The best side hustles for graphic designers are productised design packages, templates and asset packs, brand kits for small businesses, print-on-demand designs, social media design retainers, teaching, and licensing your own artwork. The common thread is selling something repeatable instead of starting from a blank brief for every client, so your income is not limited by how many custom projects you can finish in the evening.
Quick comparison
| Side hustle | Upfront cost | Speed to first sale (estimate)* | Repeatable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Productised design packages | Low | Weeks | Yes |
| Templates and asset packs | Your build time | Weeks to months | Yes |
| Brand kits for small businesses | Low | Weeks | Partly |
| Print-on-demand designs | Low to none | Months | Yes |
| Social media design retainer | Low | Weeks | Yes |
| Teaching and tutorials | Low | Weeks to months | Partly |
| Licensing your artwork | Low | Months | Yes |
*Our estimates. Results depend on your niche, portfolio and effort, and none of these are guaranteed.
1. Productised design packages
Instead of quoting every job, sell a fixed package: a logo and colour palette, a pitch deck redesign, a set of ten social templates. Fixed scope and fixed price make it easy for buyers to say yes and for you to work from a repeatable process. Name the deliverables, the number of revisions and the turnaround time on one page.
2. Templates and asset packs
Design once, sell many times. Social media template sets, presentation templates, icon packs, resume layouts and Figma or Canva kits are common examples. Check the licence terms of any marketplace you sell on, and only include fonts and images you have the right to redistribute. Our guide to selling digital products covers how to package and price them.
3. Brand kits for small businesses
Many small businesses have a logo but no consistent system: colours, fonts, spacing and example layouts. A short brand kit with usage rules is a clear, easy-to-explain offer, and it often leads to follow-on work such as menus, flyers or social graphics.
4. Print-on-demand designs
Print-on-demand services print your artwork on products and handle fulfilment, so you do not hold stock. The catch is competition: standout niches and original ideas matter more than volume. Treat it as a slow experiment, test a few designs, and keep the ones that sell.
5. Social media design retainers
Small brands often need ten to twenty graphics a month and have no time to make them. A monthly retainer gives you predictable income and a long-term client. Agree what is included each month, such as number of posts and revision rounds, so the work does not grow unnoticed.
6. Teaching and tutorials
If you can explain a tool or technique clearly, tutorials, short courses and one-to-one coaching are an option. Start with one narrow skill, such as setting up a brand kit in a particular tool, instead of trying to teach design in general.
7. Licensing your own artwork
Illustrations, patterns and photos can be licensed through stock and licensing marketplaces. Income is usually small per sale, so this works best as a slow-building library you add to over time.
How to pick one
If you need income soon, start with a productised package or a retainer, because clients can say yes quickly. If you can wait, templates and licensing build assets that keep selling. Whatever you choose, build a small portfolio page first: three strong examples beat twenty average ones. For platforms that connect designers with clients, compare options in our list of the best freelance platforms. Developers can find a similar list in side hustles for software developers.
Not sure which fits you?
Answer a few questions about your time, budget and skills and the Side Hustle Finder will rank the options for you.
What a productised package looks like
A package turns a vague service into something a client can understand in ten seconds. A simple three-tier structure works well:
| Tier | What is included | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Logo in two variations, colour palette, one font pairing, two revision rounds | New businesses on a tight budget |
| Standard | Everything in Starter, plus a one-page brand guide and social media profile images | Businesses ready to look consistent online |
| Complete | Everything in Standard, plus ten social templates and a business card layout | Businesses launching a new product or location |
Set your own prices by working out your hourly rate first, using our freelance rate formula, then estimating how many hours each tier takes you.
Your first 30 days
- Week 1: Pick one audience, such as cafes, fitness coaches or online shops. Narrow beats broad because your examples and your pitch both become more convincing.
- Week 1: Create three portfolio pieces for that audience, even if they are practice projects for imaginary businesses. Label them honestly as concept work.
- Week 2: Put your packages and examples on one simple page with a way to contact you.
- Week 3: Message twenty small businesses directly with a short note that mentions something specific about their current branding and offers one clear package.
- Week 4: Review what happened. Which messages got replies? Which package did people ask about? Adjust the offer before sending the next twenty.
Mistakes new design freelancers make
- Unlimited revisions. Always state the number of revision rounds in writing.
- Starting without a deposit. A partial upfront payment filters out unserious clients.
- Using unlicensed fonts or images. Check licences for anything you include in client work.
- Selling every service to everyone. A narrow offer is easier to explain and easier to refer.
- No written scope. Even a short message listing deliverables and dates avoids most disputes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best side hustle for a graphic designer?
Productised packages and social media retainers tend to pay fastest, while templates and licensing build longer-term income.
Do I need a degree to start?
No. Clients mostly judge a portfolio and your reliability. A few strong examples matter more than credentials.
How much can I earn?
It varies widely with your niche, pricing and time. Treat any figure you see online as an example, not a promise.
Can I sell templates made with Canva or Figma?
Often yes, but each tool and marketplace has its own licence rules, so read them before you sell.
This article is general information, not financial advice.
