How to Start a Drafting Business

The downtown skyline of any city would not exist without design and blueprint plans to implement them. Architectural firms have teams of drafters who spend endless hours over a drafting table giving detail to designs. Technical creations of any kind require drafters to make specifications to scale. Drafters with business know how can find ample work as entrepreneurs. Here’s how to start a drafting business.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Work in an architectural firm or a technical drafting firm. Hands on experience is key to gaining credibility as a drafter. After gaining the skills needed to draft well from a four year college or a trade school, landing the right position in the corporate environment will be the first major step to starting a drafting business.
2. Develop a niche. Whether it’s drafting high rises or drafting specific pipe fittings for an oil rig, becoming known for doing a specific thing well is a good way to grow a drafting business. This may often be determined by the first job a drafter acquires. It can, however, be based on specific interest. A drafter can seek freelance work from an architectural firm that does residential work if home drafting is desired.
3. Build a client base. After determining a niche, seek environments that will feed the type of work desired. Architectural firms, oil companies or IT companies that create specific types of devices can also be potential clients for drafters to approach.
4. Hire apprentice drafters. Young drafter desiring working in a drafting firm will jump at the chance for most work. Often they may still be in school. This is an opportunity to develop new talent and potential full time employees and keeping the bottom line low by hiring less experienced staff.
5. Contact the Small Business Association. This organization will offer step by step instructions on starting and growing any business including a drafting business.