Creative, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business

Freelancing, whether you are a photographer or illustrator can be an extremely daunting task. How do you find clients? How much should you charge them? How do you balance your schedule so you aren't always working? All this and more are covered in Creative, Inc.The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business. Meg Mateo Ilasco & Joy Deangdeelert Cho, have written a clear concise guide full of practical information, interspersed with anecdotes of those who have turned their artistic talent into a thriving freelance career. The book begins with the basics of how to decide if freelancing is a good fit, and then goes into detail building your business from the ground up. Ilasco and Cho are great authorities on this subject because they themselves have turned their own talents into extremely flourishing careers. Ilasco runs a studio by her own name which produces stationery and home products. She has written a few other books and serves as the creative director of Anthology, a new home and lifestyle magazine. Cho not only runs her own successful stationery business, and writes two blogs [...]), but also has a consulting business for new small business owners and freelancers. Creative Inc book fills the void of information for artists wanting to turn their vision to a full time business. The book is written in a casual and straightforward manner, making it a must read for anyone trying to make the jump to freelance or starting a small business.

I've just started dabbling in some freelance graphic design, and recently got this book. I found this book to be very helpful, insightful and informative. It's current and up to date in the freelance business industry. I was already a little familiar with some of the industry information provided in the book, however, I gained much more insight from the topics discussed in this book. The chapters on "Getting Paid" and "agents" were particularly helpful. The Artists' Profiles were my favorite part of the book! It was very interesting and insightful to read various Q&A interviews from other freelance designers in the industry. I felt the Artist Profiles really added to the book with "real world" perspectives. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I learned from this book. It's a well written, down to earth guide, that's very informative for anyone in the creative freelance business.

This book provides a good start or review for designers looking to start or get into freelancing. I found the interviews with real freelancers very useful, especially how they started their business and how they live their current freelancing lives. A good and quick read too!

I haven't been freelancing for long, but I've been in the game long enough to not be too much of a newbie. I knew a lot of the nuts and bolts information about freelancing, but Creative Inc. was such a motivational help to keep me going strong! It's so nice to read a book on this topic without being discouraged about legal jargon and business plans galore! Creative Inc. is the perfect mix of detailed information and friendly advice. The interviews with a diverse selection of freelancers is also really encouraging. Everyone in the book really understands what you are going through and has been there themselves. I think this book is a great buy for any type of designer/creative looking to work for themselves. Hey, if you're stuck behind a cubicle, read this and it will certainly change your life.

I have been on the edge of going freelance with graphic design for a while now, and this book finally gave me that last little push to follow my dream! Here is what I love about it: 1. it's simple & easy and CLEAR! (this whole process can be overwhelming!) 2. you get information from other creatives doing the same thing! 3. i loved the sample estimate & invoice forms! so helpful. 4. it feels like you are just talking to a good friend who has legit advice. 5. and most of all it is motivational! (and easy on the eyes) it IS a winner, people! bri emery graphic designer designlovefest.com briemery.com

I've been freelancing for four years and it's still a bit of a mystery to me. Creative Inc. helps iron out most of the bigger things that confused me and showed me a few things I simply didn't know about the freelance world. It is a simplistic and visual approach to give you a good overview of what it will take to freelance. Sprinkled in are are interviews of professionals in appropriate sections of the book. Not necessarily a straight read-through; I jumped around a lot. Good read!

Well written and informative - but not for me. I am looking to start freelancing in the copyediting field but this book is more directed to those in the illustrating/photograpy field. I did gather some resources from the book, though, and would recommend it if you are going into the visual arts.

Highly organized and thoughtful book of everything you could imagine entering (or expanding) on your freelance career. I find the book more universal, than thorough, and wish some areas were given a bit more attention. They refer you to other sources or websites for more reading--which is helpful--but reduces the impact of its own resourcefulness. This books feels like someone holding is holding your hand in a career direction that seems to have no guide.

Excellent resource for any creative...So often as artist's we lack knowledge in the business side of things. This has some great insider information about starting and running a successful business as an artist. It's especially helpful written by and artist for artists sharing first hand experience.

This is an excellent little book.It is written for the American market but it contains many universal truths.Most of the tips and contents would be useful in pretty much any market. I would recommend it to anyone setting out in a career in creative services.It can also be read as a "refresher" for old hands looking for new ideas.

This book helped shape my freelance career as a surface designer and illustrator. Fantastic book for those wanted to take the plunge into freelancing.

Malgré mon anglais basique j’ai réussi à cerner les fondamentaux de ce livre. Clair précis et lipide les auteurs nous emmènent petit à petit à mettre notre petit business en’place En évitant le plus d’erreurs possibles. Bravo

Great book for creative professional freelancers!Must read.