Side Hustle Growth #48

Read more to find out how you can scale this profitable side hustle today plus tips and tricks to make growing a business easier

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 Welcome Back To Side Hustle Weekly!

I’m excited to share with you another great side hustle you can start today! Today we will be discussing how you can scale your creative studio business.

Today’s Edition of Real Estate is brought to you by Seven Point Sunday - Written by New York Times best seller, teaching you how to generate passive income.

Before We Get Started Here’s Your News Recap:

Global Markets React to U.S. Tariffs

President Donald Trump's announcement of a 10% baseline tariff on all imports, with higher rates for specific countries—34% on China, 20% on the European Union—has sent shockwaves through global markets. The S&P 500 futures dropped over 3%, the U.S. dollar weakened, and investors are bracing for potential recessionary impacts. ​

European Union Plans Retaliatory Measures

In response to the U.S. tariffs, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU is preparing countermeasures targeting up to €26 billion ($28.4 billion) in U.S. goods. She emphasized that these tariffs pose a significant threat to the global economy and expressed a willingness to negotiate reforms to avoid escalation. ​

Oil Prices Decline Amid Tariff Concerns

Oil prices have slumped over 6%, with Brent crude down more than 6% and WTI sinking by 7%. This decline follows the tariff announcements and the decision by OPEC+ to accelerate the unwinding of oil output cuts in May, compounding concerns about global economic stability. ​

Investor Shift Toward Safe-Haven Assets

Amid escalating trade tensions, investors are seeking refuge in safe-haven assets such as bonds, the Japanese yen, and the Swiss franc. This flight to safety reflects growing fears of a global economic slowdown and increased market volatility. ​

Tech and Retail Sectors Face Challenges

Major U.S. tech companies, including Apple, and retail giants like Walmart and Nike, are experiencing significant stock declines. Analysts warn that the new tariffs could disrupt global supply chains and compress profit margins, particularly for companies heavily reliant on imports. ​

Potential for Increased Profit Warnings

Analysts anticipate a wave of profit warnings from U.S. companies as the tariffs begin to impact earnings. The S&P 500's projected profit growth has already been revised down to 8% from 12%, indicating mounting concerns over future profitability. ​

Cryptocurrency Stocks Decline

U.S. cryptocurrency stocks have declined following the tariff announcements, as investors move away from riskier assets amid heightened global trade tensions. This sector's downturn underscores the broader market's sensitivity to geopolitical developments. ​

Central Banks Monitor Economic Implications

The European Central Bank (ECB) and other financial institutions are closely monitoring the situation, with expectations of potential interest rate cuts to mitigate the economic fallout from the tariffs. ECB officials have expressed concerns about the tariffs' impact on global economic stability.

Subscribe to our neighbor newsletter Early Bird Stock Market News to stay up to date on all things investing to start making money in the stock market.

Scale to well over 5 figures per month

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Starting a graphic design studio is one thing—but scaling it to a high-income, client-attracting creative agency is a whole different game. If you're tired of juggling endless client revisions, staying up late to meet deadlines, and doing all the heavy lifting alone, this is your roadmap to building a studio that works for you, not the other way around.

With the right hires, systems, and strategy, your graphic design business can grow beyond just being "you and your laptop." It can become a fully automated, highly profitable creative machine that takes on bigger projects, retains long-term clients, and earns $10K–$50K+ per month.

1. Build a Scalable Service Structure

To grow your studio, you need to move beyond one-off gigs and time-for-money traps. You must design offers that scale.

🔧 Offer Scalable Packages:

  • Brand Identity Packages (logos, typography, colors, brand guidelines)

  • Monthly Design Retainers for content creators, coaches, or startups

  • Web & UI/UX Projects with higher ticket value

  • White-label design services for agencies that outsource work

📦 Structure packages with clear deliverables and tiered pricing, so you can serve more clients without burning out.

Pro Tip: Add value-based pricing instead of hourly billing. A $5,000 brand strategy is much more powerful than charging $40/hour for logos.

2. Hire to Scale — Build a Dream Team

You can’t do it all alone—and you shouldn’t. If you want your studio to take on bigger projects and more clients, you need specialists and systems.

👥 Who to Hire:

  • Junior Designers – Handle production work, freeing you up for creative direction

  • Creative Director (You or a Lead) – Oversees all visual work

  • Project Manager – Communicates with clients, keeps timelines on track

  • Marketing/Social Media Manager – Grows your brand online and attracts leads

  • Virtual Assistant (VA) – Handles admin, onboarding, contracts, invoicing

  • Freelancers on Call – For overflow or specialized work (e.g. animation, motion graphics)

This team structure allows you to work on the business, not in it.

3. Implement Automation & Systems

Running a studio at scale requires smooth workflows, especially when you’re juggling multiple clients.

