Hi,

 

I've just joined the forum. I co-own a small design and marketing agency in Leeds. I've joined the forum primarily to recruit a new member of staff for the business, however, I've already gained a few useful contacts. I don't think I'll be the most active member but I will be dipping my toe in from time to time.

 

My HTML training started years ago using Hot Metal - I'm trying to get back into it in my spare time; more so I can keep up to speed with what is happening in the world of web design so I can sound like I know what I am talking about when speaking with clients.

 

 

Regards

 

 

 

Tim

Welcome to the forum Tim

 

How is it co-owning a design and marketing agency?

 

Tony

Welcome!

Welcome to the forum Tim

 

How is it co-owning a design and marketing agency?

 

Tony

 

Hi Tony,

 

It has its up's and downs. Last two years have been horrible - kept all our staff though so very proud about that. Things are starting to look up now though! Thanks for asking.

Welcome!

 

Thank you.

Hi Tony,

 

It has its up's and downs. Last two years have been horrible - kept all our staff though so very proud about that. Things are starting to look up now though! Thanks for asking.

 

Thanks,

 

I was wondering as I would like to do this in the future All the best.

Thanks,

 

I was wondering as I would like to do this in the future All the best.

 

Think long and hard is my advice Tony. I started off life as a freelancer and made an alright living out of it. The plus was I could work my own hours and it gave me the chance to travel more, the down side was, I wasn't earning when I was traveling, so when I got a mortgage and other financial commitments I found I had to work more and travel less.

 

Also, when you start to take on staff, things get a bit more complicated as you have a commitment to them as well.

 

As a company we have to find a huge amount of money each month just to keep us all gainfully employed and that job falls to me now so I don't really get to do any of the design work that I love so much.

 

On the plus side, I can delegate a lot of stuff and while I'm on my holidays, the company is still earning money. Long term, I hope I wont have to work as hard in the future. We also get to work on big, interesting projects for companies who actually have a budget. I've been reading some of the 'work for free' posts in this forum and I remember getting requests like that when I first started up.