Over the past few months, we’ve received so many messages from women all across the world in search of online freedom, an additional stream of income, and a work from home career that they’re truly passionate about. 

We’ve received questions like:

How can I make money online? How do I turn the skills I already have into an online business? What services can I offer online and how do I offer them? What tools do I need to run an online business?

Those are all ahhmazing questions, but there isn’t just one catch-all answer! There are SO many different routes you can take to start an online business as well as endless possibilities and opportunities! 

If you hadn’t noticed yet, we are in the midst of a remote work revolution, and we couldn’t be more excited to stand beside you as you pursue your work from home dreams and the work-life balance lifestyle that you desire.

So, to help you and the incredible women of our community, we’ve created an incredible round-up series featuring different routes you can take to become an online business owner or freelancer! From writers and graphic designers to virtual assistants and social media managers, we’re diving deep into how you can turn your passions into a successful online business!

Our mission has always been to empower women to chase after their entrepreneurial dreams – and now more than ever, it’s time that we help you turn your dreams into a reality.

So without further ado, here is your ultimate guide for becoming a remote freelance graphic designer!

What is Freelance Graphic Design + Is it For Me?

Freelance graphic designers are independent business owners who design for clients and are paid per design or batch of creations. They can choose to have several different smaller clients or just one or two large clients with steady ongoing work! 

Freelance graphic designers are not employees and have the freedom to work from wherever they want, whenever they want, and however they want! From fashion or wellness to farming or travel, freelance graphic designers are needed in every type of industry!

Sounds great, right?! But I’m sure you’re wondering if freelance graphic design is for you! Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Are you willing to put in the work to network and pitch clients?
• Do you desire the freedom to set your own schedule and work from wherever you want?
• Do you enjoy designing?
• Are you adaptable and flexible?
• Are you self-disciplined?
• Do you long to be your own boss?

If you answered yes to all of the above, then you’re on the right path, love! And don’t worry if you don’t have a formal degree or previous work experience in graphic design — That’s the beauty of freelance! If you have the skills, are willing to put in the work, and are passionate about designing, you can absolutely become a freelance graphic designer! And don’t let anything or anyone get in your way or tell you otherwise 😉

Want to learn the top graphic design skills that clients are hiring for online so you can work remotely from home? Check out The Design Skills Course!

Freelance Graphic Design Services You Can Offer

Now that you’ve discovered freelance graphic design is the perfect fit, it’s time to figure out what type of freelance graphic designer you’d like to be. In other words, start thinking about what services you want to offer! There are ENDLESS possibilities in the world of freelance graphic design! 

Here are just a few examples of services you could offer:

• Designing Mood Boards
• Designing Logos
• Designing Branding Boards
• Designing Keynotes
• Designing Ebooks
• Designing Mockups
• Designing Facebook Ads
• Designing Social Media Graphics
• Designing Blog Post Graphics
• Designing Business Cards
• Designing Interactive PDFs
• Designing Style Guides
• Designing Websites

If there are a handful of services you would love to offer, think about creating various packages that you could offer to your potential clients.

For example, a potential client is needing a logo, but they likely are also in need of a brand style guide and social media graphics announcing their business or re-brand. So, you could offer a package that includes logo creation, style guide development, and a handful of announcement social media graphics for their new launch! 

Don’t let choosing your services get in the way of launching this dream of yours. You can always switch it up, go a different route, or play around with your packages! As you get more experience under your belt, you’ll learn what you are truly passionate about along the way! 😉 

Want to learn the top graphic design skills that clients are hiring for online so you can work remotely from home? Check out The Design Skills Course!

Finding Freelance Graphic Design Jobs

Oftentimes, new freelance graphic designers are so excited to start landing clients and get to workin’ that they work for anyone who is willing to pay them. However, this often leads to working on projects that you don’t believe in, clients who don’t align with your values, and creating sub-par work.

So, before you start searching for freelance graphic design jobs, it’s so important that you take the time to evaluate your target market! Think about who your ideal clients are: What industry do they work in? What values do they have? Where is their business located? Have they worked with freelancers before? 

Once you figure out who your ideal clients are, start attracting them! When you’re just starting out as a freelance graphic designer, the best way to do this is by having a design portfolio that showcases your graphic design skills! Think about building a website with a portfolio of your graphic design work and gathering testimonials from people who know or have utilized your skills. To attract and land your ideal clients, you need to be able to prove that you have the skills they are looking for!

Want to learn the top graphic design skills that clients are hiring for online while also building an incredible portfolio? Check out The Design Skills Course where you get to implement what you’ve learned and take action through the Build Your Portfolio Bootcamp!

After you’ve figured out how you’re going to attract your ideal clients, it’s time to actually start looking for them! And remember — Your ideal clients aren’t just going to magically stumble across your portfolio, website, or Instagram (no matter how beautiful they are!). You have to be proactive and pursue them!

