Chapter 28: Business planning

Conventional wisdom is that a business plan must be written before a company is launched, especially if outside financing is needed. So why is this chapter on business planning closer to the end of the book than to the beginning? Frankly, it’s because many design firms do not have a business plan. If they do, there’s a good chance that it was written several years after the business started. Many of us ease into business based on project opportunities that come our way. A few big projects and a few loyal clients can enable a freelance career to gradually expand into a successful small office. Often there’s no outside pressure to produce a business plan.

If you’ve been freelancing for a while, you might already own ...

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