159 Freelance Designers Struggle Because of This – How to Build a Real Business

The reason most freelancers struggle is not because their design skills are not good enough. It is because they are thinking like freelancers, not business owners. If you are tired of chasing projects, lowering your prices, and constantly starting from scratch, it is time to fix this.Today, I am breaking down exactly why most designers stay stuck and how to shift into building a profitable design business that finally pays you what you are worth.You will learn:Why better design skills are not the answerHow your pricing model is keeping you brokeThe mindset shift you need to stop freelancing and start building a businessWhat systems actually help you work less and make moreFor your next website design project check out wix.com/studioAventive Academy’s Resources:$12k Client Attraction Masterclass: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/Client Portal for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/Mockup Magic: https://aventiveacademy.com/mockup-magic/ Brand Guidelines Template: https://aventiveacademy.com/brand-guidelines/ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/profit Join My Weekly Newsletter: https://aventive-academy.ck.page/0fc86a336f The Creative CEO Accelerator: https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator

Your portfolio might be the reason clients keep ghosting you or pushing back on your prices. Not because your design work is not good enough, but because your portfolio is sending the wrong message.Most designers fill their portfolios with visuals like logos and mockups and forget that high-paying clients are not looking for pretty work. They are looking for proof that you understand business and strategy.I am breaking down the portfolio mistakes that keep you stuck with low-budget clients and showing you exactly how to fix them.You will learn:The mistake that makes your portfolio attract low-paying clientsHow to present your work so clients see your valueWhat high-ticket clients actually look for when hiring a designerHow to shift your portfolio from a gallery to a sales toolGrab a cup of coffee, your notes, and get ready!Aventive Academy’s Resources:$12k Client Attraction Masterclass: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/Client Portal for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/Mockup Magic: https://aventiveacademy.com/mockup-magic/ Brand Guidelines Template: https://aventiveacademy.com/brand-guidelines/ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/profit Join My Weekly Newsletter: https://aventive-academy.ck.page/0fc86a336f The Creative CEO Accelerator: https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator

Most designers stay stuck at $3K projects because they’re pricing wrong, targeting the wrong clients, and positioning themselves as just another freelancer. The difference between a $3K designer and a $10K designer isn’t design skills. It’s how they run their business. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what separates the two with real examples you can apply today.You will learn:Why pricing by hours or deliverables is killing your incomeHow to position your services so clients happily pay $10K or moreWhat high-paying clients actually care about (it’s not your portfolio)How to stop selling logos and start selling solutionsThe mindset shift that helped me go from $3K to $12K projectsGrab a cup of coffee, your notes, and get ready to redefine how you run your design business!Aventive Academy’s Resources:$12k Client Attraction Masterclass: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/Client Portal for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/Mockup Magic: https://aventiveacademy.com/mockup-magic/ Brand Guidelines Template: https://aventiveacademy.com/brand-guidelines/ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/profit Join My Weekly Newsletter: https://aventive-academy.ck.page/0fc86a336f The Creative CEO Accelerator: https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator

Tired of clients who don’t see the value in branding, question your prices, or treat design like an afterthought? The problem isn’t your work - it’s how you’re positioning and selling it. Clients don’t automatically understand the value of branding. You have to show them.In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly why you’re attracting clients who don’t respect your expertise and how to shift your positioning so you start working with people who actually see branding as a business investment.You will learn:Why clients don’t automatically value design (and how to change that)How to position yourself as a brand expert, not just a designerThe difference between selling deliverables vs. selling outcomesWhere to find clients who take branding seriously and are willing to investThe one mindset shift that helped me start booking $10K+ clientsListen in and start attracting better clients who respect your work and your pricing.Aventive Academy’s Resources:$12k Client Attraction Masterclass: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/Client Portal for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/Mockup Magic: https://aventiveacademy.com/mockup-magic/ Brand Guidelines Template: https://aventiveacademy.com/brand-guidelines/ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/profit Join My Weekly Newsletter: https://aventive-academy.ck.page/0fc86a336f The Creative CEO Accelerator: https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator

If you prefer watching instead of listening, this episode actually comes from one of my YouTube videos. You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/WdSlsIkvnrETired of being stuck with $500 clients who question your rates, ghost you, or don’t take your work seriously? I’ve been there. In this episode, I’m sharing the exact shifts I made to go from low-budget projects to consistent $10K+ branding clients. I’ll walk you through what I changed in my messaging, how I positioned myself as an expert, and where I actually found premium clients who respected my process and paid on time. If you want to start attracting better clients, this episode is your roadmap.You will learn:Why high-paying clients weren’t finding you beforeHow to position yourself as an expert, not just another designerWhat to say to attract clients who care about results, not just a logoWhere to find clients who are ready to invest in brandingThe mindset shift that completely changed how I run my businessGrab a cup of coffee, your notes, and get ready to redefine how you run your design business!Aventive Academy’s Resources:$12k Client Attraction Masterclass: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/Client Portal for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/Mockup Magic: https://aventiveacademy.com/mockup-magic/ Brand Guidelines Template: https://aventiveacademy.com/brand-guidelines/ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/profit Join My Weekly Newsletter: https://aventive-academy.ck.page/0fc86a336f The Creative CEO Accelerator: https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator

To celebrate 3 years of The Profitable Graphic Designer podcast, I’m offering 30% off The Profitable Designer Program with code CAKE this week only!Join by Wednesday to get a free 30-minute 1:1 coaching call with me!👉 aventiveacademy.com/programIn this extra episode, we dive into the reasons why so many talented designers stay stuck—underpaid, overworked, and unsure of how to scale. I’ll share exactly what you need to do to transition from freelancer to creative CEO and start building the design business you’ve always wanted.Don’t miss out—listen now!

