It takes a lot less than you think to start a web design business. I want to share some things I consider essential tools for starting a web design business from home that is a little different than the other guides out there. Many guides have a massive list of check boxes and way too many tools which may help you smooth out your business process its not needed to start. I’m here to tell you that while a massively detailed plan helps, it’s not essential.
There is a good chance that you already have all the tools you would need to get started. We will take a look at some of the software you need for building websites in another article.
You have done some research to see if a business in web design is a good fit and take the plunge that starting a Web Design business is for you. If you are still on the fence be sure to check out our article here on getting starting with Website Design.
While a lot on this list is heavily biased to my personal preference I will do my best to explain each decision I made and why I added it to the list.
I hope that the guide below will help you as you work through your business plan and come to realize you don’t need too much.
Some links in this article may be affiliate links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase through our link but it is not required. Feel free to skip the link and head right to the sources direct if you don’t like using affiliate links.
Hardware And Essential Tools For Starting A Web Design Business
Computer
First let me say this: “You can get started with whatever computer/mac you happen to have already as long as it’s a laptop or a desktop”.
Do not let your lack of serious hardware or the fancy screens deter you from getting started with your web design business.
Sure it is nice to have massive screens and a blazing fast computer for processing images and editing in photoshop or doing promo videos for your clients but that all can come once you start getting your first clients and look to re-invest in your business.
If you do have some savings you can’t go wrong investing in some hardware that is going to last 4-6 years, but do not feel like this is a necessity
A simple laptop with a modern CPU, 8gb RAM, and storage would be best. I use cloud storage a lot for my files so I can work between computers so I have less of a need for raw HDD space but 256gb of an SSD would be a minimum for me. The RAM can be increased which will allow you more breathing room when using Photoshop and have multi-tabs open in your browser.
I started my business with an old 3-year-old laptop, not upgrading until I had the money ready to reinvest. Most of my work I do on a 2019 Macbook Air with an i5 processor 8gb RAM and 256gb SSD. It handles anything I throw at it for my business so far and is light enough to take to client meetings to go over proposals and demo websites with them. The battery is also amazing.
I recommend this MacBook Air 2019 – 8gb RAM, 256GB, i5 processor from Best Buy.
Camera
If you are also going to offer photography services for your clients then you will need some good camera equipment. You may be able to get by with your cellphone to start, but I wouldn’t recommend increasing your pricing too much until you get better equipment.
A good beginner camera is the Canon T7i. You can check it out on Amazon, It’s a solid piece of kit.
Do not think that it’s required to get you going and please do not let it hold you back from starting.
I would personally recommend that you request pictures from your client for their website. If they do not have any and you are not comfortable taking them you can outsource it to a third party. If you are going this route be sure to get a price from a trusted photographer and mark it up 30% and add that price to your proposal.
Cellphone
You always want to have either a second cellphone or add on a second line with a service like Sideline (which I use for my own business, and that link is an affiliate link to help support the site ) Sideline helps you know which calls to not ignore as the whole screen lights up green when you get a call from your business line.
Prices are around $10 a month on top of your regular cell phone service and can be used on iOS and Android.
Internet
Good home internet is essential to running your home-based web design business. While you can manage on less, having that speed and stability available for downloading backups of your website or full FTP backups, it helps.
When I build my websites I currently build on a staging domain linked to the primary domain. This means that good internet is essential to have a lag-free experience working online.
There are tools out there that allow you to develop locally on your local machine prior to uploading it to a web server. I feel that it’s beyond the scope of the article but we will cover it in the future.
Work Space
While it is entirely possible to work on websites from a couch with the kids
Who doesn’t love working on the couch while the kids are running around? Or when you have some menial website maintenance tasks and want to catch up on some TV at the same time.
While this is an advantage of working from home, it’s a good idea to get a workspace set up and dedicated to your business needs. Not only will it help you get in the right frame of the mind when you have the serious work to be done and maybe need a larger screen at your disposal.
If your workspace is exclusively used for your business you can qualify for the Home Office Tax deduction on your yearly tax return in the US.
Again, nothing fancy: any desk, a comfortable chair, a little bit of privacy and a large monitor as a second screen is optional.
Transport (Maybe)
In my business, I focus a lot on local businesses and helping them improve their websites and start for the first time online. These customers need me to meet with them a lot so having transport is essential.
It also lets me (with detailed mileage tracking and logs) be able to claim my mileage as an expense and deduction on my taxes every year as I elect for the flat rate per mile for business use and I use MileIQ to keep track of my trips automatically. This lets you classify your trips as business or personal. Something the IRS will ask you on your return.
Business Cards
We use either a local business printer to handle our business cards or we use VistaPrint when we placed our initial order just to get rolling. They offer cheap OK cards to get you started. This card is often the thing people will keep when you meet them and the last thing you want them to do when pulling out your business card is thinking it looks cheap and a mess, it will reflect negatively on their perception of your ability to build and design a website. Always keep a half dozen cards in your wallet or purse.
Coffee (Seriously)
Ok maybe not so serious, but you will likely need some coffee as you start this journey. Pick up a decent pack and reward your work time with some great coffee. Now we have covered what I see at the most essential hardware to get going (notice, it isn’t a lot so do not let your lack of equipment put you off!)
Read More
For a more indepth look at the finding out if a website design business is for you, you can check out our guide
