Hard work and creative passion have got you this far, but you might have found that spending endless time designing into the night is not necessarily a sign that your business is becoming more profitable or growing.

You are not alone.

Many design businesses are born out of creative passion and ambition without any defined plan. Very often, success is measured simply by the ability to pay the salaries and bills as they arise. This lack of planning not only can hinder growth, but can also hide a multitude of inefficiencies, which can remain temporarily hidden or covered up, until the tax bill arrives!

Young creative consultancies can find themselves undervaluing themselves or, worse, exploited, resulting in the delivery of high value for discounted fees – on average, up to a third less than the market value for projects – which dramatically narrows down the potential to generate profit and grow a business.

The ability (and confidence) to achieve income and profit growth comes directly from the design consultancy’s rate of professionalisation. Left unattended, lessons are learned painfully, often resulting in business failure. On the other hand, a determination to establish the highest standards from the outset, not only in design, but in business planning, project management and client development, give a business every chance of success.

If this is ringing true for you, the DBA can improve your business acumen and sharpen your competitive edge.

Business Briefings
Our Business Briefing series has been specifically developed to give you the practical business skills and knowledge you need to develop your consultancy. The events run throughout the country and feature leading experts who work in, or directly with, the design industry. Subjects covered by the series have included how to identify & convert new business leads, retaining clients, raising your profile, putting your business development plan into action, financial management and human resources.

Professional Development
Our courses are the leading professional skills training provision dedicated to those working in design. Aimed at everyone from junior designers to account handlers to marketing directors, our range of business based courses will not only enable you and your staff to become more effective in what you do, but will impact the performance of your consultancy. Courses cover subjects from presentation and negotiation skills, to financial management and marketing of design consultancy.

Experts Register
Developed to save DBA members valuable time, the Experts Register can fast track you to the very people who are best placed to offer your business the expert advice it needs to run efficiently and effectively. Accessible online only by DBA members, the Register enables you to source fee-based professional advice across five key areas: financial planning, people, business processes, marketing, legal and ethical.

*The Design Council’s The Business of Design: Design industry research 2005, commissioned jointly with the DBA.

Benefit by joining the DBA

More useful 'Little Pointers' for design business success

So who are we and how do you join?

The Design Business Association (DBA) is the trade association for the UK’s internationally acclaimed design industry.

No other country has the strength in depth offered by UK design businesses and the DBA represents over 360 of these leading design consultancies from small specialist firms, to large international communications agencies. Our members are not only a varied lot, but are also based up and down the country, with over 50% sitting outside of London.

DBA membership has doubled in just the last two years alone, enabling us to offer an ever-greater range of advice, services and activities which will save you valuable time and money in ensuring your business is running successfully and profitably.

As we celebrate our 21st anniversary, there has never been a better time to join the DBA and to get involved.

We're looking for consultancies with drive, ambition and a dedication to improving their business performance. You'll also have an interest in the health and future of the UK design industry and understand that the greatest strength is in numbers.

Fit the profile? Join us now

Take a look at the full range of membership benefits and download an application form by clicking here.

We'd be happy to discuss how the DBA can best support your business, so please do give the membership team a call on 020 7251 9229 or email membership@dba.org.uk