How To Start a Successful Creative Agency is a business book for freelancers and small agency owners.

That includes graphic designers, writers, copywriters, photographers, photo editors, filmmakers, film editors, animators, illustrators, interface designers, and front-end programmers.

In this book, I will help you build a solid foundation for your business.

Take Care of Business So You Can Focus On Your Creativity

I will teach you about running the business so that you can focus on what you really love doing, whether that’s writing, designing, filmmaking, or programming.

Learn how to set up your business. That means writing effective estimates and invoices. Establishing your banking and taxes. Considering hiring either a bookkeeper or accountant (or both, if you’re growing fast).

Who Will Be Your Best Clients?

There are many ways to look at clients. Sort them out by type of business or organization, in other words, a niche. Consider whether you want to work for small, medium, or large companies. Are they local, national, or international? Will you work with them remotely, face-to-face, or both?

Most importantly, how do you get clients? How do you get an introduction? How do you let them know that you could help them achieve their goals?

I’ll help you with the best ways to connect with clients, stay connected, and build your business.

What If You’re Young and Just Starting?

Your age doesn’t matter. You might still be studying in school.

Or perhaps being a creator is a side hustle to your 9 – 5 job.

Some of you are working for an agency and thinking of freelancing full-time. Maybe you’ve already taken the leap and started your business.

Wherever you are in your life, this book will give you practical advice on how to set up and run your business efficiently and profitably.

Some sections of the book may not apply to you. Just skip them. You can cherry-pick the chapters in any order you like.

What This Book Won’t Do for You

This book will not teach you graphic design, copywriting, photography, filmmaking, programming, or any other creative skill.

I’m assuming that you are either learning your craft or are already able to deliver at a professional level.

What this book will do is guide you on the business side, so it doesn’t overwhelm your creativity. Many freelancers and small agencies struggle or fail, not because their creative output wasn’t good enough, but because they didn’t know how to operate a business.

As a business owner, you have to excel at both your craft and business operations. It may not come naturally to you, but you can learn.

In my career, I worked as a copywriter for small and multi-national agencies, I freelanced for six years, and then co-founded two successful agencies. The first agency was acquired after five years, and I retired from the second one.

Now I consult for a few select clients, and I write books.

Everything I learned about running a freelance or small agency business is packed into How to Start a Successful Creative Agency. It’s the essential business guide for graphic designers, copywriters, filmmakers, photographers, and programmers.

Buy the Book Here

Over 300 pages and 23 chapters, available at Amazon (Paper & Kindle), Kobo (ebook), Apple Books (ebook), and Gumroad (PDF).

The book is jammed with useful information to help creatives start and grow their business.

Recommended!

Hi Andy, just finished reading your book. Loved the sections on estimates, billable hours, and timesheets. Recommended to some other creative friends who are running their own biz. Thank you for writing the book :)

Kasun Pathirage, Freelance B2B Writer, DM Twitter

Get a FREE Chapter of The Book Now

Sign up in the footer below to get a free PDF of Chapter 14, Working With Clients.

This chapter covers essential areas such as Clients vs. Projects, Corporate Clients vs. Small Business Clients, How to Create an Opportunity Document, Benefits of Finding a Niche… and much more.

Questions? On Twitter, I’m @StroteBook. DMs are always open. Ask away.

A Business Book for Freelancers and Small Agency Owners