How To Register As A Business For Computer Graphic Freelancers

Looking to work for yourself as a graphic designer? Notice out how to start a freelance graphic pattern business concern, including what to think about with your branding, business blazon, insurance, financial considerations, networking and marketing, and more.

In this episode of Pattern Domination, I'm getting into what y'all need to recollect about and what y'all demand to practice to start a freelance graphic design concern. If you already have your own creative business, you may still get some adept business tips. Stick around to go business tips, including legal and financial considerations, insurance and marketing and other tips.

A lot of graphic designers have asked me, and I've seen a lot of them asking online: what practice they need to do, how do they start a freelance graphic blueprint business concern.

To requite you a bit of groundwork, I actually started my concern before I went full fourth dimension in information technology. I worked a total-fourth dimension chore and freelanced for 7 years before going out on my own full time. So information technology doesn't have to be something where you flip a switch from full-fourth dimension employee to total-time freelancer.

Pace 1: Create Your Branding for Your Freelance Graphic Pattern Business

Let's outset with the fun stuff, creating your branding.

Business Proper name

The outset thing to think virtually is your business name. Will you employ your personal name or create a business proper noun?

Now, y'all don't have to create a business proper noun to go into business concern for yourself, but it's definitely something to call back nigh.

I really used my personal proper noun at starting time, then I called my business something else before settling on Gratzer Graphics in the early 2000s.

It's definitely helpful to think about early on because you want to make certain of a few things:

that the domain is bachelor,
that the social media handles are available,
that the business organization name yous want to employ is not already registered every bit a business organisation or trademarked.

Y'all want things to be named as consistently as possible beyond all platforms.

I went into a lot of detail and gave lots of tips for naming your freelance graphic design business organisation in episode 68.

Logo and Typography

You'll too want to blueprint a logo and in all the various print and spider web formats. It's going to be on all your marketing materials and social media accounts.

Y'all may as well want to choose typefaces that you can use in your print or PDF marketing materials and on your website. Then you lot might consider open up source fonts such as Google Fonts, which you can download and use online.

Otherwise, you lot can purchase web versions of fonts, if they're bachelor for that typeface, or notice similar ones to apply for the web.

Business Cards

Y'all'll need business organization cards—yep, printed business cards. They don't take to be professionally printed at first. They could only be done on perforated business concern card newspaper that y'all print out on your abode office printer.

Yous can hand them out at in-person meetings and networking events. Just you can too postal service them out with cheers cards or other correspondence.

It only helps you lot if clients take a tangible piece on hand. Plus, it's also a way to stand up out from other graphic designers, who no longer see the need for the business card.

Letterhead

Y'all'll need to design letterhead, which you can likewise employ for your invoices, proposals and estimates, unless you're going to pay for project management or proposal software, in which case you're usually only able to upload a logo and modify fonts and colors.

Labels, Envelopes and Cards

This might seem minor, only I think it'south something to consider for sure—labels, envelopes and cards.

I like to transport out thank you cards to not just potential clients after sending them a proposal simply too to people who've referred clients. I besides sometimes transport checks with notes in the post to subcontractors.

People really appreciate the extra fourth dimension spent on sending a menu. So it can have a lot of affect and brand you more memorable. That makes clients more likely to contact y'all again, and subcontractors more than likely to help yous in the future. They all experience appreciated.

For labels, I buy the Avery labels that I tin just impress off equally I need. They have templates you can download to set them up. Only I but measure out where they autumn on the sheet and set upwardly my InDesign file appropriately.

For envelopes, I use lime green envelopes that friction match my green brand color, instead of using white, then that they stand out in the mail.

Pace 2: Create Your Website for Your Freelance Design Business organization

Yous'll want to get your website up and make sure it's e'er available to attract your potential clients.

In the very beginning, but set a page up with a few portfolio pieces and contact information. After that, you can spend more fourth dimension on it. Yous don't want to spend months perfecting your website design, which will merely prevent you lot from taking action and getting clients.

Website Pattern

As shortly equally you can after that, make certain the design appeals to the potential clients you're looking to attract. If you're looking to attract legal and fiscal businesses, for instance, the website design would take a dissimilar look compared to if you're targeting crafters.

If you're new to the graphic design earth and you're non yet at a indicate where you know who you want to work with or what industries you want to piece of work with, and then in one case you effigy that out, you can modify your website to reflect that.

Portfolio

You desire to show the types of work that you want to get and too show good piece of work. Bad piece of work will dilute the perceived quality of your work. It will likewise brand information technology wait like the quality of your work is inconsistent. Prospects may wonder if information technology volition exist a crap shoot getting quality work for their project.

You'll want to include testimonials from prior clients you lot've worked with. If you lot oasis't had any clients before, and then get testimonials from people you've worked with at your job—whatever comments that can speak to your blueprint work, experience working with you or the results from the work.

Domain names

Yous'll want to buy a domain proper name that is easy to recall. I like NameCheap for buying domains. You may desire to buy more than i domain name extension, such every bit .com, .internet, etc.

You lot'll as well want to set it to motorcar-renew, so information technology doesn't expire and you gamble losing information technology. Someone could swipe it upwards and then charge large bucks selling it.

