How to Start a Graphic Design Side Hustle: 13 Business Ideas and Tips for Success

A graphic designer is someone who creates visually appealing designs, usually on a computer, with a combination of artistic and technical skills. They may work in various media formats, including print media, digital media, and multimedia (a mix of different elements, such as text, graphics, audio, and video).

Graphic designers often design the following products:

• Logos
• Webpages
• Print materials like flyers, brochures, and business cards
• Social media graphics and banners
• Packaging and labels for products
• Illustrations
• Advertising materials
• Infographics

Do you need a degree to start a graphic design side hustle?

Many full-time graphic design jobs require a bachelor’s degree. However, you don’t need any formal education or training if you’re freelancing, self-employed, or running your own graphic design business.

The only thing you need to get started is graphic design skills, which you can develop on your own.

We spoke to graphic designer Tabatha Alcina, who agreed that formal qualifications aren’t very important for graphic design work. “I do not have a graphic design degree,” she said. “I have never had a client ask for my education or certifications. They’re only interested in my portfolio and samples.”

Here’s a selection of tried-and-tested graphic design side hustle ideas that’ll generate either an active or passive income.

1. Freelance

Arguably the easiest way to find work as a graphic designer is to take on freelance projects. Here are a few popular sites for getting graphic design jobs:

• Upwork: Here, you’ll connect with clients who are seeking graphic design services. Create a profile that showcases your skills, experience, and portfolio, and then browse through job postings or send proposals to people who are looking for designs you can create. The platform will take a cut of your earnings.
• Fiverr: This is very similar to Upwork. Post your profile as a freelance graphic designer and wait for clients or employers to contact you. You can also bid on jobs that people post.
• SolidGigs: This is similar to Fiverr and Upwork, but the jobs are vetted more carefully. You won’t need to pay a commission for jobs you find on the SolidGigs platform, but you will need to pay a subscription fee ($35 per month or $252 per year).

The main perk of using freelancing platforms is that it’s quick and easy to find new graphic design gigs. As you’re probably gathering, the main drawback is that you’ll generally need to pay for them, whether it’s via a subscription charge or a deduction from your earnings.

What freelancing platforms do experts recommend?

Alcina singled out Upwork as a good place to find gigs. “It’s where I have found most of my clients and has led to referrals to other clients,” she said. “I don’t use any other freelancing platforms.”

We also spoke to another graphic designer, Allison Michele Horwath of Indulge Media, and asked whether she recommended using any particular freelance job sites to find gigs. She said that “I think that you should try them all and see which one gains the best traction for you, your style of work, and which one you can build a client base up from.”

However, she cautioned against relying on these sites too much. “Whenever possible, also build real-world connections and referrals so that all of your clients aren’t coming from one place. It’s good to have your hands in a couple of cookie jars.”

2. Start your own graphic design business

Running your own business is the ultimate side hustle, and it’s an especially good option for graphic designers. You’ll get to keep all your earnings, set your own schedule, and have total freedom over the type of graphic design you do.

To start a graphic design business, follow these steps:

• Choose a name: You could get into trouble if you choose a trademarked name for your business, so check whether the name you want to use is already registered in the official trademarks database hosted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. If no one is using it, you can trademark it yourself.
• Create a business plan: Writing up a formal business plan will help you clarify your goals and strategies and create a roadmap for your graphic design business.
• Register your business: If you’re freelancing by yourself, you’ll operate as a “sole proprietor,” which essentially means that you’re running the business alone. However, you can also opt for a formal partnership with someone else, or you can explore other types of business structures. Ask your nearest Small Business Development Center to find out more about the various business entities that exist and how to get yours legally registered.
• Open a bank account: Although you don’t need to open a bank account for a sole proprietorship or a partnership, it may be necessary for other types of business structures. Even if you don’t need a business account, it’s often a good idea to get one so that you can keep your business and personal funds separate.

3. Become a graphic design tutor

If you’ve got plenty of knowledge and firsthand experience in the field of graphic design, then you can make a solid income by passing on your expertise to the next generation.

You can provide one-on-one online coaching or mentorship through platforms like Coach.me and MentorCruise. Alternatively, if you’d rather work with your students in person, you can check whether any design organizations or associations in your area have mentorship programs.

4. Design fonts

Font design is a complex process that requires artistic skill, typographic knowledge, and technical expertise. It’s also a great way to make passive money as a graphic designer, assuming you have the skills required.

You’ll need to be able to use both graphic design software and font design software like Fontself Maker or FontLab.

