Graphic design side hustle: How to start and scale your business

If you’re the type who’s sketching logos during Zoom calls or constantly dreaming up color schemes and fonts, it’s time to turn your artistic abilities into a profitable graphic design side hustle!

Turning your passion for design into a business is more doable than you might think. In this guide, we'll explore the practical steps for starting a graphic design business, covering everything from landing your first clients to creating a portfolio that stands out. 

Plus, we will discuss how you can leverage Gelato's platform to easily create and sell your designs on custom products without the hassle of managing stock.

• Starting a graphic design side hustle involves creating a strong portfolio to attract clients and showcase your skills.

• Graphic designers can explore various creative avenues as side hustles, such as creating custom products, developing digital assets, and offering niche design services. 

• Graphic design tips include utilizing online platforms and social media to find and connect with potential clients, which is a key to success as a freelance graphic designer.

• Effective time management and delivering projects on time are crucial for maintaining client relationships and building your reputation.

Starting a graphic design side hustle requires strategic planning and creativity. Let's explore the essential steps to transform your passion for design into a lucrative business.

Build a portfolio to showcase your graphic design skills

To kickstart your graphic design side hustle, start by curating a collection of your best work covering various styles and skills and setting up a professional website where potential clients can easily view your creations. Include logos, social media graphics, website designs, and more. Remember, quality over quantity!

Research pricing strategies

Identify industry standards and observe how experienced designers charge for similar projects. Your pricing should consider complexity, timeframe, and expertise. Establish a pricing structure that communicates value while remaining competitive. 

Set up your business on freelancing platforms

Establish your presence on freelancing platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.com. These platforms offer a vast pool of potential clients and projects across industries. Ensure your profile is polished and showcases your best work, skills, and experience. 

Showcase your skills on social media

A stellar social media presence can be a game-changer for a graphic design side hustle. Platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest provide excellent opportunities to highlight your creativity and connect with potential clients. 

Attend local networking events

These events, whether industry-specific meetups or creative workshops, open doors to valuable work opportunities. Use these occasions to showcase your skills, exchange ideas, and learn from others in the field. The key is to build lasting relationships that can lead to referrals and partnerships. 

Find your first clients

Landing your first clients can be intimidating, but it's also incredibly exciting! Connect with your network of friends, family, and colleagues and see who may know someone needing design services. You can also go scouting for your first clients online on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork to market your skills to a wider audience. 

Hone time management and project delivery skills

Mastering time management and refining your project delivery skills are fundamental in ensuring a successful graphic design side hustle. Prioritize tasks effectively to balance your regular commitments with freelance graphic design work. Establish a structured workflow for client projects, including clear deadlines and communication checkpoints. Delivering high-quality work on time enhances your reputation and solidifies client trust.

Once you've established your graphic design side hustle, the next challenge is to transform it into a scalable and sustainable business. Let's explore some proven strategies to achieve this.

Expand your services with custom products

Using your design skills to offer personalized products is the perfect recipe for growth! By creating unique custom designs, you can transform everyday items like mugs, t-shirts, or phone cases into canvases, showcasing your creativity. 

Thanks to platforms like Gelato, you can easily launch your side business with print on demand products without worrying about holding an inventory of items or making upfront investments. 

Increase your rates as you gain experience

Start by setting reasonable prices but gradually increase them so that the quality and efficiency you've achieved can be reflected through your rates. 

A well-rounded portfolio and glowing testimonials can justify these adjustments to clients. Clients who recognize and appreciate your expertise are often willing to pay more for assured quality. Be confident in your worth—your time and efforts deserve fair compensation. 

Outsource non-design tasks to focus on growth

Consider outsourcing non-design tasks like administrative duties, marketing, and bookkeeping to professionals who can handle them efficiently. This will save you time and allow you to concentrate on honing your craft and expanding your business. 

Platforms like Upwork or Fiverr can connect you with skilled freelancers, making it easier to delegate tasks and streamline your workflow.

Use social proof and testimonials to attract more clients

Past clients' positive testimonials can act as endorsements that build trust and credibility for new prospects looking at your services. 

Encourage satisfied clients to leave short but impactful reviews on your website or business page. Highlight these testimonials on your portfolio and social media platforms to amplify your professional image. 

Automate your marketing tactics

Tools like Hootsuite and Buffer can schedule your social media posts, freeing up time for creativity. Setting up an email marketing campaign using platforms like Mailchimp can keep clients informed and engaged without constant manual effort. 

Automation allows you to maintain a consistent presence and message, helping you reach more potential clients.

Explore new client acquisition channels

Explore freelance sites, referrals, and word-of-mouth promotions. Consider collaborating with complementary businesses and targeting new online platforms. Social media ads are also a powerful tool, allowing you to reach more prospects. 

Contact your existing network of friends and colleagues who may know people needing expert design services. 

Sell to global audiences

Consider leveraging platforms that cater to international markets and offer tools to manage different currencies and languages. 

Understanding diverse cultural preferences and trends allows you to tailor your designs to resonate with global markets. This amplifies your earning potential and enriches your creative portfolio with various culturally inspired designs.

Now, let's explore various side hustle ideas to tap into your unique skills as a graphic designer and make money.

Freelance graphic design services

Freelancing provides incredible flexibility and autonomy in designing logos, marketing materials, or website visuals. You set your own hours and rates and choose your projects. This allows you to pursue your passion and can lead to high earning potential. 

Start by joining platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, where prospective clients post gigs and have opportunities to build their portfolio and client base.

Sell digital design assets

Dig into the digital marketplace by selling design assets like website templates, icons, and vector graphics. These digital products require no inventory and constantly cater to growing demand from designers and businesses looking for quick solutions. 

