Hiring a Graphic Designer on Retainer

If you are running a small business, you know there are always a million things to get done, but you may not feel like you have the time to accomplish everything. Outsourcing can be a great way to take items off your plate you may not enjoy. Freelancers are a great way to get support for your business without breaking the bank. Hire a graphic design freelancer on retainer to have a designer on your team, with hours dedicated to helping your business.

Hiring a freelancer can help you get an expert in a subject you aren’t as comfortable with, which in turn can help you grow your profits. Being smart with your outsourcing can be a great return on investment for your business.

Graphic Design is a Great Option for Outsourcing

As design is becoming more accessible through websites such as Canva, so many business owners are taking design into their own hands. This can be great if you understand basic design principles and how to design for marketing. However, many people don’t feel passionate about design or feel it takes them too long to work on one project. Therefore, graphic design is a great option to outsource!

Hiring a graphic designer who understands marketing principles and is passionate about design can help your business get eye-catching marketing collateral, but it can also help provide a consistent look and feel. Graphic designers can also be faster when designing because they know software in and out.

Why Outsource

Cost! Hiring an employee, whether part-time or full-time, can be a hassle. Onboarding and benefits will increase your expense. Overhead on hardware such as a computer also increases your expense. For a small business, hiring a graphic designer on retainer can help save money, but also give you a designer with hours dedicated to your business to help you with the marketing collateral you need regularly.    

Why Hire on a Retainer vs. Per Project

Overall, it is more regular and predictable for your budget. It also is a time saver. Rather than finding designers to get a quote for each project you need assistance on, you’ll be able to rely on one designer with a set price. You’ll also save time on agreements, invoices, and proposals.

Hiring different designers for projects also means a designer will need time to learn your business and brand guidelines. Having one designer can also help you with brand management. Every designer has their own process and style, and while style can be imitated, you’ll get a more consistent look through all your marketing materials. Files will also be setup in a similar manner, and you can have a set naming convention for files. Consistency for your brand helps customers remember your business.

Working Together

If you are interested in outsourcing for your business, start small! Find small projects you need help with and talk to a designer to set up a bundle of hours to see how it works. This is a great opportunity for a designer to learn your business and you to see how the process works. Use this time to see if you and the designer are on the same page with expectations.

After a trial period work with your graphic designer to determine a length of time you want to work together (a year, a rolling agreement until someone terminates, etc.). Many agreements can also help you save money with a designer, giving you a discounted rate lower than their hourly rate.

Interested in working with me? Check out my services and let’s chat!

Recap – The Benefits of Hiring a Graphic Designer on Retainer

• Remove unwanted, but necessary tasks off your plate, allowing you to focus on other items for your business.
• You get a professional designer, with hours dedicated to your business. No overhead spent on a full-time employee.
• A set price each month to help with budgeting.
• Save time on Requests for Proposals (RFPs), agreements, and onboarding.
• You will be investing in your brand.

If you need a graphic designer to help your business, check out my design services!