Once you’ve designed a font, you can try selling it on sites like FontSpring, Creative Market, MyFonts, and So Fontsy.

5. Create stock graphics

Also known as stock illustrations or vector graphics, these are predesigned images that are available for purchase. Not everyone will be able to make good money selling stock graphics, but if you’re successful, it’s a very easy way to establish a steady income from graphic design.

You can create any number of stock graphics, from logos and icons to vector images and illustrations.

To get started, you’ll need to make a portfolio on a site like the ones below:

• Shutterstock
• iStock
• Freepik
• Envato

You may need to submit a few designs for approval before you can start selling your stock illustrations on these sites. Make sure to carefully read the technical requirements to ensure your profile isn’t rejected.

Alcina told us that this particular revenue stream was one of her favorites. “The most enjoyable work I do is creating stock graphics and other premade work,” she said. “It’s definitely more fun to work on your own ideas.”

However, she noted that it’s not the best-paid work, calling it “more of a small passive income.”

6. Design templates

Designing templates is yet another side hustle that’ll earn you easy, passive income from your graphic design work. These are predesigned layouts or frameworks that people purchase for various purposes.

Here are a few examples of templated products you can sell:

• Posters
• Brochures
• Invitations
• Business cards
• Resumes
• Infographics
• Presentations

You can sell your design templates on websites like Canva, Sellfy, PosterMyWall, and Etsy. Compare pricing on different sites to find the ones that will offer you the highest return on your sales.

7. Sell printables

Printable designs are like design templates except they’re not customizable. Instead, customers simply purchase, download, and print them as is.

You can use your graphic design skills to create and sell any of these printable items:

• Greeting cards
• Stationery
• Stickers
• Posters
• Calendars
• Worksheets
• Digital planners
• Wall art

Printables are fun to make, and they’re also fun for your buyers to use. Just be sure to run a test print before putting them on the market. You can sell your printables in places like Etsy, Podia, and Facebook Marketplace.

8. Provide print-on-demand services

This is a way to create and sell items featuring your own graphic art. What makes this a great side hustle is that you’ll only produce and ship products when someone orders something, so there’s minimal upfront investment.

Here are customizable products you can sell featuring your graphic designs:

• T-shirts
• Hats
• Hoodies
• Accessories
• Jewelry
• Mugs
• Tote bags and purses
• Backpacks
• Banners
• Blankets
• Towels
• Coasters
• Water bottles and thermoses
• Doormats

Your products will also serve to showcase your work to potential clients for other types of jobs. There are many platforms that can help you start this kind of business, including Redbubble, CafePress, Printify, Zazzle, Shopify, and Amazon.

9. Design WordPress themes

If you know how to make attractive and functional templates for WordPress, you can market them through online platforms or marketplaces like ThemeForest or Mojo Marketplace. You can also sell them on your own website.

You don’t need to have coding or web development knowledge to design your own WordPress themes. Instead, you can use a WordPress page builder plugin like Beaver Builder, SeedProd, or Thrive Architect.

10. Start a graphic design blog

Blogging is a great side hustle, but many aspiring bloggers struggle with figuring out what to write about. As a graphic designer, you’ll be one step ahead, especially if you can write about the ins and outs of the design industry.

Starting a blog isn’t just a good way to showcase your work as a graphic designer—you can also make money from your posts. For example, you can sign up for Google AdSense to generate passive revenue from ads. You can also use affiliate links or affiliate marketing to earn a commission when your readers click on links on your blog or make a purchase from one of your partners.

11. Become a public speaker

Graphic designers are sometimes invited to speak at design conferences, business conferences, creative seminars or workshops, or other events.

You can make a solid side hustle out of public speaking if you have a lot of cutting-edge knowledge about graphic design. People might be willing to pay you to talk about industry trends, new technologies, design techniques, marketing, or other aspects of the design process.

12. Sell ebooks

Ever dreamt of being an author? If so, you can combine your passion for graphic design and writing by creating and selling ebooks on graphic design. You can share insight, tutorials, or industry-specific knowledge.

Platforms you can use to publish your ebooks include popular marketplaces like Amazon Kindle and self-publishing platforms like Smashwords and Lulu. You can also sell ebooks through your own website.

13. Offer graphic design courses or workshops

If you really know your stuff when it comes to graphic design, consider creating your own graphic design courses. In contrast to doing one-on-one tutoring, offering graphic design classes will get you more students (and potentially more money).

Offering courses through your own website is a popular option. This will give you full control over how many students you take on, when you hold your classes, and how much money you make.

