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Guide: Creative Co-operatives
Are you interested in collaborating and co operating with other people?
Co-operatives UK has launched a guide for creative practitioners, including artists and makers, interested in setting up co-ops, including case studies and arguments about the benefits.
Find out about what it’s like to work in a creative co-operative, hear from industry leaders about their view on co operation, network and find out how you can start a co operative business.
Download the free pratical guide to setting up a co-operative in the creative industries here.
Financing Your Dream: What’s the Right Path?
With the news full of stories about banks and credit unions cutting back on lending to small businesses, here are a few alternatives to consider when choosing the path to financing your dream.
Read some ideas from Jeff Bussgang over at 99%
What’s on? A top tip for reducing your expenditure on utilities
Here at MyCake we’re fans of any and all mechanisms that help you visualise finance and use it more wisely. Wattson does just that by showing you your electricity usage and helping you see the difference it makes to turn off lights, turn things off standby etc. Their survey of over 500 Wattson users shows that the average annual saving is some £286!
to find out more, order one etc click here
Allowable expenses for Tax
rather than re-invent the wheel on this one we suggest you look at this piece which is very comprehensive
Creative Christmas Shopping
Have you seen the latest delights on Bouf and Joolia … great places to source superb design, unique products and other delightful presents! Here are a few of our favourites … some of them MyCake users!!
the works below are by 
Snowden Flood, Rachel Galley, Product of your Environment, An Angel at my Table
Thinking of become a creative entrepreneur – free report
Last week we introduced you to the characters at Lateral Action, now we have a free report for you.
Brian Clark from Lateral Action explains his unconventional approach to entrepreneurship. Essential reading if you’re interested in making a living from your creativity, especially if you’re not the business type.
Download your free copy of The Lateral Action Guide to Becoming a Creative Entrepreneur.
Tip on getting paid
A nugget of wisdom on the Freelance Switch blog – from the interview with Briant Grant, creative director at Anisometric…
In bringing your freelance business up to speed, what was the biggest hurdle and how did you overcome it?
There are so many hurdles to overcome, however I think that the biggest and most salient is:
1.) You get paid
2.) You get paid on time.I would always recommend using signed agreements and contracts, with a caveat. A contract is only as good as the parties that sign it. What that means is that you are dealing with a rogue who is determined to rip you off, then they will sign anything and say anything with the intention of breaking their word. We call them fly-by-nights…
One way is to stagger payments. A typical agreement for a website could be 25 percent payment after visuals shown, 50 percent payment after approved design, or 75 percent payment with build on our server. Or 100% payment and simultaneous transfer to clients domain. This way you get paid and the client also sees demonstrable evidence that the project is being completed, so all parties benefit..
Getting prices and payment terms agreed before you start any work is always a start. And especially if it is somebody that you know. Many good friendships have been ruined over such a small amount of money and simple misunderstandings.
Read the FreelancerPro Interview: The Foundations of Freelancing in full here.
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Q: what is or has been your biggest hurdle in getting your business up and running? leave a comment below…
Having tough conversations with staff
here’s a great piece from Sharon Clews on how to have tough conversations with your staff
Tim Brown: do you have enough trust to be creative
Tim Brown, CEO of the “innovation and design” firm IDEO, talks about importance of trust, exploration, building (thinking with your hands) and role play in creativity.
Five critical components of creative entrepreneurship
We’ve big fans of Lateral Action, the blog to help you be creative entrepreneurs, and their animated series featuring Lou (the old school businessman who was successful in the last century), Jack (the creative who dreams of becoming an entrepreneur) and Marla (the creative diva and an entrepreneurial force).
If you’re creative and want to find out how to kick-ass at business then the check out the lastest instalment Marla mentors Jack.
If you’re short on time, the five key components are:
- create ~ don’t duplicate
- lead ~ don’t manage
- communicate ~ don’t be shy
- automate – don’t duplicate
- accelerate ~ don’t stand still
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