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If you have a sharp eye for visual composition and love being entrepreneurial, then you may want to launch your own graphic design business. Whether you've just completed your training or you have years of creative agency experience under your belt, the chance to be your own boss is one that appeals to many.
Use this guide to learn the key information you'll need to start a graphic design business.
Graphic designers work with brands to bring to life their ideas and concepts through captivating imagery, shapes, colour and layouts. They deploy a variety of skillsets including logo design, web design, brochure design, animation, typography and infographics. It's hard to master all of these. So, many designers specialise in one of the above skills and offer services in that area. For example, designers who focus on logo design offer logo services while those who focus on infographics seek out clients who want these types of graphics on a regular basis.
Before you start your own graphic design business, identity and hone in on the specific niche you're interested in – typography, animation, web design and infographics are just a few options to think about.
You can learn graphic design by pursuing formal education in the field at a higher education institute. Another option is to take an online graphic design course. Once you have completed your learning, you can work with a senior graphic designer to get real-world design experience before setting out on your own path.
Compare websites that offer graphic design courses:
You'll want a dedicated office space from which to run your business. If you have an extra room in your home, you can convert this into office space. You'll then need to purchase an office desk and chair, as well as a computer suitable for graphic design. You may then add other materials, such as a drawing tablet and a scanner-printer combo.
When it comes to software, one option you have is to subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud. This will give you access to essential graphics tools like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign. An alternative to Adobe is CorelDRAW.
Once you've sharpened up your graphic design skills and have purchased the equipment you'll need, you'll need to think about how you're setting up your company.
Here are five key steps to take before you're ready to do business:
As a graphic designer, you may need to use the following legal documents:
These are just a few of the legal documents you may have to use as a graphic design business owner. Thankfully, you do not have to prepare any of these from scratch. Simply access customizable templates from one of the services below.
If you need legal assistance in the customization process, you can hire a lawyer from the same services.
You can charge your clients by the hour or a flat-fee per project. On online marketplace Airtasker, for example, graphic designers typically charge between $30-$100 an hour. The median is $50 an hour.
When you are just starting out, use a portfolio to attract clients. Create a website and include a portfolio of your best work to showcase your skills to the world. Create social media pages for your business and regularly post your finished creations there. As you build your audience, you can convert some of them into clients. You can also buy ads, both digital and in print.
Another option is to list your services on online marketplaces like Airtasker, hipages, Upwork and 99Designs. These platforms match professionals including graphic designers with paying clients. You can also list your services on online directories like True Local and Yellow Pages.
If you don't have a background in graphic design, you'll first want to pursue training in the area and this can be costly. However, if you already have a background in the field, your biggest costs will be equipment purchases, including a quality computer as a starter.
You can make your business more profitable through collaborations. For example, you could collaborate with a marketing and advertising agency to offer add-on graphic design services to the clients they already have. Similarly, you can collaborate with another graphic design business owner who specializes in a niche different from yours to offer comprehensive design solutions.
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