How To Hire Your First Creative Freelancer or Employee

Grow Your Business Beyond One Person. How to scale your business? How to grow from being a freelancer or solopreneur? When is the right time to hire other people to help? Too many creative entrepreneurs get stuck doing all the work themselves and suffer from burnout, slow growth and then one day realize they don't have much in terms of savings and their career trajectory is taking a turn for the worse. How do you avoid this?
Get over the fear of hiring others. We tell you how.
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[@rmargallo_]

I'm so glad I saw this vid. Thank you, The Futur team and Chris for sharing this.

[@lukebutler7828]

Thank you Chris and Matthew and everyone at The Futur for this webinar. Informative, educational and inspiring.

[@robertmazurowski5974]

I am overtired and burned out, and I can have more Business but I was afraid to hire someone. Thank you for this.

[@Soulofjazzman]

Thank you, Chris. This webinar was absolutely amazing to hear. I loved that you touched on motivation coach tactics such as Gary V.’s ‘work hard’ approach. Awesome content!

[@tvmorgan]

This video was a much needed intervention for me. I am the freelancer with too much work making over $100/hr and lying to myself about how no one can do it like I can. I’ve tried hiring, I’ve been somewhat successful with a couple of solid subcontractors but have struggled to expand past that. But now I’m beyond burnt out. Listening to you I’m realizing I probably don’t need to be working IN this business at all anymore and need to raise those rates, while good, even more to build in uh oh money for myself. I guess the only thing that still confuses me a bit with some of these aspirational hourly being thrown out - ($400 an hour) when you said earlier in the video that the most you’d really expect to pay would be closer to $100/hr (and I’m talking effective hourlys obviously I realize hourly isn’t really the ideal way to charge) but I suppose that’s more of a production designer rate. In summary most hands on production designers would charge at max $100-$150:hr and agency owners would charge $400. I guess that’s the difference?

[@jamescooney8562]

your imput is one of the most valuveable content that I've come across in developing!!!

[@thefutur]

Thank you

[@angelvelazquez1792]

Really enjoyed this live webinar. Thank you Chris and everyone at The Futur

[@thefutur]

Thank you.

[@jadedarmawangsa]

This is exactly what I needed

[@JoshRomeroFilms]

This is great! I'm highly considering taking the Tony Robbins Business Mastery course once I get to that level of cash-flow. Your course seems like a great resource as well, and perhaps can come right after Tony! Thanks for this excellent webinar 🌟

[@qikteam5319]

There's some real golden nuggets in this video. Thanks for making this !

[@thefutur]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sherryhorowitz4523]

Thanks!

[@JoshuaEliGilley]

This is a FANTASTIC!!!

[@AlternateGM]

Was signed up for this webinar, but was 6am Saturday morning here is NZ and needed the sleep after an exhausting week! So pleased you recorded and posted this! Thanks guys - Jason

[@thefutur]

You’re very welcome.

[@AlternateGM]

The Futur thank you for the reply. Have been consuming your content (video, podcast, website) over past two weeks since having the Money video series referred to me. Just came out of being burnt out with my design, marketing print business. Now waiting to implement your advice and systems in my current design consulting job, so I can prepare myself for when I re-enter my own business again in a few years.

[@gaschneidr]

I loved how Chris gave an opportunity to Alain in the end. Hope it works out for both of you :)

[@thefutur]

Let’s see where this leads.

[@gaschneidr]

@@thefutur is just getting started

[@austinryder4089]

This helps so much, thanks guys

[@frandyb.830]

Great insight! I want to enroll into the training. Last time, I check I couldn't afford it.

[@thefutur]

One day.

[@fillet-o-fishchamp]

Chris, can you do a sped up, step by step version of you designing a website / poster / brand identity merch from scratch? Showing us the wireframes, thought process, development and polishing it till the outcome.

[@thefutur]

Yeah. Sure. What should I tackle first?

