Using your computer and basic graphic design training and education, you can have your own graphic design studio. You can produce professionally designed logs, mechanicals, layouts, illustrations, presentations, brochures, direct mail, business cards, and other advertising and marketing materials. You will need a background in design and computer graphics, and it will be helpful if you have worked as a graphic designer for a firm before you start out on your own. You can also use two software packages—Print Artist and Gift Maker—to start your own business creating customized graphic output for clients who own small businesses. Print Artist allows users to create professional-looking signs, greeting cards, banners, posters, certificates, and more in minutes. It grows with the user's ability, offering thousands of combinations of graphics, fonts, and special effects to create advanced custom designs, developed by graphic designers.

Gift Maker lets you design one-of-a-kind personalized merchandise—from t-shirts to teddy bears—and order them direct from the factory. Possibilities using Print Artist include designing and creating letterhead, envelopes, and business cards; and making print advertisements, flyers, banners, and signs that clients can use to promote their business. famous graphic designers can be used to create a wide range of promotional items, including polo shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs, caps, and tote bags. If you have professional paint software, you can import your original designs into Print Artist and Gift Maker. Graphic designers can design and sell matching stationery and envelopes, greeting cards, postcards, and paper crafts with Print Artist. With Gift Maker, you can put your artwork on clothing, clocks, coasters, mouse pads, calendars, teddy bears, and more.

Start-Up Costs And Financing Sources

* $10,000-$ 15,000.
* Small business loan, personal savings, lines of credit on credit cards.

Pricing Guidelines

Go by industry standards and compare your prices with other graphic designer salaries.

Marketing And Advertising Methods And Tips

* Advertise in the business telephone directory.
* Print promotional materials. These are a sampling of what your business can do, so make them look professional and dynamic.
* Send to your target customers: small businesses, organizations, schools, small ad agencies.
* Place ads in business publications.

Essential Equipment

The essential equipments are computer like a Macintosh LCIII with graphic design software such as PageMaker, Quark-XPress, Print Artist, Gift Maker, or Aldus Freehand. Print Artist and Gift Maker require a 386 PC running Windows software. Other office supplies and equipment: fax machine, printer (preferably a color printer), modem, telephone, answering machine or service, filing and bookkeeping software, promotional materials, graphics art reference books.
Recommended Training, Experience, or Needed Skills
* Need a good background or training in basic design principles.
* Work in a design or publishing firm.
* Need to be creative and be able to communicate with your clients.

Income Potential

$25,000 to $40,000.

Type Of Business

In-home business, except for times when meeting with clients (unless your home office is set up for meetings)

Best Customers

The best customers are small businesses, advertising companies, organizations, architects, engineers, brides, companies wanting direct mail promotions.

Helpful Tips

* Create unique layouts and communicate well with your clients. This will help bring you repeat business and referrals about graphic designer.
* Send out a monthly promotional flyer with marketing and/or business tips to those on your mailing list. This will help keep your business in your clients' minds.
* Keep current on advertising and industry trends.
* Use Print Artist and Gift Maker to create promotional items for your business or to create sample designs and sample output to show clients.
* Come up with a list of ideas on how your clients can use the items you produce to promote their businesses.

Significance Of Graphic Designer

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