What they don’t tell you about taking your freelance graphic design career

From insurance chaos to client nightmares—the freelance design world hits different when you’re flying solo. Here’s what’s actually up.

So you want to take your freelance graphic design career. This is a great option in 2025, especially with the growing demand for remote work, and the rise of online platforms that make it easier than ever to connect with clients across the globe. Freelancing offers a new level of freedom and autonomy that just fits the more creative industry you’ve found yourself in. 

But it’s not without its risks. There are many articles across the web demonstrating how beneficial a freelance career can be, but before you take the leap, it’s important to recognise what they’re not telling you. There are five things we think you should be aware of:

• The importance of insurance
• Your many different jobs as a freelancer
• Your legal responsibilities
• Clients not understanding the design process
• Possible loneliness when working by yourself

Let’s discuss them in a bit more detail. 

Insurance has just got even more important

The first thing is all to do with insurance. When you’re working for a company, this is largely taken care of by the company itself, but as a freelancer, the emphasis is on working out what you need to protect yourself against. Platforms like Next Insurance can be incredibly helpful in achieving this aim. By offering tailored solutions, they make the process of securing the right coverage far simpler, not to mention more affordable, and do a great job of taking the guesswork out of the process. 

You’re wearing multiple hats

It’s also important to remember that, as a graphic design freelancer, you’re going to be wearing multiple hats, not just one. While working as a designer for a company, it’s likely you’ll have a defined role with clear boundaries, but freelancing is a different kettle of fish. From the very beginning, you’re going to have to deal with:

• Project management
• Client relations
• Marketing
• Billing, and more

So it’s important to do your research and make sure you know what you’re doing!

You’ll be responsible for all legalities

Speaking of having more on your plate, you’re also going to be responsible for all legalities. Oddly, one of your biggest jobs as a freelance designer doesn’t actually revolve around design – it revolves around legality, and ensuring your business is protected from all the most crucial legal risks.

It’s important to remember, of course, that there’s no HR department. No legal team to rely on. Everything from contracts to taxes falls squarely on your shoulders, so it’s your job to take care of every legal responsibility and protect yourself from potential legal issues.

People don’t always understand the design process

Speaking of client relations, you also have to remember that a lot of people don’t understand design and what goes into it. There will undoubtedly be clients who think you can knock up a logo in a matter of hours, or expect you to work for free in exchange for “exposure”.

This can easily be frustrating if you’re not prepared for it, so you’ll need to ensure that your clients understand the time, effort, and expertise that goes into your work before they make an order.

Isolation can be a real problem

Something else they don’t tell you about being a design freelancer is that isolation can be a real problem. According to a recent study, remote workers are significantly more likely to report feeling isolated, with a 98% increase in loneliness compared to office workers.

Even if you don’t think this will happen to you, it’s important to join co-working spaces and set up social time outside of work. By doing this, you’ll be tackling isolation before it can sneak up on you, ensuring your work remains happy, healthy, and sociable.

Wrapping up

These are five things that they don’t tell you about becoming a freelance graphic designer, but there are many more. The important thing is to take your time and really consider the field you’re stepping into before you take the leap.

Being a freelancer is incredibly liberating, and it could be the best choice to stand out from the crowd and apply some new ideas that wouldn’t have been accepted in your previous job. But it’s a difficult road, and the more you know about it, the more likely you will navigate it effectively!