Mat Casner Freelance CEO

You Have the Skills. It's Time to Build the Business That Pays You for Them.

Design Business Pro is a graphic design and web design business coaching program for freelance designers who are done undercharging, done overworking, and ready to finally build a profitable business with confidence.

You didn't get into design to struggle. But somewhere between your first client and right now, the business side of freelancing got complicated — and nobody taught you how to handle it.

That's exactly what we fix here.

Join the Waitlist — Get Notified When Doors Open

You're Good at Design. So Why Does the Business Feel So Hard?

You have real skills. Clients have told you your work is excellent. You get referrals. You stay late to get projects right.

And yet.

You're still quoting rates you're embarrassed by. You're still saying yes to clients who drain you. You're still trading hours for dollars and wondering why the math never quite works out.

You've Googled "how to charge more for web design." You've watched the YouTube videos. You've read the blog posts.

But nothing has actually changed.

Here's what nobody tells you: the gap between where you are and where you want to be isn't a design skills problem. It's a confidence problem. A clarity problem. A positioning problem.

And those are exactly the problems a good graphic design and web design business coach actually solves.

The Designers Who Thrive Aren't More Talented Than You.

They Think Differently About Their Business.

The designers charging $5,000 for a website — while you charge $800 for the same scope — aren't better designers.

They've just figured out three things you haven't been taught yet.

They know exactly who they serve best and how to position themselves as the obvious choice for that client.

They know how to price based on the value they create — not the hours they log.

And they know how to build a client relationship that generates recurring revenue long after the first project ends.

None of this is complicated. None of it requires a marketing degree or a massive social media following.

It requires the right framework, a coach who has actually done it, and the confidence to start acting like the CEO of your own business.

That's what Design Business Pro is built to give you.

I'm Mat Casner:

Your Web Design Business Coach

I'm the Person I Wish I'd Had Knew When I Was Starting Out.

I didn't start as a coach. I started as a graphic designer, then grew into a web designer.

For years I freelanced on the side while working full-time jobs — including a stretch at a large advertising agency in Kansas City where I was managing web and marketing projects for Fortune 500 clients.

Here's the thing that changed everything for me.

The agency was billing my work at $150 an hour. I was charging my own freelance clients $20 to $25 an hour for the same quality of work.

The same skills. The same output. A fraction of the price.

When that finally landed — when I really internalized what that gap meant — I stopped seeing myself as a commodity and started seeing myself as an asset. I raised my rates. I changed how I talked about my work. I changed who I worked with.

And my business changed completely.

I left my corporate cubicle more than 15 years ago and have been running my own full-time design and web agency — Redlogic Communications — ever since. I still take client work today. I'm not a guru who stopped designing a decade ago and now sells courses about it. I'm a practitioner who coaches because I know what works in the real world right now.

For the past decade I've worked with freelance designers all over the world — graphic designers, web designers, brand designers, and other creative professionals — helping them build businesses that are profitable, sustainable, and genuinely enjoyable to run.

My mission is simple: I want to help you own your unique talents, charge what you're worth, and build a business that actually supports your life.

Think like a creative. Act like a CEO.

That's what we do here.

"Before the 8 Weeks Were Over, I Had Made More Money Than I Had in the Entire Previous Year."

I want to tell you about Isaac.

Isaac is a writer and marketing consultant. Smart, talented, genuinely good at what he does.

In the summer of 2022, he sat down with his wife and told her he was done. Done trying to grow his business. Done with the struggle. Done with the dream. He was ready to quit.

That same week, a friend referred him to one of my summits. He almost didn't come.

But something made him give it one last shot.

Here's what Isaac told me afterward:

"There's a lot of gurus out there who are gonna tell you that with their training or course they're gonna turn your business around. But as soon as I started receiving communication from Mat, there was just something different. I could tell he was there to serve."

Isaac came to the summit. Then he enrolled in my 8-week program.

Before the eight weeks were over — before the course even finished — Isaac had made more money in his business than he had in the entire previous year.

The entire previous year.

Not because I handed him a magic formula. Not because I promised him overnight results.

Because we worked through three very specific things together: his mindset about himself and about money, how to package his services around what he actually loves to do, and how to price those packages so he was finally making a real profit.

Three things. And his business transformed.

I'm sharing Isaac's story because I know some of you reading this right now are exactly where he was in the summer of 2022.

