Graphic Destruction
New Member
Go for it Solitary. I'm doing the same thing right now. I've been the designer/fabricator/manager of other people's shops for 15 years. My last shop was a franchise that recently sold. I won't even get into the rat's nest of issues with most franchise shops....
Anyway, I left and started my own studio. I'm doing it on a shoestring, literally, to keep overhead low, but I have years of past clients that are supporting me with their work, which really helps. 1200 sf of workshop space in my home, a heated garage, built myself a nice work table, installed some good lighting, monthly subscription to Flexi, Adobe, already own Corel X5. Bought myself a real piece of crap off brand plotter for now, sub my prints out to the awesome wholesalers we have here, routing work is done by a local retired cabinet maker at amazing prices when I need it. I do all the finish work, painting, sculpting and installing. Like you, I already have the tools, table saw, hand held routers, lathe, sanders, etc needed to build most anything.
Keep the overhead low and the profits are really, really good. Once things get busier and busier, I will get my own router, and a good plotter (God I already miss a good plotter), a latex printer if I feel the need to stop wholesaling prints out. I have years worth of contacts for subs to hire for major installs when needed.
I will say, without having all the client base already built up to rely on, I would have to hold another job down while starting.
Good luck man, it's a wild ride, but when you've already put your time in this business for others and know it fairly well, it's not that hard.
Anyway, I left and started my own studio. I'm doing it on a shoestring, literally, to keep overhead low, but I have years of past clients that are supporting me with their work, which really helps. 1200 sf of workshop space in my home, a heated garage, built myself a nice work table, installed some good lighting, monthly subscription to Flexi, Adobe, already own Corel X5. Bought myself a real piece of crap off brand plotter for now, sub my prints out to the awesome wholesalers we have here, routing work is done by a local retired cabinet maker at amazing prices when I need it. I do all the finish work, painting, sculpting and installing. Like you, I already have the tools, table saw, hand held routers, lathe, sanders, etc needed to build most anything.
Keep the overhead low and the profits are really, really good. Once things get busier and busier, I will get my own router, and a good plotter (God I already miss a good plotter), a latex printer if I feel the need to stop wholesaling prints out. I have years worth of contacts for subs to hire for major installs when needed.
I will say, without having all the client base already built up to rely on, I would have to hold another job down while starting.
Good luck man, it's a wild ride, but when you've already put your time in this business for others and know it fairly well, it's not that hard.