Best Way To Make Money As A Graphic Designer

Graphic design is nearly everywhere you look, even if you don't realize it, making it a skill and a vocation that is always in high demand. Use this tutorial if you're wondering how to generate money as a graphic designer, whether you're just getting started or have already started.

It's simple to make money online by designing.

You don't even need a university degree in graphic design to get started these days because there are so many internet platforms, such as YouTube or Skillshare, that can help you master techniques.

After just graduating from university with a dual degree in Media Arts and Graphic Design, I've managed to make design one of my primary sources of income – but, as I previously stated, you don't need a degree to get into this field.

For the past seven years, I've been studying graphic design and using what I've learned in the real world, and I'm only getting started.

If you're interested in learning how to become a freelance graphic designer, keep reading to understand the ins and outs of my own personal experience. It's truly one of the best, highest-paying online professions available, and it's ideal for individuals looking for employment they can perform while traveling.

Here are some tips on how to earn money as a graphic designer.

What is Graphic Design?
Essential Graphic Designer Tools
10 Ways To Make Money As A Graphic Designer
Where to Find Freelance Graphic Design Jobs
How Much Money Do Graphic Designers Make?
Tips For Being Successful as a Graphic Designer
Pros and Cons of Earning Money Online Designing
Conclusion

What is Graphic Design?

It's critical to understand what graphic design is before we can answer how to make money as a graphic designer.

From billboards and logos to food packaging, we've got you covered. That's all there is to graphic design.

Essentially, graphic design is finding visual solutions for a specific purpose, whether that's to make someone want to purchase a product, watch a television show, or come to a large event. Graphic design truly encapsulates almost every visual aspect of your life.

Within graphic design, there are a few different buckets that you might choose to specialize in, including package design, layout design, branding and logo design, or even typography if you're interested in making fonts and playing with type.

Each bucket is equally vital, yet depending on your skill level, some niches may pay a little more.

Essential Graphic Designer Tools

If you want to learn how to become a graphic designer, you must first ensure that you have all of the necessary equipment. Many of these can be found simply on the internet, but keep in mind that graphic design is a costly business to start.

The first item you'll need is a computer, which might be a laptop or a desktop computer from any manufacturer. The vast majority of skilled graphic designers will advise you to use Apple goods and a desktop computer rather than a laptop.

I began out with an Apple MacBook Pro and had no issues with it, but I recently upgraded to a Mac desktop with a much larger screen, which makes drawing fine details so much easier.

You'll also need to obtain an Adobe Creative Cloud membership. Prices vary based on the package level you select; I recommend acquiring access to all of the Adobe programs because you never know which one you'll need for a customer.

If you prefer to pay on a monthly basis, consider purchasing a package that includes Photoshop (which is ideal for making online images) and InDesign (geared more towards print design).

Students can get access for $19.99 a month, however, I pay closer to $50 per month to have full access.

The last graphic design tool I propose may seem silly, but having a ruler on hand is always useful, especially for print design. This way, if you don't have access to a printer for practice prints, you can get a sense of how big the printed item you're designing is.

10 Ways To Make Money As A Graphic Designer

No matter what sector you're interested in, there are a plethora of opportunities to generate money online as a graphic designer! If you want to learn how to become a graphic designer, browse through this list and start selling or manufacturing some of the items on it.

1. Create and Sell Templates

This is arguably one of the most successful ways for graphic artists to earn passive income. All you have to do with this method is create templates of any kind, whether they're for ebooks, posters, invitations, or Pinterest visuals. The templates can then be sold online.

Because they are so easy to personalize, many small business owners and bloggers who are often in a rush or don't have the competence to create their own designs from start prefer to buy these items.

You might generate money without doing much else than marketing your products once you've established up your own template business and put in the effort.

2. Share Knowledge Through Workshops or Webinars

Online learning is at an all-time high, and I'm confident that many of you reading this would sign up for an online session on "How to Make Money as a Graphic Designer."

If you've studied graphic design or believe you know enough about it, sell access to online courses, workshops, training, or webinars in which you expose others to the subject who doesn't know anything about it.

Even if you only talk about the fundamentals, you'll be helping a lot of people while also generating some money. Teachable is an excellent tool for developing online courses. More information can be found here.

