If you find yourself drawn to creative careers, you might be thinking about starting a graphic design business.
As businesses try to appeal more to customers online, graphic design is becoming a highly in-demand skill.
In fact, according to the Shortage Occupation List published by the Home Office, graphic design has been listed as one of the most in-demand jobs in the UK. (smallbusiness.co.uk)
Whether you’re a designer with years of experience under your belt, or an entrepreneur with a creative flair, we talk you through everything you need to know to set up a successful graphic design business.
Step 1: Work Out Your USP
So you’ve decided you want to set up a graphic design business, now it’s time to work out exactly what you can offer.
Like most creative industries, graphic design is competitive, so the more you can do to stand out, the better.
You should:
- Work out what type of graphics you want to specialise in. Is it packaging? Logos? Digital marketing? Branding? Having this in mind from the start will help you grow your brand in the right way.
- Do some market research to understand where gaps in the market might be. Have a look at some big names in the space, note their styles, formats, prices and offerings. See how you can make your business stand out and attract customers.
- Start pulling together a portfolio. Before contracting your services, most businesses will want to see the style of graphic design you offer. Create images, pull together previous work and start listing it online to help give prospective clients a taste of what you can offer.
If you need to, invest in a few upskilling courses to help hone your craft. This not only helps improve your product but can also provide some credibility to you as a professional.
Step 2: Register Your Business
In order to take payments from clients, you’ll need to decide whether you want to register as a sole trader of a limited company.
A sole trader means you only do one tax return a year, however you become personally liable for any finances.
A limited company, which costs just £50 to set up, gives you some level of financial protection but does come with heavier admin responsibilities.
If your business takes off and you earn over £90,000 in a 12 month period, you will also need to register for VAT, though you can do this at a later stage!
Step 3: Invest In The Right Software
As a graphic designer, you’ll need to make sure you’re investing in the best tools for your work.
Some of the best programmes include:
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Figma
- Canva
- GIMP
- Inkscape
- Sketch
Do some research to work out which one will be best for your services. If you need to test out a few, many offer free trials to help you get started.
Step 4: Come Up With A Business Plan
Now that you have your USP, business name and tools ready, it’s time to come up with a business plan.
Your business plan should include:
- Your hourly rate: think about the costs of the tools you are using, as well as average hourly pricing to help set this.
- Marketing tactics: Are you going to promote your services in a specific way? If so, how? Think about using marketing tactics like social media, SEO and networking to help you find clients.
- Targets: Set yourself achievable business targets to aim for and stick to. For example, do you want to secure 1 client by the first month and 10 by the end of the year? Have a think about what might be achievable and set yourself some goals.
Step 4: Create A Website
Next, it’s time to start marketing your services! A website is a great way for you to show off what you can do, not to mention it’s a natural place for you to host your portfolio.
Design yourself a strong branded logo and then start building the site. You can use Wix, WordPress or Webflow to do this, and it’s very easy to find website designers to help you out through platforms like Fiverr.
Make sure your website has:
- Your portfolio and recent work
- Information about you
- Clear contact details
- Any accreditations you have
- Any positive feedback from previous clients
- Your pricing
Once you have it set up, it’s worth brushing up on your SEO knowledge to help you show up on UK searches. This can be a great way for clients to find you online.
Step 6: Find Clients!
Next, it’s time to go out and get some work! You can do this by:
Networking: Have a look at local networking events with businesses that allow you to swap contacts and share your services.
Signing up to freelance platforms: Using sites like Upwork and Fiverr can help you find your first clients. Whilst these platforms do take a percentage of the payment, they’re a great way to generate leads.
Outreach: Sometimes, good old fashioned outreach can do the trick. Look at potential clients and how you might be able to improve their work, reach out and offer a call or consultation to help.
Your network: Sometimes, the best contacts are directly around you! Post on your Linkedin and social media platforms to drum up support from friends and family. You never know who might see it!
Social media: Starting a social media account for your work can be a great way to find clients. Think about appealing formats like ‘a day in the life’ or taking people through the design process. Then, drive them to your website to contact you directly.
Starting A Graphic Design Business
Starting a graphic design business can be a great way to make money whilst still allowing you to be creative.
Start by thinking about your USP and then build a plan that allows you to market your services. The hardest part is getting started, so even just doing 1 thing today is a great step.
Good luck!
