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Launching a design company in the U.S. means being aware of some important tax issues. Here's what you need to know to stay out of trouble!
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There's a great deal of flexibility in many aspects of a designer's career, but contracts is not one of them. Pay extra-special attention to these pieces of the fine print to avoid legal problems.
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Save the red for your designs. Learn how to prepare accurate financial statements that will help keep your business in the black.
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The first two articles of this series discussed how to prepare a short-term cash flow projection and what to do when faced with cash problems in the near future. Now it's time to tackle the long term with a sound strategy and reasonable expectations.
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Last time, we discussed the preparation of a short-term cash flow projection. In this installment learn how to deal with a negative projection and discover several business practices for maintaining healthy cash flow.
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Managing cash effectively is an important challenge for creative firms, particularly small companies that do not have a lot of reserves. The first part of this three-part article introduces three tools to evaluate cash activity.
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When you perform freelance services for a design firm, you should negotiate and sign an independent contractor agreement. Shel Perkins offers a glimpse at what to expect when faced with one of these documents.
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When making project-related purchases, designers need to protect themselves and their clients by going through a careful purchasing process and putting the terms in writing. Here are a few key points to consider for some common design-related expenses.
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Many things can and will go wrong over the course of a design project. Here are seven red flags that indicate potential project management problems and some thoughts about how to prevent them.
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Defining the size, scope, and requirements of a project will ensure a smoother and clearer design process. Here are five questions you should answer before you begin.
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Here are three types of dispute resolution you can pursue when personal diplomacy and direct negotiation fail.
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Writing a business plan may not be the first step to starting a design firm, but it is crucial to the long-term success of any business. Learn what questions should be answered in the planning process and what items should be included in the document.
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Last time we defined a trademark and reviewed the process of trademark registration in the U.S. In this article, we'll review the duration of trademark protection, clarify which aspects of design are and aren't protected, and discuss infringement.
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Design firms are often called upon to create identities for companies, products, and services. These projects require at least a basic understanding of trademark law. Here's a brief overview of the legal issues involved.
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Copyright doesn't last forever, nor does it provide 100% protection. Learn when copyright protection begins and ends, what constitutes a copyright violation, and what legal remedies are available in cases of infringement.
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Most design projects involve issues related to copyright. As a working professional, you need to have a basic understanding of what it's all about.
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The previous article discussed sole proprietorships, general partnerships, and limited partnerships. For designers looking to take their business to the next level, this article provides an overview of different types of corporations.
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Choosing the most appropriate format for your business means carefully weighing a number of important trade-offs. Here's a simple comparison of formats typically used by creative firms in the United States.
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Fixed fee-proposals are an ideal pricing format for many design firms, but there are risks if you're not careful. This article offers valuable preparation and planning tips and highlights crucial items that must be included in the proposal before sending it to the client.
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When figuring out how to charge clients for creative services, designers have several pricing models to choose from. Which one's best? It depends on a variety of factors. This article explains common pricing formats.
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Part one focused on strengthening your visual identity with different promotional materials. Now, it's time to face the public. Here's how to gain exposure and build that all-important contact list.
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Maintaining an ongoing promotions program is essential to new business development. The challenge is finding a mix of activities that best communicates with your target market. Here's a list of the most common components for graphic design firms.
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Every design firm needs several different types of insurance to take care of employees and to protect the business itself. Here's a quick guide to what's available and where to find it.
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