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Guest24480
Guest
I've been looking into the online service business model and want to start something along those lines. I like it because it isn't super capital intensive (well, depends) and it can be outsourced and scaled that way.
I just have a few concerns that hopefully someone can shed some light upon.
For the sake of putting it into perspective, let's say my model is to provide graphic design services for other businesses (this isn't my actual idea, but it's similar). Since I'm no graphic design expert, I would have three options from the start (correct me if I'm wrong):
1) Learn graphic design and get good enough to sell my skills (and trade my time for money, eek!). This may take years!
2) Outsource the design aspect and focus on getting/keeping customers.
3) A happy medium - learn a bit, then outsource.
My gut tells me that I would be better off outsourcing for obvious reasons. But this brought me to another road block. How would I go about the outsourcing process from the start?
Surely I can't just find a customer and then go straight to Upwork and hire out a new developer for every single order. Won't the process of hiring a freelance developer take time and leave my customer waiting for their order? Couldn't my customer just do the same thing I'm doing in the blink of an eye, or do they have better things to do?
So I guess my only option then would be to hire someone part time who will be ready when I get that first order. At least, that's the conclusion I came to. I'm still unsure of myself though.
Hmm, or maybe I can go into a niche that is easy to learn such as market research services for businesses and start out doing the work myself. Then when I establish a larger customer base and run out of time to complete the work myself, I begin to oursource.
Am I worrying about the future too much? Should I just be focusing on getting that first customer?
This post is kind of a brainstorm in a way but I just wanted to get my thoughts down and see what people have to say. I like to ask a lot of questions, but I make sure they're not black and white like 'where do I register my business???'
Thanks!
I just have a few concerns that hopefully someone can shed some light upon.
For the sake of putting it into perspective, let's say my model is to provide graphic design services for other businesses (this isn't my actual idea, but it's similar). Since I'm no graphic design expert, I would have three options from the start (correct me if I'm wrong):
1) Learn graphic design and get good enough to sell my skills (and trade my time for money, eek!). This may take years!
2) Outsource the design aspect and focus on getting/keeping customers.
3) A happy medium - learn a bit, then outsource.
My gut tells me that I would be better off outsourcing for obvious reasons. But this brought me to another road block. How would I go about the outsourcing process from the start?
Surely I can't just find a customer and then go straight to Upwork and hire out a new developer for every single order. Won't the process of hiring a freelance developer take time and leave my customer waiting for their order? Couldn't my customer just do the same thing I'm doing in the blink of an eye, or do they have better things to do?
So I guess my only option then would be to hire someone part time who will be ready when I get that first order. At least, that's the conclusion I came to. I'm still unsure of myself though.
Hmm, or maybe I can go into a niche that is easy to learn such as market research services for businesses and start out doing the work myself. Then when I establish a larger customer base and run out of time to complete the work myself, I begin to oursource.
Am I worrying about the future too much? Should I just be focusing on getting that first customer?
This post is kind of a brainstorm in a way but I just wanted to get my thoughts down and see what people have to say. I like to ask a lot of questions, but I make sure they're not black and white like 'where do I register my business???'
Thanks!
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