How to Start a Home-Based Web Design Business

by Jim Smith

Book Overview

Everything you need to know to run a profitable Web design business from your home. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0762727896
• ISBN13: 9780762727896
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Globe Pequot Press
• Length: 235 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.5" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

I agree with you, Cal

This is an excellent book for those contemplating or even in the early stages of creating a Web Design business, whether home or small-office based. Jim Smith's book is the mentor I wish I had found a couple of years ago, but the advice is just as valuable to me now. Come to think of it, maybe more so. I bought this book while browsing for Web design ideas, but I didn't buy this book for Web design tips. I bought it because I want help with the business end of things, in drawing up contracts, in pricing my work, in figuring out how to make the work I love profitable so that I don't have to get a "real" job to pay the bills. This is a second career for me. I spent all of my working life, up til now, as an employee (23 years as a radio news anchor), and now find that wearing all those hats, or costumes, as Jim describes them, of the self-employed is a daunting proposition. Jim's book has answered so many of the questions that have come up for me, and covered so many of the challenges I have experienced in this first year, from clients who ask for dozens of redesigns to working for "friends" who unilaterally change the rules and then point to "no written contract, too bad". The book offers suggestions for dealing with these challenges in ways in which everyone wins. Jim Smith has a place on my book shelf, along with Jeffrey Zeldman, Eric Meyer, 37 Signals, Jeffrey Zeen, and all of the other design and usability experts, programmers and coders, I admire and respect. They all have something to teach me. I learn from them all.

One of a kind

Exactly what I was looking for - this book is the definitive guide on the subject. If there's a better book out there on starting a web design shop (not graphic design) I can't find it. It gets right to the point and covers all the bases. Like other reviewers, I checked out the author's site and was a bit disappointed. But listen, the book is well written by a smart entrepreneur who knows his chops about the business. Don't worry about his design skills; you can apply his writing to your own work. His writing is logical and enlightning and while reading it made me think "oh i should do that... ooh and that's a good idea too!" etc. Well worth the [$$$] and change it's going for now. I'd like to see an updated version soon with a CD-ROM enclosed with all the sample forms/contracts in text format for easy copying and pasting to help create your own forms/contracts.

Very Informational!

I thought the author did an excellent job on this book. He didn't go into great depth but he covered exactly what needed to be covered. The only thing I would disagree with was the start up fee I believe he had a thousand dollars for software....he must not use Flash and the Macromedia suite I think Director cost that alone and of course you always need Photoshop. Other then that I liked his explanation of contracts. He goes over getting jobs, book keeping. Like he states if you have an attorney and an accountant you are good to go! He even talks about make effective web sites. No, he doesn't go into great detail but the reading is easy and effective he gets straight to the point and this allows you to add your on creativity in ideas to stretch his. If you have problems with that then you are probably in the wrong business. I highly recommend this book!

A good start for someone like me!

I looked and looked ..., but could not find anything simular to this book. So I had to get this one!It's a good start. I need a lot of help figuring out what I want to do with my web design, and what to expect when I start working as a web designer. So, this book has been GREAT for me. Every bit of it has been helpful. Sure, it's not as detailed as it might be, but I think it is just right for someone like me. I have learned a lot of new stuff, and I feel a little more confident about what to do next. I even went out and bought my own domain name, which I will use to promote my web design! I feel like I now am equipped with enough basic information to take a stab at it. It would be nice to have a more detailed and comprehensive follow-up book as well. But I have no complaints about this book.

Just what I was looking for!

I was in the bookstore looking for another book, and this just jumped off the shelf! This book closes any gaps you might have if you were interisted in starting a web business in your basement! I was just starting to market my business when this book appeared and gave me several insites that I overlooked. If nothing else this book is a great source for links to web sites that can help any web developer! Actually, if you read this book it might help you to be a great competitor to me! argh!! on second thought! don't buy this book!