The Best Books for Freelance Graphic Designers

While there are great resources out there for anyone interested in freelancing, working as a graphic designer can have a few twists that makes it worth your while to take a look at books that specifically offer information geared towards freelance graphic designers. These books can provide an education on the nuts and bolts of the freelance graphic design business.

Graphic Designer's Guide to Pricing, Estimating & Budgeting — Revised Edition

Deciding how to set your prices can be one of the toughest parts of setting up a freelance graphic design business: there are all sorts of variables, like your own experience and what your clients are used to paying. Theo Stephan Williams' book, Graphic Designer's Guide to Pricing, Estimating & Budgeting — Revised Edition, provides an in-depth look at every part of the process of deciding just what you'll charge — along with covering some aspects of client relations and project management.

• Available as a paperback
• 192 pages
• $14.96
• Purchase Graphic Designer's Guide to Pricing, Estimating & Budgeting — Revised Edition

100 Habits of Successful Freelance Designers: Insider Secrets for Working Smart & Staying Creative

There's no 'one right way' to work as a freelance graphic designer. That doesn't mean that other graphic designers can't provide you with some ideas on how to operate your business — instead, it just means that you need an easy way to see the widest variety of experiences possible. 100 Habits of Successful Freelance Designers: Insider Secrets for Working Smart & Staying Creative is full of those different situations, bringing together help from a long list of experienced freelancers.

• Available as a hardback
• 192 pages
• $26.40
• Purchase 100 Habits of Successful Freelance Designers: Insider Secrets for Working Smart & Staying Creative

Freelance Design in Practice

If your goal is to freelance full-time, Freelance Design in Practice, by Cathy Fishel, can guide you through the steps necessary to making that transition. The book goes beyond just telling you about the financial and legal ramifications of working for yourself, offering a wide variety of images and illustrations that will clarify business topics, as well as bringing in quotes and stories from a wide variety of successful freelance graphic designers.

• Available as a paperback
• 208 pages
• $21.90
• Purchase Freelance Design in Practice

How To Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul

Freelancing isn't just about about bringing in the money: as a graphic designer, you have to enjoy doing creative work. Adrian Shaugnessy's book, How To Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul guides you through doing creative work on a regular basis without losing your creativity. It doesn't hurt that the book adds in plenty of information about the business end of freelancing, as well.

• Available as a paperback
• 160 pages
• $13.57
• Purchase How To Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul