Freelance graphic designers possess a unique set of skills that can be leveraged for lucrative side hustles beyond traditional client work. In this blog post, we’ll explore 10 exciting side hustle opportunities for graphic designers, each offering distinct advantages and potential for substantial earnings.
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Travel Website for Sale | Potential Profit: 5000$/month
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Description: Fully Automated Travel Website – Hotels, Flights, Cars – $200/day Potential
Huge Profit through travel affiliate programs (Flight, Hotel, & Rental Car). Start an online business with this gorgeous, professionally designed, affiliate travel website. It is a powerful travel comparison website that allows users to find the best prices for hotels, flights, and car rentals. This type of website is currently very popular as more people try to save money when booking their next vacation.
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How to Start: You can build a website and online business from scratch or go with a readymade solution provided by Sitefy.
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Investment: 99$ to start the website.
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Skillset & Learning: No skillset required. Basic skills are required that can be learned in a couple of hours.
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Success Rate: Moderate to high, reliant on the monthly traffic to the website.
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Pros & Cons: It takes very little time to start this online business and ROI is the highest among all the businesses mentioned.
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Market Size: Globally, travel and tourism directly contributed approximately 2.9 trillion U.S. dollars to GDP
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Whom to Hire: You can hire developers, designers and marketing experts from different freelancing platforms or you can go with a readymade all-in-one solution.
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Where to Hire: Freelance platforms, specialized tech companies.
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Biggest Source of Marketing: Organic Traffic across the globe.
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- Print-on-Demand Merchandise Design
- Description: Create custom designs for merchandise like T-shirts, mugs, and phone cases.
- Earnings: $500 – $2,000 per month.
- How to Start: Set up an account on a print-on-demand platform like Printful or Printify.
- Investment: Minimal, as these platforms handle production and shipping.
- Skillset: Strong design skills, understanding of market trends.
- Learning: Online tutorials and courses on design trends and print-on-demand platforms.
- Success Rate: Moderate to high, depending on design quality and marketing efforts.
- Pros and Cons: Low upfront costs, potential for passive income; competitive market.
- Market Size: Booming, with the global print-on-demand market expected to reach $10.5 billion by 2025.
- Hiring: Not applicable for solo ventures.
- Ebook Cover Design
- Description: Craft captivating ebook covers for self-published authors.
- Earnings: $50 – $500 per cover.
- How to Start: Build a portfolio and offer services on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork.
- Investment: Minimal, software subscription for design tools.
- Skillset: Strong visual storytelling, knowledge of genre aesthetics.
- Learning: Online courses on book cover design and self-publishing industry trends.
- Success Rate: High, especially with positive client reviews.
- Pros and Cons: Creative freedom, potential for recurring clients; can be project-based.
- Market Size: Expanding, as self-publishing continues to rise.
- Social Media Graphics Services
- Description: Design engaging graphics for social media posts and advertisements.
- Earnings: $300 – $1,500 per month per client.
- How to Start: Create a website showcasing your portfolio and promote on social media.
- Investment: Minimal, marketing expenses for website promotion.
- Skillset: Strong branding knowledge, ability to create shareable content.
- Learning: Online courses on social media marketing and design principles.
- Success Rate: High, with consistent client outreach.
- Pros and Cons: Flexible schedule, potential for recurring clients; competitive field.
- Market Size: Large, as businesses increasingly rely on social media for promotion.
- Hiring: Virtual assistants for administrative tasks.
- Online Course Graphic Design
- Description: Design visuals for online courses and educational materials.
- Earnings: $50 – $200 per hour.
- How to Start: Collaborate with online educators or create your own courses.
- Investment: Moderate, marketing expenses for course promotion.
- Skillset: Strong educational design, knowledge of e-learning platforms.
- Learning: Courses on instructional design and e-learning trends.
- Success Rate: High, with quality course design.
- Pros and Cons: Intellectual fulfillment, potential for passive income; requires marketing effort.
- Market Size: Expanding, with the e-learning market projected to reach $375 billion by 2026.
- Hiring: Subject matter experts for content creation.
- UX/UI Design Consultancy
- Description: Offer expertise in user experience and interface design.
- Earnings: $50 – $150 per hour.
- How to Start: Create a professional website, network with startups or businesses in need of design services.
- Investment: Moderate, for website development and marketing.
- Skillset: Proficiency in UX/UI design principles, understanding of user behavior.
- Learning: Online courses on UX/UI design and industry best practices.
- Success Rate: High, with a solid portfolio and positive client testimonials.
- Pros and Cons: High-demand skill, potential for long-term contracts; competitive field.
- Market Size: Significant, as businesses prioritize user-centric design.
- Custom Wedding Invitation Design
- Description: Create personalized wedding invitations and stationery.
- Earnings: $500 – $2,000 per project.
- How to Start: Build a portfolio, collaborate with wedding planners, or promote on wedding platforms.
- Investment: Moderate, for marketing and material costs.
- Skillset: Strong understanding of wedding aesthetics, attention to detail.
- Learning: Courses on wedding trends and invitation design.
- Success Rate: Moderate to high, depending on the quality of designs.
- Pros and Cons: Creative fulfillment, potential for referrals; seasonal demand.
- Market Size: Steady, as weddings are a perennial industry.
- Infographic Design Services
- Description: Craft visually compelling infographics for businesses and publications.
- Earnings: $200 – $800 per infographic.
- How to Start: Build a portfolio and offer services on platforms like Freelancer or 99designs.
- Investment: Minimal, marketing expenses for platform fees.
- Skillset: Data visualization, storytelling through visuals.
- Learning: Online courses on infographic design and data presentation.
- Success Rate: Moderate to high, with a unique design approach.
- Pros and Cons: Artistic expression, potential for recurring clients; competition on design platforms.
- Market Size: Growing, as businesses seek engaging ways to communicate data.
- Virtual Event Graphics
- Description: Design visuals for virtual events, webinars, and online conferences.
- Earnings: $300 – $1,000 per event.
- How to Start: Collaborate with event planners or promote services on event platforms.
- Investment: Minimal, marketing expenses for platform promotion.
- Skillset: Understanding of virtual event dynamics, ability to create engaging visuals.
- Learning: Courses on virtual event trends and design for online experiences.
- Success Rate: Moderate to high, with positive client feedback.
- Pros and Cons: Remote work flexibility, potential for recurring clients; project-based income.
- Market Size: Expanding, as virtual events become increasingly prevalent.
- Branding and Logo Design Retainers
- Description: Offer ongoing branding and logo design services on a retainer basis.
- Earnings: $500 – $2,500 per month per client.
- How to Start: Build a strong portfolio, leverage social media for client acquisition.
- Investment: Moderate, for marketing and client outreach.
- Skillset: Strong branding knowledge, ability to maintain consistent visual identity.
- Learning: Courses on branding strategies and logo design principles.
- Success Rate: High, with a focus on client relationships.
- Pros and Cons: Stable income, potential for long-term partnerships; requires ongoing commitment.
- Market Size: Significant, as businesses continually seek cohesive brand representation.
- Affiliate Marketing with Design Resources
- Description: Create and sell design resources through affiliate marketing.
- Earnings: $100 – $500 per month.
- How to Start: Develop a website or use existing platforms to showcase and sell design assets.
- Investment: Moderate, for website development and marketing.
- Skillset: Creating and marketing design assets, understanding of affiliate marketing.
- Learning: Online courses on affiliate marketing and digital product creation.
- Success Rate: Moderate, with effective marketing strategies.
- Pros and Cons: Passive income potential, creative freedom; requires consistent marketing efforts.
- Market Size: Substantial, as the demand for design resources remains high.
- Hiring: Virtual assistants for administrative tasks.
Diversifying your income as a freelance graphic designer is not only financially rewarding but also allows you to explore different facets of your creativity. Whether you choose to delve into print-on-demand, consultancy services, or affiliate marketing, each side hustle presents a unique opportunity for growth. Remember to continuously refine your skills, stay updated on industry trends, and showcase your best work to attract a steady stream of clients. Embrace the entrepreneurial spirit and let your graphic design expertise open doors to a world of possibilities.