Talented. Working hard. Doing everything you know how to do.

But something isn't clicking.

It can work. I've seen it too many times to think otherwise.

What Design Business Pro Actually Teaches You

Most design education teaches you how to design. Design Business Pro teaches you how to run a design business.

There's a difference — and it's the difference between a talented designer who struggles and a confident creative professional who thrives.

Here's what we work on together:

Clarity — Know Exactly What You Offer and Who You Serve Best

Most designers try to serve everyone and end up attracting the wrong clients at the wrong rates. We use a structured framework to help you identify the clients you serve best, the services you love delivering, and the positioning that makes you the obvious choice — not just another option.

Confidence — Charge What You're Worth Without Apologizing for It

Undercharging isn't a pricing problem. It's a confidence and mindset problem. We work through the beliefs that are keeping your rates low and replace them with a value-based pricing approach that reflects what your work actually delivers to a client's business.

Recurring Revenue — Build a Business That Pays You Beyond the First Project

One-time projects keep you on a feast-or-famine treadmill. We help you build recurring revenue through maintenance plans, retainers, and strategic upsells that turn a single client relationship into years of consistent income.

Sales Without the Sleaze — Close Clients Confidently and Authentically

You don't need to be pushy or manipulative to close a sale. You need to know how to have a real conversation about value. We teach you a sales approach that feels natural, builds trust, and converts the right clients — without ever feeling like you're performing.

From "I Was Seriously Considering Quitting" to a Full-Time Design Business She Loves

Sarah was a college instructor teaching graphic design when COVID hit and changed everything.

Fewer teaching jobs. Less respect for her expertise. Almost no control over her time. She felt like "just the help" rather than a valued professional.

When the pandemic forced a reset, a friend asked her to design a book cover — and something clicked. She already had the skills. She built a website and launched a freelance design business.

Then reality hit.

How much do I charge? Hourly or packages? What do I do when a client keeps changing their mind? What if they ask for a refund on work they already approved? How do I break out of feast or famine?

The questions piled up fast. The stress was real. She was seriously considering quitting and going back to a traditional job.

That's when she found Design Business Pro.

"Right away I was like — this is the resource I need. A friendly, encouraging person with a lot of real-world experience. I needed mentorship and practical advice."

In the time she spent working through the program, Sarah describes getting the equivalent of a mini business degree — comparable in practical value to the graduate degree she already held.

She learned how to price her work, package her services, set client expectations, and build a referral-based business.

The results? Her hourly earnings nearly tripled. She stopped wanting to quit. She built a steady flow of referral work. And she's now able to split her week between her design business and her passion for fine art — the exact life she set out to create.

"I had all the skills. It was inside me all along. Mat's encouragement and advice helped bring it out and made it possible for me to build a business that actually supports my life."

She's been running her business full-time for over two years now. She's not looking back.

What You Get Inside Design Business Pro

Design Business Pro combines structured training, live coaching, and a community of working designers — so you get the knowledge, the accountability, and the support to actually implement what you learn.

The Design Business Academy

An 8-week course built specifically for freelance graphic designers and web designers. We cover positioning, pricing, packaging, client management, sales, and recurring revenue — everything design school skipped. You work through it at your pace with lifetime access.

Monthly Group Coaching Calls

Live calls with Mat where you can bring your real business questions, deals you're trying to close, clients you're navigating, and pricing decisions you're wrestling with. Real answers for real situations.

Private Community

A private community of designers who are building serious businesses. Ask questions, share wins, get feedback on proposals, and stay accountable to your goals. No trolls. No fluff. Just working designers helping each other grow.

Guest Expert Trainings

Regular sessions with outside experts covering topics like SEO, content marketing, legal basics for freelancers, and more — so you're getting a well-rounded business education, not just a design education.

Backstage Pass — A Look Inside Mat's Agency

See how a real working design and web agency operates. Real processes, real client communication, real pricing decisions. Not theory. Not what worked in 2010. What works right now.

Access to the Full Training Vault

Every past training, every resource, every template — available the moment you join.

Is Design Business Pro Right for You?

This is for you if...

You're a freelance graphic designer, web designer, or creative professional who already has marketable skills but struggles to price them confidently.

You've been freelancing for at least a year and you're ready to stop treating your business like a side hustle and start running it like a CEO.