Web hosting

You'll desire a reliable web host with proficient uptime and support.

I similar Pair, WP Engine and A2. There's as well Siteground and Flywheel, amongst others.

Legal

You'll desire to include some legalese in the footer:

The word "Copyright" and the year to give observe almost your intellectual property,
A linked terms of employ page and
A linked privacy policy page.

I talked about terms of use and privacy policies with Hans and Donata from Termageddon in episode 83.

E-mail list signup

If you can do this sooner rather than afterward, create an e-mail signup form, so y'all can start collecting e-post addresses and building your list. You can so easily let prospects know when you've added a blog post or work to your site.

This keeps you tiptop of listen, even if they don't open up or read your electronic mail. They will see your name in their inbox.

The best mode to get an electronic mail address is to trade something of value for information technology, such as a lead magnet, which could be a gratis guide with tips that they might be interested in.

Some e-mail services offer a free account upwardly to a certain amount of e-mail addresses.

I used MailChimp a long fourth dimension ago. I've been using MailerLite for the past four years. I discover it really easy to utilise.

There are more complex ones such every bit Agile Entrada, which I've also used, only if you're new to building your list and looking for something easy, I definitely recommend MailerLite.

Search engine optimization

I talked virtually the next few points in episode 52 in more particular, simply you'll want to optimize the SEO of your website to increment the chances of being found by prospects when looking for the types of services you provide.

Mobile-friendliness

Make darn sure your website is responsive and mobile friendly. Many potential clients may exist viewing your site on a tablet or phone. If they take to pinch and pan or curlicue to get effectually your website, that won't be a good user feel. If y'all do spider web blueprint, they may wonder if you would create a site that fashion for them.

Site speed

You'll want to make sure your website loads quickly, so that potential clients don't get frustrated or get out your site waiting for it to load.

You can check this with GTmetrix and Pingdom.

For more than details about what to include on your website, check out episode 52 on what designers demand to put on their website and in their portfolio.

Step 3: Ready Up Your Social Media Accounts for Your Freelance Pattern Business

Now onto social media accounts. You'll want to set upward social media accounts wherever your potential clients are.

They may more than heavily use 1 platform over some other.

Be sure all of your business relationship images and post images wait consistent, so you look professional person and memorable.

Also, information technology's showing you practise what y'all preach. If you tell clients their branding should be consistent, then yours should be too.

Pace 4: Choose a Legal Concern Entity for Your Freelance Pattern Business organization

OK, now for some of the non-so-fun simply very of import stuff to think virtually when creating your freelance business organisation.

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer or accountant, nor do I play ane on the podcast. Yous should always consult a lawyer and accountant nearly your specific needs.

Kickoff, please empathise that even if information technology's just you every bit a freelancer and you're using your personal name, you are however interim as a business.

And so you may want to consider—at this indicate or in the future—creating a separate business identity whether you use your personal name or a different proper name for your business.

The reason for this is because forming a business concern separates your personal avails (house, machine, etc.) from the business concern assets. It tin provide protection in case you make an fault in your work and someone comes after you.

But also that, some potential clients may have you more than seriously. It shows yous think of yourself as a business, that you've made an investment for the long term and that you're non a fly-by-night freelancer.

LLC

The near popular option is the limited liability company (LLC).

If you're the simply owner in the LLC, then you'd exist a unmarried-member LLC (what my business concern is).

For taxation purposes, you're seen as a overlooked entity. That means you lot file a personal revenue enhancement return with your income on there.

You also file a personal belongings return, which is a misnomer, because that's actually for your business. Your state normally charges an annual fee when y'all file this at tax fourth dimension. In Maryland, I pay $300 per year.

You can class an LLC yourself or with the help of Legal Zoom or a lawyer. It's typically not very expensive to practice.

Forming an LLC in sure states may be cheaper. I take a few colleagues who have formed an LLC in Delaware rather than in their domicile state because information technology was cheaper or provided more benefits for whatsoever reason.

Incorporation

Some other option is incorporation. I am non as familiar with incorporation equally I am with an LLC, since I've had an LLC since 2003. But from what I understand, incorporating tin can price more than. There is besides more paperwork involved plain, which I believe has to be washed throughout the year.

Concern License

Depending on where you live, you may need to get a concern license in gild to conduct business organisation. In the Us, this can vary from state to state.

Taxation ID (EIN)

It'due south too a good idea to get a separate tax ID number for your business organisation. Clients will often send you lot a W-9 class (in the United States), which is a formal request for your tax identification number.

It tin be uncomfortable sharing your Social Security number all the time. It besides can be a security risk.

Clients will usually ask y'all to email dorsum the filled out and signed W-9 form, and you might non think anything of information technology. But email is not secure. So you don't desire to be emailing your Social Security number all over the place.

To become a split tax ID for your concern, y'all would need to utilize for an EIN, which stands for Employer Identification Number. Then you would use that instead of your Social Security number when filling out Due west-9s.

Bank accounts and credit card

It'south proficient to have a separate banking company account and credit carte for business organisation purposes. If yous grade a business concern entity, y'all will desire to have them in your business name.