If you keep landing clients who expect a full brand identity for a few hundred dollars, it’s not just bad luck—it’s a sign that something in your approach needs to change. High-paying clients don’t randomly find designers, and they definitely don’t hire based on just “good design.” In this episode, I’m breaking down the three biggest mistakes that keep designers stuck working with low-budget clients and what you need to do differently to start attracting premium clients.You will learn:Why positioning yourself as “just a designer” is costing you high-ticket clientsThe pricing mistake that keeps you undercharging for your workHow to market yourself to clients who actually have a budgetThe one shift that helped me go from low-paying projects to $10K+ branding clientsWhere to find clients who value branding and will invest in itListen in and start attracting better clients who see your work as an investment, not just an expense.Aventive Academy’s Resources:$12k Client Attraction Masterclass: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/Client Portal for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/Mockup Magic: https://aventiveacademy.com/mockup-magic/ Brand Guidelines Template: https://aventiveacademy.com/brand-guidelines/ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/profit Join My Weekly Newsletter: https://aventive-academy.ck.page/0fc86a336f The Creative CEO Accelerator: https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator

If you’re still offering logo design as a standalone service and wondering why high-paying clients aren’t hiring you, this episode is going to change everything.Premium clients don’t just want a logo. They want a full brand identity that positions them for success. And if you’re still marketing yourself as just a logo designer, you’ll always be compared to the cheapest option.In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly why you’re struggling to attract high-ticket logo clients and how to fix it. I’ll share how I went from working with low-budget clients to consistently landing $10K+ branding projects, the biggest mistakes most designers make when selling their services, and what you need to shift to start attracting premium clients who value your expertise.You will learn:Why selling just a logo keeps you stuck with low-paying clientsThe power of offering full brand identity packages (and how it helped me scale)Why having a niche makes it easier to land premium projectsHow to position yourself as a branding expert, not just a designerThe one shift that changed everything in my businessIf you’re ready to start booking high-ticket branding projects, this episode is for you.Aventive Academy’s Resources:$12k Client Attraction Masterclass: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/Client Portal for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/Mockup Magic: https://aventiveacademy.com/mockup-magic/ Brand Guidelines Template: https://aventiveacademy.com/brand-guidelines/ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/profit Join My Weekly Newsletter: https://aventive-academy.ck.page/0fc86a336f The Creative CEO Accelerator: https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator

High-paying clients aren’t avoiding you because you’re not talented—they just don’t see you as the expert they need. If you’re stuck working with low-budget clients while hearing about other designers landing $10K+ projects, it’s time to fix what’s keeping you invisible to premium clients. I’ll break down exactly why they aren’t hiring you and what you need to change today.You will learn:The biggest mistakes that make high-paying clients ignore your servicesHow to position yourself as a premium designer (so clients see your value)What your portfolio needs to attract serious inquiriesWhere to find clients who can actually afford $10K+ brandingThe one strategy that will get high-paying clients to reach out to youListen in and start making the changes that bring in better clients and bigger projects.Aventive Academy’s Resources:$12k Client Attraction Masterclass: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/Client Portal for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/Mockup Magic: https://aventiveacademy.com/mockup-magic/ Brand Guidelines Template: https://aventiveacademy.com/brand-guidelines/ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/profit Join My Weekly Newsletter: https://aventive-academy.ck.page/0fc86a336f The Creative CEO Accelerator: https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator

Some designers always seem to have a steady stream of clients, while others struggle to get inquiries. The difference? Messaging. If your website, Instagram bio, or content doesn’t clearly communicate your value, you could be pushing clients away without realizing it. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly how to refine your messaging so it attracts high-paying clients instead of repelling them.You will learn:The three things your messaging must communicate instantlyHow to turn your website into a client-converting machineThe Instagram bio formula that makes potential clients take actionThe biggest messaging mistakes designers make (and how to fix them)It’s time to upgrade your messaging and start attracting more clients - let’s do this!Aventive Academy’s Resources:$12k Client Attraction Masterclass: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/Client Portal for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/Mockup Magic: https://aventiveacademy.com/mockup-magic/ Brand Guidelines Template: https://aventiveacademy.com/brand-guidelines/ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/profit Join My Weekly Newsletter: https://aventive-academy.ck.page/0fc86a336f The Creative CEO Accelerator: https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator