How To Build a One-Man Design Agency Doing $500k/y

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ต.ค. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 137

  • @nerdsinthetrap7748
    @nerdsinthetrap7748 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Rich Webster is such a great name for this business lol … very smart guy and great conversation!

  • @richwebz
    @richwebz ปีที่แล้ว +67

    Thanks for having me Ran! Great conversation 😄

    • @productivepitch
      @productivepitch ปีที่แล้ว +2

      been following your content on IG for a while and now this! Absolutely amazing to see two awesome design school of thought together and thanks for sharing your experience with the world. Keep up the great work and hope to hear more valuable content like this in the future :)

    • @JeremyMuradesign
      @JeremyMuradesign ปีที่แล้ว

      Good to see you collabing Rich

    • @arda.heredu
      @arda.heredu ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks for sharing

    • @clemenskotoku
      @clemenskotoku ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for sharing your story with us

    • @thevikingsock8527
      @thevikingsock8527 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Idk man, just getting coach vibes here, show Portfolio

  • @satoshi_yukamoto841
    @satoshi_yukamoto841 ปีที่แล้ว +114

    how much of this is selling coaching/courses and how much is design work? Most of these youtubers claiming to make big money in design as solopreneurs are really selling courses and coaching.

    • @RJ-ir9pj
      @RJ-ir9pj ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Exactly..

    • @StorytellingHeadshots
      @StorytellingHeadshots ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Yep… it was OBVIOUS he was a grifter from the moment we learned that his Twitter bio said “Work less; earn more!” The clarion call of the get rich quick scam artist…! 🙄🙄🙄

    • @unclejuju12
      @unclejuju12 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Ya dude probably payed to be on the show. He is a media buyer not an agency owner lol

    • @prototype0398
      @prototype0398 ปีที่แล้ว

      ​@@StorytellingHeadshotsm

    • @prototype0398
      @prototype0398 ปีที่แล้ว

      ​@@StorytellingHeadshotsk

  • @amireljayli
    @amireljayli ปีที่แล้ว +30

    Good show! I really enjoyed the discussion and I have a couple of suggestions for you Ran.
    First, I think you could work on your response timing. There were a few moments in the interview where you jumped in before the guest had a chance to finish their point. This threw off the listening experience a bit. I would suggest letting the guests develop their points for a bit longer before interjecting.
    Second, I think you could ask more open-ended questions. Some of your questions were very specific, which limited the scope of the discussion. I would suggest asking more open-ended questions that allow Rich to share his thoughts and ideas more fully.
    Overall, I thought the interview was great. The content was interesting, and the guest was engaging. I just wanted to offer a couple of suggestions to help you improve your interviewing skills.
    Thanks for listening!

    • @cheyennestreeter
      @cheyennestreeter 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      This!!! Like stop talking over people and ask more conversational questions. I think had he let him finish his statements the guest would have provided a really good conversation.

    • @jessicadiaz7
      @jessicadiaz7 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I agree! Specially with the first point

  • @vjc267
    @vjc267 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    42:42 I think it was Robert Kiyosaki, who said in his book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”, that if your business requires your presence in order for it to function, it is not your business. It is a job you’ve created. He talks about getting your business to a point where it does not require your presence and that is my goal.

  • @lukaz2040
    @lukaz2040 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    That was super insightful! Thank you for asking all the right questions! I wanna know more about Rich's way of building his company, im sure there is so much more to dive into, but this chat gave me the kickstart I needed, thanks!

  • @rb1588
    @rb1588 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    good interview but wished the interviewer didn't cut him off so much

  • @callumking2152
    @callumking2152 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Would love for this to be on podcast platforms for easier on-the-go listening!

  • @battenburgthrilled
    @battenburgthrilled ปีที่แล้ว +17

    hmm idk his page looks a bit amateur IMO, the logo pretty generic.. he highlight brands like google, vice, fox etc. but he don't show any related to this brands -- There's a lot of "fake it until you make it guys" nowadays -- he should be a good sales guy with a great pitch, because with that quality of works i rather hire a fiverr's freelancer

  • @Am_ro12
    @Am_ro12 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Excellent conversation guys, thank you for the insight!

  • @juanmiguelpascual3133
    @juanmiguelpascual3133 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    I think it would be better to actually check the facts before giving a platform such as Flux Academy. I'm not saying it isn't true that this agency actually makes this amount of money with pixelated images and a quality design so low, but it seems strange. Could it be a strategy, to gain clients? To sell a course, book, or seminar on how to do it??????? I wonder

    • @brotherhood5735
      @brotherhood5735 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Yeah this guy clearly doesn't make $500k with his agency so he must be grifting for course sales

    • @mf5049
      @mf5049 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      it is odd how his site shows 3 projects, is badly designed and unprofessional, has no 'about' copy or agency philosophy, and half of his listed clients are non profits.

