Hi, I'll sum this up really quick. I am in the process of starting a website design company with one partner who will be handling the sales and marketing aspect. I am going to be the full owner, doing all of the design work, but I figured it would be unprofessional if my partner is marketing my name as a freelance website designer, right? Wouldn't it be better to create a company name, and just both have business cards and market to that company? The only problem that I thought of would be the Company Address. Would I put my address? Does it really matter? I don't want potential clients pulling up to my house, expecting to find an office. You know? Also, what would be the best business structure for this type of company? I am going to be the owner, no partnership or anything, I will just be giving my partner a percent of the total $$ the client spent. I do, however, want a business name so it is easier to market. What would you guys suggest? Thanks!
You can brand your domain first as the company, and the address you can use phone number first. It's very hard to find a good partner, anyway if you are a web designer, it's better.
I would definitely go under one company name for the two of you. If in the future your partner has moved on at least the hard work that is put in by the person will keep coming in, in the future. Make sure that on both sets of business cards your web address is present. You should also have your home number as your office number present on both sets of cards. Unfortunately when you start a business you have to make your address be known. Be it filling in government documents, on quotes, invoices, your website etc. If you are so concerned about your address you can always get a PO Box or Private Bag Address. Most people wont just pitch up unannounced anyway. You can also leave your address off the business cards.
Go under one company name, you don't have to have an address, thats the beauty of the internet, to start off you could just have a phone number, and if you expand you can get P.O. You can get magic jack for your phone number as well. I would brand yourself for you can get a lot more business and become something. You need to actually go into a partnership with the guy and tell him, It's a brand, He markets, You design. If he doesn't agree, just start your own brand and market it yourself. Another thing you have to consider is the profit sharing. Who's doing more work, does he get commission. ect.
You definitely need to go get a Post Office Box (P.O.). They are generally really affordable. In my area (in New York) it's around $65/year to get a box at the post office. In North Carolina it might be cheaper.
Sorry for hijacking the thread. but i have a question. What to write in designation in business cards, documents and how to introduce myself to clients. If you are an owner.
There's no necessity for you to leave your home address as your company.But I think you'd have your own working room,you can leave that address.That will make others feel you proffession.If you don't leave any address on your website,maybe some guys will doubt whether it's cheating or not.In the first stage,it's a period of promoting your business,and if you want to make it bigger and bigger,try to create something special.Come on.
I don't mean to be so cut-throat, but what is your partner bringing to the table? If you think you can do the marketing yourself, why let him have a piece of the pie? I do believe that you should bring in people that are strong in areas you are weak, but it sounds like your pretty confident you can help and assist in the marketing side, so I don't know why you need him there. If you do need him, I would let him do his job. I would only pay him for jobs he brought in as an incentive not to take the cake that you create by marketing your own services. You know? So for example, if I found a job on rentacoder.com myself, he had no part in the bidding or anything... he doesn't deserve anything. This may be the way it goes until he gets off his tail to bring in work for me.
No offense, dude, but if you can handle the job by yourself, you can simply get a project from GAF or rentacoder. Or you can just create a service thread in here. Unless your friend can help you to get tons of job orders, I think you can working as a freelance without him. But again, its your choice...
You should definitely establish a company name. Also you don't have to put your address if you don't want to, just put your phone number. I also state clearly on my website that I am a homebased, this way when clients turn up to my home for a meeting they don't expect to find me in some huge office block.
i think if you will create a brand that will be powerfull enough, strong portfolio, it will not be neccessary to list an address
I would suggest creating a business plan first off. Do you know your target market yet? Are you going for corporate accounts or mom and pop shops? Are you selling locally? Most of the time you would set an appointment with a local business and go to them. If you are looking at competing online I suggest you have a look at your many competitors. What have the successful ones done? Do they have a business name or freelancing? With a start up for web designing there is not much overhead or risk. I would go sole proprietorship (DBA). I highly doubt anyone is going to sue you. There is nothing wrong with a home based business of this sorts. It cuts overhead and makes you easy to find. It's not like you are making steel in your backyard. I would use my address. Who is going to want to write you a check if you have no location? No need to hide the fact that you are wise enough to know that you do not need an expensive office to work from your computer. my 2 cents The best of luck!
Now you shouldn't worry about don't have a business address. COz nowdays many people using virtual office and the best part of it is its cheap around $100/month.