Get creative and generate passive income streams as your assets gain popularity. Use platforms like Etsy, Creative Market, or Gumroad.

Print on demand business

Platforms like Gelato offer the chance to showcase your art on everyday products like t-shirts, tote bags, and mugs without holding any stock. 

As you create, it's a gateway to global markets, while these platforms handle manufacturing and shipping. Transform those designs into desired products, and let your artistic vision come to life while earning extra income!

Logo design and branding services

As a graphic designer, offering logo design and branding services allows you to cater to businesses seeking a strong visual identity. Leverage freelancing platforms and social media to connect with clients, offering comprehensive branding packages that can include elements like logos, visual identities, and printed materials. 

Create and sell custom fonts or typefaces

If you have a knack for typography and an eye for detail, creating custom fonts or typefaces can be a lucrative addition to your side hustle. With tools like Fontforge or Glyphs, you can design unique fonts from scratch. 

Once complete, sell them on platforms such as Creative Market or MyFonts. By using the right marketing strategies, your custom typefaces can capture the attention of designers.

Web design and UI/UX consulting

As a graphic designer, your skills can help businesses improve their online presence with visually appealing websites and intuitive interfaces. 

Offer services such as crafting custom designs for websites and mobile apps while advising on optimal user journeys. By leveraging your expertise in UI/UX, you can offer valuable insights that lead to better customer engagement and satisfaction. 

Social media management and content creation

Taking charge of social media management and content creation allows you to craft engaging graphics that resonate with your audience. 

By developing a distinct style and brand voice, you can help clients capture their target market's attention. This involves creating social media graphics, managing accounts, and monitoring analytics to enhance engagement and visibility. 

Design courses and tutorials

Platforms like Udemy or YouTube are perfect for sharing insights on design trends, graphic design software skills, and creative techniques. Whether live or prerecorded, your content can cater to a global audience, enhancing your credibility. 

Consider conducting online workshops, offering personalized feedback, and mentoring sessions to increase involvement and build community. 

Ebook design and layout

If transforming complex ideas into visually appealing formats is your forte, ebook design and layout are the perfect niche! 

As a graphic designer, this side hustle allows you to creatively arrange text, images, and graphics cohesively, enhancing the reader's experience. By crafting eye-catching ebook visuals, you cater to authors and publishers who are always looking for unique designs. 

Create and sell printable designs

From intricate calendars to personalized planners, your creations add value to everyday life. Selling these designs is now easier than ever, with marketplaces like Etsy offering a vast audience. Tailor your prints to match trending themes, ensuring they are aesthetically pleasing and functional. Digital products require minimal maintenance and offer a steady income stream. 

Packaging design

If you have a knack for creating eye-catching packaging, this could be a profitable avenue for your side hustle. Packaging design is crucial for product appeal and branding, influencing consumer choices on a subconscious level. Look into creating labels, boxes, and unique packaging solutions that capture brand stories. 

Event and wedding invitation design

Whether crafting elegant wedding stationery or fun party invites, each design should capture the essence of the event. You can provide bespoke designs for everything from save-the-dates to thank you cards, ensuring a cohesive look. Collaborate with clients to create personalized invitations that reflect their style and theme, adding a personal touch to make each celebration unforgettable.

Merchandise design for creators

From t-shirts and mugs to phone cases and tote bags, your designs can become tangible products that promote a creator's identity. 

Platforms like Gelato make producing and distributing custom items easy without upfront costs or inventory concerns. Be the go-to designer for creators seeking standout merchandise that resonates with their audience and amplifies their unique style.

Design consulting for startups

Empower new businesses with your design expertise by providing tailored consulting services. Startups often need guidance in creating a cohesive brand identity, so offering your insights can impact their success. Understanding their unique vision allows you to craft visual solutions that resonate with their target audience. 

Custom infographic design

As a graphic designer, honing your custom infographic design skills can set you apart in the industry. Infographics make complex information digestible and add a visually appealing element to a brand's communication strategy. 

By offering tailored designs that resonate with specific audience needs, you can become a go-to designer for industries looking to make data pop.

For a graphic designer, turning a passion into a profitable side hustle involves strategic steps like building a compelling portfolio, setting competitive prices, expanding service offerings, and creating custom merchandise. By using print on demand solutions like Gelato, creating custom merchandise is easy—all without the hassle of managing inventory or incurring upfront costs. 

Gelato empowers graphic designers to build a global business without the stress of upfront costs and investments. Our intuitive platform lets you upload, manage, and showcase your designs on a wide range of products, including apparel, stationery, wall art, and custom merchandise.

With our global network of local production partners distributed globally across over 30 countries, your custom creations reach your customers faster and more sustainably.

Sign up for Gelato today and choose a subscription plan that fits your graphic design needs!

How can I find side hustle opportunities as a graphic designer?

To find side hustle opportunities, explore freelancing platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. Network at design events, engage in online communities, and showcase your work on social media. Direct outreach to businesses and leveraging contacts from past work can also open doors to new projects.

Is it necessary to have a portfolio to start a side hustle as a graphic designer?

A well-crafted portfolio is crucial. It is your visual resume showcasing your skills and style to potential clients. Without a portfolio, it's challenging to demonstrate your abilities and attract work. Consider including diverse projects to highlight versatility and relevant experience in your chosen niche.

How to start your side hustles as a graphic designer in 5 steps?

Identify your niche and define your brand. Build a strong portfolio reflecting your style and expertise. Set competitive pricing. Utilize platforms like Gelato for a streamlined start. Engage with potential clients through online communities and social media to establish a client base.