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It’s both thrilling and terrifying to be a freelance designer. When we start our own business, the hardest thing is knowing how much we will make. Some people believe that freelancers have to sacrifice their freedom for money. There are many examples that show that freelance designers can make more money than working for an employer. So if you are interested then continue reading this article as it is about how to make money as a freelance graphic designer.

How to Make Money as a Freelance Graphic Designer?

It is important to plan your finances in order to achieve your goals. This will allow you to be prepared. Consider that your regular income from work will disappear when you become a freelance designer.

How to Make Money as a Freelance Graphic Designer?

Here are some keys to help you get on your feet and achieve maximum results.

01. Be realistic about your expectations

It is always difficult to start. You have to create opportunities and search for them. Jobs don’t come easy. Between the moment we open our studio and when we start billing, there’s a time when there’s no income or very little. There are also many expenses.

It is a smart idea to have at least three to six months of expenses before you start working as a freelance designer. We talk about not only what we need to study but also about how we live. It is convenient to have a backup plan in case things go wrong.

We can think of our new business as a startup. Savings is our runway to the stability of a monthly income. It is possible to make your study profitable and begin earning money if you are organized and have the ability to network.

02. Manage Expenses

Planning and organization are crucial. Uneven income is the biggest problem with freelancing. It will take at least a month to bill a long-term client, even if we are fortunate enough to get one. Many companies pay in cycles of 60 to 90 days. If we miss a payment period, we’ll have to wait for the next cycle.

It is possible for small businesses to have to pursue clients in order to be paid. It is important to have a plan in place to prevent conflicts and to ensure that cash is safe and secure.

One option is to ask for a 50% to 60% deposit from any new client. The balance will be paid in phases once the work has been completed.

It is important to keep track of all expenses and what we use in our business. It is simple to make use of many online tools, but they can become outdated over time. It is convenient to conduct an audit once every two to three months to ensure that nothing is being used.

This tracking should cover everything, from software to pens to paper. All items must be tracked. These things are paid for by someone else when we work as wage earners. We pay it as freelancers. Keep track of receipts so that you know the cost of accessories at the end. These can be added to the invoices.

03. Get ready for tax time

Nobody wants to have to deal with taxes. They are inevitable, however. To ensure that these efforts don’t choke us, it is a good idea to find an external manager who can take care of these matters. This will save us time and help us focus on what really matters: designing.

You can also follow these tips to ensure everything goes smoothly, Use a separate credit card for expenses, and keep money aside for taxes.

It is smart to regularly reserve a portion of your income in a savings account for future payments of Tax. If we don’t have to pay as much and have surplus money, we can either use it for other investments or keep it for the future.

How to Be a Graphic Designer without Losing your Soul

04. Your workflow should be seamless

We sometimes choose to be optimistic when we open our new studio. We know from word of mouth that we will have many projects in progress within one month, two, or three months. This is because several of our colleagues and acquaintances have already passed them on. But what happens after that? What happens if the phone stops ringing suddenly? Is there a way to find new customers?

For freelance professionals, one of the most stressful things is to see the calendar blank and not assign dates for future projects.

It is essential to have a project in progress if you want to make more money freelance, or just survive. Also, ensure that the ball is always moving. We need a proactive marketing and sales strategy to do this.

To stay on top of your mind, it’s important to do small things throughout the year. Why not work for yourself if we don’t have clients?

We are always available to do personal projects, receive awards, maintain our portfolio, and build real friendships with those we work with.

05. Take some time to relax

Freelancers often spend their vacations in front of a computer screen. Mistake. It is not impossible to earn more money by taking vacations, but it should be.

When planning our workflow, we should always make time to rest. It is essential to disconnect and reconnect in all aspects. It allows us to look at things differently, find new ideas, get rid of those that don’t interest us, and recuperate from the everyday grind. It is best to take your own time.

To be able to relax and enjoy your time, here are some tips: Make sure you have the workflow organized and communicate with clients in advance. Also, remind them that we won’t be there from this date onwards. We can only leave the door open for urgent matters in certain cases (such as clients or projects that are very important)

06. Have a plan B; create parallel projects

Multi-channel revenue generation is a great way to keep your workflow running. Diversifying your offering opens up more possibilities. Some of the most popular options include consulting, training, or working as a freelancer for other designers. You can also use your special skills, such as illustration, poster design, animation, and photography.

It can be profitable to develop multiple projects simultaneously. You can self-publish a book that contains tips and advice on developing applications or creating online courses. These are all ways you can make more money as a freelance designer. We work with the motivation that these are our projects. This allows us to be creative and helps raise our self-esteem.

07. Create a pricing policy that is balanced

How much should we charge? This is one of the most difficult questions you will have to answer when freelance. It is crucial to set the right rates. How do I determine the right rates? How can I tell if my charges are too high or too low?

Here are some tips to help you adjust your rates and make more money. First, think outside. Get out of the local marketplace, where rates are often lower, and look for projects that can be covered in a national or international context.

Second, balance the costs. You can use different apps to manage your study’s economy. This will help you avoid making one major mistake: freelance designers often charge lower prices because they believe they can handle more work with infinite time, which includes weekends and holidays.

Additional hours are subject to additional charges. If a project is unique and requires overtime or weekends, the same applies. When setting rates, experience is an important factor. If a project demands exclusive dedication, it is also important to consider.