[@fillet-o-fishchamp]

The Futur Perhaps a rebrand of a small business(could be real or imaginary), inclusive of props such as posters, name cards, collectibles etc. I believe themes such as aquatic life, commercial food would be easy to execute. The process I would love to see are the sketches of the web design and logos, how it draws inspiration from the elements the brand has, the feelings it’s intended to communicate to its consumers, how to make graphic aesthetics pop and have a flow, more intuitive for human eyes and impactful (choice of words used?) All of these are some factors I could think of that I apply in my school work, I hope that it makes sense if you choose to do a video on it!

[@thefutur]

you should consider taking the logo design course we have. we go over the entire creative process from start to finish for an imaginary project: create a sub-brand for an airline. we started this on the Adobe live-stream but redid the whole thing and finished it. academy.thefutur.com

[@fillet-o-fishchamp]

The Futur sure I’ll check it out!

[@YTAldoaz]

Thank you!

[@bnext1webconsulting683]

Thank's for sharing Chris. :)

[@Nazreen]

Hey Chris! you guys are doing a fantastic job, thanks for the wonderful contents over the youtube, twitter and other platforms which helps a lot, and Chris can you talk about the "social proof in the design business" on the upcoming episode.. Thanks. Nazreen exe.

[@thefutur]

Good suggestion.

[@geminusdesign8738]

Another fab video, I really enjoy them and learn a lot, thanks. Sorry I’m a tech geek I also love your headphones, what make are they?

[@thefutur]

Aiaiai

[@ArchieDeZ]

to the futur... and beyond..

[@repiano]

Chris Do is Chuck Norris of design business.

[@thefutur]

Haha. I don’t even know what that means but thank you?

[@repiano]

Yes, that's a compliment. Now I'm feel old. :|

[@joshcollins9125]

You mean Chris “what can’t he” Do?

[@krakatoom]

Hi @thefutur, I am going to negotiate my first big project doing identity design or even branding for a startup. Should I go for prices like other businesses which are well known for their work and prizes as a newbie?

[@justin78517]

this guy is gold

[@thefutur]

Thank you.

[@sonoftroy8572]

He guys! I do have a similar question, how does the process of paying your first worker work and keeping track of the finances, also is this something I need to manage starting off or should I hire someone to manage the finances right away.... there is just so much stuff I don’t know

[@brunoharari6454]

Perfect!!!

[@dotails]

Are you concerned with hiring remote freelancers in other countries, how do you protect your IP before even interviewing? I've interviewed people but felt like I needed to reveal to many details to determine if they are right for the job but they could turn around and flip my idea for themselves.

[@thefutur]

We haven’t had any issues with remote workers.

[@BrantK147]

Oh no, he really was tired at the end haha he completely misunderstood Alain's question. Alain meant "How do I talk about my ideas for the project to the client, without giving too much away in case they decide to go with someone else. I won't want to take my idea with them".

[@HenryDaggett]

Loved it, but I gotta know where Chris' headphones are from!

[@thefutur]

aiaiai.com

[@xtralargefries]

aiaiai.dk

[@whateverman2734]

MY BIGGEST QUESTION: First of a designer, a copywriter. not the best or a master, but I had about two years of in ad agencies. I want to open my own digital marketing agency offering Branding, Copywriting, Web, Graphic design by hiring others. I do know a lot about strategy and creating ideas. Now... Do I need to become an expert first in order my agency to hire someone ?

[@lessemo]

Not really. There are many leaders that are not the best at making the stuff that sells, but they are good at other things, like orchestrating the elements for everything to work.

[@sainaag1141]

I don't quite understand how he came up with the estimation formula... Why charge 2-3 times more than the hard cost? Would it be wrong/unethical if I hired a freelancer to do a logo for $200 and sold it for $1800? (8x-9x) Does a limit exist on how much more you can charge?

[@thefutur]

it's not wrong. it's arbitrage. buy low sell high. there is no limit. when you realize the value to someone is greater than what it costs to make, you are entering into value based pricing.

[@RenataJensen]

Thank you

[@thefutur]

You're welcome

[@thefutur]

You are very welcome!

[@arpitjain8131]

Please recommend some books for budding Graphic and Logo Designers.

[@thefutur]

Check our book list on the Futur blog.

[@benjaminleavitt3666]

Could you please do a conversation with role play about how to negotiate salary when interviewing for a job?