If you’d rather make a passive income, you can also sell your online course on sites like Udemy, Skillshare, or Teachable.

Whatever route you choose when starting your graphic design side hustle, there are things you can do to increase your earnings and set yourself up for success.

Keep honing your graphic design skills

As with any art form, the more time and energy you put into your graphic design work, the more skilled you’ll become, and with greater skill comes higher-quality products and bigger sales.

Graphic design courses and tutorials

In addition to building hands-on experience, you should continue your graphic design education. There are many courses you can take online to hone your skills, including paid courses and free ones.

Coursera and Udemy are good places to look for graphic design courses. These will teach you about essential design principles and elements as well as how to use the various types of software often involved in graphic design.

We asked Alcina about ways to hone your graphic design skills. She said, “I take classes on Skillshare and watch tutorials on YouTube. These are the two most valuable resources for me.”

She added, “You can Google pretty much anything you would want to do in graphic design and find a class or tutorial on it.”

Regularly update your portfolio

Creating a portfolio is important for demonstrating your professionalism, the quality of your work, and the range of projects you’ve worked on to clients and employers.

You can create your own portfolio website or you can create a profile on a website like Dribbble or Behance, which are platforms that graphic designers and other artists use to display their work, network with other creative minds, and build their personal brands.

What to add to your portfolio

Initially, your portfolio might consist primarily of personal projects (or work you did while studying graphic design).

You might even want to consider taking on pro bono work to build a stronger portfolio and get contacts you can use for references when you apply for future jobs.

Continue to update your portfolio as you take on more projects so that it always features your best work. Your portfolio should also include updated contact information, social network links, and a link to your website, if you have one.

More portfolio tips from an expert

We asked Alcina what makes a good graphic design portfolio. She said, “I think a good graphic design portfolio needs to show a wide range of skills, unless you only intend to do one type of work.”

“It’s not unheard of to have two portfolios, though,” she added. “One would show your range, and the other would show your expertise in a niche.”

Choose a specialty (but keep your options open)

There’s a great deal of debate about whether you should choose a specialty as a graphic designer. The general consensus is that you should choose a niche to focus on—as long as you stay open-minded about taking on projects that are outside your wheelhouse.

These are a few examples of niches in graphic design that you can specialize in:

• Logo design: Research a company’s brand and come up with multiple design concepts for their logo. The company then provides feedback and selects their preferred design they’d like you to refine and finalize.
• Web design: Create the visual and functional components of a website, such as the structure and layout, images, colors, and fonts.
• Typography: Improve the look of text to make it more visually appealing, readable, and expressive.
• Poster design: Create visually striking posters for various purposes, such as advertising, events, or promotions—or just for the sake of art.
• Brochure design: Design the layout of brochures, organize brochure content, and select suitable fonts and images.
• Brand strategy: Evaluate a company’s brand and goals and then create designs that communicate and strengthen the brand’s message and image.
• Infographics: Create images such as charts, graphs, maps, or timelines to represent information or data visually.
• Animation: Create moving images or visuals using computer-generated animation, hand-drawn animation, 2D or 3D animation, motion graphics, visual effects, or other animation techniques.

Promote your services

When you’re managing your own side business, you usually have to find your own job opportunities. Once you’ve worked for a few clients, it’ll be easier and easier to pick up gigs. The hardest part is finding your first client.

Searching through job ads on websites like Craigslist can be a good place to start. Horwath recommended this strategy when we asked her about ways to get your graphic design side hustle off the ground.

Leaning on your family and friends

Let your family and friends know that you’ve started your own graphic design side hustle. You can also mention your work at parties or spread the word on social media platforms. This can lead to referrals that will expand your client base. Alcina told us that she regularly gets work this way.

Creating an online presence

As a graphic designer, it’s especially important to have an online footprint. Alcina suggested several ways for graphic designers to market themselves online.

“I do recommend blogging and using social media to bring attention to your business,” she said. “Blogs, Instagram, and Pinterest seem to be the best platforms for visual work like graphic design.”

Attending professional events

Another way to get your first client is by networking or attending design events. Professional associations like the Graphic Artist Guild, the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), and the Freelancers Union often hold events where graphic designers and other creatives can meet other people in their field.

Alcina told us that she managed to find many clients with this strategy. “I haven’t attended any of the big conferences. They’re very expensive. But local events for networking have worked out great for me,” she said.

