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Start a Graphic Design Business from Home  

What you will be doing.  Have you ever really looked at products in the grocery store and in print ads?  What attracts you to certain products more than others?  It could be the look, the fancy design, or something the ad says.  This is possibly the work of a graphic designer.  They take the ideas of advertisers and put them into a marketable form. 

Graphic designers are in high demand.  They can be employed by advertising agencies, manufacturers, book publishers and other businesses.  They use high quality software to produce the images that we see every day all around us.   

How to start.  Think up a name for the company.  You will be working from your home so check to see if there are any restrictions on using your home as an office where you can meet with clients.  Starting out in graphic design is expensive so consider outside financing.  Develop a business plan that details where you want to start and where you are looking forward to going. 

Starting costs.  Graphic designers use state-of-the-art graphic design software combined with their own artistic talent.  Your computer needs to have Internet access and the capability to complete big projects.  The home office of a graphic designer also needs a telephone, fax machine, and a laser quality printer.  Look at spending upwards of $5,000 to outfit the office.   

Skills needed.  A graphic designer of course has to have artistic talent and an eye for the abstract.  You also need to be at the top of your game.  Training in graphic design and experience working with a design firm will give you the credentials to start your own business.  

You need an eye for detail and work that is clean and fresh.  With such stiff competition, every design must be interpreted correctly and delivered according to an already agreed upon deadline.  Graphic designers must be able to work under the pressure of short timelines and picky clients.  If there are any problems with the project, these need to be communicated clearly and as soon as possible to the client. 

Marketing.  Advertise in trade journals and business magazines.  Produce good quality graphics for church events or the local charity fundraiser.  Be sure to attach your logo to everything you do and take a picture for your portfolio.  

A website is necessary to reach as many potential customers as you can.  Show off with your designs.  Look for ways to advertise for free, through affiliate programs, and other website markets like YouTube and MySpace. 

Graphic designers can do a multitude of things to help businesses grow and put a fresh face on their products.  As a freelancer, you can make a comfortable living offering your considerable talents to companies, large and small.

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