Web Design Business Problem... - Can YOU Solve It?

Hello,

With my existing clients returning and word of mouth business for websites i can still make money - but i am starting to hate doing it for people other than myself.

I dont know weather to give it up all together - or find another solution as it does make money

I no longer want to:

1. Build the websites
2. Project manage the websites
3. Manage clients
4. Provide technical support to clients

In an ideal scenario, I would simply act as a sales person for my company generating new business - or just have the ability for projects to get done without me being involved.

I want a web design business that can operate while i am asleep.
I am thinking is there any turnkey options i can give to people?
Or any things i can white label etc?

I want to still be involved in web design/development but only as the business owner taking the money!

Thanks

You could always hire someone to do the work, or outsource it. Though you'll still have to get your hands dirty likely, especially while you get up to speed.

You'll still need to project manage the sites, clients and up front tech support. You can train someone up for this over time, but I doubt someone would be able to walk in and do it successfully.

You could also send clients to another designer for a finder fee.

Sounds like this is not the business for you as that business model is always going to need some baby kissing and hand shaking. Even as a salesperson, you would be the face of the business.

Perhaps you could hire a person to handle the sales and another to handle the backend building sites and such while you just manage those people. I'm not sure there is enough money to go around as I do not know the pricing structure you have in place.

you could always outsource it

I hear you. I hate dealing with clients as well. Why not try to develop your own properties and slowly weed out the pain in the butt clients? Not a quick solution, but one that eventually works.

I would suggest you should move from customized solutions to standard solutions. Create your templates & ask clients to choose from it. Design websites based on selected template. No more customization. You may have to reduce rates for this. But will reduce lots of time & effort. Hosting business may be a good choice for you.

Let me know what you feel about it.

I'm moving that way myself. Finding the right people to help is very hard, but unless the business can earn money without you there then it is never going to make you rich, or free you from the grind.

The E-Myth Revisited is a great read on the subject.

The theory explained in "Rich Dad Poor Dad" is what you are aiming at. right?

outsource a developer, a customer support and a project manager.

I was thinking of setting up a local web design business and outsourcing all of the work via cheap labor at digital point. If you took the actual design off your own hands then it would a lot less hassle