Web Design Forums

breadlegs · 05-10-2005, 16:17

Hiya

I have been freelancing for 3 years now after working at a company for 5 years.

The business (Breadlegs Ltd) is now getting a great name in my area and i'm using freelancers a lot. People say I should be looking at taking someone on, but i'm scared of finding a good all rounder (web and print design).

Have any of you been in this position as well? Any advice or things I should take into consideration would be a great help.

Thanks

Chris

datahound · 05-10-2005, 17:38

Personally I am the same, staff are just problems waiting to happen. If there is no work you still have to pay them. If you think it will mean you earn lots of extra money then consider it, I have a dog myself, good company, never answers back.

briljant oranje · 05-10-2005, 17:41

i agree. unless business is really flying, and you've plenty of money in the bank, i'd stick with using freelancers.

it is hard to find ones that are good at both print and web.

so use us.

chips · 05-10-2005, 18:44

what are the advantages for you to take someone on full time rather than just keep using freelancers??

mike_m · 05-10-2005, 20:20

Find someone that would compliment your skillset (and vice versa) and is doing as well as you, and create a partnership. Best thing I ever did.

jase1000 · 05-10-2005, 20:34

I can imagine it's a 'mare having to ever take on staff. Anyone who fits the bill is probably freelance already. Mike M is probably right if you can find the right person.

pgo · 06-10-2005, 01:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by jase1000

I can imagine it's a 'mare having to ever take on staff. Anyone who fits the bill is probably freelance already. Mike M is probably right if you can find the right person.

I'd also imagine that, if they're a freelancer, you'd have to pay them enough to give up the freedom and control that comes with freelancing. And you'd have to pay them enough to feel like they wouldn't be missing out in the freelance market (to a degree, anyway).

lucidcreations · 06-10-2005, 05:18

Employing is just full of pit falls. I've been through quite a few junior designers of the last couple of years from NVQ staff to MSA graduates. It's tricky to find some to compliment your skill set and have a fucking clue.

leotardster · 06-10-2005, 05:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by breadlegs

but i'm scared of finding a good all rounder

This bloke is a good all-rounder

lucidcreations · 06-10-2005, 06:24

And he loves his wheat.

breadlegs · 06-10-2005, 11:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike_mitry

Find someone that would compliment your skillset (and vice versa) and is doing as well as you, and create a partnership. Best thing I ever did.

tell me more please

sub · 06-10-2005, 12:05

I'd have to disagree with going into partnership with anyone as people have different ideas on business direction and rarely ever works out long-term. Business partnerships are like a marriage, everything starts off well but you might find some serious incompatabilities and a lot of hard work trying to work to the same goals.

Not saying that this is the case every time as it has obveously worked out well for Mike, but from personal experience I would say better to retain your own identity and fix more perminant relationships with freelancers.

pat · 06-10-2005, 13:16

yeh, the lad i did www.juveniledesign.co.uk with is a cunta. Always a problem.

mike_m · 06-10-2005, 14:35

well I had a friend who was a programmer, did a bunch of freelance work for me, until it got to the point where he was working on almost every project and I was relying on him doing so. Luckily he was made redundant, so I just took the obvious next step and gave him a 50% share in the company. It was hard, as the company was my baby, but at the end of the day, it was the right thing to do, and without his skills, we wouldn't have grown half as much - in fact I probably would have gone a bit barmy working by myself all day, and ended up selling double glazing

Obviously I was a bit jammy with this, but if you start off using a few freelancers to take the load off you, who knows where it will lead..

pedge · 06-10-2005, 14:50

Partnerships can be awkward, I'd only go into business with someone if I knew a lot about them - I almost got involved with one cagey bastard who would've bled my business dry.

As for taking someone on, don't forget as well as having to pay them when they're not doing anything, you have to cover sick pay, holiday pay and insurance etc etc - only do it if you're really confident that you are sure you can cover more than just wages.

lucidcreations · 07-10-2005, 04:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by pat

yeh, the lad i did www.juveniledesign.co.uk with is a cunta. Always a problem.

Did he later go onto join GLC

breadlegs · 17-10-2005, 14:01

Maybe I should stick to freelancers then

pat · 17-10-2005, 15:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucidcreations

Did he later go onto join GLC

haha, the safe as fuck was me. Sorry

steve6868 · 24-10-2005, 03:31

Try taking on a person as a contractor. That way if you can predict the next few months work you will be all right and you are not tied into a long term future with them.

