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How to start a graphic design business in Northern Ireland

Everything you need: what it costs, what you can make, what Northern Ireland asks for, and every step from your first idea to your tenth customer.

Start this business with PressUp

Checked October 2026 In pounds 12-minute read

The prices and costs in this guide are estimates for the United Kingdom: researched US figures converted to pounds by price levels. Registration fees and taxes are the United Kingdom's own.

To start£670–2.2kLean to full setup

Per month£2.1k–6.8kOnce established

Profit margin75–90%After software, insurance and payment fees

First customer1–6 weeksFrom today

DifficultyTakes practice and a strong portfolio

From homeYesOr you go to them

01Is it right for you?

A good fit if you have an eye for design and like making ideas visible

Every business needs a logo, signs, menus, flyers and posts that look professional. As a freelance graphic designer you make them from home, and clients who like your style come back for more.

You'll like it if

You notice good and bad design everywhere
You enjoy turning a brief into something visual
You can take feedback without taking it personally
You like quiet, focused work

Think twice if

You don't enjoy screen work all day
Revisions and picky clients wear you down
You want a steady paycheck from day one
You'd rather not sell your own work

02What it costs

From £670 to start

Start lean with the essentials and upgrade as customers come, or set up fully from day one.

Total to start£670

What	Cost
ComputerAn everyday laptop, or a more powerful one in the full figure	£480
Drawing tablet and second screenOptional to start; easier drawing and editing	£0
Design software, three monthsFree design apps to start; the full creative suite in the full figure	£0
Registering your businessFree as a sole trader; more to form a company	£0
Insurance, first three monthsProfessional liability, plus general liability in the full figure	£130
Website and marketingPortfolio site, domain and business cards	£60
Total	£670

Once you're running: about £110 a month, plus about 3% of what you earn. Design software, insurance, email and your portfolio site every month, plus card or bank fees on each payment.

03What you can make

Work out your own numbers

Move the sliders to match your plans. The chart shows a first year that builds up as word gets around.

Average price per hour £30 £9£100

Hours a week 20 150

Monthly costs £110 £0£440

Typical in Northern Ireland: £17–£50 per hour, 10–30 hours a week once established.

Revenue a month—

Profit a month—

Pays back in—

Your first yearTotal: —

Money inCosts

Side hustle£340–1k

A few logos or flyers a month

Full-time, on your own£2.1k–4.1k

Steady projects and repeat clients

Growing£4.1k–6.8k

Retainer clients and brand projects

04Step by step

12 steps to your first customers

Each step says what it costs and how long it takes. Most owners get through them in a few weeks.

1
Build your portfolio
3–8 weeks Free

Clients hire from what they see. Make 8 to 12 strong pieces: logos, a brand kit, flyers and social graphics, for real or made-up businesses.
- 8–12 portfolio pieces
- One full brand kit
- Short notes on each brief
2
Pick a focus
2–3 days Free

Logos and branding, social graphics, menus and print, or packaging: a clear focus makes you easier to recommend.
- One or two kinds of work
- The businesses you'd like to serve
- Check other designers' prices
3
Choose your name
1 day Free

Your own name or a studio name both work. Make sure no one in Northern Ireland has it.
- 3–5 name ideas
- Check no one else uses it
- Check the domain
Get name ideas for your businessFind a name
4
Register your business in Northern Ireland
1 day to 2 weeks £0–£100

Most owners start as a sole trader with HMRC; a limited company with Companies House costs a little and keeps business debts separate.
- Register as a sole trader: free
- Set up a limited company: £100
5
Get your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)
1–5 days Free

Your business's tax number from HMRC, for taxes and banking.
- Register with HMRC
- Open a business bank account
6
Sort out VAT
1–3 days Free

You must register for VAT once your sales pass £90,000 a year. The rate is 20%.
- Know when to register for VAT
- Keep records of income and costs
- Set money aside for income tax
7
Get insured
1–2 days Quotes are free

Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on a job. Get quotes from two or three insurers.
- Professional liability
- General liability
8
Set up your tools
1–2 days £480–1.7k

