Freelance designer vs Design agency
Independent freelancers often outperform agencies in quality, price and timeliness.
To some the word “freelancer” may have a certain stigma of a maverick who ignores rules and misses deadlines. In reality freelancers have usually been around the agency block already and know their stuff. Nobody starts work as a freelancer.
There used to be advantages in employing large agencies for big jobs. Economies of scale, strength in numbers, experience and access to resources were benefits of the big boys over a lone ranger. Nowadays, this isn’t true. All a freelancer needs is a computer and broadband.
Now large files can be moved around quickly, huge jobs – series of billboards, brochures, books, presentations, videos, websites – can sit on secure servers anywhere in the world. The designer has the work on his computer at home so in the unlikely event of data loss there is always a copy. Viruses are unheard of as well – it’s a Mac thing.
If the scale of the job is too much for one freelancer they can simply call on someone else to help. Files can be downloaded from the freelancer’s FTP site and uploaded when finished. Every freelancer has a network of contacts each with their specialities.
So what of using an agency? Well, the design agency or consultancy have their premises to pay for and add to the bill. They also have directors, account managers, senior creatives and junior designers each with their own ideas, spins and interpretations to confuse the message. They also have attitude, and can be full of precious personalities with an “us and them” relationship with the client.
When a client enlists the help of a creative freelancer they are creating a one-to-one relationship with a professional. They now know who to phone or email about the project and will get a quick answer without getting stuck in the corporate maze of finding the right department. Last minute changes to a job before it prints or goes live are quicker and cheaper with the freelancer.
Also the freelancer has his reputation on the line with the job and it means so much more to him than to individuals in an agency.
I’m doing a colour 120 page A5 booklet for my client, Accenture, at the moment and they are very happy. But when they asked the previous agency to amend things slightly they were met with tuts! Incredible! In my opinion, the client is always right. It has to be that way.
Related articles
Download free “How to Market Yourself Online” ebook
Discover the secrets behind building a better web presence
Everything you will need to know about self-marketing on the web, including:
- Creating websites
- Setting up WordPress
- Writing blog posts
- Getting links
- Driving traffic to your site
- Using social media
- Offering RSS feeds and subscriptions
- Getting found on Google
[...] Rob Cubbon compares his client’s experiences with himself and an agency, and shows that freelancers represent more value for money: There used to be advantages in employing large agencies for big jobs. Economies of scale, strength in numbers, experience and access to resources were benefits of the big boys over a lone ranger. Nowadays, this isn’t true. All a freelancer needs is a computer and broadband…If the scale of the job is too much for one freelancer they can simply call on someone else to help. Files can be downloaded from the freelancer’s FTP site and uploaded when finished. Every freelancer has a network of contacts each with their specialities. [...]
“Also the freelancer has his reputation on the line with the job and it means so much more to him than to individuals in an agency.”
I totally agree with this. Small clients are at the end of the priority list for larger agencies whereas to a freelancer they are very important. Also with a freelancer the client can speak directly to the person who is doing their work, rather than a sales person, or someone who is going to give their interpretation of the brief to a designer
Hi Tara, Thanks for your comment and thanks for dropping by.
Freelance, independent professionals, working from home or from a small office can get things done cheaper and with less stress. I see this as the way forward!
I found your thoughts very useful, Rob. I’m one of the few who has actually started my career as a freelancer. Not by choice, mind you, but because it was my only option. After a few years of scraping by, not really understanding my market position, I’ve finally decided to take myself more seriously as a business. It’s enouraging to see that we have many advantages over the big boys Thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you, Derek, I’m glad you found it useful. Funnily enough, I almost started out as a freelancer as well so maybe saying “nobody starts as a freelancer” was a bit of a bad generalisation! But I’m sure you understand what I’m saying.
Best of luck for your business future! And finding your market position – I think that’s really important.
“In reality freelancers have usually been around the agency block already and know their stuff. Nobody starts work as a freelancer.”
Quoted for truth. This is something that many people don’t seem to know.
Thank you, Tim. I’m sure that technological improvements will continue to make things easier for independent professionals to take on the corporate giants!
I enjoyed this read – and I understand your viewpoint. However, I do feel that you’ve only listed a few of the advantages that COULD be associated with a freelancer – if you’ve gotten a hold of a good one. Unfortunately, there are TONS of ‘freelancers’ out there – and not all build the one-to-one trustworhty client to freelancer relationship that you speak of! Sadly this can reflect badly on the industry. Also, like you said, some design agencies employ account managers – but you make it sound like a bad thing? These people should be great communicators and ease the projects through the workflow. Also, gives the designers more time to do their thing with less interruptions.
Hi, thank you for your comment again. This article is definitely written from the freelancer’s perspective. I’m sure bad freelancers exist. But, if they are bad, they won’t exist for very long as they will eventually go off and do something else as their work dries up! I have built up great relationships with all my clients and I’m sure it’s going help me in the long run as the best way to get business for me is through repeat business and recommendations. I’m sorry you’ve had bad experience with freelancers.
And account managers/handlers, no, not always a bad thing. Of course, they are essential to have in a large agency. Unfortunately, just as you’ve had bad experience with freelancers, I had bad experiences with account managers. I found they were too involved in the creative side and not communicative enough of the client’s wishes. And when I asked to speak to the client they were always reluctant to “give away power” and give me the client’s number! I love that in my job at the moment I have a close relationship with the client so I have absolutely no doubts about their creative wishes.
