What does it cost to set up a designer presence online and in print?

You can build a strong designer presence on a modest budget, since the online pieces are cheap or free and the real spend goes toward physical samples that show off your craft.

• Portfolio profiles: platforms like Behance or Dribbble are free to join
• Portfolio website: hosting a custom site typically runs about 10 to 30 dollars a month
• Printed leave-behinds: budget roughly 100 to 300 dollars a year for business cards, sample prints, and leave-behind pieces
• Headshot photography: a professional headshot in the 150 to 400 dollar range is usually worth it

Physical samples do double duty. Printed cards and signage give you branded pieces to hand out, and you can photograph the real printed work to strengthen your online portfolio.