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Am I stupid to start web design agency in 2024

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Am I stupid to start web design agency in 2024

#1
So, right now we've seen how much AI can do, but we are still far from getting an aesthetically pleasing website in one prompt. I've had this idea for a long time to start my own agency, but this is a very competitive market. The cherry on top is that everyone is doing it, and 95% are terrible at it. There is also a wave of people selling courses on how to start an agency, especially those insufferable sigma males selling their courses. This makes agencies seem cheap because so many people are doing it, and I might become a sheep in a big herd that will fall into an ocean of traps.

But I am a big Peter Thiel fan, and he and everyone says, "Do things that don't scale." So I try to do that by selling website design as a luxury product. This means I will make the Rolex of websites. After revenue becomes great, I will automate as many things as possible and create a system that is so good and efficient it produces a website with everything in one day. So, I want options and advice.

Re: Am I stupid to start web design agency in 2024

#6
As someone who has owned (and technically still does, but it's a side gig for sure) a web design company:

Let me say this: Your sentiment of "95% are terrible at it" is simultaneously probably true and completely pointless.

Here's what I've discovered. Let's assume that you really ARE making the Rolex of websites, deep down you KNOW you're the best of the best.

Too bad. It doesn't matter, because the general public can't tell the difference. They're not savvy enough to get it, so you're still at the whims of being a better "marketer" -- not of having quality.

Thus, I would say ONLY do this if you have customers in mind that you can name right now.

Re: Am I stupid to start web design agency in 2024

#8
I still see bespoke websites as a service provided by creative agencies. Graphic and interaction designers making design statements for one-off seasonal fashion campaigns, events, boutique businesses. So my 2c is if you focus on the creative aspect it makes some sense, but still an uphill battle because high end creative work is all about namedropping and who you know, unfortunately

Re: Am I stupid to start web design agency in 2024

#10
> but this is a very competitive market

It is extremely competitive. Brutal I might say.

> and 95% are terrible at it.

They are usually terrible at the software part. Because Software developers are expensive. And even with this downturn they are still too expensive to hire in an agency.

> especially those insufferable sigma males selling their courses

Well this made me laugh.

> and I might become a sheep in a big herd that will fall into an ocean of traps

That's actually the best case scenario in the short-medium term. You worst (and also highly likely) scenario is no clients.

> But I am a big Peter Thiel fan, and he and everyone says, "Do things that don't scale."

I don't think he is talking about design agencies...

> This means I will make the Rolex of websites.

Then the product is not the website/design/whatever you are building. Similarly to how Rolex is not selling watches.

Did you work for LVMH? Because that's a very specific market to target. And unless you have the clients already, then I don't see how you can break into it. (I also assume if you had such clients, you'd be already providing them a service instead of asking here).

tl;dr: If you know how to land super rich clients where a $80-100K basic WordPress website is marginal to their wallets, sure go for it man.

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