Long Term Business Plan Guide Members  

This resource is intended to be an introduction to business planning. It is aimed at illustrators who currently do not have a business plan and offers some ideas to help them get started. There are some useful links to further reading at the end of the section. If you would like further support, or currently have a business plan you would like to refresh, then you are welcome to book a 1-1 consultation.

Introduction

Being a professional illustrator means being a business ? and that means thinking like a business. You really need to undertake market research; write a robust business plan, gain commissions or sales and learn more about money management. To flourish you must develop a business mindset and actively promote your work. For some this might require a change of mindset. It is rare for a business to turn a profit in the early years ? and many illustrators will initially need to find alternative income to support them. This could be from related activity like animation or a part-time job such as lecturing.

The nature of how illustrators run their businesses and make their money is changing. Illustrators have much more control over their brand, and engaging with their audience. It far easier for illustrators to cross-promote and cultivate clients from around the world themselves, or with their agent. Many illustrators will win commissions via social media strategies, or drive audiences towards their own online shop or other platforms.

It is an exciting time to be an illustrator and business plans need to reflect and take advantage of the range of opportunities available.

In this guide we have a created a business model canvas especially for illustrators, an action planner, and also a thinking