Personal Business Plan
At Emma Engle Design, we provide big agency thinking without the big agency costs.
As an experienced creative team, we strive to present creative solutions to any graphic design problems.
As an experienced creative team, we strive to present creative solutions to any graphic design problems.
Business Environment
Emma Engle Design will be competing in the graphic design industry.
The global graphic design industry has grown 3.0% from 2012-2017, with
about 570,000 employees employed by 390,000 businesses ("Global Graphic Designers -
Global Market Research Report", 2017). However, with the advent of sites like Fiverr that
let people outsource cheap, plagiarized design for $5, the industry has suffered. In the United
States, growth for the industry is projected to be slower than average from 2016-2026 at 2-4%
("27-1024.00 - Graphic Designers", 2018). Nationally, there are 26,000 projected annual job
openings, but in Pennsylvania there are only 260 projected job openings, which leaves the
percent change for PA at -1% ("27-1024.00 - Graphic Designers", 2018). There is more supply
for designers than there are jobs, or demand ("Graphic Design", n.d.).
The global graphic design industry has grown 3.0% from 2012-2017, with
about 570,000 employees employed by 390,000 businesses ("Global Graphic Designers -
Global Market Research Report", 2017). However, with the advent of sites like Fiverr that
let people outsource cheap, plagiarized design for $5, the industry has suffered. In the United
States, growth for the industry is projected to be slower than average from 2016-2026 at 2-4%
("27-1024.00 - Graphic Designers", 2018). Nationally, there are 26,000 projected annual job
openings, but in Pennsylvania there are only 260 projected job openings, which leaves the
percent change for PA at -1% ("27-1024.00 - Graphic Designers", 2018). There is more supply
for designers than there are jobs, or demand ("Graphic Design", n.d.).
Entrepreneurship and Strategy
Allegheny County has the highest concentration of graphic design graduates in the United States
("Graphic Design", n.d.). Additionally, 80% of new businesses fail within 18 months (Wagner, 2015).
Most small businesses are classified as sole proprietorships, as this one will be, which means that
all of the risk and liability falls on the owner. As such, those first 18 months will be critical for establishing
Emma Engle Design [EED] as an accomplished business. We will utilize Chatham University’s Center for
Women’s Entrepreneurship in order to gain advice and mentorship to ensure the success of the business
("Chatham University Center for Women's Entrepreneurship", 2018).
("Graphic Design", n.d.). Additionally, 80% of new businesses fail within 18 months (Wagner, 2015).
Most small businesses are classified as sole proprietorships, as this one will be, which means that
all of the risk and liability falls on the owner. As such, those first 18 months will be critical for establishing
Emma Engle Design [EED] as an accomplished business. We will utilize Chatham University’s Center for
Women’s Entrepreneurship in order to gain advice and mentorship to ensure the success of the business
("Chatham University Center for Women's Entrepreneurship", 2018).
Management
I currently work three part-time jobs as a designer: I am a publicist for the Office of Student Affairs at
Chatham University; a multimedia designer and printer at Infinity Print Graphics in Carlisle, PA; and I do
freelance work. As such, I understand the importance of self-motivation and time management. I would
utilize the pomodoro technique, which involves working for 25 minutes on one task and taking a short break
before the next task. By combining the pomodoro technique with time logging, you can see where you are
spending too much or too little time in order to make adjustments to be more productive. Once EED is an
established business, we would hopefully hire additional employees and take on interns. Asana would be
used for task management and file sharing then.
Chatham University; a multimedia designer and printer at Infinity Print Graphics in Carlisle, PA; and I do
freelance work. As such, I understand the importance of self-motivation and time management. I would
utilize the pomodoro technique, which involves working for 25 minutes on one task and taking a short break
before the next task. By combining the pomodoro technique with time logging, you can see where you are
spending too much or too little time in order to make adjustments to be more productive. Once EED is an
established business, we would hopefully hire additional employees and take on interns. Asana would be
used for task management and file sharing then.
Marketing
EED would be promoted through social media, networking, client referral, and targeted client acquisition.
