Nice — here’s a practical, ready-to-use step-by-step guide to start a graphic design business online. I kept it hands-on so you can follow and act on each step immediately.

1 — Decide your niche & services

1. Pick 1–3 focused services so your marketing is clear. Examples:
   • Logo & brand identity
   • Social media graphics (Instagram carousels, reels covers)
   • Marketing assets (banners, flyers, ads)
   • Web/app UI assets and icons
   • Print design (menus, packaging)
   • Digital products (templates, Canva packs)
2. Choose a target market (e.g., local cafés, ecommerce stores, influencers, SaaS startups, real estate agents). Narrow = easier to sell.

2 — Make sure your skills & tools are ready

• Core skills: layout, typography, color theory, composition, basic branding.
• Tools (pick what fits you): Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator/Indesign, Figma, Canva Pro, Affinity suite, Procreate for iPad. Use Figma/Illustrator for vector work.
• Learn quick client workflows: exporting specs, preparing print-ready files, PNG/SVG/JPEG optimization.

3 — Build a portfolio that sells (do this first)

• Create 8–12 strong pieces: real client work or spec projects (mock brands) that show process + outcome.
• For each project include: brief, your solution, files delivered, and the business result (example: “increased click rate” or “used in 3 ad campaigns” — even hypothetical is okay if labeled).
• Host portfolio on: Behance, Dribbble, a simple one-page site (Wix / Webflow / Squarespace), or GitHub Pages. Also create a PDF portfolio for sending.

4 — Package your services & price them

Offer clear packages (Avoid open-ended quotes).

Example packages (starter, standard, premium) — prices in USD (adjust to your market):

• Basic logo package: $50–$150 — 1 concept, 1 revision, deliver SVG + PNG.
• Brand kit: $200–$700 — 3 concepts, logo variations, colors, fonts, basic brand guide.
• Social media month pack: $120–$400 — 12 posts + 4 story templates.
• Website UI starter: $300–$900 — 3 page templates, icons, handover files.

Pricing tips:

• Charge per deliverable, not per hour, until you’re comfortable.
• For local markets, multiply USD prices to local currency or compare with local competitors.
• Always require a deposit (25–50%) before work starts.

5 — Set up your online presence (must-haves)

• Portfolio website (link in profiles).
• Fiverr / Upwork / Freelancer — for freelance clients.
• Instagram / Facebook business page — daily content + portfolio posts.
• LinkedIn — connect with local business owners.
• Behance & Dribbble — design discovery.
• Email: professional address (yourname@yourdomain.com).
• Payment: PayPal, Stripe, local bank transfer, Payoneer — make it easy for clients.

6 — Create sales assets & onboarding templates

Prepare these once and reuse:

• Service pages/gig descriptions (clear deliverables & timelines).
• Proposal template (scope, price, timeline, revisions, deliverables).
• Contract / terms (payment terms, copyright, revisions, cancellation).
• Intake form (project brief you send a client).
• Invoice template.

If you want, I can draft any of these for you.

7 — Find first clients (low-cost channels)

• Portfolio platforms: Behance/Dribbble lead to inbound inquiries.
• Marketplaces: Fiverr & Upwork (start with competitive pricing and great delivery to build reviews).
• Instagram: post process videos, before/after, carousel case studies, hashtags and DMs to prospects.
• Local outreach: message local shops, cafés, restaurants with tailored offers (“I can redesign your menu for X”).
• Facebook groups and Telegram channels for freelancers in your country.
• LinkedIn: message small business owners with a one-line value proposition + link to relevant sample.
• Cold email: short pitch + 1 relevant portfolio sample.

8 — Sales & client management process (repeatable)

1. Discovery: short questionnaire + 15–30 min call.
2. Proposal: send scope + price + deposit request.
3. Contract: sign digitally (HelloSign / DocuSign) or attach terms.
4. Work: share rough concepts → revisions → final files.
5. Delivery: send final files + invoice.
6. Ask for testimonial & referral.

9 — Operations, workflow & productivity

• File organization: use consistent naming and a shared folder template (ClientName_Project_Assets).
• Version control: keep original editable source files.
• Communication: centralize on email or Slack; limit scope creep by specifying revisions.
• Backups: cloud (Google Drive / Dropbox) + local backup.

10 — Legal & finance basics

• Register your business locally if required for invoicing and taxes.
• Track income/expenses in a spreadsheet or accounting app.
• Keep receipts for software subscriptions and advertising.
• Understand copyright: specify in contract who owns final assets and when ownership transfers (usually after full payment).

11 — Scale & grow (after you get traction)

• Create passive income: sell templates on Etsy, Creative Market, Gumroad, or your own site.
• Outsource repetitive tasks (e.g., social media scheduling, basic mockups).
• Raise prices as you gather 5+ strong testimonials and repeat clients.
• Package retainer services: monthly design retainer for ongoing social posts.

Quick launch checklist (copy & use)

• Pick niche & 3 services
• Create 8–12 portfolio pieces
• Build one-page website or Behance profile
• Create 3 service packages & price them
• Prepare proposal, contract, invoice templates
• Set up payment methods
• Publish 10 social posts (case studies/process)
• Pitch 20 local businesses / send 50 marketplace proposals
• Deliver 1st paid project & ask for review

Marketing ideas that convert

• Case-study posts showing before → after → result.
• Short video reels showing your process (30–60s).
• Offer a limited-time discounted “starter pack” to first 5 clients for reviews.
• Run a small ad campaign promoting a “brand refresh” bundle (if you can afford ads).
• Partner with web developers, copywriters, or printers for referrals.

Common pricing/pack mistakes to avoid

• Being vague about revisions or deliverables (specify counts).
• Undercharging because of fear — set a minimum you won’t go below.
• Free unlimited revisions — never do this.
• Not requiring a deposit.

Want ready-to-use templates?

I can immediately generate:

• A 1-page portfolio website copy
• 3 gig descriptions (Fiverr/Upwork)
• Proposal + contract template
• Client intake form
• 3-package pricing table in USD (and you can tell me if you want PKR)