Is a design business worth anything without the designer?
 

Is a design business worth anything without the designer?

Lets say you have a well established adult design company with a good portfolio, good URL and is consistently in the top 3 spots for some nice search engine terms.

Would that be worth anything?

That's tough. It's a design business, right?

It's worth something, but I would imagine not much....

probably not since the designer(s) took off. The portfolio wasn't done by the website, it was done by the now gone designer(s)

it would be worth at least a referral commission to a firm that could perform at the level of the portfolio

throw it up for sale and see what sort of reaction you get
i mean shit ppl will buy anything , just look at ebay for that

Are you asking if the domain name would have value, yes.

you mean kind of like ss-art.net and how the designer took off with all our money and closed the doors?

no, i would say its not worth much if you can no longer take orders and provide the service.

Designers know their job so they are very important for the biz...

Not exactly what I meant. The site gets several requests weekly which I am unable to fullfill.

If that's the problem then outsource some work. Hit me up on ICQ if you need help filling orders. I have plenty on samples.

send us the work, we will take care of you...

I have tried this too many times and have ALWAYS ended up having to redo the work in the end for 1/2 the cost. No offense to you or your work, but the guys that provide good work for a reasonable price are probably getting as much work as they can handle.

Other than a select few adult clients I'm considering concentrating most of my time and effort on mainstream

we may able to help you. contact me if our portfolio interest you. ICQ's messin up for me right now though..

portfolio purchase option is also on the table, hit me up....

Left message on ICQ

how can you purchase someone else's portfolio?

its meant to be an example of what a specific designer is capable of ... a portfolio belongs to the individual designer, not to a design firm, unless they make a big effort to hire designers with the exact same style every time.

Verbal, it *might* be something you could work out referrals for with someone who has a similar style, but when a client is looking for a designer they want the person who designed the samples ... so you could refer that client but the chances of them using the company you refer them to is low because they may as well just go and look for their own design company.

The domain & seo sounds like its got some value though ... might be better to sell it now while its got some cred left ....

can u move on car without wheels?

Yes it would be worth something. Quite a bit if you have a real good reputation and the designers buying your site can match your quality or exceed it.

I run an outsourcing company. While some staffers leave, the overall quality guidelines and expectations do not erode. Preserve your brand, your goodwill, and client base. Whoever will buy from you won't have to start from scratch.

So yes...it's worth something. Quite a bit if your company experience is extensive and has a long client list.

IMHO

You raise some good points. My point above was regarding the goodwill of the business and client base value.

My thoughts exactly.

:pimp You can always find additional (quality) designers if the work is there...

The site from a business point of view :thumbsup is still worth money (it generated "x" amount of revenue for "x" amount of time)... from a surfers point of view ... I guess it isn't worth much :2 cents:.

hit me up Verbal...
ICQ: 300. 152. 484

exactly.

can you run a car repair shop without mechanics?
a hospital without doctors?
lawn service without mexicans?

what good is a google hit if you can't sell what you advertise?

Traffic and reputation have inherent value, but unless you want a lot of work, I'd sell it to an existing design company.

Building a design business just because you've got the traffic and (currently) good reputation seems like lots of work for little return.

The value comes from the work, the reputation and the credibility. You have branded yourself and the company. If the new company can keep the same customer service, same quality of work and the same reasonable prices. Plus they are getting work from your search engine hits, then your company is worth some pretty good bucks.

What he said

sell your brand and use freelancers