The Secret to Running a Successful One-Person Design Agency [Video]

In the video, Chris and Brett discuss the advantages of subscription-based pricing for design services. Brett explains that his agency, Design Joy, is a one-man design subscription service that he started in 2017, following a layoff from a traditional design agency. He saw an opportunity in the market for a subscription-based service for higher-end design work and decided to start his own agency. He targets clients who want ongoing design work, such as branding, product design, and landing page design.

Brett compares the subscription model to a retainer, but explains that it is more productized, with fixed outcomes and a fixed fee. He likens the pricing page of a software product to the way he sells design services. His clients pay a recurring fee of $5,000 per month for unlimited requests, unlimited revisions, and a two-to-three day turnaround on requests. The outcome is fixed, but the actual volume of output can vary depending on the client’s needs.

Brett discusses the advantages of subscription-based pricing over hourly or project-based pricing. He notes that it provides stability for both the client and the designer, as clients know what they are paying for and designers know what they are delivering. He also talks about the importance of trust and communication with clients, and how subscription-based pricing can help build that trust.

The conversation ends with a discussion of the potential for high revenue through subscription-based pricing, and the importance of sharing transparently to help others in the industry. Bret shares his experience of earning $120,000 per month from 20 clients, but emphasizes that this is not a model that everyone should follow blindly. He encourages designers to find their own path and share their experiences with others.

Find out more about Bret @ https://www.designjoy.co/

Want a deeper dive? Typography, Lettering, Sales & Marketing, Social Media and The Business of Design courses available here:
https://thefutur.com/shop

Shorts Playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzKJi2GjpkEGrDh61kGekKfUdk9QLKYaI
===
👉Subscribe: https://goo.gl/F2AEbk
👉See our Academy Channel: https://goo.gl/vB9zoP

🎙 Futur Podcast: https://thefutur.com/podcast/

—
Love the content? Become a sustaining member for $5/mo today.
https://goo.gl/nwekfL

BOOKLIST –
Essential Reading for Creative Professionals: https://bit.ly/biz-booklist
Essential Design Books: https://bit.ly/futur-design-books

Kits & Proposals:
https://goo.gl/mSjuWQ

Visit our website:
https://www.thefutur.com

FREE resources:
https://goo.gl/Qh6gHr
—
We love getting your letters. Send it here:
The Futur
c/o Chris Do
1702 Olympic Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
USA

—
AFFILIATE LINKS*

🙏 Support The Futur by purchasing through our affiliate links:
Amazon: http://bit.ly/thefuturishere
Webflow: https://webflow.grsm.io/thefutur
Retro Supply Co.: http://bit.ly/2GW8gzR
Creative Market: https://goo.gl/g4jlTE
Design Cuts: http://bit.ly/2GSsAR3
Riverside FM: https://bit.ly/3CvGJAv

✍️ Sharpen your skills by taking a course, using our affiliate links:
School of Motion: http://bit.ly/futur-som
Bring Your Own Laptop Tutorials: https://byol.me/thefutur
Skillshare: https://skl.sh/34z8qVj

🎧 Do you like the music? Check out the music libraries we use in our affiliate links below:
Epidemic Sound: http://share.epidemicsound.com/thefutur
Artlist: http://bit.ly/2uWdna7

💥FREE TRIAL: Download Stock Photos, Footage, Music & Adobe Templates: https://1.envato.market/c/2429122/298927/4662

Get our FAVORITE notebook from Baron Fig: https://baronfig.com/?ref=zQoKL

*By making a purchase through any of our affiliate links, we receive a very small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us on our mission to provide quality education to you. Thank you.

—
Host: Chris Do
Producer: Mark Contreras
Cinematographers/Editors: Stewart Schuster, MOCS Media, Tasca Studios
Futur Theme Music: Adam Sanborne http://www.adamsanborne.com
Typefaces: Futura, DIN, Helvetica Now, Calibre, Knockout, Champion Gothic