Hello,
I am planning to open an animation and explainer videos studio but as its a new type of business in my region, the information available about it is not sufficient.
I have read online about the processes and the business module but I would like to get your advice please.
1- I plan to use freelancers animators and designers in the beginning, but what type of designers do I need? An art director? Animators? Work flow manager? Any recommendation please?
2- Are there particular websites that I can find available freelancers in and hire on short or long term basis? I found some websites and they connect me with designers to do a single job and they charge a commission on it as well, so this is not feasible for me in terms of quality and profit, any recommendation on where to find these talents? Because they are not available in my region.
3- Are there examples of successful animation studio business modules and operations plans? Any recommendations? A module that doesn't put many costs on me in the beginning
4- what is the process I need to take to start and develop this business further and what budget do you recommend me to allocate at the beginning (excluding the office space and other logistical needs).
I am happy to take this further on a call and move things forward quickly.
Thanks
Before staring your Animation Studio, you need to be sure that you will have clients/buyers.
Everything starts from a test. You cannot just create a Studio and think that you will be successful. You need to test everything before starting.
Here is a short business plan:
Find your niche - find out who will be your clients? Small Business? Advertisers? Media? ..... who will be your audience.
After you found out who is your clients - you will start a survey - Go to LInkedin and start messaging Business Owners and ask them - (Example of message: Hi, we want to build a great animation studio - but we need your imput. Will your website require animation in the next months? How much will you pay? .......).
After you had received around at least 100 replies, start creating a landing page prototype. The landing page should contain an overview of animation - what you do, how much will cost and ask users to sign up for a free animation consultation. Advertise your landing page to SMB owners and get at least 100 form filled.
So at this stage, we have 100 replies, 100 forms filled. Now that we know the right direction, you start building the website based on data you received from your emails and consultation.
After you have your website ready, start bringing clients to your website thru marketing or organic. Now - here is the main answer to your question: DO NOT HIRE AT BEGINNING - find another animation studio and work with them to complete the animation. Do this for at least 10 animations. Doing this, you are risk free. IF everything works fine, and you are happy and your clients are happy, then - freely - start hiring. But if you hire someone from the beginning, - you will have to do contracts, payments, taxes, office, ..... and what happens if this not works - then you will loose more that you invested.
So my main tip for you will be :Start with testing. Don't just jump too fast in hiring.
(For marketing strategies: check my account).
I would be happy to walk through this with you. Feel free to give me a call. For starters... where are you based?
Starting an animation studio is surely a great idea, there are lot of famous studios around like, OLM, Inc., Disney Television Animation, illumination Entertainment, etc. First, read through how these famous studios reached the top. Take for example illumination Entertainment. It was started in 2007 when Chris Meledandri, then the President of Twentieth Century Fox Animation, left his post to pursue opportunities elsewhere. Meledandri already had the experience to produce children’s films that could perform well at the box office and it proved it in 2010 when he brought in nearly eight times the production budget for the studio’s first release Despicable Me. Similarly, other too have success stories. These stories will give you ideas on what to do next. Keep these points in mind and try to find these points hidden in these success stories.
1. Start by identifying the kind of work you want to do
2. Build your team
3. Create a working name
4. Choose your team wisely
5. Create a business plan
Besides if you do have any questions give me a call: https://clarity.fm/joy-brotonath
