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Freelance Designer

Design & Media

A Freelance Designer is an independent design practitioner who earns income by providing visual communication, branding, UI/UX, print, packaging, or motion design services across multiple clients under their own business — without a fixed employer. The defining difference from studio or in-house design is the model: you own the client relationship, set your rates, manage pipeline and cash flow, negotiate contracts, and operate as a solopreneur. In India this means navigating entry-level platforms (Fiverr, Upwork, 99designs at ₹1,500–15,000 per project) and climbing toward premium direct retainers with D2C brands, startups, and global clients (₹50K–3L/month). The highest-earning Indian freelance designers serve US and UK clients directly, earning $35–120/hour for branding, product design, or illustration. Indian freelance design practice operates under specific regulatory requirements: GST registration is mandatory above ₹20L turnover (18% under SAC 998314 for design services), TDS applies under Section 194J (10%) for Indian business clients paying above ₹30K/year, and copyright in commissioned work remains with the designer unless explicitly assigned in writing under the Indian Copyright Act 1957. The income floor is low at entry; the ceiling for designers who build a premium positioning and global client base is very high.