This also applies to any Paypal, Stripe, Wise or Payoneer accounts you may open up as a business as well.

Contracts

You'll want to create a contract. If yous are offer graphic pattern, you may need simply i contract. If you're as well offering web design, which involves a lot of other components, you lot may desire to take a contract with additional terms.

I highly recommend investing in the services of a lawyer who understands design and intellectual belongings police to review your contractual terms in the commencement. That mode, you'll take peace of mind and protect yourself.

I talked about contracts (and estimates) in episode 13.

Step 5: Get Insurance for Your Freelance Blueprint Business

You'll likewise want to consider insurance—a few types.

E&O

One blazon is E&O, which stands for errors and omissions. It is also known equally professional person liability insurance. Although rare, some clients may crave y'all to have it.

It may pay for the price of a professional person mistake, like if you fabricated a mistake in a printed piece and it needed to be reprinted.

It is recommended that you not permit E&O coverage lapse, so that you accept continued protection. You lot may non be protected otherwise. I don't know if you wouldn't be covered for work you lot created during that lapse or if a claim was made at that time.

I get E&O insurance for $38 a month through Freelancers Union. I used to pay 10 times more for the same HISCOX policy through an insurance broker.

CGL

The other blazon of insurance is CGL or commercial general liability insurance.

If something were to happen to your computer equipment as the result of theft, fire, flood, hurricane or something, this insurance would be for that purpose.

Your renter's or homeowner's insurance may not cover equipment for business organization use, including freelancing. And so exist sure to check with your insurance carrier. It's usually cheaper to go this type of insurance through them too.

It may also comprehend a fiscal loss if, say, a customer comes to your domicile and trips and falls and gets injured and comes after you.

Cheque with them and you can too learn more in episode 56, where I talked about how to protect your freelance business from disaster.

Medical insurance

Medical insurance is something to consider if you're going to be leaving a full-time job with benefits and don't have insurance through a family unit member or spouse.

I covered various options for this in episode 56.

Backups

Backups are a dissimilar blazon of insurance.

Backups make sure you can work in case your computer equipment has a mechanical result, gets stolen or something happens to it from a disaster.

Y'all can back up to the cloud, simply then you lot are reliant on an net connection. With external hard drives, you don't have to worry about that. You can fifty-fifty back up to both.

Whatsoever you do, just don't skimp on backups!

Step 6: Figure Out the Financials for Your Freelance Design Concern

The side by side thing you demand to practice is figure out the financials.

That includes the cost of all of the things I take mentioned so far and quite a few others that I will mention. Yous may desire to put them into two buckets: one-time investment (such as forming an LLC) and ongoing expenses.

Business expenses

Ongoing expenses would be your Adobe CC subscription and E&O premiums. Information technology may besides exist software for project management and for creating proposals, estimates and invoices.

You demand to understand how much it costs y'all to just be in business.

Don't forget well-nigh taxes. If you're in the United States, you will desire to pay estimated quarterly taxes, and so that you lot don't finish upwardly owing them all at once and y'all want to avoid penalties.

Pricing

You'll need to have an idea of what your pricing should be to make sure that you encompass all of your business organisation expenses, pay yourself and take profit left over.

If you're trying to decide when to make the move from a total-fourth dimension task to full-time freelancing, you'll need to consider that a lot of your time will exist spent managing the business and marketing.

Yous won't be working eight hours a solar day on design work, and you may have some expenses that you didn't accept as an employee. And then your rate will need to recoup for that. Information technology should be college than your hourly rate as an employee.

Pace 7: Network and Market Your Services every bit a Graphic Designer

Of course, yous'll also at present want to get out at that place and allow people know about you.

LinkedIn networking

Brand sure you are on LinkedIn and that your contour is up to appointment and shows some piece of work samples.

I had a talk with LinkedIn skilful Brynne Tillman about how designers can optimize their LinkedIn profiles in episode 22. Be sure to bank check that out.

Task boards

You tin can also cheque out job boards for businesses looking for freelancers or subcontractors.

Upwork

At that place's also Upwork. I did an entire episode on Upwork tips.

Blog, social media and e-mail

Y'all tin also regularly post content to your blog, social media accounts and electronic mail list.

I volition post the entire slice on the web log, so I volition have social media images that are teasers, which then lead to the web log page to read the total article.

In the eastward-mails I sent out, I put the image and merely the showtime paragraph or a lead-in every bit to why they demand to know about what I just wrote and link to the total article.

I will also sometimes include a new piece of piece of work added to the portfolio and have information technology proceed to that page.

The purpose of doing information technology that way is to get them to your website. The purpose of posting and sending out the email is to keep you top of mind and to besides demonstrate your expertise.

Conclusion

I hope this data has been helpful to you. If it was, would yous exercise me a favor?

Assist me out by sharing this content to help me reach more designers. I'k really trying to abound my audition.

Delight give it a like on YouTube and annotate on the episode folio below or under the YouTube video.

If yous're listening, not reading, be sure to check out the show notes to get links to the episodes and services I mentioned.

Source: https://creative-boost.com/how-to-start-a-freelance-graphic-design-business/

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