You're tired of undercharging, attracting the wrong clients, and trading hours for dollars with nothing left over.

You want a coach who has actually built and run a real design business — not just someone who teaches business theory.

You're willing to do the work. You're not looking for a magic shortcut. You're looking for the right framework, the right support, and the clarity to finally move forward.

This is NOT for you if...

You're looking for a get-rich-quick formula or overnight results.

You're brand new to design with no client experience yet — this program is built for designers who already have skills and need to monetize them better.

You're not willing to examine how you think about your own value. Mindset work is part of this program. If that's not something you're open to, this isn't the right fit.

You want someone to do the work for you. This is a coaching and education program — the results come from your implementation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Design Business Pro open right now?

Not at the moment — but doors will open again soon. Join the waitlist below and you'll be the first to know when enrollment opens. Waitlist members also get access to exclusive early-bird pricing.

I'm a graphic designer, not a web designer. Is this still for me?

Absolutely. While many of our strongest students are web designers, the frameworks we teach apply to any creative service business — brand designers, illustrators, print designers, and other creative professionals have all built better businesses through this program. If you sell a creative service, this was built for you.

How much does it cost?

Pricing is shared when enrollment opens. Waitlist members are always offered the best available rate. What we can tell you is that the program is priced to be a genuine investment — not a $27 PDF — because real transformation requires real commitment from both of us.

How much time does it take each week?

The 8-week Academy is designed to be completed in 2 to 3 hours per week. Coaching calls and community engagement are additional but optional. Most students find that the time they invest quickly pays for itself through better pricing and more efficient client management.

I've tried other courses and they didn't work. Why is this different?

Most design business courses are built by people who stopped doing the work years ago. Mat still runs an active design and web agency. The frameworks inside Design Business Pro are tested in the real market — not just in a classroom. And unlike self-paced courses you abandon by week two, the community and coaching structure keeps you accountable.

What if I join and it's not for me?

We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Use the training, show up for the calls, engage with the community, and implement what you learn. If you genuinely don't believe it's worth your investment at the end of 30 days, forward your receipt with the subject line "Not For Me" and we'll give you a full refund — no questions asked.

What if I join I'm not sure I'm ready. What's a good first step?and it's not for me?

Download the free 6-Figure D.E.S.I.G.N. Business Blueprint. It's a no-cost resource that walks you through the foundation of building a profitable design business. If it resonates, you'll know you're in the right place.

You Already Have What It Takes.
Let's Build the Business Around It.

Isaac was ready to quit. Sarah was ready to go back to a traditional job.

Neither of them had a skills problem.

They had a business problem — and they needed someone who had already solved it to show them how.

If you're reading this and something in you is saying yes, this is exactly where I am — trust that.

You don't need another year of undercharging. You don't need to figure this out alone. You need a proven framework, a coach who has been in the trenches, and a community of designers who are serious about building something real.

That's Design Business Pro.

Doors aren't open right now — but they will be. Join the waitlist below and be first in line when enrollment opens. Waitlist members get notified first and always receive the best available pricing.

Join the Waitlist — I'm Ready to Build a Real Business
Download the Free Blueprint First

Think like a creative. Act like a CEO.

— Mat Casner, Design Business Pro

Written by Mat Casner

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Freelance CEO Podcast
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Should I follow up with a client that gave me a negative response?

Branding & Marketing, Finding Clients | 1 comment

I’ll show you three tips you can use to make sure that you foster a positive relationship with your client, even if they give you a negative response to your client’s bid. Here’s a sample, but common, question: “How should I respond to a client lead that doesn’t want to move forward because they don’t have the budget?”

They didn’t take my estimate because it was too expensive.

Here’s the scenario: So you have been contacted by someone who wants a bid for work. You’ve put together the time, and give them an estimate and they come back to you. They say that they don’t have the budget for the project. So what do you do? Every freelancer deals with this question. It happens to all us. It’s happened to me.

Maybe I should I rethink my pricing?

One of our first responses is to second guess is our pricing. We start to think that we’ve put the price out there and it was too high. Now they’re going away and they are going to go somewhere else. So first thing I want to do is I want to let you know that as a freelancer, I want you to see your role in the process with your clients, or your future clients, is to provide them value.