    • @ivsonaguiar4979
      @ivsonaguiar4979 ปีที่แล้ว

      This guy obviously sell courses and design / marketing couch

    • @rayane5853
      @rayane5853 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I really don’t want to be mean or anything but how an agency making so much money can have such a low website in term of UI? Not even mentioning the projects showcase in the website.

  • @BIG5Cyber
    @BIG5Cyber 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Rich, when you mentioned the bit about the lifestyle entrepreneur whose aim is to earn x much so they can chill and live the lifestyle they want rather than scaling indefinitely, that resonated with me deeply. For me, my work or business is there to do one thing and one thing only: sustain the lifestyle I want not me tailor my lifestyle around it. I feel like in this fast-paced, consumerised world, there's too much pressure to achieve more and more at work or in business. IMO, life is not about that; if we think back to hunter/gatherer societies, we got up early, did what we needed to do for sustenance and then came back early in the day, socialised or explored the rest of the time. Personally, this battle between scaling and "just living" is probably the reason many people fail to even get some ideas off the ground, because they know that scaling and all the headaches that come with it are inevitable and that's not what they're about but subconsciously feel they'd be a failure if they didn't build a "scalable business" so abort before they even start.

  • @TheWriteStory1
    @TheWriteStory1 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Wow, this conversation is so insightful and has helped me brainstorm new ways of thinking for my own business. Thanks!

  • @cheyennestreeter
    @cheyennestreeter 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    24:44 yes!!! I’m starting my my design agency and my biggest concern is pricing model as a Ui/UX designer and product designer

  • @ashagalloway6808
    @ashagalloway6808 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Hey guys, I really enjoyed the info but id like to offer a bit of critique. Observation: Interviewer keeps interrupting/correcting the viewpoint of the podcast guest when it doesn't quite align with their personal worldview. I wonder how the information would come across to us as viewers if both perspectives were voiced completely, then each participant could acknowledge the contrast in opinion. I believe we would benefit from making connections ourselves as we are led into thought by witnessing your conversation. Cheers!

  • @lg8159
    @lg8159 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great interview! But looking at some of the negative comments below I am a bit nervous about my own interview with Ran that will be published tomorrow 😂 but hey… I had so much fun and it was my first interview ever. Great experience!

    • @Immigrantlovesamerica
      @Immigrantlovesamerica ปีที่แล้ว

      I looked at your site. It’s fantastic. And you sound genuine. I think you’ll do great.
      This guy didn’t pass the sniff test and his website is godawful.

  • @hyperstarter7625
    @hyperstarter7625 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I really like the talk. But then you go on his site and style isn’t great. On mobile you see words that aren’t on the same line, bad colour scheme and even says 2021 at the bottom.
    How is this worth 6 figures a year?

    • @Luca57893
      @Luca57893 ปีที่แล้ว

      the best product usually isn't the most sold product. The best marketed product is. As long as your customers believe you is the best for them, doesn't mean you need to be the best overall. I will say though, I have said this to myself 1 million times, but actually believing it is hard :)

    • @mattm7426
      @mattm7426 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Because he's a scammer

    • @taunado
      @taunado 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Probably great business dev and sales skills compared to most creative people doing it alone.@@mattm7426

    • @taunado
      @taunado 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Could be a scammer though, who knows. What makes you say that?

    • @matthiewmoore7388
      @matthiewmoore7388 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      People need to realize everything online is an illusion. Just work on getting better as a designer, share your work and give people value (Tips, tricks etc). It doesn't happen over night but with time you'll see clients come to you vs you hunting them down.

