Option 1: Hiring an In-House Graphic Designer
Best for: Established businesses with consistent, high-volume design needs.
What it means: You hire someone as part of your team, either full-time or part-time, to handle your design work.
✅ Pros:
- They’re fully focused on your brand
- Faster turnaround and communication
- Easily looped into meetings, plans, and strategy
- Consistent design style across all materials
- They’re part of your company, and they’re interested in the growth and benefit of your company as part of their own career.
❌ Cons:
- Salaries are high (NZ average: $60,000–$80,000/year)
- You’ll need to provide software, a workspace, and tools
- Limited to one person’s skills, they may not cover everything (e.g. web, video, animation)
- The hiring process can be time-consuming and complex
- You’ll need to pay a fixed salary, even during slow periods or low revenue months
💡 Good to know:
For early-stage or small businesses, this option is often too expensive unless you have a large volume of design work each week.
Option 2: Working with a Freelance Graphic Designer
Best for: Startups, side hustles, or small businesses needing flexible, project-based help.
What it means: You hire an independent designer/studio on a per-project or hourly basis to create specific assets.
✅ Pros:
- Affordable and flexible
- Ideal for one-off projects like a logo or social media templates
- You work directly with the designer
- Great option if you have a clear vision or small job
- Personalised attention
❌ Cons:
- Quality and reliability can vary widely
- Limited capacity, they might be juggling other clients
- If they disappear or get busy, you’re stuck
- You may need to manage them more closely
💡 Good to know:
Look for freelancers with clear pricing, a solid portfolio, and communication that feels easy and professional.
Option 3: Hiring a Graphic Design Agency
Best for: Businesses needing a wide range of services, faster turnarounds, or ongoing support with multiple projects.
What it means: You hire a design agency that works with a team of creatives, often including designers, strategists, writers, and developers.
✅ Pros:
- Access to a wider skill set (design, web, SEO, branding, etc.)
- Professional systems and processes in place
- Multiple people can work on your brand
- You get support across the full marketing journey
❌ Cons:
- Higher cost (can range from $1,000 to $10,000+ per project)
- You may not speak directly to the designer
- Can feel overwhelming or impersonal for small business owners
- Some agencies focus on big clients and long-term retainers
- May feel unpersonal, generic. Your business is one of many
💡 Good to know:
Agencies can bring a lot of value — but be sure they understand the needs and budget of small businesses.
So… What’s the Right Fit for You?
| Your Situation | Best Fit |
|---|---|
| Starting out with a limited budget | Freelance designer or small design studio |
| Need occasional content or branding help | Freelancer or flexible monthly design support |
| Need multiple services (e.g. design, web, photo, SEO) | Small creative agency or studio |
| Large company with weekly design needs | In-house designer or long-term agency partner |
What We Offer at PixelHub
We know that small businesses don’t always fit neatly into one box. That’s why we created a middle-ground solution. PixelHub was launched with entrepreneurs and small businesses in mind who care about branding, business image and business growth. We are the perfect mix of:
✅ The reliability of an agency
✅ The personal care of a freelancer
✅ The flexibility you need, no long-termn contracts, no pressure, no sales-reps pushing to buy.
If you need help with a one-time project or ongoing content support, we’re here to make design easy, affordable, and approachable.
Need Help Deciding?
If you’re still not sure what kind of design support you need, get in touch. We’re happy to point you in the right direction, even if it’s not us.
Book a free discovery meeting
Explore our flexible design packages