For the longest time, I've wanted to run my own business-- to do my own thing, be my own boss, set my own schedule. You know, that great new fashioned idea of the American Dream. I've attempted this several times, both for myself, and in the service of friends:
- 2002: A local computer repair and consultation company: Wise Computer Solutions, S-Corp. Friendly disagreement in finances and management shares dissolved the company.
- 2009: An online anime retail store that would expand to include a Japanese style tea cafe: The Little Shop of Anime, LLC. Not enough financial investment crippled this company.
- 2010: A mobile computer repair company: IntelaTech, LLC. Geek Squad crushed us.
- 2011: A local courier company: Ace Cargo Express, LLC. Internal family squabble dissolved this company.
- 2012: An e-commerce anime web store: The Anime Brigade, LLC. Removal from society obliterated this company before it had an opportunity to begin.
Not all of these were my own creations, but they all failed, and for different reasons. I've learned quite a bit in my experiences of being an entrepreneur. And I'm determined not to give up. My latest endeavor is to start an
anime studio. While at the same time, my fiancee wants to start a
online publishing business. There's a number of challenges associated with each of these business models. I'll be focusing on the anime studio here, since this is what's in my heart.
Some of the problems that I know I'm going to stumble across include the fact that i don't really know the first thing about running a studio. I've read various articles about Mangaka and some of the production workings of anime studios in Japan. I can't draw. But I can write, in fact, I love writing anime based fiction. So creative writing is my passion, and if I can find a way to earn my living from writing within anime worlds and exploring life through the eyes of anime girls and boys, then I'm game for that!
However, I'm not letting my lack of artistic ability stop me dead in my tracks! Oh no. I've discovered a number of computer assisted tools that can help me attack this monster from a different angle!
- Unreal Engine is a powerful software platform that can be used for video game development, and animation.
- VRoid Studio is a free software that allows a person to customize base anime characters in a 3D environment. These models can be exported into other software (like Unreal Engine).
- GIMP is a free graphics manipulation and digtial photo editing software that can be used to create special effects within digital media.
- Scrivener is a software that allows creative writers to keep writing projects organized, scaled in scope from tiny articles to full blown novels. It can also be used to create screenplays -- important for an anime production.
These are only some of the tools that I have access to. There are some additional problems that need to be addressed, such as voice acting and all the day-to-day business operations, but I have access to more tools (and experience) that can help guide my efforts.
- Web Hosting is a critical business need. I've already found a wonderful web hosting company, that hosts this very website. It's fast, accessible, and the support is top notch! I've also administered my own home based web server using both Windows and later Linux. I know the LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) system fairly well.
- MySQL is a database system that I've used for years, and I've built databases to store various records and information that would be useful for business purposes.
- PHP is a scripting language that is used to create dynamic web pages (like this one). And while I'm not a pro at it, I do know enough to be dangerous and can develop decent applications with it.
- Visual Studio is a full computer compiling suite that can be used to create software in a variety of languages. I'm familiar with Visual Basic.NET, C++, C#, JavaScript, and Java. Given some additional time to work with these languages, I could truly become a force to be reckoned with. I mention this because software coding would be more of a tertiary skill I would have access to in a business administration setting. I have created customized tools to assist with employer-related tasks in the past.
- I knew an older version of QuickBooks, and have taken some basic bookkeeping courses. A refresher may be needed here.
But that's just the software and only some of my skill set. I know that I'm going to need to use a beefy computer system
to handle all the software development and animation processes. Luckily, a couple years ago, while I had decent credit, I was able to purchase a beast of a computer system while I was exploring Game Development using Unreal Engine. My Alienware R13 has an Intel I-9 processor, 64GB of RAM and plenty of hard drive space. I have two monitors (even though I'm not really using the second one all that much). I have a drawing tablet (not the kind that draws on the screen), a high-end, precise mouse, a comfy keyboard, and probably most important, an ergonomic gaming chair. Knowing that I'll be siting at the computer for hours and days, this is especially important. Furthermore, my living space is quiet and drama free, so that helps too.
This is all well and good, but that still doesn't actually generate any money! And there's lots of other things that need to be addressed.
- I need a decent business plan constructed.
- A great name for the studio.
- Starting investment. In Massachusetts, it costs $500 to incorporate an LLC. (I think that's the most expensive state to incorporate in by the way.)
- Advertising. I need to find channels to get my studio and products in front of interested eyeballs.
- A portfolio would be needed too. Nobody is going to want to take a chance on a no-name studio without seeing what the quality of work will be.
And all of that is just for starters! I have my work cut out for me. Oh, speaking of working, I also need time to actually work on my creations! Of course, I'd have all the time in the world, if I could find somebody to grant me, like, $50,000 so that I can dedicate all my time to starting this company up. And I'm sure I'm forgetting a bunch of stuff too. Can you think of anything?