In particular, she recommended joining monthly or weekly events held by local organizations such as rotary clubs. “You can present your work and network,” she said. “A lot of people and companies like to work with local businesses and artists, so it’s a valuable resource.”

Doing cold outreach

Contacting companies and individuals directly to ask about potential work might sound intimidating, but it’s a great strategy for expanding your network, reaching new clients, and unearthing hidden opportunities.

Your outreach efforts should be personalized and based on your research into the company or person you’re contacting. Mention specific projects or aspects of their business that match your skills or interests to demonstrate that you’re genuinely interested in their work.

Try contacting these types of businesses:

• Local design agencies: Agencies that specialize in areas like branding and marketing often work with a variety of clients and may require graphic designers for branding, marketing, packaging design, and print projects.
• Marketing departments: Companies that distribute promotional materials sometimes need help creating posters, brochures, presentations, infographics, and more.
• Startups: Newer companies often need various types of design support (e.g., for their websites, user interfaces, logos, or brand identifiers).
• Publishing houses and magazines: Publication firms frequently need graphic designers for book covers, layouts, or illustrations. You may have more success if you start with smaller publishers in the beginning.
• Nonprofit organizations: Nonprofits need graphic designers to create promotional materials or help with campaigns to raise money or awareness for a particular cause.
• Advertising agencies: Advertising companies often require graphic designers who can create compelling visuals and advertisements.
• Web development companies: Web development firms may need help creating visually appealing website layouts, icons, and graphics.

As part of your outreach, you should include samples of your work or a link to your portfolio.

Additionally, don’t forget to include a call to action. Clearly state what you want to happen next (e.g., a phone call, meeting, or potential collaboration). Make sure it’s easy for the person you’re dealing with to respond and take the next step.

Getting referrals and testimonials

Ask the people and companies you work with to recommend you to others if they’re happy with your designs.

It’s easier to get hired when someone refers you than when a prospective employer or client has to make a decision based only on your resume and portfolio. If they know you’ve already provided upstanding service to people they know, they’ll feel more confident trusting you with their own projects.

Alcina told us that she often gets jobs through referrals. “It’s a really good feeling when a client recommends you to someone else,” she said.

Graphic design can be an incredibly rewarding side job. Below are just a few of its advantages:

• Minimal startup costs: All you need is a computer, design software (such as Adobe Creative Suite), and a reliable internet connection. There’s a good chance you already have most or all of that, so you won’t have to spend much on equipment to start offering your graphic design services.
• Working from home: You can do graphic design from home, so you don’t need to commute anywhere or rent a space, which saves you time and money.
• Flexibility: As a side hustle, graphic design lets you choose your own projects and set your own schedule, making it easy to balance your work with other responsibilities.
• Many opportunities: As a freelance graphic designer, your services will be in demand. Many businesses, both small and large, want design services on a project basis.

With that said, graphic design isn’t a side hustle that anyone can do—at least not without the proper skill set. If you don’t have any training or previous experience as a designer, you’ll need to do a bit of practice before you can realistically expect to make any money from this hustle.

Alcina also pointed out that you could miss out on opportunities if you’re usually busy during office hours. She told us, “I have found that most of my clients seek out a freelancer because they need something quickly, which can be hard to accommodate with a side hustle.”

She added that “A lot of businesses will only be able to communicate during regular work hours.”

You’ll want to bear this in mind if you’re considering graphic design as a side job. It will be easier to manage if your main job allows you a certain amount of scheduling flexibility or if you work don’t work during normal business hours.

Can you make good money as a graphic designer?

You may be able to make good money as a graphic designer. According to Indeed, graphic designers have an average salary of around $20 per hour, typically making anywhere in the range of $12–$35 per hour. 1 However, your rate will depend on many factors, including your experience level and the type of services you offer.

Alcina told us that hourly rates for freelance graphic designers are much higher than staff designers (i.e., those who work in-house at companies). “My rate is $35–40 an hour,” she said.

However, she added a caveat. “This doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to make a lot more money than a staff designer, since you’ll have to pay for overhead and fees, etc. It’s a good idea to figure all of that in when setting an hourly rate.”

As you’d expect, your hourly rate will depend on many factors, including your experience level and the type of services you offer.

How to set your rates in the beginning

Horwath had some specific advice for us about pricing your services.

“I would start with dirt cheap prices like $15 an hour and low flat rate small/quick jobs on the platform sites,” she said. “I would ask for a review from each client. From there, I would take those types of jobs on and slowly increase my profile amount in increments of $5 over a year until I reach my desired hourly rate.”