+ they can be cheaper than freelancers.

05-10-2005, 16:17	#1 (permalink)
breadlegs Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 176	Growing a creative business Hiya I have been freelancing for 3 years now after working at a company for 5 years. The business (Breadlegs Ltd) is now getting a great name in my area and i'm using freelancers a lot. People say I should be looking at taking someone on, but i'm scared of finding a good all rounder (web and print design). Have any of you been in this position as well? Any advice or things I should take into consideration would be a great help. Thanks Chris

05-10-2005, 20:20	#5 (permalink)
mike_m Work faster microphone .. Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 1,709	Find someone that would compliment your skillset (and vice versa) and is doing as well as you, and create a partnership. Best thing I ever did. __________________

06-10-2005, 05:18	#8 (permalink)
lucidcreations Part of the 3 out of 4 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: cheshire Posts: 2,079	Employing is just full of pit falls. I've been through quite a few junior designers of the last couple of years from NVQ staff to MSA graduates. It's tricky to find some to compliment your skill set and have a fucking clue. __________________ Jase

06-10-2005, 06:24	#10 (permalink)
lucidcreations Part of the 3 out of 4 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: cheshire Posts: 2,079	And he loves his wheat. __________________ Jase

06-10-2005, 13:16	#13 (permalink)
pat jorge regula Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: B'ham/Leeds Posts: 4,860	yeh, the lad i did www.juveniledesign.co.uk with is a cunta. Always a problem. __________________

05-10-2005, 17:38	#2 (permalink)
datahound Spare Parts Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bracknell Forest Posts: 4,960	Personally I am the same, staff are just problems waiting to happen. If there is no work you still have to pay them. If you think it will mean you earn lots of extra money then consider it, I have a dog myself, good company, never answers back.

05-10-2005, 17:41	#3 (permalink)
briljant oranje Keep it foolish yeah? Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Not Leeds Posts: 578	i agree. unless business is really flying, and you've plenty of money in the bank, i'd stick with using freelancers. it is hard to find ones that are good at both print and web. so use us.

05-10-2005, 18:44	#4 (permalink)
chips Mr chips to you Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,306	what are the advantages for you to take someone on full time rather than just keep using freelancers??

05-10-2005, 20:34	#6 (permalink)
jase1000 turd 2.0 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Right on your tit end Posts: 1,162	I can imagine it's a 'mare having to ever take on staff. Anyone who fits the bill is probably freelance already. Mike M is probably right if you can find the right person.

06-10-2005, 12:05	#12 (permalink)
sub Shitcasket™ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 4,263	I'd have to disagree with going into partnership with anyone as people have different ideas on business direction and rarely ever works out long-term. Business partnerships are like a marriage, everything starts off well but you might find some serious incompatabilities and a lot of hard work trying to work to the same goals. Not saying that this is the case every time as it has obveously worked out well for Mike, but from personal experience I would say better to retain your own identity and fix more perminant relationships with freelancers.

06-10-2005, 14:35	#14 (permalink)
mike_m Work faster microphone .. Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 1,709	well I had a friend who was a programmer, did a bunch of freelance work for me, until it got to the point where he was working on almost every project and I was relying on him doing so. Luckily he was made redundant, so I just took the obvious next step and gave him a 50% share in the company. It was hard, as the company was my baby, but at the end of the day, it was the right thing to do, and without his skills, we wouldn't have grown half as much - in fact I probably would have gone a bit barmy working by myself all day, and ended up selling double glazing Obviously I was a bit jammy with this, but if you start off using a few freelancers to take the load off you, who knows where it will lead.. __________________

06-10-2005, 14:50	#15 (permalink)
pedge Crazy diamond... Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Liverpool (UK) Posts: 745	Partnerships can be awkward, I'd only go into business with someone if I knew a lot about them - I almost got involved with one cagey bastard who would've bled my business dry. As for taking someone on, don't forget as well as having to pay them when they're not doing anything, you have to cover sick pay, holiday pay and insurance etc etc - only do it if you're really confident that you are sure you can cover more than just wages.

17-10-2005, 14:01	#17 (permalink)
breadlegs Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 176	Maybe I should stick to freelancers then

24-10-2005, 03:31	#19 (permalink)
steve6868 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 11	Try taking on a person as a contractor. That way if you can predict the next few months work you will be all right and you are not tied into a long term future with them. + they can be cheaper than freelancers.

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