Why Your Business Keeps Spending on Agencies

Let me guess.

You’re a mid-sized business. You’ve got decent marketing budgets, a healthy team, and a calendar full of campaigns. You’re working with multiple agencies - maybe one for branding, another for reports, a third for events.

And yet…

Despite all that investment, you’re still not happy with the quality of your design work.

Sound familiar?

You're not alone. I’ve worked with businesses who’ve spent tens of thousands of pounds outsourcing design only to feel like their brand is being watered down, piece by piece. The irony? They’re spending more for less cohesion.

So what’s going wrong?

The Problem with a Fragmented Design Process

When your creative output is scattered across multiple agencies or studios:

• Each one only sees part of the puzzle

• You're constantly re-briefing the same brand values

• The work lacks soul because no one really knows you

• There's a lot of "middleman relay" via account managers

• Design decisions get diluted before they even reach you

It’s no wonder you’re not getting work that truly reflects your business.

And it’s not your fault. You’re doing what you were told was the ‘professional’ route.

But there is another way -and it’s surprisingly simple.

Enter: The Trusted Freelance Design Partner

Imagine having one designer who gets to know your brand, your goals, your quirks -and sticks around long enough to build momentum.

That’s where a freelance graphic designer steps in.

When you work with someone like me (hi 👋), you get more than just design -you get consistency, responsiveness, strategic input, and a lot more bang for your buck.

Here’s how:

Model 1: The Retainer (aka your design safety net)

A retainer is a set number of hours per month that we dedicate to your business. You get:

• Priority booking in my schedule

• Flexibility across projects -need a deck one week and an event identity the next? Sorted.

• Budget predictability

• A growing working relationship where we get faster, smarter, and more creative together

Cost? Often a fraction of what you’d pay an agency -and without losing time in translation.

Model 2: Per-Project (aka the big-hitter briefs)

Need a rebrand for a sub-division? A 50-page financial report? The full suite of collateral for a national event?

I’ll scope it, quote it, and deliver it personally -no layers, no loss of context. You get:

• A fixed project fee (no clock-watching)

• A direct line to the person actually doing the work

• One consistent design voice throughout

So Why Does This Work Better?

Here’s what working with a single, trusted freelancer gives you that a multi-agency approach often doesn’t:

✅ Consistency across every touchpoint-from investor decks to event signage
✅ Faster turnaround with fewer communication bottlenecks
✅ A strategic partner who can spot gaps and opportunities, not just tick boxes
✅ A true sense of ownership -someone who cares about your brand as much as you do
✅ Cost efficiency -no account handling fees, no over-inflated markups

And most importantly: someone who becomes an extension of your team.

Not just a name on a schedule.

Let's Talk Numbers (Because They Matter)

Mid-sized businesses regularly spend £20–50k+ per year on agencies, and often more when you factor in brand updates, pitch decks, events, and ad hoc creative.

A freelance retainer, in contrast, might start from £1.5–3k per month depending on volume-bringing you high-touch, highly relevant, consistently delivered work from someone who knows your brand.

How to Know When It’s Time

Not sure if this shift is for you?

Here are a few telltale signs:

• You're briefing the same design basics over and over again

• You feel like you’re not getting value for money

• Your visual output is disjointed (even though you’re spending plenty)

• You want quicker turnaround without the agency overhead

• You’re ready to build something better but need the right creative partner

The Bottom Line?

You don’t need more agencies.
You need better alignment.
And that starts with a designer who’s genuinely invested in what you’re trying to build.

Ready to see what this could look like?

Let’s talk about your design needs, what’s not working right now, and how we could simplify and improve things... together.

If you want the quick-glance version, download the Freelance vs Agency Comparison PDF —ideal for sharing with your team.

And if you found this helpful, pop over to my LinkedIn post where I dig into this in a more lighthearted way... because we all need a bit of humour when talking about budgets, right?

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