Those with a passion for all things design often dream about starting their own design agency. This does not have to remain a pipe dream as this can be a lucrative business venture in a time where every business has a need for high-quality design. Being a good designer does not mean that you will be a successful business owner, though, which is why it is important to be aware of how to run a successful design agency. There are a few key areas that you will need to focus on that should help you to find success and reap the rewards of making a living out of your passion in life.
Talent
A good starting point is talent because the success of your design agency will hinge on the people that you recruit. Obviously, you want to find talented designers to add to your workforce, but you may also have other staffing needs, including HR, accounting, and sales. The key when it comes to recruitment is to take your time, establish your needs, and focus on people that would be a good fit. You can always use training to bring people up to speed, so make sure that you are bringing people on that have a good work ethic and will be a good fit for your company culture.
Equipment
When starting a design agency, it is vital that you have high-quality equipment that will allow you to provide a high-quality service, and you can use funding to cover the costs. This will include items such as:
- Desktop computers
- Laptops
- Hard drives
- Graphics tablets
- Smartphones
- Studio camera
- Creative software
- Office furniture
Business Insurance
In design, you are always looking to secure new clients and win people over. One of the best ways that you can do this is with a Certificate of Insurance (CoF). Being able to provide instant proof of insurance is important and will show to potential clients that you have coverage in place should anything go wrong. This shows your professionalism and credibility and will give a potential client the confidence to work with your agency knowing that you are covered.
Working Environments
You also need to establish your working environments, and the landscape has changed here as a result of COVID-19. When starting your design agency, you might want to start off as a remote business as a way to keep your costs down. You could then get help to lease commercial space if you feel that you need an environment where you can work. With design work, meeting with clients and maintaining relationships is key. This can be hard virtually, so you should arrange face-to-face meetings, and this is where having an office space can come in handy. You may also find it helpful to offer flexible working for your team as a way to provide a healthy work-life balance.
These are the key areas that you need to focus on in order to run a successful design agency. It is a great feeling to make a living from your passion in life, but you do also need to know how to run an agency properly.