Freelancing as a Graphic Designer
Tips and resources for starting and maintaining a freelance graphic design business.
Graphic designers, like most professionals, need extended periods of time to focus on a single task. While it is important to keep in touch with clients and address requests on a timely basis, it is also important to give yourself time to complete a design or project without distraction. Consider setting a time management schedule for checking email and other forms of communication.
A retainer is a fee paid for a pre-determined amount of time or work. Most commonly, a percentage of a retainer is paid up-front for a specified number of hours or days of work within a time period.
Over time, graphic designers will want to, or have to, raise their hourly rate for design work. When taking on new clients, this is easy, because the client does not know your previous rates. When raising rates on existing clients, this can get a little trickier. You don't want to lose a client over a $15 an hour increase, but you also often cannot continue to keep a client on at an old rate.
The Freelancers Union provides insurance, gigs, discounts and networking events to freelance designers in 32 states.
