partnering up with your web designer?

**volcom5799** · 02-16-2009 01:08 PM

Is this a good idea? My problem is i have the html skills for web design but have no clue on php database design and so forth. I have a great site that i have contracted out a design firm to build for a heft price. Its a prety solid model but for future improvements i am going to need to hire designers and such. Well problem is, i am in College (dont graduate till the fall) in another state than where i am planning on my company headquarters to be and where it is already a corporation.. So hiring someone would be kind of difficult being we dont yet have an office, and i cant be there every day to keep track of design progress. So i though HEY! what about the people that are designing the site for me? Why cant i just pitch them my idea, see if they would like to be partners in my firm, solving the whole design solution? What do you all think? Pros, Cons? This is basically the biggest problem i have ran into so far for my company.

**justy540** · 02-16-2009 01:46 PM

Make sure they're willing to sign an NDA, so they don't take the idea and run. they have the resources to do it.

You might alos look to team up with an individual developer. I'm a developer myself and often trade work back and forth with designers, that's where the lion's share of my business comes from.

**volcom5799** · 02-16-2009 01:55 PM

already have an NDA, with the company i am working with now, if we were to bring them aboard as our designers would get a not to compete form signed by them as well.. Problem with an independent developer is they need to become aquatinted with the database design, i need to make sure they are qualified and actually spending time on improving the site (finding and fixing bugs, new features, etc). I mean it could really go either way. If i brought on an individual developer i would like to have a face to face relationship ( makes me feel more secure ), as for bring on the firm, they already know what i am going for and have a team of great developers already established in their own firm....

**myfayt** · 02-16-2009 02:11 PM

I am a freelance web designer and do PHP/MYSQL mainly, and also HTML, CSS. It isn't a hard language to learn. I recommend w3schools PHP tutorial to learn.

PHP Tutorial

The arrays are confusing, so you can bypass that and learn it later on. Also instead of spending thousands of dollars on a company, you can have a nice site by a professional freelancer for 1/2 the cost. Plus since it's only one person who does it, they know their coding, where if you hire a designer to work on a existing site that they didn't code, they have to spend the time to study the structure and all.

That is my 2 cents

**volcom5799** · 02-16-2009 02:46 PM

Ok... so how about this question then, for all you web designers that handle a lot of php, database design, aplications and s**t. Would you commit to working for a startup, that already has a basic site and go from there to improve it with new features and so forth? Also for anyone else, how would you manage such a relationship?

**myfayt** · 02-16-2009 02:56 PM

I would only do it if the website was coded properly (not a ton of messed up coding I'd have to fix), and the features were within my ability. If you don't know web design, it's better to listen to the advice of your coder. Like if you want it one way, and they suggested a better route, go with them. I've dealt with countless people who want someone coded one way when there is no security in it, and they are able to have injections easily, but they insist on it and don't want all the security crap.

**mthomas** · 02-16-2009 02:57 PM

I'm not sure if partnering up with your web designer is a good idea in your case. It sounds like the problems you are facing, both with web design and uncertainly of HQ location could easily be solved by hiring freelancers, independent contractors and outsourcing rather than hiring a full time employee.

Face time isn't nearly as important anymore, and technology allows us to work remotely with ease. Thus, your location doesn't need to prevent you from hiring, managing or communicating with whomever you employ or contract work out to.

Regarding your later questions: I don't see why a designer would have a problem committing to a project on improving a website. While I have been out of the industry awhile, this is probably a common practice and a designer would rather have the client than not have the work. For your third question, what specifically are you unclear on with managing a relationship with a designer?

Good luck

**volcom5799** · 02-18-2009 02:58 PM

thanks for the advice everyone, i believe my best bet is going to just be finding a person or two that have more knowledge in this field and not even trying to partner up with my current developer. Probably just going to start looking around my college campus for people majoring in this. Maybe once i get the site up and functional, i can go into one of the higher end development classes and just let people know generally what i am doing and that i am looking for partners....college student are always looking for stuff to get into when they are getting closer to graduation...

**mthomas** · 02-18-2009 03:15 PM

I think that is your best bet. A business partnership is very much like a marriage, so you don't want to be forced into a partnership that you have some qualms about.

I think your decision to hire someone with more expertise than you in this area is the best course, since it will free up your time, allowing you to dedicate your time to the tasks you are most efficient in. Furthermore, you'll have the benefit of having a more professional and effective website.