  • @SubsonicMuzik
    @SubsonicMuzik ปีที่แล้ว +13

    A lot of red flags in this conversation, at least imo. And yes, I run a successful agency (not this account tho). As other ppl already stated 'Revenue != profit'. It's true that consulting is a big go-to as-in 'whats needed for your client', and yes, they don't know that. But this story is sugar coated all the way. Just my honest opinion. Nor the less I wish you all the best :)

    • @eye-um-kat
      @eye-um-kat ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Felt the same and not to mention their official page and their works are just more of an amatuer type of designs and it raises a question whether did people really paid thousands of dollars for that types of low quality design?
      Edit: I was just curious and checked the code and found out that they just used a template from a website builder

    • @zerpakia
      @zerpakia ปีที่แล้ว +9

      We're entering the era of the fake "one man million dollar business". He's just following the formula from Brett from "designjoy":
      Step 1 : Create an online business with "meh" designs.
      Step 2: Claim to make hundreds of thousands of dollars being a solo business.
      Step 3: Do a bunch of PR such as appearing in Flux, The Futur and other channels.
      Step 4: Repeat step 2-4 until enough people believe what you're doing is possible.
      Step 5: Wait 1 Year until you have an audience and sell a course on how to do what you claim to do in the most general and superficial way possible so it becomes ambiguous wether you're a snake's oil salesman or not.
      Step 6 : Buy a Porsche.

    • @nikokatsantonis1664
      @nikokatsantonis1664 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@zerpakia honestly thank you for debunking. This comment brought a lot of clarity lol

  • @KirTitov
    @KirTitov ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Cool conversation 🙌
    500k / 12 months = 41666 a month and working with 7 to 8 clients sounds fantastic.
    So each client should bring aroun 62k per project.

    • @yofi2614
      @yofi2614 ปีที่แล้ว

      Not exactly, what about paying all the contractors that work with you?

    • @KirTitov
      @KirTitov ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@yofi2614 I was calculating revenue per client, revenue minus expenses will give you profit.

    • @yofi2614
      @yofi2614 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@KirTitov gotchya

    • @taunado
      @taunado 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      That's an insane amount for a project? I wonder what kind of websites they are. Surely not Webflow marketing sites?

  • @noelr1010
    @noelr1010 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Just by looking at this guy and hearing him talk for the first 2 minutes, I know he's full of it. Sure, there are people making bank as a one man agency, but he's not one of them. And I mean, solely off of design / development and not some corny ass course.

  • @heliosalarichard
    @heliosalarichard ปีที่แล้ว +5

    The 2 pieces of business advice I'd give to a younger me are this;
    • Order the Free Tax Kit from the IRS.
    • Get to know the Secretary of State of your state.
    The first will teach one about everything they need to know about how companies are structured. The later, at least in states like mine, could link one to far more than just funding and educational resources. Here, the Secretary of State's job is to create jobs, which means creating owners.

  • @SqueakyWeasel247
    @SqueakyWeasel247 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    As a traditionally trained Creative I understand that the streamlining (automisation) of the design business (especially using AI to replace/displace trained "human" talent) is something I may find repulsive but also realise the futility of rebelling against it is pointless.

  • @heliosalarichard
    @heliosalarichard ปีที่แล้ว

    Good timing for me as I was looking to renter this space and the game has changed.

    • @heliosalarichard
      @heliosalarichard ปีที่แล้ว

      Maybe the game hasn't changed after all.

  • @jr_omw
    @jr_omw ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I don't know RIck... his website says it all.

  • @crooker2
    @crooker2 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    I have a one-person "agency" and I gross about 200k per year. It's the delegation part that is hard. How to price products that appeals to a client, and still pay your team enough to keep THEM happy... While still taking some home for yourself.
    So having a 500k or 1M agency is fine... But how much of that are you taking home?
    I haven't found the balance between gross and profit when it comes to bringing in other people.

    • @designanddevelop585
      @designanddevelop585 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Agreed. I am curious too about the profit as $500k could mean $100k profit if you're paying contractors well etc...

    • @crooker2
      @crooker2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@designanddevelop585 There's a fine balance between doing everything yourself (and keeping your gross minus expenses) or sharing the load (meaning increasing prices, and moreover, dealing with a different level of clientele) is something I haven't yet mastered. I'm a bit of a control freak, so I do like to have my hand in the final product... though I don't want to be a micro manager. But doing everything else means I'm the only one who can take the blame if it goes wrong (or credit if everything goes right). I work in a very competitive market. There are lots of designers and while I don't fight for the bottom of the barrel, I do have to be sensitive to the cost-consciousness of our local clientele. Working in Webflow has certainly helped my output, but I have to be VERY careful explaining to clients that I use webflow to build projects much more quickly WITHOUT giving the impression that "Webflow is much easier, so I can milk you for more money".
      The main problem with working by myself is... I am not an expert in everything. So I can't be a full service shop on my own. I get by with design (and I do have a freelance designer that I'm trying out), development and on-page SEO. But I can't offer marketing services like off-page SEO, Social Media or SEM without simply recommending other local businesses to do that. It IS hard to make money when you're sending your clients somewhere else, and it COULD be inconvenient to the client to have to deal with multiple agencies for all of this stuff.
      BUT I do ok money-wise, and I can work my own hours. I'm just REALLY REALLY busy all the time. :)

    • @dougscott188
      @dougscott188 ปีที่แล้ว

      You have to offshore labor in order to scale due to wages and taxes.