Here are a few great places to find graphic design clients:

• The Bucketlist Bombshells Community Facebook Group
• Freelancing Females Facebook Group
• Upwork
• Behance
• Freelancer
• PeoplePerHour
• Envato Studio
• Engaging on Instagram
• Your local community businesses
• Friends + Family

Most importantly, when it comes to finding freelance graphic design jobs, believe in yourself and what you have to offer, be confident and ambitious, and remember what your time and skills are worth. 

Wondering how much money you can make as a freelance graphic designer, struggling to confidently pitch clients, not sure how to set your hourly rate? Don’t you worry, love! Here are a few tips and tricks:

• The One Thing You’re Not Doing In Your Pitches
• 5 Simple Steps To Start A Freelancing Side-Hustle Online
• 3 Surprising Things That Are Holding You Back From Landing Your First Client
• 10 Simple Tips For Boosting Your Confidence As A Newbie Freelancer
• How To Conquer Your Financial Fears Of Building An Online Business

Want a step-by-step walkthrough of how to rock the freelancing world, define your hourly rate, write killer proposals, and land clients? In need of swipe copy, templates, and checklists that are proven to work? Check out The Work Online & Travel the World Course!

Freelance Graphic Design Tools

One of the greatest things about freelance graphic design is that you don’t need much to get started. Plus, the cost of being a freelance graphic designer is SO minimal! Here are some of the best tools we recommend for freelance graphic designers:

Business Tools:

• Asana for task management
• ConvertKit for email marketing
• Zoom for client meetings
• Evernote for client meeting notes
• Loom for screen sharing

• Toggl for time tracking
• PayPal or Wave for invoicing
• Destination Legal for legal templates
• World Time Buddy for time zone and schedule management

Graphic Designing Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite & Canva for designing
• Creative Market for fonts, textures, stock photos, keynote templates or Ebook mockups
• MyFonts & DaFont for fonts
• Design Seeds for color palette inspiration
• Moo for custom business cards
• Haute Stock & Pixistock for stock photos
• Dropbox for photo & design storage

Books for Every Freelance Graphic Designer:

• Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
• Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
• The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
• Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All
• Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine
• Everything Is Figureoutable
• Clockwork: Design Your Business to Run Itself
• You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life
• Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
• Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
• What If It Does Work Out?: How a Side Hustle Can Change Your Life
• Outliers: The Story of Success
• Embrace Your Weird: Face Your Fears and Unleash Creativity

Want to learn the top graphic design skills that clients are hiring for online? Needing a step-by-step walkthrough of the ins and outs of the top design programs? Check out The Design Skills Course!

Get Inspired by Freelance Graphic Designers

Looking to learn from our students who have made the transition to becoming freelance designers? Check out their incredibly inspiring stories:

• Emma from Scotland – From Events Manager to Brand Strategist: How One Female Founder Launched a Creative Design Studio
• Sarah from England – From Customer Service Rep to Designer: How One Woman Made Her Online Business Dream a Reality During COVID-19
• Kellie from the United States – From Production Assistant to Brand Developer: How One Woman Ditched the Entertainment Industry to Build a Content Creation Studio
• Cheryl from Amsterdam – From Brand Manager to Online Designer: How One Girl Boss Landed Her Ultimate Dream Client in Just Six Months
• Katherine from Canada – From Chemical Engineer to Designer: How One Female Founder Launched a Branding and Web Design Studio
• Ratanya from the United States – From Corporate Administrator to Online Designer: How One Female Founder Built a Full-Service Design Studio
• Sienny from Indonesia – From Chef to Designer: How This Millennial Launched a Lucrative Online Business
• Faria from England – From Corporate Finance to Remote Website Design: How One Woman Built a Boutique Squarespace Design Studio
• Linsey from the United States – From Unemployed to Graphic Designer: How One Millennial Launched a Successful Online Design Studio
• Lucia from Ireland – From Finance to Design: How One Millennial Ditched the Finance Industry to Build An Online Design Studio
• Emeli from Norway – From Goat Shepard to Graphic Designer: How One Woman Ditched Farmwork to Build an Online Design Studio
• Charel from Amsterdam – From Corporate Sales to Digital Designer: How One Female Founder Built a Remote Branding Studio
• Kate from the United States – From Dental Hygienist to Creative Designer: How One Millennial Ditched Dentistry to Start Her Graphic Design Studio
• Chelsea from Canada – From University Grad to Brand Strategist: How One Millennial Booked a One-Way Ticket and Built a Creative Branding Studio

Ready to learn the skills and business foundation you need to start and grow a thriving online business, giving you the freedom to work from home and design your life for joy, adventure, and purpose? Check out the Bucketlist Bombshells Academy!

If you have a passion for graphic designing, are ready to be your own boss, and are longing to join the remote work revolution, now is the time to start pursuing your dreams and create the lifestyle you’ve been dreaming of! 

Select your services, set your target market, and start pitching clients. You’re going to be an amazing freelance graphic designer, love! You’ve got this! 😉