Rush fees
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- EPtype
what is a standard for rush fees on both print and web projects?
- meffid0
Dude. Context....
- BusterBoy0
$47.90 plus taxes.
- lukus_W20
A flat 9.99 is good .. it's not quite $10 so the client feels they're getting a great deal.
- _niko0
- and the meek shall inherit the earth...CygnusZero4
- :) made my day :)exador1
- EPtype0
say they want a rush brochure and rush website design. I've been doing everything rush for this client... I think i should charge them 2-3 times as much because of it.
- fyoucher10
Depends on how 'rush' it is for me. Weekend or holiday I'll double the cost at least, sometimes more depending on if it's just working over the holiday or working all day and night over a holiday or weekend. Less than 24-hour notice or something that's needed so quick that you need to spend more than 10 hours a day on to complete it, between 50 - 75% more.
- omg0
Customer Service... Free
- Sign of a company, not trying to scam money from me to do a good job.omg
- Rush fees exist so clients don't simply ask for it every single time.nb
- it basically tells a customer, that you can rush it if you want to, but only with a fee. greedy slackers!omg
- obviously you don't value your free time if you'll happily give up your evenings and weekends for nothing.Amicus
- < I think you're confusing a "rush fee" with overtime work. two different subjects dudeomg
- formed0
Depends on how valuable your client is. If they mean a lot to you (or your business), then you do it for free.
If they are unreasonable and ask for last minute/rush changes all the time, explain to them that it will take more to do it.
Personally, I've never charged one of my clients a "rush" fee, either we can get it done or we can't.
Explain the significance and any sacrifice you will make (like sleep), it will be appreciated.
- omg0
^
Every client is valuable. Without them, where would you be. If you're a client-focused designer.However if you are going to charge a "rush fee", you as might as well charge a customer a "Do it good fee". A rush fee sounds like they can control you with money. Psssh! Just rush the job for free. A special request. Companies who charge rush fees are lame!
- Amicus0
Your time, skills and experience are all valuable, well that is if you are any good. Free time is also valuable.
Think also of the times you have to push back one clients work because another client has a rush job. Rush fees help clients to learn the value of what you do and can help you build a more professional and valuable relationship with your client.
Upping your rate by 20–50% seems reasonable for rush jobs due to the inconvenience and says you'd love to help them, but without losing sight of the value of your time.
- omg0
^
Time is very valuable, I'm not saying that a client shouldn't be responsible for any extra time allocated to a design project. However to charge a client extra do get a project on a specified time is ridiculous. Its either possible or not. Rush fees in this case sounds like you're fining your client. That's the time you'd be teaching someone a lesson financially. And we all know what a ticket feels like. Makes you want to punch the ticket issuer in the face. Imagine how your client feels when you "help" him out by charging him more. You're also not gaining any value unless you value yourself as a Kinko's. Sounds like bullshit to me, when you're "inconvenienced" by your client's needs. Client already knows your value, and how could its worth ever be heightened by a "rush fee", equivalent to an express checkout.
- Amicus0
^ to me, it's like getting paid time and a half or double time for doing overtime at a job.
My evenings and weekends are worth even more to me than normal time, because that is when I can spend time with my better half / kids/ friends etc. I will give up some of this time to help a client out occasionally, but I let my clients know the inconvenience by charging more. They won't remember favours you've done them as easily as they'll remember that their budgets are going to be crushed if they don't get things organised and ordered early.
- tOki0
If work asks me to do something when I'm officially on annual leave, If I want to do it I will ask for 90% of the money being paid for that part of the project. If they REALLY want me to do then they can pay for it and still make money from other parts - I call this a privilege fee. They get the privilege of getting the project over the line, and the client/job gets access to me as the lead creative.
I think the same term can be applied to clients who want work done in unreasonable time frames. You can either pay shitloads for the privilege of it being done before 8am on a Monday when you call on Friday at 5, or you can get in line like everyone else. So many people seem to forget that when they are at home stressing about their projects, we are at home trying not to think about the very same project.
- maikel0
Sorry chaps, this is bullshit.
Rush fees means that you need to reject/delay another job and THAT is the cost is you pass on to the client.
Let's say on a normal week you take 4-5 projects, and if you take the rush job you will have to ask 2 of your regular clients to hold on for that week, or hire a freelancer to get it done in time.
Factor in the cost it will have for you and the impact it will have in your other clients. And mind you, by experience I'd say 'rush jobs' usually take quite long. If a job need being done in a rush means that you client already has no clue of how to plan things up.
... all that said, if it's just you and you have no other jobs to finish, don't even ask. Think how much is worth to you skipping a beer with your mates or an occasional shag, if that can be measured in monetary value.
- formed0
To each their own, I suppose, but it really sounds like a "Kinko's" fee structure to me, not a professional organization.
Not that Kinko's is bad, they clearly have a successful business model, just not one that would use on my company.
As to having to hire more people, that's the cost of doing business. You can charge $200/hr, then get the job done. If that means you are doing two jobs and paying someone else $100/hr, then you are still making $300/hr.