Is it your dream to start a web development business? You’ll soon be on your way to business ownership! Here’s the best way to start a web development company.
Starting a web development business is rewarding, but it isn’t easy. A potential entrepreneur needs to be both ambitious and tenacious to get this type of company off the ground.
If you do it right, however, you can expect high-profit margins. The amount of time it takes to make the same amount will also start to decrease as you get more experienced. Still, before that, you’ve got to deal with the fundamentals.
Like starting any other business, there are formalities, hiring issues, and the question of what to charge.
Want to know how to get started? Here’s everything you need to know about the best way to start a web development business in 2018.
Is Starting a Web Development Business Right For You?
Starting a web development company isn’t right for everyone, so first, decide if it’s really for you.
You’ll need to enjoy spending long hours in front of a computer working with code. This entrepreneurial path is great if you love problem-solving and pay a high amount of attention to detail.
A fair amount of skills and experience in the fundamentals of web development is also needed. You’ll need to know basic web design, content management, and multimedia programming to start.
Not sure if you have the skills? A good way to feel things out is by working for a web developer yourself. Then you can get started on branching out on your own.
A typical day for the owner of a web development company involves coding, of course. You’ll also be testing for bugs on the sites you create and making sure they are secure.
In some cases, clients may want you to come to their offices and work on-site. There’s also the administrative aspect of the business. Among other things, this involves sending invoices and answering clients’ queries.
Sounds like something you can handle? Then you’re ready to get started.
Getting Started
Web developing is a business like any other, so you’ll need a web development business plan. This plan can help you clarify your target market, your initial costs, and possible profits.
Decide what type of legal entity you want to form. This will protect you from possible liabilities to you personally if you’re sued.
The finances of the business are another factor to consider. You’ll need to get a business bank account to separate your personal expenses from your company’s. You’ll also need to register for taxes and keep accounting records.
Make Sure You Know the Costs
Further finance considerations include finding out the business’ running costs and possible profits.
Initially, the costs will be low. You may or may not need office space, but you will need a good computer and screens. A phone line for the business, text editor and software are other costs.
Marketing will definitely be an aspect you’ll need to invest in, and that will be discussed below.
Decide now how much you’re going to charge. Calculate your hourly rate and your skill level, as well as that of any freelancers. You can use this as a guide.
You can set up a project cost in advance for custom work. Ensure that the scope of any project is clear. That way, any work over the agreed amount can incur an additional fee.
Establish an Online Presence
Even if you rely on offline marketing methods, you’ll still want a great online presence. This is your first chance to show clients what you can do. It also allows them to learn what services and products you offer.
The site should offer an engaging user experience, be responsive, and load quickly. Make the content easy to find and the navigation clear and easy.
Remember, every design element and page is a reflection of your company and your web development skills. Read more here about why your website’s design matters.
Building a Team
In the time before your business takes off you can keep costs low by using independent contractors. Although you may start off on your own, there comes a point where you will want to expand.
Once you have enough work to justify hiring, you can start to build a team. Find good employees who can help take your business from good to great.
There are benefits to having full-time workers, such as increased loyalty. However, unlike freelancers, you’ll have to pay benefits and insurance.
Promoting Your Web Development Business
Now that you’re all set up, you should be looking to get and retain good clients. Although initially, marketing and promoting your business takes work, it pays off in the long run.
Your tactics for attracting customers can take a variety of different forms.
A popular way to start is by obtaining a list of companies that have bought design services recently. Send them an offer and examples of your work.
Other methods include implementing digital marketing best practices, such as SEO. Create useful content marketing posts personalized to your target market. If you want to attract local businesses, you can sponsor or attend local events.
Scaling Your Company
When you’ve got some traction, it’s time to think about growing. Think, how can you make your company even more profitable?
Increasing the number of services you offer is an easy tactic. Storage and web hosting are popular areas to expand into. You can also sell an integrated CMS platform that works with your sites and systems.
If you don’t do design, you can still partner with a web designer. Then you can collect a fee for sending clients to them.
Start a Web Development Company Today
Now, hopefully, you know the steps involved in starting a web development business. There are lots of things to discover about starting a company.
For example, do you want to travel and start your biz at the same time? Check out these tips on starting your remote business while living abroad.