    • @kameraadthomas
      @kameraadthomas ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@crooker2 just get a couple of marketing interns lol (thats a joke, dont O_O)

    • @RJ-ir9pj
      @RJ-ir9pj ปีที่แล้ว

      Crooker - hey i run an agency doing roughly 120k per year - 95% profit. Mind if i shoot you an email as im looking to take on a bit more work?
      Ralph
      -Novatur Design

  • @akselpd
    @akselpd ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Ran, I feel like you interrupted Rich so many times that wasn't necessary.

    • @msrumedia5616
      @msrumedia5616 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeah a little too much of his own thoughts forced in there but I guess it's more a podcast then an interview? Not sure if that makes a difference tho lol

  • @ukaszwrobel1145
    @ukaszwrobel1145 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    I'm sorry, but the guy's portfolio is at the level of people from college in my country ... How do companies come to someone like that and say they want to overpay so much for something that doesn't look good?
    I'm curious but at the same time disgusted. :)

    • @brianm3160
      @brianm3160 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Sales

    • @ukaszwrobel1145
      @ukaszwrobel1145 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      ​@@brianm3160 If I was a serious company and I saw a website like this, I wouldn't pay a penny. And the guy earns 10x more than the average designer :)

    • @brianm3160
      @brianm3160 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@ukaszwrobel1145 he probably has good client feedback and track record

    • @ukaszwrobel1145
      @ukaszwrobel1145 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@brianm3160 good for him, but its unfair.

    • @Eduthedude
      @Eduthedude ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Skills, Results, and Sales are all different things. To succeed you need all 3. Skills is only 15% of the job. Results are 50% and Sales are 35%. You're not looking at whether something looks pretty or not, that's not design, that's just a part of design. You're looking at whether it achieved its goal. And he does exactly that.

  • @apostolis_23
    @apostolis_23 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Nice chat guys but man…let him finish his point. 🙃

  • @markbovell6494
    @markbovell6494 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hiya my friend, you ask US for ideas on future video guides, well heres a MASSIVE one, as no body seems to give that Clear Version, they just talk about it but never show us.
    How about you show us your process from start to finish, the whole process of "Handing off your Wordpress site to a client"
    Even down to the "Final" configurations of the working site, there you wanted a challenge :)
    I know it could be to long, but can it be as a few linked video guides?
    Please.....

  • @mateusvidal3187
    @mateusvidal3187 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great interview! You should do it more times Ran. I like it indeed!

  • @whatthefails7212
    @whatthefails7212 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Amazing podcast, thanks for the valuable info 🙂

  • @FelipeMassara
    @FelipeMassara ปีที่แล้ว +5

    BS!!! Has someone saw his portfolio? Daaamm is to bad. This guy sell courses. PERIOD

  • @Onlylovelystuff
    @Onlylovelystuff ปีที่แล้ว

    As one of the best creative directors in the world, one that has worked in the top ad agencies in London for 17 years, and won tonnes of awards. And not to sound rude, but with MUCH better creative work that Rich, where would I start to become a one man agency?

  • @Homo_neanderthal
    @Homo_neanderthal ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Dude stop interrupting guests

    • @jprescottirl
      @jprescottirl ปีที่แล้ว +4

      It was bugging me too! glad i wasnt the only one to notice!

    • @FluxAcademy
      @FluxAcademy  ปีที่แล้ว +3

      haha! I'm so bad at this!

    • @Immigrantlovesamerica
      @Immigrantlovesamerica ปีที่แล้ว +2

      He was rambling on for hours though. He had to jump in at some point.

  • @nohand2257
    @nohand2257 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    He's making 500k/y with with design agency and his name is rich webster haha

  • @MoneyBizzz
    @MoneyBizzz ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for the tips, Flux!

  • @contra_hq
    @contra_hq ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Super valuable information, thanks for sharing! 🚀

  • @maxh.2293
    @maxh.2293 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    stop. interrupting.

    • @softwareEngineerGuy
      @softwareEngineerGuy 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I'm glad someone else mentioned this. we have come here to receive the expertise of the interviewee, the host talking over him just throws off the flow of the conversation and is quite annoying. Let Him Cook!

