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What are the basics of a Freelance Art Business?

A have a friend who is an artist/painter and she has a small art business she is trying to get off the ground. She hasn't studied alot of business and I told her I'd try to help. Would anyone have any tips, or knowledge of the basic things that form a freelance art business? Thanks in advance.

Public Comments

1. I have no answer to your question but I am very intrested in the answer myself.... I am wanting to draw for a living... some how... and will be looking in to see if anyone replys!! good question!!
2. Having a skill. Advertising and providing your services. Over time you'll build customer relationships and get repeat business. www.theflyer.com
3. First, any success in freelancing would involve a LOT of sales and marketing. A designer can not just sit in a studio and expect that clients will start calling up with offers of work. Second, the documentation and other paperwork, associated with ANY small busines will still apply to design work. A good knowledge of accounting practices and tax law is essential. A decent business accounting software will help, such as Quick Books, but it is no substitute for real knowledge. A knowledge of copyright law will also be very important. ( http://copyright.gov ) Any promotional work done will have to be repeated, in new and creative ways, three or four times a year, EVERY year. Freelancing is a competetive business and clients will always be looking for the latest and greatest thing. An understanding of the print technology and publishing business can give a freelancer an edge over someone who ony "makes pretty pictures." The more the designer can do, the less he has to pay a technician to do, and the more he can charge the client.
4. Forget promo and marketing, success as a freelance commercial artist is all about great samples and great word-of-mouth from clients. Get your samples together and set up meetings with art directors and creative directors anywhere you can find them (advertising, publishing, toys, entertainment, product design, etc.). You might think this sounds hard to do, but it isn't. Just google "advertising agency" plus the name of the biggest city near you. Then call the front desk on the phone, say "hi I'm an illustrator and I'd love to speak to an art director please about showing some samples." If they don't fwd your call, call another agency. Generally speaking art directors love to meet with illustrators (it gets them away from their desk for a few minutes, makes them seem important, etc.). Your purpose with these meetings should really be to just chat, and gather any more names or recommendations (art directors talk to each other.. and the next time one of them desperately needs something in your style, you hope that they remember you.) Be sure you have something to leave behind (a single sheet of paper with samples on it, web link, email, your name). Something easy to file in a stack with other illustrators' pages. Also set up a simple web page with links to samples. Mailing out promo pieces might work sometimes, but there's no substitute for the human connection of a face to face meeting. Particularly because you can learn so much about other places to go and other people to talk to. I do agree with Vince M that you need to always learn more and more about digital production, since it's always nice to provide one-stop-shopping for your clients. It takes a while to get a critical mass of clients, but if you stick to it after a while you have constant work flowing in and you're overworked and have a whole new set of problems!