So I have around 4.5+ years experience of working in design agencies (though this has been like 4 different agencies)
I also have 2 years experience working as an in-house designer.
So in total nearly 7 years experience.
I’ve also been freelance in the past, though this was back when I didn’t really know what I was doing. Despite that, I picked up some valuable design + business experience as a result.
I’m planning on going freelance again in the future, albeit this time I’ll do it properly. I am a much more confident designer this time around, I’ve also been reading up a lot on marketing + business topics.
I feel like I’d be much better now at working for myself, but I feel like I probably need maybe another couple years experience working in a design agency first.
For me the rule of thumb is a degree then 4-5 years real-world studio experience. So, you f
Definitely qualify in terms of experience. However, do you have business acumen. Are you confident that you can get a client base enough to sustain you? Maybe you never do. Maybe taking the leap steels you enough to make it work. Certainly did for me. I put as mens ducks in a row I could and the took a leap of faith, which as no mean feat, with a london mortgage on my shoulders. In a way that pressure means you have no option but to make up it work.
My father always told me that you make a living from 9:AM-5:PM, but you’ll make money from 5:PM-11:PM. So what I did before I started my own business, I worked as an employee of several companies during the day, but took on freelance jobs in the evening. I did this for 15 years before starting my own company. It worked great!
I’m quite confident I can build a client base due to my previous stints of freelance and also all the studying I’ve been doing of marketing and business and whatnot… but I’m planning on gradually building things up on the side for a while and see how it goes first.
Proper money management is a key. When I finally did start my own business, I only lived on 80% of my earnings. I saved (and invested) 10% (sometimes more, and took 10% for giving (primarily my church).
I was 34 years old when I started my business and saving (investing) at the same time. When I was 70 I retired with a paid-for house and over a million to live on comfortably. I wish you all the best of success.
You’re in a great position to go freelance now if you want to. With nearly 7 years of combined agency and in-house experience—and having already dipped your toes into freelancing—you likely have more than enough practical and professional insight to succeed on your own. The fact that you’re also actively learning about business and marketing is a strong indicator you’re preparing seriously this time.
That said, the decision depends less on hitting some arbitrary number of years and more on:
Portfolio strength – Can you confidently showcase work that attracts clients you want?
Client network – Do you have any leads, connections, or past clients you could reach out to?
Business skills – Are you ready to manage finances, contracts, and client relationships?
Risk tolerance – Can you handle the initial instability of income while building your freelance base?
If you’re feeling hesitant, you might consider transitioning gradually—freelance on the side while still working full-time or part-time. That way, you can build your client base, processes, and confidence before fully committing.
Thanks, yep funnily enough money management is one thing I’ve been really working on lately! That’s one thing I was seriously lacking the last time I was freelance LOL
I’ve also looked into investing but looks really complicated, I need to do some proper research but I definitely like the idea of it.
Don’t try to do investment on your own. Make sure the investment firm you pick is a certified financial planner (CFP). I use Merrill Lynch. So does one of my sons. The other son uses Raymond James.
Also, I think I forgot to mention in my prior posts, I did not open my own company until I had secured three reliable and financially stable companies.
Your design chops will only get you so far as a freelance. You will be running a business, and that’s a completely different skill set.
If you go fresh, you’ll need to hit the ground running. This almost never works. As others have mentioned, it is better to build your business and your business skills as a side to your employment in another company.
Yesterday I deleted a wrong post, but about how much experience, do you need before going freelance? well I think is not a simple question but until you have a good portfolio (good one, i mean is that create a impact to the customer). A very good portfolio, will show that you have a really good experience !.