Thanks again, Charleston Marketing and Design, for the comment.
I started to work three months ago as a freelancer because I did not have a choice and I waited for a job almost one year. This is surpassed my expectations and I’m happy and satisfied about it.
That’s great, Olivia, it really suits some people. Freelancing definitely suited me.
Working freelance is what allowed me to start and run my own business as a graphic designer. Great article.
You couldn’t have said it better.
Being a freelancer comes with a lot of flexibility.
I find that the freelancers that I hire from time to time are well versed and have been there and done that as far as the agency gigs go. I always disliked working for agencies when I did. Freelancing is the way to go if you like your freedom – big agencies can be stuffy and mundane.
Hi Jason, I’m glad you’ve found the freelancers you hired to be helpful. Most of them will have great experience of how to do things well. They will also, having worked at some agencies, have learnt how NOT to do things! Another thing the stuffy agencies do is they like to tell the client what they think he should do rather than ask the client what he wants. Hire an excellent freelance graphic designer here!
it depends on the choice of the client.
Yes, you do have to be careful. I was offered great SEO package from PowerHunters at GetAFreelancers.com. Lost all my money to them…Never deposit anything in escrow before you see some results with most freelancers.
I’ve just started out a s a freelancer and I’m loving it. I’ve got work coming my way slowly but surely. Moneys tight at the minute but I’m very optimistic about the future.
I find the quality of my work has improved drastically as I’m designing directly for the client rather than trying to please the client as well as please agency heads as well.
Only one thing I disagree with in this article though. “The client is always right.” Without meaning to be arrogant, I think you need to be pushy with clients to get better results. You need to be charming with it of course but I generally find clients are very appreciative when you push them in a direction they never thought of.
Clients will usually have a set idea in their mind of how they want to do things. Which is fair enough, it’s their business and they will have more knowledge in that field than you. But I believe a big part of why you get hired is to bring your expertise and knowledge to the table. If you genuinely do it with their best interests at heart, they will feel they are getting their moneys worth.
Hello John thanks for your cautionary tale, an absolute lesson for all of us to learn and I’m so sorry it was you who learned the hard way.
Hello Paul, I’m so glad you are confident about the future. We are in similar positions at the moment and I agree with you – if we’re busy at the moment, hopefully when the economy improves things will get even better. Also I have found the quality of my work vastly improving since I started working on my own.
I think you’re right to take me up with my “the client is always right” statement. I think my lack of confidence has caused me to go along with the client’s wishes when I perhaps should have disagreed with them. I can think of a few cases that I have websites that I’ve done but don’t want to link to from this site as their design was, in my opinion, “messed up” by the client. However, what I don’t like is the agency-types always thinking they know better than the client.
I’ll take your comment on board. Good luck!
Hi Rob.
I know what you mean, I have done plenty of work I wouldn’t let anywhere near my portfolio. Unfortunately some clients are just too stubborn so it doesn’t always work, but when it does it’s definitely worth the battle.
Keep up the good work mate.
And you, Paul!
Hi Rob,
Spoke with you the other day on the telephone.
Like I said, great articles on the site and I really like this one about us freelancers vs agencies.
I too started out as a freelancer after being quoted a large amount of £s for a 5 page driving school website when I was a driving instructor 5 years ago.
I had a go at my own (it was bad) but carried on for about 3 years learning raw xhtml/css coding, flash and php and for the last 2 years have been getting paid to do it.
6 months ago I gave up my full time steady job of over 15 years and have not looked back since, ok the works not piling in but I’m getting by and loving every challange.
Good luck to all freelancers out there, it’s the way to go.
Hi Geoff, great to talk to you on the phone yesterday. I’m really delighted you’ve found the articles here useful and I’m a great believer in the power of freelancers over the larger agencies where it comes to enthusiasm, personal attention and speed of reaction. I think you’ve done amazingly well to pick up all these things in 3 years and you are getting paid to do it. You may be getting by now but things will only improve as both your ability and client base increases.
Do you have your own website? You really should, of course, I would recommend getting a WordPress.org self-hosted site as I have written quite a lot about it already on this blog.
So, thanks for your comment, thanks for coming (come back anytime) and well done for saying “good luck to all freelancers out there”. I echo that!
Hi Rob, I have just found your site and had a read through some of your articles very helpful and knowledgeable stuff!!
I have been doing both freelance and office work for the past couple years I really feel the office work has helped my freelance work so much more my first year was working for free just to see how it all works plus you end up building some helpful contacts.
I am in the position now where I would like to find someone who is in a simular position to my self (hopefully more PHP knowledge then myself)
that we can join and share the joys and headaches do you know of a site that can help me cheers.
Keep up the good work
Hi Derek, I’m glad you’ve found some useful stuff here. How do you find reliable people with a skillset to compliment yours? That’s the million dollar question. I don’t think there are any particular sites just the usual ones (Google, LinkedIn, Elance, PeoplePerHour, etc.) but it’ll be trial and error as far as I’m concerned. All the best!
Cheers again Rob I’ll check them out! The past couple years I have been in quite large web companies where it was 2 people starting off a few years down the line they all have flash cars and houses abroad I wouldn’t mind a piece of that pie lol plus the headaches get shared.
If you ever decide you want a partner in the future give me a shout
This time next year we’ll be millionaires! Let’s keep in touch, as I say.