Free design apps are enough for your first clients. Add the professional suite and a drawing tablet as work grows.
- A capable computer
- Design apps
- Licensed fonts and images
9
Set your prices
1 day Free

Set project prices for what you make most, with a set number of revisions. See the prices below.
- Logo, brand kit and flyer prices
- Two rounds of changes included
- Deposit before you start
10
Put your business online
1 day Included

A portfolio site with your best work, prices and a contact form wins clients while you design.
- Portfolio website
- Your packages
- Contact form
Describe your business and PressUp builds your websiteBuild your website
11
Get your first clients
1–6 weeks Free

New businesses need logos, cards and signs. Start with people you know and local owners.
- Tell friends who own businesses
- Offer new businesses a starter kit
- Ask every client for a review
Ask your customers for reviews by email with PressUpSee how
12
Bill and keep track
Ongoing Included

Take deposits, bill on delivery and keep track of who has paid.
- Deposits
- Invoices on delivery
- Client list
Keep your customers and invoices in one place with PressUpSee how

05Licenses in N. Ireland

What Northern Ireland asks for

Registering, taxes, and what this business needs. Check the details with each authority: rules change.

Register as a sole trader

You register as a sole trader by registering for Self Assessment.

HMRCFree

Set up a limited company

Registering online. Registering by post costs more.

Companies House£100once

Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)

Your business's tax number, for banking and taxes.

HMRCFree

06Equipment

What to buy first

Buy the "must haves" to start. Add the rest when customers pay for them.

ComputerEveryday laptop or a more powerful one

£480–£1,350Must have

Design software, a yearOne app or the full creative suite

£190–£570Must have

Drawing tabletFor drawing and illustration

£50–£260Later

Second screenMore room for tools and previews

£40–£95Later

Template design app, a yearFree plan, or paid for quick client graphics

£0–£100Later

07Pricing

3 packages that sell

Simple choices make it easy to say yes. Most customers pick the middle one.

Flyer or social set

£170 per project · A few days

One flyer or a set of social graphics
Two rounds of changes
Print and web files

Logo design

£340 per project · 1–2 weeks

Three first ideas
Two rounds of changes
Files for print and web

Logo and brand kit

£820 per project · 2–4 weeks

Everything in Logo design
Colors and fonts
Business card design
Social media templates

Logo design prices in Northern IrelandTypical: £200–£1,000

Average £540

£0£340£680£1k£1.4k

08First customers

How to get your first customers

You don't need an ad budget. These work for new owners almost everywhere.

Your portfolio

Post your best work on your site and social pages, with the brief and the result.

Free

New business owners

People opening a business need a logo, cards and signs right away.

Free

Partner with printers and web designers

Print shops and web designers meet clients who need design every week.

Partnership

Monthly design support

Offer a set number of graphics each month for clients who post or print often.

Repeat income

Reviews

Ask every happy client for a review and permission to show the work.

With PressUp Reviews

09Your first 30 days

A month from now, you could be open

Week 1

Set up

Choose your name
Register your business
Get insurance quotes

Week 2

Build proof

Finish 8–12 portfolio pieces
Write your contract
Set your revision policy

Week 3

Go live

Portfolio website
Set your prices
Share your work online

Week 4

First clients

Contact 20 new businesses
Aim for 3 projects
Ask for reviews

10Questions

Common questions

Do I need a license to be a graphic designer in Northern Ireland?

Usually not. You'll register your business and handle your taxes. Use only fonts, photos and icons you're licensed to use, and say in your contract who owns the finished work.

Do I need a design degree?

No. Clients judge your portfolio, not your diploma. Courses help you learn faster, but strong examples matter most.

Can I start with free software?

Yes. Free design apps can handle many first projects. Most professionals move to paid tools for print-ready files and more control.

Should I charge by the hour or by the project?

Clients usually prefer a set price per project. Estimate your hours, multiply by your rate, and include a set number of changes.

Can I start part-time?

Yes. Many designers start with evening and weekend projects, then go full-time once they have regular clients.

Costs and earnings are estimates from the sources below, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the authorities named in this guide. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Sources