Design Company Startup
Design Company Startup
(OP)
I am starting a small design firm with a business partner. We are both 50%/50%. For incorporation sake, I am listed on the documents as President. Does anyone know what we should each call ourselves in terms of Owner, Partner, CEO, CFO or (??) for our business cards and other marketing materials?
Thanks in advance....
Thanks in advance....





RE: Design Company Startup
My business cards no not mention a title.
If your firm is named Smith and Jones and you walk into a meeting and introduce yourselves as Joe Smith and Sam Jones most people will figure it out.
When I fill in on line forms that require a position, depending on the web site, I’ll use President, janitor or Chief Engineer.
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
www.kitsonengineering.com
RE: Design Company Startup
RE: Design Company Startup
RE: Design Company Startup
When it comes to job titles either don't give any or pick a title that matches the role and the client. You can always have lots of different cards printed up or print your own.
For example, having a card thats says your President and CEO does not help if you are mainlky going to be seeing instrument or maintanenace engineers selling consumables or whatever. On the other hand, Field Sales Engineer doesn't cut it if you are selling high value systems to top management who you need to pursuade to include your product in their budget.In other words, even if ou are the jack-of-all-trades in your company, your clients need to know that you are the expert they need when they speak to you.
One other piece of advise (not my own) is not to be the bill chaser. It is better to co-opt significant others to get tough on the phone. It doesn't help you if every time you see a prospect hthe only thing he feels is guilt or embarassement that someone held up payment.
He can always appologise for his accounts dept. delaying and you can always appologise for your accounts getting aggressive, but you don't want to be excusing yourself to your prospect for you having got tough with him.
RE: Design Company Startup
RE: Design Company Startup
To the people within our network, we are perceived to be equals. However, I am concerned that my title of President will seem more important than my business partner. To the people that we market to, we will be referring to each other as "my business partner", or "co-owner", although it's not technically correct within the corporation structure.
Time to don many hats..... :)
RE: Design Company Startup
The job is to get the job done, not nurture some ephemeral (?) job title.
RE: Design Company Startup
while 50/50 sounds great right now, what is the escape plan?
I would *strongly* recommend that you ensure that you have some agreed method to value the business in the agreement.
Such that if either party leaves or wants to sell, you both have a fair and equal settlement. It may never happen, but one should be prepared, one could make it renewalable every year to ensure it is updated.
cheers,
RE: Design Company Startup
Sort of like one person cuts the pie and the other gets first pick.
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
www.kitsonengineering.com