5 Essential Tools for Running an Online Design Business

/ Ladies Who Design, LLC/

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Finding the right tools to help you maintain your design business's brand, systems, and daily operations can be complex. That's why I've decided to let you know the exact ones I use every day to run my online design business. These platforms have saved me time, money, and energy. They have allowed me to get back to doing the things that I do best. Let's get started! If you are starting and do not have a lot of money to spend, I will also include whether or not they have a free trial and special offers.

Design

Adobe Creative Cloud

Creative Cloud is a collection of 20+ desktop and mobile apps and services for photography, design, video, web, UX, and more. You can even access apps on your iPad now.

Price: Free to try; US$ 52.99/mo. for Individuals and US$ 19.99/mo. for Students and Teachers

File Management

Dropbox

Dropbox is great for transferring, sharing, and storing important files. It also backs up and syncs docs, photos, videos, and other files to cloud storage. This allows you to access them from any device, no matter where you are.

Price: Free or upgrade for more space; US$ 9.99/mo. for Plus (2TB) and US$ 16.99/mo. for Family (Share 2TB)

Accounting

Quickbooks

Quickbooks takes the trouble of being your own accountant completely out of the equation. Track income & expenses, send invoices, perform bookkeeping, and more with your incredibly visual and easy-to-use business profile. They have a live bookkeeping expert on hand to help with setup at an additional cost, but I found the software very user-friendly. All plans make accounting tasks very simple, and they have tons of resources to help find and setup the right plan for you.

Price: They have three different pricing plans for small businesses and one plan for freelancers. I use the Self-Employed option under the Freelancer’s tab, which is $15/month.

But you can save 55% off your first three months by clicking the button below!

Pricing Guide and Contracts

Graphic Artists Guild Handbook

This is MY BIBLE! The Graphic Artists Guild Handbook offers complete pricing and ethical references for designers. It also helps members and non-members alike navigate the world of charging and collecting payment for their designs and building their freelance business. There are even contract samples you can use from the handbook. Grab this book now!

Price: $49.95

Online Shop

Printful

Printful makes setting up an online shop easy. Their integrations work seamlessly with platforms like Shopify, Squarespace, and Big Cartel. They even provide a mockup generator to help you get your products ready to sell.

Price: Free to setup an account. No setup costs, minimums, or monthly fees. Once you make an order, they will charge you for manufacturing and shipping. If you want a guide for pricing and profits, check out this payment guide.

These tools have helped me grow my business exponentially! Should you choose to invest in any of them, I wish you all the best with your business pursuits. Feel free to leave any comments or questions below, and I will do my best to answer!