How to Start a Desktop Publishing Business
Starting a desktop publishing business can be lucrative and rewarding, but it certainly isn't easy. Any person who is starting a small business needs to develop a business plan, identify their niche in the marketplace, market the business and offer a quality product at a good price in order to be successful. Follow these steps to start a desktop publishing business.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
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1
Examine the market in your geographic area and decide whether your services are needed. Are there other desktop publishing businesses in your area? What types of services do they offer? Will you be offering something different? For example, some desktop publishing businesses have a particular focus, like medical or legal publishing. Answering these questions before you begin will save you a lot of time and heartache.
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2
Contact SCORE, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice to new business owners. Many people in SCORE are retired small business owners who want to give back to the community. Others are MBA students who provide business advice under the watchful eye of their professors. This organization will help you to write a business plan, develop a website, market your business and do any number of things that are necessary for getting off to a good start.
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3
Decide what services you are going to offer and find people to back you up. For example, if you are a designer you might not want to write copy for various materials. On the other hand, if you are a writer you will need design help. And no matter what your expertise you will need a proofreader/editor to help you with quality control. You'll probably want to begin by hiring freelance help and perhaps move to permanent staff as your business grows.
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4
Purchase the software and equipment you need and learn how to use it. Even if you are planning to freelance out some aspects of your projects, there may come a time when you have to do all of the work yourself because of a deadline. Learning how to do things yourself will give you confidence and can be a real asset in a jam.
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5
Network, network, network. Attend small business meetings, advertise in your local paper, and talk to people who might use your services. Ask satisfied customers to provide quotes about their positive experience. The more people you reach, the better your chances for success in this competitive field.
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Tips & Warnings
Speak to an accountant about small business write-offs, and keep careful records of your expenses. SCORE can be a big help in this area. You will be able to write off many of your expenses as a small business owner.
The people at SCORE or your personal attorney can explain how to set up your business--as a corporation, a limited liability corporation, or in some other way. There are pluses and minuses to each of these approaches, and a good attorney or business consultant can help you decide what's right for you.