3. Sell Stickers

Small sticker shops are on the rise as a result of TikTok's recent success. To create text-based stickers, all you need is Photoshop or Canva, or an iPad to create illustrative stickers.

The amazing thing about making stickers is that you can use dropshipping, which means you don't have to worry about packing and shipping them yourself if you don't want to.

You can engage a third-party vendor to handle all of your sales and still wind up with more money in your pocket.

Etsy, RedBubble, and Society6 are the greatest locations to sell stickers. You might also use Shopify to host your own website with your own designs.

4. Be A Design Consultant

If you want to make money as a graphic designer by working on high-ticket things, a design consultant position might be right for you.

You're basically selling an hour or two of your time to someone who wants your advice on graphic design for their own company. You determine your hourly rate and mentor and advise aspiring designers, offering guidance and pointing them in the right way.

5. Design Fonts for Creative Market or Etsy

If you're interested in typography, fonts are a terrific way to create passive income for graphic designers. There are several simple ways to create fonts, including using your own handwriting, which you can then sell on platforms like Creative Market or Etsy for up to $100.

6. Make Pre-Made Logo Packages

You could build and sell a broad number of distinct logos that are already set up as vectors, similar to how you might make and sell templates.

Many small firms that cannot afford personalized branding packages use this method to make their own logos. All they have to do now is open the design file, change the words and colors, and they've got themselves a new logo.

7. Sell Customized Branding Packages

One of the other high-ticket services that a graphic designer may provide is branding, which can cost up to $4000 if you're in great demand.

A personalized logo, color scheme, fonts, patterns, and other such items are included in these packages to help firms establish themselves.

8. Create and Sell Printables

If you make and sell printables online through a platform like Etsy, graphic designers can easily earn passive revenue. You could create handouts for instructors, students, travelers, and just about anyone else!

Because printables are digital products, all you have to do is automate your process to send a PDF version of the printable to customers as soon as they purchase it. You also don't have to be concerned about shipment.

9. Work With Clients As A Freelancer

If you enjoy working on a range of jobs, working with customers is a terrific option.

You could be designing logos one day and assisting with the layout design of a printed magazine the next by working with clients. Further down in this post, you'll discover more information about how to find this employment.

10. Design Social Media Graphics and Highlight Covers

Another common approach for graphic designers to earn money is through social media graphics. Everyone needs help with social media, and you may sell pre-made Instagram highlight covers or social media templates for a little fee that adds up over time.

Where to Find Freelance Graphic Design Jobs

Fortunately, using web resources to discover work is now easier than ever. If you're looking for a graphic design career, here are a few of the greatest locations to look.

Upwork

Upwork is a simple interface that allows you to build your own profile, select your pricing, and connect with clients from all around the world. Furthermore, all contracts are tailor-made for you, and Upwork's payment protection policy ensures that you will always be paid.

More information can be found in my extensive essay, How to Make Money on Upwork.

Fiverr

Fiverr, like Upwork, is a prominent online freelancing marketplace that works in the reverse direction.

On Fiverr, the freelancer provides pre-made packages for services with a fixed price, usually starting at $5 and escalating in price. On this website, you can create a variety of graphic design packages. Learn more about how to make money on Fiverr by clicking here.

Flexjobs

Flexjobs is one of the top websites for finding work-at-home opportunities. At any given time, there are roughly 1,000 graphic design employment on this website, spanning a wide range of industries, so you may pick and choose what you're most interested in.

For a list of current graphic design jobs on FlexJobs, click here. Get 30% off your FlexJobs subscription when you use the promo code NOMAD at checkout.

Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups, believe it or not, are a terrific area to look for available graphic design employment. There are numerous nomadic employment and freelance groups where you may discover daily postings from people looking for work.

Always do your homework and double-check that a job posting is legitimate before applying.

This social networking platform isn't always thought of as a good place to hunt for freelance work, yet its job page contains plenty of opportunities.

LinkedIn is also a good location to meet other small business owners who might need your services in the future.

How Much Money Do Graphic Designers Make?

The average graphic designer earns around $45,000 per year, however that is only if they work full-time. This works out to around $22 per hour, however, this varies greatly depending on a designer's skill level, specialties, schooling, and other factors.

Instead of working by the hour, I propose creating fixed-price packages for your services if you want to make money as a graphic designer.

