OPINIONS PLEASE
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- OneNine
I am designing a brochure for someone I know relatively well - I can get 1,000 of them printed for $390 - she's already referred me another client and I have a feeling she will be giving me more references in the future. It's letter sized tri-fold brochure - I'm thinking of charging around $600 for design and printing (so I’ll be making $210) does that sound about right?
- jaylarson0
how long will it take you? what is your rate? where do you live?
- Llyod0
$50,000 plus 10%
- monkeyshine0
haven't done print for a while but don't you typically mark up printing costs 30% and then charge your hourly? $210 seems a little low.
- OneNine0
I dont want to come off charging too much - i think it will take me 5 or 6 hours - usually charge $75 an hour and Im giving a discount
- Mimio0
Only you can decide this...and/or prevent forest fires.
- OneNine0
I think i need to stop being a puss - everytime I give prices clients seem to bitch - cost is always such an issue and ppl never seem to think it's worth the cost...I feel like ppl are always going to think im trying to rip them off...
- Ironically, it's the clients who are in fact bending you over on pricing. Stick to your rates, you'll be glad in the end.jamble
- monkeyshine0
Without marking up the printing the price (by your hourly) would be $375. Do you really want to do it for less?
Clients always whine about costs. At some point in your career you will have to move away from those clients or you will be poor, have a reputation for being cheap, and resented by other designers who are trying to make a living.
- harlequino0
Here's a good line to use when they bitch about prices.
"Ok, I understand. Can you tell me what it is about my work and services you feel is not worth that cost?"Then wait, they will call back.
- OneNine0
All valid points - pretty much what I needed to hear.
- harlequino0
^That's more of a hard sell when they piss you off. The softer version would be, in response to them wanting to now why you are so "expensive.":
"Well, I believe that with the level of creativity, experience, and client service I bring to the table, this is a fair and reasonable price for my work."
That usually goes well.
- Point50
"i think it will take me 5 or 6 hours - usually charge $75 an hour and Im giving a discount"
OneNine
Feb 6, 08, 12:59 p.m.
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just use the old formula. estimate how long it will actually take, then double that and there's your price estimate.5-6 hours = 10-12 hours realistically (client revision, admin, press check time, etc.)
this way, in case you finish under your estimate time you can be honest with your client you can submit the final invoice stating that it only took 8 hours or whatever.
- CALLES0
i like turtles
- tasty0
working for friends and family is such a fucking drag.
as far as regular clients hating on your rates. remember you were asked to design something because you are a designer. They would not ask you to fix their car, they would ask a mechanic to do that. To which they pay $75 hr for labor, for a man that probably has spent some time in prison.
- harlequino0
Just a tidbit for the kids at home, if it's useful. A great way to improve selling your wares, is to get ahold of collections of telemarketing scripts. Seriously. Especially rebuttles to objections, like:
"I'm not interested."
"I understand, sir. That's why we're letting everyone know..."
That kind of stuff. Some of the best sales copy ever written. Simply adapt to your situation.- I've got 10,000 dildos in the back of my truck...mrdobolina
- capn_ron0
I sometimes try to help out friends and family and it always seems to get me fired up that I am getting ripped off. I am starting to see that by trying to be the nice guy and lowering my prices I only screw myself. I would say go for it OneNine, but make it clear that you are giving a special one time discount for the client referrel, or else they will expect this discount all the time.
Also, just about every client I have has been referred to me by someone else, so it could be a slippery slope of a lot of discounts.