Product Description

A comprehensive manual for running and maintaining a graphic design business.

This is the graphic design industry's go-to guide for operating a successful business. The four sections cover organization, marketing, personnel, and operations, and provide the necessary tools unique to the specific management styles and operation agendas of a design firm. A complete appendix of business forms is also included.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #513787 in Books
• Published on: 2004-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 496 pages

About the Author
Cameron S. Foote is the president of Creative Business. He lives near Boston.

Customer Reviews

Brilliant and comprehensive
If you are looking for a very comprehensive book on running a graphic design company, this is for you. The book goes into details on everything from pricing to hiring, insurance, taxes, incorporation, dealing with clients, vendors and just about everything in between. It is quite a hefty book and it will take a while to get through it, but from my experience that is mostly because I keep stopping to take notes on things I want to remember.

While I find some of the other design business books I have read (and reviewed) go into more depth in specific areas, this book covers quite a range of content and manages to still go into farily great detail.

I checked this book out from the library and kept it until I started racking up the fines... then I came here and bought it.

If you didn't know before... now you do!
This is an excellent guide with lots of practical "how-to" projects and information. I promptly used my creative juices to create a website that reflects my persona, yet is professional and intuitive at the same time. It is worth every dollar you spend!
Get your name out there with all the handy tips and tricks described within.

Another great guide for the wanta-be entrepreneur who seeks to have her own small consulting practice!

This book is divided into four sections: organization, personnel, marketing, and operations. It also has four appendices. I really liked this book very much. I'm a volunteer SCORE counselor who regularly counsels SCORE clients on starting their own small businesses. I highly recommend the instant book to people similarly situated to my clients since it will help them better grasp and understand what is involved in starting a business.

If you want to put together a business plan (and you should if you want to start a business), then use this book to help you by looking at the following chapters:

1. A Solid Foundation
2. Structure and Facilities
4. Organizing
9. Positioning
10. Promoting
12. Pricing Your Services
15. Financial Issues

After you prepare your business plan and have your business up and running, then you'll be able to:

14. Grow the Business
16. Personal Issues (Cash Out).

I particularly liked the Case Study #6 in Appendix 2 (Failing to Institutionalize the Company). And Appendix 3 (A Designer's Short Course on Marketing) was very well done. Chapter 10 on "Promoting" was very well done given the amount of pages devoted to it.

I was a bit disappointed with the Sample Business Plan Form included in Appendix 4. But the book is not exactly set up to cater to people trying to write a business plan. So I can't be too critical here.

This book is packed full of content regarding the business of graphic design (and small business, in general). It will be well worth your time in reading it if you have any interest in small business. 5 stars!