Ever formed a micro agency?
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- SteveJobs
I actually just made that term up, but was curious if any of you have partnered with anyone, perhaps a developer or a designer to take on more ambitous projects? And I'm not talking about bringing someone on to help you with a project or two. I mean taking your combined experience and portfolios and presenting yourself as an actual business entity.
I have 15 years of full-stack web development experience. That means, front end, middle layer and database experience. In addition, I have mobile development experience and have also written desktop software for the mac and pc and successfully sold those products through an ecommerce site I built from the ground up.
I also have some minimal design experience, but the point I'm trying to make is if I partnered with someone who's equally good at their trade, we could form a powerful team and undercut bigger agencies with lower bids and potentially one day build a solid company underneath us.
I'm a very 'pie-in-the-sky' type thinker at times, I'll admit, but why couldn't this be done?
Feel free to play devils advocate, or share personal experiences if you have any.
- SteveJobs0
Also, what kind of rates do full-service shops charge these days for their services?
- fyoucher10
Always have been thinking about that. Hard to find the right folks tho.
- bjladams0
a friend and i both quit our day jobs and started an agency 2 years ago. between us we had $300 in cash, 1 week worth of projects, and 10 pages of contacts we wanted to work for. we've never taken a lone, never missed a payment, and are about to turn a part-time freelancer we use into a full time employee.
i design, he does copywriting and deals with all our clients. before i even see a job, he's got everything prepared for me.
the 2 best things we've done so far have been getting an office, as it has given people confidence that we are real, and using an accountant.
you can be successful. it's not an easy road - we both have families. our wives work part time jobs. our kids get our full attention when we get home. we've turned $300 into our livelihood and feed 8 mouths with it. soon to be 10. (not counting our animals)
we both have the same regret, that we waited so long before striking out. if we had started a year or 2 earlier, we'd be ever further down the trail now.
- respect.nocomply
- $300 before or after you have acquired a computer and softwares?pango
- trying to do the same for me self but i do know what i have no idea what i'm doing.pango
- i had an 3 yr old mini. and illustrator 8 at the time.bjladams
- was a few months before i could afford a new computer, then new software.bjladams
- <3gramme
- proud of you dude...well done!exador1
- yes, well done.alicetheblue
- Fuck yes.Gucci
- nocomply0
I think about this sometimes, but I'm afraid that finding the right 1-2 people to partner with is very difficult.
Ideally I'd like to partner with a designer and a project manager, and perhaps a part-time server-side developer.
I have worked at a very small agency before. The energy was good, but it wasn't an equal partnership kind of deal. It was headed by 1 single person and I was just an employee.
- zoozoo0
I would do it. 2 heads is better than 1.
- Amicus0
1 + 1 = shitloads more than 2 (if you do it well)
- dijitaq0
along with a close friend, i started an agency about six years ago. it lasted about two years.
about six months into our venture, we finally felt secure enough to hire full-time designer and developer. we also felt out projects were shifting into a certain direction. at the time, we thought to hire an expert in that industry was not financially feasible, so we decided to bring on an acquaintance of hers. bad mistake. though he brought on his knowledge; also came along his baggage.
the worst came after a year, as we found out he and our accountant had been collaborating in skimming our income. the whole ordeal took away my spirit and eventually i sold my share to my friend. and we kind of drifted apart after since.
in my opinion, if you can do it on your own, do it. but if you have to have a partner, i think it would be better to find a financial partner instead.
- monNom0
If you don't have a partner in mind, don't let that stop you. Start as a 'micro-agency of one', subcontract work you can't do. By doing that, eventually you'll find another person or group that makes a good fit and you can think of partnering.
- monNom0
If you don't have a partner in mind, don't let that stop you. Start as a 'micro-agency of one', subcontract work you can't do. By doing that, eventually you'll find another person or group that makes a good fit and you can think of partnering.
- toodee0
I've heard a lot of people start up with a:
designer
developer
accounts/businessy type personThat way you don't have the quality of work suffer dealing with clients too much.
- vaxorcist0
I think the "expectations management" and "sales-skills" are more important than most of us think.... keeping track of good account people at agencies we used to work at can pay off... (they're not all evil)
One difference to keep in mind... account staff from huge agencies may be used to a "process" you can't possibly replicate.... so you'll have to re-invent this part carefully. Some account people have the attitude that "whatever the client wants, I get the creatives to do" attitude.... but put yourself in their shoes too, not everyone can do CP+B style crazy creative and get clients to pay for it...
- monospaced0
SteveJobs, that is exactly the scenario that would get me out of my current position. I'm just waiting for the right moment, and the right person, to partner up with and start our own show. The trick is, like you said, to have someone equally as talented at what they do, and that you're both equally adaptable and ambitious enough to make it work. I feel like I'll be ready to make that move in a couple of years.
- monospaced0
I also believe this is exactly how many studios form in the first place.
- ideaist0
My girl (an artist) and I (a designer) opened an art & design shop a year and a half ago; no business person and thus we have become more resourceful and learnt it out of necessity.
It's hard work, so if that's not for you then turn away now. It involves pushing yourself daily in any direction needed and once again if that's not for you then stick to your agency job.
The benefits are free time, independence and elimination of middle men in the creative process allowing for more organic, natural solutions to design problems.
; )
- gramme0
You're never truly ready to make the move to self-employment, whether it's alone or with a partner(s). I was thrown into it, have made copious mistakes, and will still make more. But I'm feeding the mouths I have to feed, got my first office space this year, and business is slowly but surely growing.
- gramme0
About starting a micro-agency, the guy who owns my office building has a small web development business. They also work in the office space. It's a big open space with lots of room to spare. He's sharp as tacks at business development. Great with people. We've been talking about collaborating (in an ongoing sense, not just the odd project) for a couple months now.
- SteveJobs0
Well, I have two businesses already, both of which I bootstrapped, the most recent just a soft-launch until I can raise money for advertising, so I'm pretty diversified.
I think the biggest problem for me is, of course finding that other person that shares my passion, but how the two of us will wrangle in clients at the beginning. That is the part of the business where I have a lot to learn.
Are there lead-finders in this industry who take cuts for found leads?
- monNom0
'Lead Finders' are going to give you the bottom of the barrel clients, and are going to skim-off a good portion of the project budget, meaning you'll be in a struggle to produce your best work. IMO It's a bad way to open a relationship, paying a finders fee. As the client is often not aware that 20% of their budget just got skimmed off by the guy who was supposed to be helping them (and they probably paid him for consulting too).
In general it's best to earn your relationships yourself. Sell them on your capabilities, impress them with the work you do for them, and make it easy to work with you again. That's how you build a long-term business. Not buying projects from some slimeball.
(just my opinion, there may well be cases that this is okay and or common)