When we set up our agency, here's what worked: * Work for cheap/free if you have to. You want to do this quickly, if you do a site for free the client will be

When we set up our agency, here's what worked: * Work for cheap/free if you have to. You want to do this quickly, if you do a site for free the client will be more willing to go ahead straight away as it requires little decision making. We did a website for a primary school and a couple of photographers we knew to start off with. Charities might be good to approach for this. * Fake sites sound like a good idea but why bother when you could actually help other businesses/charities and get 'real-world' experience of dealing with clients. * You need to have low prices to start with. Small businesses are willing to give other small businesses a shot, but won't have as much budget as bigger companies. Over time you can decide where you want to take the business and start charging more as you build a reputation. Your aim at this point is to build a portfolio, so you can charge more later on. Our day rate has more than doubled since we started out. * Classified ads on Gumtree or equivalent in your area. We met two of our biggest clients through classified ads (just be honest, link to your site and try and get across your ethos). * Examine personal network, previous employers etc... they already trust you and may have work that can keep you going. * Get involved with a co-working space, this is a great way to meet prospective clients and other small businesses. * No one else ever seems to recommend this, but cold calling worked for us, though I admit it was painful. We got one of our biggest hedge fund clients via a cold call. We don't really use this any more as our business comes from word of mouth, but it's something you can do if there's a specific type of client you want and you know how to pitch them. Remember this is one of the hardest bits, once you gain some momentum and build a portfolio it will get easier.