Reframe the way you see yourself in the pricing and estimating process

One of the ways that we provide our clients value is in the estimating process. Think about it, when people are contacting you and asking you your opinion about providing a specific solution for them. It could be graphic design, or web development, or marketing, or some other service. You have to think about it from that the perspective of the client, the purchaser, the buyer. This may be their first experience with a real estimate. And, that’s important to recognize. Also, one of the things that should separate us from the crowd is how we position ourselves to help the client be able to make decisions that will impact their business in a positive way. We want them to be able to move forward. We want to give them what they need to make a decision. And usually that’s a yes or no decision.

But then you start to hear crickets…

You put together a bid or a proposal for your client, and you may not hear back from them awhile. And, you start to get nervous. But, when you reach out to them and you say, “Hey, what did you think?” And they say, “Well, it’s just more than what I was planning to spend,” or “I don’t have the budget right now,” or “The timing isn’t good, ” or you may get some other answer.

Did I price my bid too high?

Our first tendency is to think that we made a mistake and priced it too high. I don’t want you to think that way. Instead, I want to think about that you’re giving them—which is an accurate picture of what the cost of services is going to be.

How are you going to respond to the “NO”?

Your response is critical. I’m going to give you three tips that you can use that will turn a seemingly negative response, into a positive opportunity.

1. Don’t view their negative response to your bid as a personal rejection

I don’t want you to see it as they’re saying no to you personally. Don’t immediately assumer that they don’t want to work with you. And don’t automatically think that they’re offended by your price. For just a moment, think about when you’ve gone shopping for something, and you know something that you want. But you don’t really know how much it is going to cost. Sometimes when you go shopping and you find out the price is higher than what you anticipated—or what you thought it would be.

Does that mean you don’t want my services anymore? No.

It just basically means is that the money that you thought you were going be spending, is not going to be enough. So you’re going to have to go back, readjust your budget, start saving a little bit more money, so that you can eventually make that purchase. Put yourself in that situation and you might be able to see a little bit about how your potential client might be reacting to your bid. And that’s not a bad thing. You don’t want to take their response as a personal rejection, because one of the things that we do is we start to think that we need to counter with a lower priced offer, or we need to take that as a symbol that they don’t want to work with us and so we go away. That’s not what I want you to do at all. I just want you to understand that when they say no or when they don’t take you up on your offer, it’s not a, necessarily a judgment on you, and it’s not necessarily a negative thing. Just the timing and the budget might not work out for them at that moment.

2. Respond with an attitude of service

Next… In your communication back to your client, have an attitude of service, and let them know you ultimately want to help them get down the road. Any follow-up communication that you do with them to leave a positive taste in their mouth. It should help leave the relationship between you and your potential client, in a good space. Make sure that it’s based on your desire as a service provider to give them the best service possible and you want them to know that they can reach out to you when they’re ready to go. Leave that relationship open, and keep it positive.

3. Plan follow up communication for 60-90 days later

Finally, get on your calendar, and mark out 60 or 90 days from now. Write your client’s name in your calendar with their email address and phone number. Then in 60 or 90 days, when you see this pop-up on your calendar, reach out to them and check in. Say something like, “It’s been a couple of months since we’ve talked and I just wanted to check in with you to see how things are going. Please let me know if anything has changed or if there is something I can do for you right now.” This communication gives you an opportunity to inquire about the project and see if there’s another opportunity for you to potentially work together. But, when you send that communication, make sure that’s it’s from a heart of service and that you are interested in helping them in their business. You’re leaving them an opportunity for them to interact with you, but it’s in a way that is non-threatening and it shows them that you have their best interest at heart.

Developing a healthy client relationship

If you do these three things, then you’re going to create a relationship with a potential client who trusts you and understands that you have their best interest in mind.

And, when they are ready to purchase, you’ll be the person they call.

I want to invite you to check out our free Facebook group, it’s for freelancers. And we’re there to answer questions and to support one another, encourage one another, and if you go to Facebook.com/groups/freelanceonfire.

And, in the Freelance On Fire membership, we go in-depth with client relationships and show you how to get winning results from seemingly negative circumstances.

You’re growing… even if no one sees it yet.

by | Apr 28, 2025 |

The flowers are starting to bloom here in Kansas — and they are absolutely gorgeous. But guess what? For the past several months, those same flowers were invisible, hidden underground, preparing for the right moment to pop through the surface. Ever feel like your...