The Business Side of Creativity: The Comprehensive Guide to Starting and Running a Small Graphic Design or Communications Business

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.

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!

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 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!