    • @maxh.2293
      @maxh.2293 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@softwareEngineerGuy, for real. I opened this video only cause I know the guest. Instead, had to listen to this dumbass host who just can’t shut the hell up.

  • @BenitoFlores-y6p
    @BenitoFlores-y6p ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I enjoyed the interview but how often does he have to be interrupted. Sheesh!

  • @imohs
    @imohs ปีที่แล้ว

    As a designer, I'm happy for him, of course, but I don't think he can make $500k/year; such an amount is impossible, especially working that many hours. I think it's just publicity. I hope I'm wrong, and he enjoys his half a million, but this doesn't inspire designers who have been in the industry for over 20 years.

  • @Withnohelp
    @Withnohelp ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Him and brett from designjoy need to be stopped with all this cap.

    • @brotherhood5735
      @brotherhood5735 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I think im gonna make a video on this. I used to call out shopify grifters and quit but these dudes make me wanna get back into it lol

    • @Withnohelp
      @Withnohelp ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@brotherhood5735 do it much needed in this space for sure

    • @Barnabassteiniger
      @Barnabassteiniger ปีที่แล้ว

      Why?

  • @edanbenatar
    @edanbenatar ปีที่แล้ว

    I want to start doing similar interviews on my channel. What's the best way to record these?

  • @StorytellingHeadshots
    @StorytellingHeadshots ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I’m about 5 mins in to the place where he says “Design is all about just copying other people’s work…” And it strikes me that this should be titled “How to learn the type of “design” skills that AI is perfectly optimized to Decimate in the next 2-3 years.”

    • @JeffBarron1
      @JeffBarron1 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Even da vinci learned by copying, whether one becomes a master or not depends on a psychologically disorder level of forsaking all else, genetics and luck. Masters are masters because their art is their master.

    • @msrumedia5616
      @msrumedia5616 ปีที่แล้ว

      Did he say that? I think it was said when you're starting out that's a good way to learn

    • @mattm7426
      @mattm7426 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      That is why nobody will remember your name@@JeffBarron1

  • @johnfritztibay4109
    @johnfritztibay4109 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    What happen to his site?

  • @cheyennestreeter
    @cheyennestreeter 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I love this video… I just wish you wouldn’t talk over your guest… we miss a lot of good things because you talk over them and then there’s two people talking. So at points it’s hard to listen to.

  • @dylantyler2366
    @dylantyler2366 ปีที่แล้ว

    12:40 How will copywriting not be replaced by AI, it already is.

  • @sheissnd
    @sheissnd 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Oh my goodness I couldn’t finish watching out of feeling anger for the man being interviewed. No hate you have to start somewhere but if I were asked to be interviewed by you and this is the example I saw that would turn me off so fast. You have to learn to listen, repeat, and then share your thoughts or move on. That poor guy was interrupted every question. This was more like watching two guys on a zoom than a professional interview.

  • @itsghous
    @itsghous 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    side note: they both look like brothers from another mother 😅

  • @Barnabassteiniger
    @Barnabassteiniger ปีที่แล้ว

    Is that whiskey you are drinking?

  • @Nickporter17
    @Nickporter17 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi, when you taking about editing is that video or what?

  • @sauravchoudhury6314
    @sauravchoudhury6314 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Very disappointed with @flux to have associated with such average portfolio 😮

  • @ThierryC-te3rx
    @ThierryC-te3rx ปีที่แล้ว

    The guy is named Rich... Web(mas)ter...
    Go figure !

  • @jaykaralkar
    @jaykaralkar ปีที่แล้ว

    The only way to work less is to hire people who will design

  • @karlhudson7209
    @karlhudson7209 ปีที่แล้ว

    This guy can talk forever. Jeez.

  • @Moderntractiondotcom
    @Moderntractiondotcom ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Not sure why this is even titled “One-Man Agency” which is a contradiction. Is that click bait? And when anyone doesn’t actually talk about take home profits, it doesn’t really share the reality of the situation or useful.

  • @meetmeonthe50
    @meetmeonthe50 ปีที่แล้ว

    18:50 Not True. That mentality is only applicable when you trade time for money. Aim for ways to make money while you sleep thru residuals

  • @FARAS_STUDIO
    @FARAS_STUDIO ปีที่แล้ว

    So basically he's no one-man agency since he delegates so many tasks. He is one owner of an agency. He doesn't run social media and yet he's over 200K followers on instagram. Hm

    • @holyshiet787
      @holyshiet787 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      He hires 5$ Indians and Filipinos from Fiverr to do all this