November 25, 2003 | View Comments (13) | Category: Web Business
Summary: Starting a new company can be fun, when you know what you are going to do.
Let's say that a certain someone didn't allow you to do web design for a whole year. You could do some stuff for free, but nothing you could get paid for. The only other type of stuff you want to do involves the web so you know you have to take your existing website and transform it into a new web company. What would you do?
I am in this sort of predicament, but I don't really see it as a problem. Like when a client is unhappy with the first 10 designs you give them, you just need to get the creative juices flowing. I have worked for many people and working for someone else sucks. If you like it then more power to you, but nothing beats the freedom and excitement of making your own choices and seeing yourself succeed. So now I have to get my creative juices flowing and come up with a new type of company because I do not want to go back to work for people who don't like to move faster than the web or managers who do not know a thing about technology yet believe they have taught you everything.
To be honest if Nielsen can do it and have a crappy website, then why shouldn't others succeed. The beauty of it is that all the important information you need can be found on his site. It's like free online classes. There are generally some major firms who specialize in this kind of stuff and everyone else seems to do design. However, it is hard enough getting some companies to see the value in receiving a good design, how do you go about making them pay for usability analysis?
This one I do not have my head wrapped around yet and I am not sure the title aptly describes of what I am thinking. Basically, the company would specialize in web technologies such as RSS, XML, XHTML, CSS and others and consult companies on how they can take advantage of these new technologies. If something like this was to work, let's just say you would have to be offering some pretty good information.
Nobody I ever knew got rich doing web design. Or better said, nobody I knew ever got rich doing just web design. It surprises me that so many people who start their own design companies or decide to freelance feel that they could be okay by just offering design services. To survive and truly succeed you have to diversify your offerings. You think Zeldman writes books because he is trying to win a Pulitzer? This is an option I may definitely pursue.
I have this really great idea for an Alarm Clock shareware program that I know people would like and pay at least $25 for....just kidding.
This may be the stupidest idea (no pun intended) ever, but I am going to go with it. I can't explain it right now, but when I finally make sense of it all I will write about it.
If you could start your own company what kind of things would you do? Are you surprised no one has thought of doing something that you think would be so obvious for someone to start? I am young and courageous (dumb) so maybe you can trick me into implementing your ideas (if you are not) and start something. This could turn into an interesting discussion if people are willing to share.
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Wow, I was going to suggest usability consulting, but that bar idea sounds too good to pass up.
Speaking from someone in the trenches, you're dead-on JC, there's no money, glory or peace working in the Hosting field...
jarrod (http://textbased.com/)
Sounds like someone is under a clause of non concurence. Are you sure of the legality of that clause ? I ask that because in France if that sort of clause is not subject to a compensation of some sort then it's purely and simply void.
The ideas you throwed and JC's remark about web dev sound good.
Look at the categories in your blog. They reveals your domains of interrest and expertise, you could certainly turn them into a business reality.
P01 (http://www.p01.org)
I'm with P01 on this one...I'd hire a lawyer and see if the "certain someone" could actually stop me from don't web design for a whole year (or until some arbitrary date on a piece of paper).
Assuming that you have already done so and the the non-compete or non-concurrence clause holds up, then I'd probably go to school for a year. Or try my hand as a writer. Of course, these options are unlikely to make me any money...
If I actually needed to make money, well...I'm not sure.
wink (http://site-unseen.net/wink)
Of course, there's always porn. Since 'that certain someone' wasnt in and would never even remotely consider being in that business, you couldn't be considered to be in any way competing.
Hey, combine that one with the sitting in the bar bumming beers and you've got what many men would consider an ideal career.
JC (http://www.thelionsweb.com/weblog)
What about web applications? Enterprise applications? Or user interface design?
If you go into usability consulting, you might see the similar roadblocks as in your description of "working for someone". In any project, there can be more than one stakeholder, and the one that hired you may not be the big boss. You work alone, but clients have a lot of say as well, and may not understand what you are trying to get across. You end up frustrated again, and without the managers.
Zelnox
Since you CAN do web design for free, why don't you employ the eBay technique? Design a site for XYZ client ... for free. Then, in a totally unrelated transaction, you sell a pencil or a pack of bubble gum to XYZ client ... for $500-$1,000.
Just a suggestion. :-)
Louis (http://www.clotman.com)
Or, you could try the "donation" technique. Pop a PayPal (or other service) button on your site, then point "clients" to it.
Set mile-stones for a job, and then a suggested "donation" for the work.
For example -
Stage 1: Information architecture brief - Suggested donation of �500.
Stage 2: UML outline of business logic - Suggested donation of �500.
Stage 3: Completion of business logic for site - Suggested donation of �2000.
Stage 4: Design of presentational view - Suggested donation of �500.
Stage 5: Implementation of works and testing - Suggeted donation of �1000.
Adding a disclaimer of something like:
"All works are done on a pro-bono basis. Donations are suggested but not compulsory. [We] reserve the right to retract any work done. All works are the property and copyright of [us]."
You'll have to speak to a legal advisor to get the wording right.
Basically you're trying to say you'll do the work for free, you legally own whatever you do (along with the copyright), and you can stop/cancel works/services at any time. Because they're making donations, which is totally seperate to the works, they're not buying the code as a standard client would.
Then, if they donate generously, you can donate (give) the rights to the code to them.
Working in this way, you're covering all your bases. You own the intellectual rights to all your code, until you "give" them away. You're getting donations for your work, rather than being paid. And if you don't get any donations, you can stop whatever you're doing because the company has no rights to what you're doing until you "give" them said rights.
Check all this with a legal advisor though first. There may be loop-holes I've not thought of, or the law in your area might stack the odds against you.
dysfunksional.monkey (http://dysfunksion.co.uk)
What the hell's happened to my pretty GB Pound symbols? If i'd wanted question marks, I would have used them!
dysfunksional.monkey (http://dysfunksion.co.uk)
Wow, excellent suggestions by all. I think by next week you will see something interesting (or totally stupid) up on the site...or you just might see the old site back up (which looked damn nice if you asked me).
Scrivs (http://www.9rules.com/whitespace/)
I think the ebay and paypal ideas... while creative... will get you in trouble, if not with the person in question, the IRS probably won't be pleased. Especially if you're a legal business entity rather than a self-declared business. Talk to a lawyer *and* your accountant, since even legal things can get you audited, which is never fun. Not to mention that a judge might not be pleased with really blatant attempts to circumvent a contract, rather than work around the limitations it provides. And you want to keep the judge happy if it goes to court.
Your best bet is probably going to be in focusing in fields or locations which are outside the scope of the contract.
JC (http://www.thelionsweb.com/weblog)
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#1
Hmm... tell me, Paul... is it specifically "web design" that you're not allowed to do? That would leave you open for web development (you just couldn't design the GUI) and intranet design and development. I'm sure there are plenty of loopholes.
You could do web strategy consulting. Though I doubt anyone'd take you seriously unless you got in as part of a consulting firm. Hosting (if you really want a constant headache and no profits). And of course, there's always general tech support. You could learn about wifi and set up wireless networks for people. Or just, you know, sit in the bar and bum drinks off of people. That's good, too. :-)
JC (http://www.thelionsweb.com/weblog)