Well, here is my predicament…

Web design and web hosting have interested me for quite some time. I initially began toying with the idea offering web hosting locally to small businesses, as the market seems to remain untapped here in Miami. I later thought about the possible idea of getting small businesses “on the net” so to say… This would include web and graphic design, domain, hosting, the works.

My problem, however, is I do not know how to design on such a professional level. So I figure this leaves me with two options. I can either wait it out and learn to design effectively and take the time needed to practice and work on my skills or contract work out to professional designers. If I choose to design myself, this not only delays me but it makes me work in my business rather then on my business. The latter seems like the most viable option for me, especially considering I am more of a business savvy person.

What I want to know is, basically, is it possible to do this? Of course I will need to pay them for their work and manage the contractor(s) and I know it will be hard finding reliable professionals as well. Is it possible to remain profitable by contracting out all my design work? Is it un-wise for any reason to do so?

Thanks in advance :)

if your strength is in sales, i'd agree with you and go for the latter
find a good partner and go for it
won't be hard finding pros
this way, you can learn the rest as you go

Well, I wouldnt really be interested in a partner.

I was leaning more towards the idea of contracting out the design work until it got to a point where I could support a small studio with in-house designers.

well, by partner, i meant contracting out with someone

Well, I must admit its a bit of a scary thought when considering running a web design business knowing that I have no real knowledge of design/programming at all. Fear is one of the main things keeping me from believing I can do this and be succesful. If I were a self-proclaimed guru in the web design field I would not think twice, but I am having some difficulties overcoming this.

I really can see myself enjoying a business of this sort and I would like to work on the business rather than in it as a designer. This is the main reason I would take this approach.

It's difficult to give advice here, because it's almost like you're asking "what should I want to do?" Any path you choose to walk here could be fruitful. Any path could be disastrous. Choosing to learn the design side and do it yourself could be very rewarding, or you could find it's more challenging than you thought and you end up with a bunch of angry customers who aren't getting what they want.

Partnering/outsourcing might work out very well. You take a percentage of every contract and leave the work in someone else's hands. You may have some very happy customers and you might be able to work up a nice business model for this. Or, you might choose the wrong partners and have a bunch of angry customers. When you outsource, your reputation becomes dependent on the quality of other people's work. This is not something to be taken lightly! You need to do a lot of research before committing to a partnership, but if you don't have the knowledge in the first place, it's tough to know what to research.

I can't tell you which way to go. It depends fully on which direction you are more willing to grow your knowledge, the business end of design, or the technical end of design.

the_pm is right.

As a useful hint I would suggest to outsourse some smaller projects to various vendors. Then over time you will see which one of them is reliable... And long-term business relationship may start with one or two of them...

Thanks for the replies guys :)

I think I would definatly be leaning towards the business end of design. I have been researching night and day for quite some time, but as you said its hard to look for things when you dont know what your looking for.