[@nazar2383]

on 40:15 Chris tells on how to price a job for a client and I am a bit confused because I watched almost each of your videos and in video about pricing Chris said to add a profit margin of 10-25% on top of production cost whilst here he recommends to multiply it 2-3 times... Where the truth lays ?

[@thefutur]

Watch the video again. I explained how.

[@konradlanga]

I will be trying the point about pricing again :) But a question is - let's say the going rate in your business is 150 per piece. What you are saying is - charge at least 375, getting in a freelancer and doing art direction. But the going rate is 150 in the field. So ... I probably don't understand something.

[@thefutur]

There is no such thing as a going rate. I charge over $1000 an hour.

[@konradlanga]

The Futur yes, I understand - the design space has much more value behind what it creates. I also remember on one of last years streams you had an illustrator, she was charging you per day, what in my nieche would be consider a good income after at least 5 illustrations of 15+ hours. it depends on the field of work and the nieche, I think.

[@melissaramdin9274]

Hi guys. I am a freelancer and would like your advise on price rates in a small developing country. I want to increase my price rate as well, but where I live, the average income of a graphic designer is sadly 4000$-5000$ yearly. For example people think that the average price for a website should be around $1300 usd, if you go beyond $2000 you are above the market price. I want to make the cut by increasing my price rate, but how to afront clients who expect lower prices (if i increase my price rate will i lose all my clients and potential new clients, since there will be cheaper alternatives).

[@UniquedesignzNetHMKGroup]

Great insight in this video! I struggled with a lot of these key points when I was building my practice and quickly got through it by hiring someone to help me build the infrastructure and process which helped me scale faster. Ps - that spider behind Matthew is Creepsville! Lol

[@abrahamurias5753]

Hi @thefutur I just wrote this comment to have a reply from you 😀😀

[@thefutur]

Hi

[@thefutur]

hello

[@theyounglawyerph]

Is Matthew a Filipino?

[@mau3020]

Any advice on how to scale in a business ecosystem where all companies pay after 30 days of getting the work delivered (even up to 90 days)? Asking for 50% upfront has been always a no.

[@thefutur]

Find new clients or accept the situation.

[@cnburbridge]

In explaining why you'd justify charging 2-3x what you'd pay the contractor, you left out several important points. 1) you yourself have made a wonderful video about how to price far beyond just the hourly rate anyway-in which case, that is a way that you (as the business) are going to make that profit. 2) You HAVE to charge more-otherwise, what are you doing-just being NICE, by giving someone the work? Bottom line: You DO have to be that level of capitalist if you want to get beyond scraping by, eventually, right? And I can tell you don't have any problem about this, but I was surprised you did not mention it here.

[@thefutur]

chris, you are absolutely right. I felt that we covered this thoroughly elsewhere. this was more about helping people to get into the mindset of being an entrepreneur. so it's an introduction (small step) before getting into the other video.

[@cnburbridge]

+1 for the response! That makes sense-I was just *waiting* for that one point, amidst a much longer discussion, and so filtered accordingly ;-)

[@Fitness_For_Men_and_Women]

😍

[@sainaag1141]

Should you still hire someone to do the job once you have the first client ready to close a deal even if you don't have any reserve fund?

[@thefutur]

It means you bid too low. Next time bid higher and the. Hire some one.

[@relaxinggospelmusic2421]

😘

[@t.t.cooperphd5389]

I realize this an old video, so I hope someone sees this.... What is the most effective way to hire/manage a remote free-lancer artist?

[@shabpatil7546]

Sometimes I just feel like you are Harrison wells

[@ikhwansujatmiko7089]

haha.. i thought the same thing

[@MichalCzerlikowski]

Chris you look so young on zoom :)

[@thefutur]

It’s the lighting. ;)

[@helmet212]

NOOO! Chris we know it's the makeup! LOL.

[@momenzaqout1399]

@Helmet hahaha LOL

[@shampoable]

I'll first need to grow my business to one person hehe

[@thefutur]

Haha.

[@bilalhijazi3656]

Ha.

[@danielsaldivar5423]

why the title change? lol

[@thefutur]

We change titles and thumbnails all the time to help our community find the content.

[@user-oy3jv6kc5m]

🤭😘