Hi,

I'm 17 (too young?) and looking to start up a new Web-Design company. I already have a website in place and have done work for a couple of customers. The problem is, I'm not sure what steps to take in order to to make the company "official" - See, I never did business in school, but from common sense I can determine that you can't just slap a website on the net and start advertising. So what steps do I take?

Someone mentioned a company called RIDO(S?) to me, but again, I'm unsure.

Also, to anyone who owns a web-design company, what was it like getting business when you first started up, and have you got any tips for me?

Thanks,

Brad.

You should talk to an accountant, they'll sort everything out for you.

It's easiest to set up as a sole trader rather than setting up a company, you just need to send in a form to register as self employed to the inland revenue, then fill in a tax return next January.

Give senta a wide berth, they'll just waste your time.

You might be better off looking for a job somewhere to get some experience before you set up on your own. 17 seems a bit young. I got my first web development job at 19 & I learnt a lot off the people around me.

just a suggestion you could try business link aswell you should find useful info on there but an accountant would be a great place to start to be fair.

I would try working for a design company first, as the above poster said, pick up experience

then in a year, why not try.

RIDO is the Rotherham Investment & Development Office. They also have Rotherham Enterprise.

Thanks for the replies,

Ideally, I'd love to work for a web design company, I just can't think of where I could find one in Sheffield, or a web design company that would even consider taking on a 17 year old. And I can't say I'v heard of any apprenticeships going for Web Design. I mean, I know my stuff, but I don't see a company choosing me over someone with a few more years experience. But if anyone knows of any availabilities, feel free to share ;)

Also, I have looked around and most, if not all, require some form of a degree based on Web-Design. Which I don't have. I considered it, but turned down the idea of learning everything I already know (or maybe new things that can just be learnt on the web without the massive debts) for 2 years, when I could in fact be doing something more productive.

Thanks again for the help, I'll look around for any vacancies, but it looks like I might be having to set myself up.

Usually design companies take graduates, but it isn't an absolute requirement. There are lots of small design companies, even in Sheffield. You'd have to be very persuasive, good & very cheap to get a job, but it's not impossible. I only got a job at 19 because my uncle did the accounts for the company, I'm good & I'd work for peanuts.

Try speculative letters & emails rather than looking for advertised vacancies. Web design job vacancies are few & far between in Sheffield & you'd be facing a lot of competition from graduates & people with more experience, they aren't likely to take a 17 year old over a 23 year old graduate with a couple of years experience.

Hi Brad,
I started my first company at 17, and it's never to early, more time to learn/make mistakes and improve. I now run 4 businesses, have sold 3 and looking to start 2 more this year. If you want a mentor let me know

Nick

I'd take up Nick's offer...he can help you avoid making the mistakes he will have made along his journey to success.

All Entrepreneurs make mistakes...only idiots make the same mistake twice and I've never met a successful entrepreneur who is an idiot!

The first one to stop repeating is hyphenating web and design.

I'd carefully reconsider getting a degree too & I say that as a 29 year old who thought like you at 17. It's going to seriously affect your chances of getting a job & you need something to fall back on if the business fails. You might learn something if you choose the right course too. You could maybe even run the business part time while you study.

You certainly don't need a degree to design websites, but many companies will see it as a basic requirement, even if it's a totally unrelated degree.

Assuming that your business is just you, you just need to tell HMRC that you're self-employed and you can work as a sole trader without having to register as a business.

I'd think carefully about how you position the business.

One option is to offer complete websites to end users. If you do that, then you'll be offering a very similar set of services to those offered by many established companies. Unless you can differentiate yourself from them, e.g. by offering better quality or lower prices, then you may struggle to compete.

Another option is to offer specialist services to web design businesses as a freelancer. That lets you focus on the part of the web development process that you do best (e.g. graphic design, usability, coding, marketing), and learn to do it better than other developers.

Unless you're looking to assemble a team, I'd point you towards the second option. As long as you lack expertise you'll be selling second-rate work, which either means competing on price or ripping off clients. Some people make a living doing that, but the more narrowly you focus, the more quickly you can become really good at what you do, and command a good price while offering value to clients.

I setup a hosting company when i was just 12 years old while i was still in school, i left at 16 after my gcse's and before i got my results i already got my office which i am still in today. I'm only 18 now and i also run a web design company and other projects i have on the go.

I have to say, Senta have been a big help to us in business support, funding and passing us clients ourselves for my web design company.

Getting into the business world is great, meeting new people and the contacts you make are great. Sheffield is a good place to do this as well and a lot of businesses have the time of day for you. I would very much recommend setting up a website and advertising around what you can offer people, If you feel you don't have the investment of money or time to do so then consider working for a company and then build up the money to maybe invest or buy out an established company as that is how i build up my other businesses.

All i can say is go for it! Do what you want to do and what makes you happy. This world needs a lot more people who would rather be working and setting up businesses at a young age rather than sat at home all day or on the streets.

Hi,

I'm 17 (too young?) and looking to start up a new Web-Design company. I already have a website in place and have done work for a couple of customers. The problem is, I'm not sure what steps to take in order to to make the company "official" - See, I never did business in school, but from common sense I can determine that you can't just slap a website on the net and start advertising. So what steps do I take?

Someone mentioned a company called RIDO(S?) to me, but again, I'm unsure.

Also, to anyone who owns a web-design company, what was it like getting business when you first started up, and have you got any tips for me?

Thanks,

Brad.

To set yourself up officially as Brad trading as Brad Web Design or whatever you need to register as self employed which you can do using the following link.
https://online.hmrc.gov.uk/shortforms/form/CWF1ST?dept-name=CWF1&sub-dept-name=&location=40&origin=http://www.hmrc.gov.uk

With regards to slapping up a website and starting to advertise then why not. If I needed a new website I would want to firstly look at the web designers own page and then ones that they have produced.

In finding a Web Designer I would look at my own clients because I always purchase from my own clients when possible, but if I did not have any I would look at the ones on this forum who I trust or from other physical networking events that I attend and generally ask around business associates who they would recommend. In other words you have to get out and about and get your name about.

I'm good & I'd work for peanuts.




Think me and you need a chat then...... :hihi::hihi::hihi:

Rotherham youth Enterprise are worth a try also free advice from Business advisors :)

http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/info/349/business_advice/1035/rotherham_youth_enterprise/1

Hey brad,

There's no harm in actually running a business from 17 years old. I'm 24 and have had over 13 businesses since i left school. (all web based)

I have an idea or a business partnership proposal that might interest you, aswell as helping you out and making sure you don't make mistakes that everyone does while starting a business.

I've owned businesses from web design to web investment portfolios, so i'm not short of experience. Infact i've just started a SEO (Search engine Optimisation) Business, as i currently use SEO for my own marketing portfolio, thus having knowledge how to quickly gain top spots for good quality keywords.

Shoot us a pm, see what we can do.