Freelance dilemma
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- dirtydrummer
I just started working on a new clients brand launch for a flat fee. They've come at me with a contract offer for 20-30 hours a week for a couple of months. Thing is they want me to crunch numbers and come up with a price. My normal freelance rate is $65 an hour. For the contract I was thinking of reducing it to $50-55. Which comes out to over a grand a week. Cool for me, but having already negotiated with this client, I know they aren't gonna wanna pay this price and try to talk me down.
Anyone have any experience in the realm?
What's a fair markdown from full rate?
Thanks in advance for any help.
- Crouwel0
charge it! damnit, you are a designer. if they would have sourced this shit out they would even pay more, esp. when hiring the big agencies.
if you have skills, they better pay the bills!!
- tkmeister0
u are talking about estimate 12k for the total project fee. if your clients don't wanna pay that, u should go find better projects.
when they have an issue now, they will have more issues later when u invoice.
- k0na_an0k0
when it all comes down to it you know what you're worth and you know what you should charge.
if you go less... and i mean way less you're shooting yourself in the foot as they aren't paying any insurance of any kind for you, and, you're getting less money.
they get what they pay for, if it's too high for them tell them they can put you on payroll then and pay for your medical, dental and such.
also, for having you on site they'll be able to use you for much more than the scope of this project.
tell them $55 and state your case.
good luck.
- dirtydrummer0
Thanks for the advice.
k0na_an0k, I told them I wouldn't be an on site designer beiing that they are pc based and no love for a mac. So I told them it would be from my home studio. I'd come in twice a week and see what the need, show work etc...
Crouwel, I just left an agency two weeks ago in search of a solo career. The money would be nice but I don't want to sell myself short, esp since it's going to be a ton of work. I gotz the skills, now to pay the bills.
- Crouwel0
well it's good to go all the way right away. demand what you need and do not compromise. if you loose the gig you will have to try harder but at least you cannot blame yourself to be a slave to cunts who don't want to pay up for quality. you will need this confidence in yourself and your abilities!
- dirtydrummer0
All good advice Crouwel
Are you saying $65 an hour all the way?
or cut a $50-55 an hour deal?
- Crouwel0
sure you can cut a bit as they promise you work for like weeks?
that's normal. i have done freelancing for an agency in Amsterdam and got just a little less then what i charge normally, but i made like 1600 euros in 4 days!
daft eh!
- recreational0
if you think they'll talk you down, you should start higher rather than lower so you have some room to negotiate.
- stevegee0
start at the $65, and a good point is that you'll be dedicating a hug eamount of your time to them, therefore not paticipating in other client work which is bad for your business. if they talk you down, they're talking you down from a higher rate. if you start at $50, they'll talk you to $40.
- rafalski0
Also, don't "lower the price", but "give them a discount", so they still know your usual rates
- stevegee0
only problem is that then they ALWAYS want your "discount"
- rafalski0
I know, maybe "a discount for a fixed term contract for minimum x months" or something then..
- ldww0
i agree with stevegee, that is what i would normally do with clients i think are going to negotiate - start high. you might even luck out and they will just accept the bid higher then you thought they would pay. (it happens)
- nooner0
i'll take that disount,