Interdisciplinary Design for Small Businesses

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in design services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Staci Janik, Owner of Staci Janik Studio, located in New Smyrna Beach, FL, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Staci Janik Studio offers interdisciplinary design for small businesses and collaborates with small teams to create visual systems and apply them across necessary touchpoints. I have a variety of clients across multiple industries, like skincare, food & beverage, education, and interior design.

Tell us about yourself

I have been working on small business brand projects in-house and independently for over 10 years. I run Staci Janik Studio, where I aim to work on specific and small projects that allow me to collaborate and empower my clients.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment to date is maintaining a loyal client base. I treat EVERY client as a mega-client. I can also offer tighter time frames and more agility and flexibility around projects, which sets me apart from larger agencies. Because I'm a small business, I can also be more aligned with the smaller teams I work with, which leads to better collaboration and focus. I think this has essentially helped me establish effective word-of-mouth marketing.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

I want to constantly improve at being a designer and business owner and remain open to new influences, but I often feel out of touch with the industry. I find myself repeating the same processes and slogging through the work because I wear a bunch of hats and have to juggle every aspect of the business. It is difficult to keep up with technological changes and adapt to new processes and software while also designing and producing work. I often feel like I am falling behind.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Get an accountant, and don't wait to figure out money after you've been operating for a while. I see a lot of this within the industry. It's easy to take payment through Venmo and not really operate with your books in place, but I think an important first step to establishing yourself as a serious business offering a service.
Develop standard project management documents and create a good system. I consistently work to improve my system each year, and I have a solid set of steps for each project using contracts, standard documents, and folders, and a step-by-step process for everything from my first contact with a client to my last contact with that client. I think this helps set a standard of care for my work.
Try to stay in the loop by joining online communities and forums. An example would be The Freelancers Union. It is free and offers a variety of resources for the self-employed. It has helped connect me with health and dental insurance, and their newsletter is full of freelance tips and resources.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.stacijanikstudio.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacijanikstudio/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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