Working with a designer / design agency can be a great experience. Or it can be a bad one. But like any relationship, it is not a one-way street. As a client, you'll have contributions to make to the project too; it doesn't all fall on the designer. The one thing that I think business owners looking to work with a designer (especially for the first time) should be aware of most is in regard to time. Sure, we could all use more time for a lot of things. But really, if you don't budget the time it will take to properly *collaborate* with your designer there will inevitably be delays and possible miscommunication. Your input as a client is invaluable to the design process. Only you know your business best. And designers can only move as fast as you give them feedback. Without your input designers are either left guessing (which can hurt your business) or stuck with a project that can't move forward much, if at all. So the next time you're planning on working with a designer, be sure to plan to have time to talk with them on a regular basis. If you've hired a good one, they'll provide you with a schedule to help you plan accordingly.