Marketing Design Recommendations · Handyman Business Academy

Marketing Design Recommendations

I’m looking for recommendations on good places to get marketing design work done (brochures, flyers, literature, etc.).

I recently tried working with a graphic designer/marketer from one of my networking groups. Her initial pricing was $300–$500 per design, which I agreed to. I then spent about an hour filling out a detailed brief explaining our company, goals, branding, and direction, followed by providing all images and draft text.

I’m not a graphic designer—I just know what I like and don’t like. I expected the designer to take that information and turn it into something visually balanced and professional. Instead, I was told the text was “too much,” even though I clarified it was source content, not final copy.

The first draft I received was honestly very poor and didn’t align with our brand at all. When I asked for revisions (most of the design needed changes), I was told it would cost an additional $175. There were no revision rounds included in the original price. Every designer I’ve worked with in the past has included at least 2–3 rounds of edits, so I ultimately canceled the project and was out the upfront cost.

Now I’m looking for a better approach.

I’ve used Hatch Wise and 99 Designs in the past for design contests—typically $300–$400—and you get dozens of designers submitting concepts, which I actually like. I’ve also heard Fiverr, and possibly places like Upwork or ClickUp or similar platforms, but I’d love real-world feedback.

If anyone has had a good experience with a designer or platform, I’d really appreciate the recommendation.

We’re expanding into commercial service and maintenance this year and want: