11. • Make your own hours
• Be your own boss
• You have a choice and can work on projects
that you like
• You’ll get to work with new people on a
regular basis
14. • Unhappy with employment options
• Looking for a new challenge
• You see an opportunity that's in high
demand
• Have tons of cash under your mattress
16. • You don't enjoy working more
than 40 hours
• You're bad with saving money
• You're not an outgoing person
(waiting isn't much of an option)
• You don't like to wear many hats
21. • Find an accountant
• Determine how you do business: Sole
Proprietor, LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp
• Get an EIN (it's free) & register a DBA
(Doing Business As) name with the IRS
– You may also need to register your DBA with
the state and local municipalities (having a
good accountant helps)
23. FAQ: How do you pay yourself?
– If you’re a Sole Proprietor or LLC, you can
simply write a check to yourself as a non-
deductible expense.
– If you’re a S-Corp or C-Corp, you pay yourself
a salary and taxes get taken out of your pay as
a W2.
24. • To be safe, put 30-40% of your revenue
aside for Uncle Sam
• Scan your receipts and then get rid of them
(they’ll fade in 6 months)
37. The majority of people working in DC
have a legal background.
38. • Business Insurance Recommended
Minimums
– Comprehensive general liability insurance with
minimum limits of $1,000,000 for each
occurrence
– Commercial excess liability insurance with
minimum limits of $2,000,000 for each
occurrence
– Property damage insurance with minimum
limits of $1,000,000
39. • AIGA: Standard Form of Agreement for
Design Services
• Work made for hire
(Copyright & IP Law)
• NDAs & Confidentiality Agreements
40. “If I honor your NDA, and I meet a great
investor or potential employee or valuable
partner for your new venture, I wouldn't be
able to tell them about it.”
— Anil Dash
43. Run of the mill
• Website
• Blog
• Social Networks
• Email Marketing
• Attend Events
44. Things that actually matter
• Hire a copywriter
• Keep people in the loop — send personal
emails
• Schedule lunch meetings frequently
• Public speaking — share your secrets
• Offer referral rewards
(e.g. ping pong tables, drinks, hugs, etc)
48. Maintaining a Portfolio
• Designers: Avoid having a style, instead
always try to show that you have many
• Developers: Avoid showing the same
solution, instead try to show many
49. Maintaining a Portfolio
• Make sure you always have permission to
show your work
• Make sure you get permission to show the
work and submit it to contests for industry
recognition
50. Maintaining a Portfolio
• Quality over quantity, make people want
more
• Don't just show the work, explain the
problems and challenges you had to
overcome
• Explain your role
