Justifying your freelance rate
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- Atticus
Is there a table online on AIGA or Aquent somewhere that shows the industry standards for pay rates? I couldn't find any, but I would like to be able to justify to my client why I'm charging $9999 an hour for Flash work.
- Mimio0
Hourly rate is set by you and your clients. It's an agreement.
- Atticus0
i know it's determined primarily by the two parties but say a client has not dealt with designers before. Where would they get a professional approximation of what they should be paying? How do they know if $5 an hour is too little or $5000 is too much?
- Mimio0
Your rate should be related to your local market. I wouldn't suggest that you quote AIGA estimations to your client since they are usually averaged.
- mbr0
I don't think a table will provide any kind of reasoning in their mind. They don't know, nor care, who the AIGA are.
Professional rates, for graphics to architecture, range from $25 - $100. For a freelancer, somewhere in the middle is good, depending on your skills. Don't forget to be able to justify it with:
Health Insurance (that's a big one), tech. upgrades, software prices, training, subcontractors, etc., in case they wonder where the cash is going. Have a good list ready and they won't be able to challenge you.
- monkeyshine0
http://www.gag.org
It's the Graphic Artist's Guild and they have a book called Pricing and Ethical Guidelines or something like that which is a must-have for any freelance designer. Of course, those things are always priced above what anyone I know would actually pay but it is a good guide and has a ton of useful information for those starting out.Aiga also has a salary survey on their site.
- dequinix0
The justifying works fine until your client-to-be emails you and says, "Hey man, I found someone on Craigslist who'll do the site for $200! Thanks though!"
- SLAZ0
justify your rate with your experience and quality of work... if they dont like it... i usually say.. " if you are having budget issues, or dont want to go over a certain amount, i can be flexible to work with you because i am very interested in working on this project"...
if they come back with some ridiculous, give them the finger and say g'day!
- freshmode0
I disagree with mentioning your health issues or tech upgrades as to why you should charge a certain amount.
As I have stated before, they can care less what you have to buy or so on. They have a budget, if you can do it then great. If not, then to bad for you.
It goes more into project management and intellectual property. You have to explain that your ideas on concepts are what they are paying for. Along with the production and delivery of these ideas that are going to produce the results they are looking for. You can charge $50.00 or $500.00 an hour. If you explain correctly and prove to them why you are the one doing it and not some chump or their kid then they can see why they are paying that much.
Your skills and background are what sets your rates. Not what warez you use or the doctor you have to see every month for the rash you have on the back of your knees.
Remember, you are providing a service in attempts to produce results for them. These are things they cannot achieve without you. These are things that you have an "eye" for. Not just anyone can do.
Your clients budget also has a lot to do with it.
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- SLAZ0
freshmode actually typed all of the things i am too tired to type..
good job freshmode
- freshmode0
WOOO HOOO!!!!
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