This way, you can account for any overhead charges that may arise during the process, and many clients prefer fixed-price contracts so that they know exactly how much it will cost them in total.

This way, you can account for any overhead charges that may arise during the process, and many clients prefer fixed price contracts so that they know exactly how much it will cost them in total.

When I do hourly labor, I charge at least $25 per hour, but I've had clients who have paid as much as $40. It actually varies, and as a freelancer, you might occasionally inquire about your client's budget before giving them a clear amount for your charge.

I've also worked on a number of fixed-price projects, which is my preferred method. This changes according to the nature of the project.

I charge on a scale and mostly specialise in layout design (workbooks, lead magnets, ebooks, print books, etc.).

Here's an example of a recent workbook I made, in which I created a three-tiered system: $30 for 30 pages, $800 for 31 to 40 pages, and $1,000 for 41 to 50 pages.

Tips For Being Successful as a Graphic Designer

There are a few rules you should follow if you want to be a good graphic designer.

Be Realistic

The first and most important step is to be realistic about what you can achieve and to hold yourself accountable to whatever deadlines or agreements you make. Don't set deadlines for yourself that you don't think you'll be able to meet, and keep in touch with your client in case something unexpected arises.

Create Contracts

If you're operating outside of a site like Upwork and you've managed to land your own customer, always make sure to draught a contract for legal reasons.

And.Co and Honeybook are two of the best websites for storing and making these. A PayPal Business account is also a possibility.

Keep A Spreadsheet for Tax Season

I can't emphasise how important it is to keep track of your revenue and spending as a freelance graphic designer.

These will come in helpful when it comes time to pay your quarterly taxes later in the year (or annual, depending on how much you make).

Stay On Top of Industry Trends

You must keep on top of what's currently trendy in any creative service-based firm. Unless it's actually what your customer wants, you don't want to develop something for them that won't appeal to today's audience.

Set Your Own Guidelines

It's important to remember that as a freelancer, you get to define your own rules.

You choose how much work to take on at any one time, assist your customer in setting deadlines, and determine your own working hours. If you find that a piece of the puzzle isn't quite working, swap it out!

Pros and Cons of Earning Money Online Designing

Being a freelance graphic designer, like many other careers, has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Some aspects of the work I adore, while others I despise!

Pros of Working as a Freelance Graphic Designer

Here are a few of the pros:

1. Work from Anywhere

The biggest advantage of working as a freelance graphic designer is that you can work from any location. I've always stated that I want to pursue my dream of working as a freelance designer so that I'm not tied to one area. One of the best remote jobs is this one.

2. Set Your Own Hours

Because they are their own bosses, freelance graphic designers are effectively in command of themselves. I enjoy being free to establish my own hours, although it might be difficult if I overbook myself.

3. Work With Clients Worldwide

As an online freelance designer, you have the opportunity to meet people you would not have met otherwise. For example, I've worked with clients from throughout the United States and the United Kingdom.

Cons of Working As A Freelance Graphic Designer

Here are a few of the cons:

1. Takes Up A Lot of Storage Space

Graphic design files use up a ridiculous amount of space. Because of all the graphic design work I've had to perform on my computer, I swear it's a lot slower than it used to be.

Purchase an external hard drive or use an online platform like Dropbox or Google Drive to get around this, but even so, it takes up a lot of space.

2. Some Clients Aren't Easy to Work With

Some clients aren't amazing… I'll admit it. Every now and then, you sign a contract with a client with whom you wind up being dissatisfied because they keep adding on extra work.

Always refer to the contract and remind them of the services you agreed to when you signed it.

3. It's Expensive

It might be costly to ensure that you always have the necessary equipment and tools to work as a graphic designer. In addition to having an Apple desktop computer and laptop, which cost a couple thousand dollars, I pay $50 each month for Adobe Creative Suite.

Those items, however, are an investment. They may also be deductible depending on your tax circumstances.

Fixed rates are usually a smart option because you can figure out how much you spend on expenses each month and factor that into your rate.

Conclusion

Earning money online by designing is a lot easier than you would believe! There are a plethora of excellent educational resources available to help you get started in the process, and the abundance of job boards makes it simple to connect with clients.

If you're a creative person, graphic design can be a good fit for you. As previously stated, have a look at services like Flexjobs, Fiverr and Upwork to start making money online right now.