Targeted client acquisition is the process of identifying your ideal customer, identifying what your business
can offer them, and then attracting their business through networking. At Infinity Print Graphics, I designed
and executed a targeted client acquisition campaign to gain the business of new clients after one of our
competitors was bought out by a large corporation. It is more important than ever to maintain a strong social
media presence in order to attract potential clients. Doing so will also aid in networking and client referral,
as satisfied customers will be able to direct their associates to our website and social media presence. I
have experience in web development, SEO, and social media design and maintenance. I designed and
implemented Infinity Print Graphics’s website redesign in 2017. At EED, our potential customers would be
companies, nonprofit organizations, and individuals in need of creative design solutions to advertising,
branding, and other design needs. Our Four Ps are Price, Process, Product, and People.
Targeted client acquisition is the process of identifying your ideal customer, identifying what your business
can offer them, and then attracting their business through networking. At Infinity Print Graphics, I designed
and executed a targeted client acquisition campaign to gain the business of new clients after one of our
competitors was bought out by a large corporation. It is more important than ever to maintain a strong social
media presence in order to attract potential clients. Doing so will also aid in networking and client referral,
as satisfied customers will be able to direct their associates to our website and social media presence. I
have experience in web development, SEO, and social media design and maintenance. I designed and
implemented Infinity Print Graphics’s website redesign in 2017. At EED, our potential customers would be
companies, nonprofit organizations, and individuals in need of creative design solutions to advertising,
branding, and other design needs. Our Four Ps are Price, Process, Product, and People.
Accounting and Finance
I would hire an accountant to create a financial plan for EED. Although that would add an additional cost to
the business, I am a designer, not a financial planner. I have used Quickbooks and performed data entry and
other small accounting tasks, but that does mean I am qualified to create an entire financial plan for EED.
the business, I am a designer, not a financial planner. I have used Quickbooks and performed data entry and
other small accounting tasks, but that does mean I am qualified to create an entire financial plan for EED.
EMMA ENGLE DESIGN SAMPLE BALANCE SHEET
APRIL 2018
| |
Assets
|
Liabilities
|
Current Assets
|
Current Liabilties
|
Cash 5,000
|
Accounts payable 2,000
|
Accounts Receivable 300
|
Notes payable 8,000
|
Supplies 1,000
|
Total liabilities 10,000
|
Office equipment 15,000
| |
Total assets 21,300
| |
Information Systems and Operations
I would utilize Google Analytics to track traffic and site usage for the website of EED. I would use MAMP to
set up a local Wordpress server and Digital Ocean for hosting. For the design studio itself, we would likely
use a local network of custom-built Windows desktops due to the cost-effectiveness and power of the machines.
We would use Backblaze for backup, Asana for task management, Git for file versioning, and Google Drive
for cloud storage and file sharing. We would use Canon printers, as I have worked with EFI, Ricoh, and Canon
printers, and I believe Canon provides the best balance of service and quality.
set up a local Wordpress server and Digital Ocean for hosting. For the design studio itself, we would likely
use a local network of custom-built Windows desktops due to the cost-effectiveness and power of the machines.
We would use Backblaze for backup, Asana for task management, Git for file versioning, and Google Drive
for cloud storage and file sharing. We would use Canon printers, as I have worked with EFI, Ricoh, and Canon
printers, and I believe Canon provides the best balance of service and quality.
References
27-1024.00 - Graphic Designers. (2018, April 7). Retrieved April 10, 2018, from
https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/27-1024.00
https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/27-1024.00
Chatham University Center for Women's Entrepreneurship. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2018, from
https://www.chatham.edu/cwe/
https://www.chatham.edu/cwe/
Global Graphic Designers - Global Market Research Report. (2017, October 7). Retrieved April 10, 2018,
from https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-trends/global-industry-reports/business-activities/
graphic-designers.html
from https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-trends/global-industry-reports/business-activities/
graphic-designers.html
Graphic Design. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2018, from https://datausa.io/profile/cip/500409/
Wagner, E. T. (2015, September 02). Five Reasons 8 Out Of 10 Businesses Fail. Retrieved April 10,
2018, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericwagner/2013/09/12/five-reasons-8-out-of-10-
2018, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericwagner/2013/09/12/five-reasons-8-out-of-10-
businesses-fail/#4046e1d6978d
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