Is there a point starting a freelance web design company during sixth form

[Lukejenx]

Well basically I have tons of tests next year then uni. I haven't got a lot of personal time with work etc. But I want to do something in that little time.
So I want to open my website that I will run and manage myself. It will be a personal site so will have my blog. I wont be looking for work unless I have the time. So basically between the exams and uni or whenever in uni actually.

Is there much point or would it be better just to offer my services on sites like this? And just have a free blog?

It will only cost £5 a year as I can get hosting from my sister, she has a few dedicated servers in the US.

 

[Astaroth]

Friday night in Freshers week when you are about to go out for drinks you get a phone call at 9pm saying one of your clients sites is down are you going to cancel your plans? How about if the call is at 3am in the morning before one of your exams? Will you tell your client bad luck or miss the night out/ exam?

Getting involved in a business where you are effectively manufacturing something is a long term commitment to your clients. If you aren't prepared to support what your making you shouldn't get into the business.

 

[Lukejenx]

I am just going to offer web design, no hosting. So I don't intend on getting out of my way to help other than the design. I will be planning to design templates etc.

 

[MH-Nick]

If you're able to gain work in the time you have free, sure, do what you can. But stick to designing, don't host your clients (which is what Dan was referring to).

Edit: Too late posting

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

I am just going to offer web design, no hosting. So I don't intend on getting out of my way to help other than the design. I will be planning to design templates etc.

What kind of work can you produce?

What you think is good and what your clients think is good can sometimes be two very different things.

 

[Lukejenx]

I can design websites without cms, with cms and just templates. As in the outline and then they insert their own pictures (mostly used in the adult industry)

 

[Astaroth]

To be honest, even if you are only designing you still need to expect the phone calls if their site stops working or their clients are reporting problems when viewing the site. If their business is stops running they will contact anyone that has been involved in the supply of it.

Your client wont know if they get one of their clients advising that the site isnt displaying properly but when they visit but is fine when they themselves visit if it is a hosting problem, if your code isnt compatible with browsers or if there is another problem.

We have provided a simple webmail form for an existing site and had more than one from that client when their RSS feed stopped working or the google adsense stopped displaying on the homepage. It is simply part of the trade. Now, we are developers and so are involved in much more technically advanced sites that are more prone to going down because many call on 3rd part services but dont think that by doing design only that you can wash your hands as soon as you hand over the disk with the site on it.

 

[Lukejenx]

I intend on designing sites for companies that haven't got time to design. But have the skills to update. Might range from just the image and they do the .css. Or the site and they upgrade and write everything. A basic design.

 

[Seb de Lemos]

I'd say go for it, absolutely.

Definately build up your own site, and if you can find work to do for other people, do that too. It might be best to point out your situation to those you design for, but don't let that stop you from taking the opportunity, building up a portfolio and earning some £

 

[SneakSMS]

Go for it mate, I started my company when I was still doing GCSEs, 2nd year of Uni now and I can work the two around each other relatively easily.

First year at uni anyway is a piece of p*ss, and doesn't usually count towards final grades - so use it as a stepping stone.

If you can handle it though A-Levels and are fine at first year, then keep it going.

If first year proves a problem, use the time to wind it back down again.

 

[_Jabba_]

Go for it mate, I started my company when I was still doing GCSEs, 2nd year of Uni now and I can work the two around each other relatively easily.

First year at uni anyway is a piece of p*ss, and doesn't usually count towards final grades - so use it as a stepping stone.

If you can handle it though A-Levels and are fine at first year, then keep it going.

If first year proves a problem, use the time to wind it back down again.

I second this post. i'm also in my 2nd year of UNI and I started my company in my 1st with absolutly no money doing the exact same thing - Web Design (along with graphic design).

Go for it, just make sure and blance your work and it'll be like nothing.

If you need any help, just send me an email.
____________
Jabari Holder

Integral Web Design​

E:[email protected] T: 1-868-724-8399 W: www.integralwebdesign.co.uk​

 

[tradedemon]

Go for it, I think the younger you start the better. Most likely whatever you do now, will probably be a big learning experience. Just be upfront with your clients, tell them your availability and don't try to pass yourself off as anything other than a part timer.

Good luck.

 

Offer yourself as a freelance to a reputable existing company. Be honest about what you will and won't do timewise. That way you get the experience of business and probably get to learn things from their staff too but you don't have the hassle of fielding the customer queries etc. At this stage you need experience of real business but you don't want to jepordise you qualifications which are the key to your future. Good luck.

 

[londonlover]

I definitely think you should go for it. Having hired a lot of freelance web designers for small projects on my own site, the terms and conditions are always put in place at the beginning of the project and one of those that will be important to you is the project duration. Whilst the project is taking place, you will probably have to be at your customer's beck and call. But... once the project has finished and the money has exchanged hands, I wouldn't dream of calling a designer up at 9pm or 3am because the site's gone down.

I would recommend that you build a website offering your services and detailing the skills you have, linking to other sites that you've already built if possible and then look at places like Freelancers (I'm not allowed to post links yet as haven't written enough posts, but just google it and you'll find it) or Elance and you should be able to find plenty of work out there to be done in your own time... and not when you want to get smashed during Freshers Week!!!

 

[edmondscommerce]

if its what you want to do as a career, then if only for purely SEO reasons you need to get a domain and a site up ASAP...

a simple wordpress installation is ideal to get started.

then start to build inbound links and post regular quality content blog stories and then when you do decide to do it full time, you will already have a decent SEO situation set up so you can change the content of the site to make it more salesy and hopefully start to gain clients

in the mean time, you could just register on a few freelancing sites and browse through the projects and see if there are any you fancy. Expect to get paid peanuts but it would be good experience.

 

[custardfish]

Offer yourself as a freelance to a reputable existing company. Be honest about what you will and won't do timewise. That way you get the experience of business and probably get to learn things from their staff too but you don't have the hassle of fielding the customer queries etc. At this stage you need experience of real business but you don't want to jepordise you qualifications which are the key to your future. Good luck.

+1 for this. Good advice all round.

I'd say it will be easier to offer your services to existing design companies out there.. or developers with no design skills etc. They'll also be a little more forgiving and understanding with regards to balancing work and Uni time too.

As others have said before if a clients paying, they'll expect you to be there for them 100%. Even 'after' the job a lot of the time! There's also a host of other skills you'll need interacting with 'businesses' over just been able to design/build a site too.

Due to your age unfortunately a lot of businesses will try and pay you very little too - regardless of skills/ability. Don't devalue the industry your going to go into before you start!

I was designing professionally used graphics from about 14 and worked pretty much 50% of my time at Uni freelance for design agencies etc so don't let age stop you!

If your good enough your old enough!

 

[Interconnect IT]

Has to be said, that in three years we've only had one out of hours call, so if you do reliable stuff then calls may not be such a worry.

We do run a ticketing system, and tickets come through at all sorts of times. But people are told firmly what they are getting for their money and that a call-out is charged unless they have a suitably expensive support contract in place.

Ultimately stress isn't something we want, and we do everything to minimise this. One of the ways is to not get involved in e-commerce. We had that realisation when we spotted the difference in insurance rates!

Final advice: Code like a ninja, charge like a wounded rhino.