Flyer and brochure design: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What flyer and brochure design is

A designer lays out your flyer or brochure with your text, photos and logo, sets up the file so it prints cleanly and presents your offer clearly. People hire a designer for a print piece when the layout needs to be clear, the photos need to look right and the printer needs a file that will not come back with problems.

Signs you need it

  • You have a promotion, open house or event and need a print piece that clearly shows the offer
  • Your current flyer is crowded, and people cannot tell what you do or what to do next
  • Your printer has returned your file because of problems with the colors, the bleed or the resolution
  • You want a multi page brochure that reads in a logical order
  • You need the same flyer in different sizes or with different offers for several locations

What the pro does

  • Review the offer, the message, the audience and the places the flyer or brochure will be handed out or mailed
  • Choose the size, paper, folds and layout style that fit the purpose and the printer's options
  • Place your text, photos and logo in a layout that shows the offer first and the call to action clearly
  • Set the file up with bleed, color profiles and the resolution the printer requires
  • Check the proof for typos, image quality, fold placement and any text too close to the edge
  • Deliver the print ready file, a screen version and a note on the printer settings used

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The number of pages or panels and the complexity of the layout
  • The number of versions, such as one for each location or each offer
  • Whether photos must be sourced, edited or retouched, or are supplied by you
  • The number of rounds of revision included and any extra rounds requested
  • Whether the design must be adjusted for a specific printer's template
  • How quickly the files are needed for the print deadline

What a written quote should spell out

  • The number of pages or panels, the size and the folds
  • The number of versions and how each version differs
  • Whether the designer supplies the print ready file, a screen version or both
  • The revision rounds included and the proof stage before printing
  • Who supplies the photos and fonts, and who holds the licenses for them

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Will you set up the file for my printer's requirements, and can you tell me what they are?
  • Will I see a proof before the files go to print?
  • How do you make sure the offer is the first thing people see?
  • Who owns the layout file, so I can change the text later?
  • What photos or fonts will you use, and do you have the license for them?
  • Can you show me print pieces you designed that were printed and delivered?

Red flags

  • Sends a file for print without a proof or without asking about the printer's settings
  • Uses photos from the internet without a license
  • Will not give you an editable file after the job
  • Promises that the flyer will bring a set number of new customers

What you can do yourself

You can lay out a simple one page flyer in a free design tool, using a single photo, a clear headline and your contact details, and ask your printer for its template and bleed settings. Hire a designer when the piece has several pages, when it has to print cleanly in quantity or when the layout must present a complicated offer clearly.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required for flyer or brochure design. Ask instead for samples of printed work, references and a written statement of the rights to the layout and images; check with your state or local business licensing office if the designer operates as a registered business.

Flyer and brochure design questions

Why does my printer need bleed?

Bleed is the extra area beyond the trim line that lets the printer cut the paper cleanly without leaving a white edge. Ask your printer for its bleed size and build it into the file.

What resolution do I need for printed photos?

Ask your printer, since the requirement depends on the print process. Photos taken from websites are usually too low in resolution for print, so use the original files where you can.

Can I change the text myself later?

Only if you get the editable layout file. Ask for it when you pay, and keep the fonts and images with it.

Pro reviewers

Pros who offer flyer and brochure design remotely can improve this guide, like Wikipedia. We check every edit before it goes live. Every approved edit is credited in the edit history and on the pro's profile.

Edit history

How guide reviews work

How it works

  1. 1. Describe the job

    Pick the service, add your ZIP and a sentence about what is going on.

  2. 2. Pick the pros you want

    See pros who serve your ZIP and choose who you want to hear from.

  3. 3. They reach out

    They contact you the way you chose: phone, email or in-app messages.

More design and marketing guides

Find a pro near you

Find a pro

About this guide

Request flyer and brochure design