Do you really need a graphic designer to scale a business?

In my post the other day titled 10 things I learned from our first acquisitions
I listed number 8 was-Find a good graphic/web designer @AlexMedearis asked how important that was to scale the business.
Short answer-Very

Long Answer-
I like to say "there is a reason why companies spend so much time designing products that we buy, Can you imagine buying your laundry detergent, drinks, cereal, toothpaste etc. in a black bag with zero design?" As a business you are constantly selling to someone, investors, potential deal flow, customers, staff. All too often we are selling to them our product in a black bag with zero design. Part of professionalizing a business is professionalizing the image to the outside of the business.

Here are some (although a long list, this really is only a fraction of what has been made) of the ways our graphic designer has helped:

1. Website for our investor outreach https://raise.amplifyeyecare.com/
2. Website targeted to deal flow https://amplifyeyecare.com/
3. Acquisition website https://amplifyeyecarelongbeach.com/
4. Social media for our business and acquired businesses
5. In office print materials https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IqWjaAZPzAp1O-Yr8R60gmfGv0j_TVnZ/view?usp=sharing
6. Targeted customer marketing materials https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zKKHG8sr_yqIyUaMvjmN3ZqX3Lq-Qn_Y/view?usp=sharing
7. Staff engagement https://drive.google.com/file/d/12Cxc9e_iN0lUg-TNOwZc8c-gPRC4dL_U/view?usp=sharing

The result is that we looked more established to potential investors when we were just a concept on paper. We had stronger interest from deal flow and brokers who may not have given us a chance had we come across as less professional. We grew our first two businesses in revenue by over 50% in less than 6 months (not only from design but it helped). And we have better staff buy in (also not entirely a design thing, but it helps.

Sure we could have hired an agency to make everything, but the costs would have been far higher so we wouldn't have.

We currently have 2 graphic designers full time in the Philippines, which is cost effective and a large talent pool. Our first designer was the first hire we made, way before we paid ourselves.