⚙️ Tools to Streamline Operations:

  • ClickUp or Trello – For managing tasks and projects

  • Slack or Discord – For internal team communication

  • Bonsai or HoneyBook – For proposals, contracts, invoicing, and automation

  • Notion – Create SOPs (standard operating procedures), client onboarding docs, and team knowledge base

  • Google Workspace – Central hub for collaboration and document sharing

Automate as much as possible—from client intake to billing. The more systems you build, the less you have to manage manually.

4. Build a Sales & Outreach Team

One of the biggest bottlenecks for growth is inconsistent lead generation. Solving this means building a dedicated sales pipeline—so you never worry about where the next client is coming from.

📣 How to Build a Sales Machine:

  • Hire a Sales Rep or Closer – Pays for themselves quickly

  • Outreach Assistants or SDRs – Send cold emails, DM leads, book discovery calls

  • Set up CRM systems like HubSpot or Pipedrive to track and manage leads

  • Use LinkedIn, Clutch, or Behance Pro Pages to attract corporate clients

  • Run Paid Ads – Target startups and companies needing full branding

A small commission-based sales team can bring in $10K–$100K/month in closed projects without you lifting a finger.

5. Target Higher-Value Clients & Bigger Projects

To make more, you need to work with clients who value design and are willing to pay top dollar.

🎯 Who to Target for Bigger Budgets:

  • Tech startups & SaaS companies

  • E-commerce brands looking for full rebrands or packaging

  • Coaches & influencers launching personal brands

  • Marketing agencies who outsource design work

  • Corporate clients who need design assets monthly

These clients often need ongoing services and have marketing budgets set aside, making them ideal for retainers or large one-off projects.

Pro Tip: Create a “case study deck” and pitch via Zoom. Position your studio as a strategic design partner, not a one-off freelancer.

6. Build Brand Authority

Your studio must stand out in a crowded market. That means investing in your own branding, social proof, and visibility.

🧠 Ways to Build Authority:

  • Share behind-the-scenes content on Instagram/TikTok

  • Publish client success stories and testimonials

  • Grow a newsletter offering branding tips and insights

  • Speak on design podcasts or at virtual events

  • Launch a YouTube channel breaking down design strategies

Branding yourself as an expert and authority will attract higher-paying clients without you chasing them.

Potential Monthly Earnings for a Scaled Studio

Here’s what you could earn based on your growth stage:

🔹 Freelance Solo Designer:
➡ 5 clients/month @ $1,000 = $5,000/month

🔹 Small Studio with 2–3 Designers:
➡ 10 clients/month @ $2,000 = $20,000/month

🔹 Full-Service Creative Agency:
➡ 10 high-ticket clients @ $5,000+ = $50,000–$100,000/month

With automation and a capable team, your income ceiling is extremely high.

Pros & Cons of Scaling a Graphic Design Studio

✅ Pros:

  • High profit margins

  • Recurring revenue with retainers

  • Freedom to work from anywhere

  • Creative & fulfilling projects

  • Scalable with a remote team

❌ Cons:

  • Requires leadership & management skills

  • High standards & revisions from demanding clients

  • Finding reliable talent can take time

  • Takes upfront effort to build systems & team

Summary: How to Grow and Maximize a Graphic Design Studio

  1. Create scalable packages & pricing models

  2. Hire a team to handle fulfillment, management, and client communication

  3. Automate your backend with CRM and project management tools

  4. Build a sales team for outbound client acquisition

  5. Attract bigger clients through branding and authority

  6. Streamline for high-volume projects with repeatable systems

Final Word:
Scaling your graphic design studio isn’t just about more clients—it’s about working smarter, not harder. With the right team, systems, and strategy, your creative business can become a six-figure studio that runs (almost) on autopilot.

🎨🚀 Start building your dream studio today—and design the life you actually want.

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Knowledge start with what and who you know. To help you out a bit here are a few newsletters the Side Hustle Weekly team reads to stay ahead of the curve:

How Brands Win - Do you own a business or want to start one? Learn exactly how to grow and build a successful business. - I’m In!→

The Ai Report - Ai is becoming a bigger and bigger part of our society and getting ahead with it is your best bet to become successful, learn how you can utilize it. - Show me→

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That’s A Wrap

I hope you enjoyed today’s post and if you have any questions about the post, upcoming posts, how to advertise, or anything else, feel free to reply.

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See you next time with another money-making post, helping you boost your income!

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational and educational purposes only and reflects the opinions of its editors and contributors. The content provided, including but not limited to real estate tips, stock market insights, business marketing strategies, and startup advice, is shared for general guidance and does not constitute financial, investment, real estate, legal, or business advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information provided. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investment, real estate, and business decisions involve inherent risks, and readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals before taking any action. This newsletter does not establish a fiduciary, advisory, or professional relationship between the publishers and readers.

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