As small and start up businesses make the mad dash

As small and start up businesses make the mad dash to establish their on-line presence - graphic design artists are in high demand. One of the first thing that most aspiring entrepreneurs look to establish (or should look to establish) is there brand identity and logo. This is where the graphic design businesses are necessary! If you consider yourself to be a true graphic design artist - then chances are, you already have the software and tools to get started!

What tools do I need to get started?

The very first thing you'll need to do is name your business and establish your own brand identity, website and logo. Your business name should be professional and give the impression of an established business. When starting any business, it is important to research your state and county tax laws. One of the great things about an on-line business is that you usually do not have to tax customers or clients that live outside of your state, however you should contact your state Secretary of Commerce for their laws. You must also decide your business structure; will you be a Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, or Corporation? Each comes with it's own set of pros and cons on both the federal and state level.

Every artist will have their tool preferences, MAC is usually regarded as the computer program of choice amongst designers. The range of software is wide from Adobe InDesign CS to Quark Xpress for major layout programs to Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop for for major graphic creation programs. You will also want to look into Adobe Acrobat, Font Book (Mac) and Xtensis Suitcase (Mac or PC) for press preparation and utilities. If you need to brush up on your design skills - consider taking a few classes at your local community college.

How can I market my graphic design business?

As a Graphic Designer/Artist - your marketing materials should be top notch. How can you convince another business owner to allow you to design their materials if your own look shoddy? You are your very first client, so take the time to develop the best representation of your skills. Design your website, logo, stationary, business cards and other materials and have them on-hand at all times.

Networking is paramount to success in this type of business venture. Though your business itself is an "on-line" service you can not ignore the offline marketing aspect of building your client base and establishing a reputation. A great way to build the word about your new company is by offering pro bono design work to Non-Profit Organizations, religious groups, community organizations and other notable local groups. Although you are providing them a service at no charge, you will want to make sure to treat them as you would a paying customer. Establishing your reputation begins with them.

Now not every graphic designer is a skilled website developer just as not every website developer is a skilled graphic artist. It is important that you draw a very clear line in what services you offer. Do not pitch your company as a one-stop shop for website development if you are not an expert in that area.

You can also pitch your services on websites like GetAFreeLancer.com and Elance.com. GAF and Elance allow for a seamless payment transaction. You will need to bid on jobs, which can be very competitive - but it's an excellent way to get work.

How much can I expect to make with a graphic design business?

Depending on your range of work, turn around time and client base - $500 per day is a fair estimate. You will want to set your prices to be competitive be sure to neither price yourself out of the market or low-ball yourself. $50 per hour should be the bare minimum that you charge for hourly work.

It is also a good idea to create package deals for customers at various price point. By taking advantage of the economic climate, you can build a client base more quickly. When deciding your rates and packages be sure to factor in not only your design rate but also computer maintenance, upgrades, and other out of pocket costs that you will incur on the back end.

Develop your payment process early on, requiring an upfront deposit or down payment of 50% is not uncommon. This will help you weed out clients who aren't really interested in moving forward - saving you time to focus on those who are.

What else do I need to know and how much will this cost to start?

There will be more to your business than just playing with Photoshop all day, so you must be organized. Invest in tools that will help you keep track of accounts payable, accounts receivable, project management and industry trends. Assuming you have the required software tools, the estimate for starting a graphic design business is under $500. Design software not included, you will spend the bulk of that money on marketing materials, any state license you may need, and other supplies as required.