subject: How To Avoid Disasters In Your Graphic Design Business [print this page] The most important thing you can do to avoid disasters in your graphic design business is to communicate with your client. You need to come to an agreement as to payment, deadlines, responsibilities, ownership of the artwork, and the printing process. Once you agree, you need to write up a contract with all the agreed upon terms and get both of your signatures on it. Make sure you have a signed contract before beginning any work.
Step 1: Outline Payment Terms
Write out when payment is due and how much. Decide how much money is owed by the client if a project is not completed. Make sure to decide what is owed when the incomplete project is because of the client and when it is because of you. Also include how much will be charged if the project takes longer than expected due to extra revisions.
Step 2: Give a Timeline
Clients will feel much more comfortable if you give them a timeline. Let the client know how much time you expect to spend on research, when they can expect a first draft, how long they have to ask for changes, and when you will complete the project.
Step 3: Describe Your Responsibilities
Come to terms on what your responsibilities in the project are. Do you have to do all the research, or does the client need to supply some materials? Are you taking photographs, or will there need to be a professional photographer hired?
Step 4: List Client Responsibilities
Also list client responsibilities in the contract. Will the client be supplying any materials for you to work with? Does the client need to find a professional photographer or model for you?
Step 5: State Who Owns the Artwork
Make it clear in the contract who will own the artwork, both completed and uncompleted. If you agree to give all rights to the client, be sure to put a clause in there that lets you use the artwork in your portfolio.
Step 6: Discuss Printing
If you are working on a project that will ultimately be printed, you need to put in the contract who will deal with the printing company. Decide if the client will have to hire the printing company and deal with the printer or if this will be your job. If you are responsible for all of the interactions with the printing company, make sure the client knows that they are still responsible for the printing costs.
