies and individuals who ask you to present ideas and mock-ups but only want to pay you if they decide they like it. Read how not to be taken advantage of, along with other helpful tips.
  
  

Pricing Your Web Design, Development Work

• How To Set Rates
  By Bob Schmidt. Helpful article on various formulas to determine how much you need to charge as a website designer or developer.
  [provider.com]
  
  
• HWG Pricing FAQ
  Must Read. It is typically against discussion list policies to discuss how much you charge. HWG's Pricing FAQ explains why.
  [hwg.org]
  
  
• Pricing Web Work - What Should You Charge?
  by Matt Mickiewicz. Good guidelines provided about factors to consider for figuring out your rates, costs to consider, and more.
  [by Matt Mickiewicz for WebmasterBase.com]
  
  
• ZDNet's SalaryZone
  See what the going salaries are for web-related jobs.
  [techupdate.zdnet.com]
  
  

Working with Clients

• What makes those damn clients so difficult?
  by Wanda Cummings for Digital-Web.com. Excellent article about how to deal with difficult clients and also how to avoid taking on difficult clients in the first place. Humorous, well written, great points. Includes sample contracts and more.
  [digital-web.com]