Hourly Rate
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- EuroTrash
How much does everybody charge hourly? (dollar equivalent please, if possible)
Lowest I have charged was $20 per hour, but usually charge $35 depending on the project (web work...I charge more for print, as clients are willing to pay more for print). If its a fairly large project I tend to charge less per hour as I am getting more money in the end, for small ones the rate goes up, as my overhead costs still stay the same and I need to cover those. In addition to that I always add at least %20 to 25% to the over hours, just to make sure all my overhead will be covered in the end and I am actually turning a profit. Most agencies I worked in charged at least $100 per hour minimum for web work and even more for print.
What about you guys?
- auricom0
depends on the area you live in and if they are going to be an asshole to deal with, that always hikes the fee up a wee bit.
- EuroTrash0
Yes I am aware of the geographic differences, but thats why I am curious what everybody around the world even charges (all in dollar value). Juts be interesting to see. But it seems no one charges anything. I guess work is for free.
- ********0
exactly. do you have a office outside your home? do you live in a large city like NYC, LA, or SF? is this your full time gig? how big are your clients? keep in mind that you are going to get taxed at about 30%, so if you are charging $25, u getting $17.50 after taxes. me, i answer yes to all these questions, my rate is $75.
- idsgn0
i live in calgary , alberta , and work out of an office in my home. most of my clients are pretty small business, and i usually charge around 40 / hr (around 30-35USD) , but really it changes depending on any number of things.
- EuroTrash0
Alright so far we have $75 in LA
Anymore takers?
- ********0
use dB here this topic is a hot one. As for me I charge $35 US per hour for web work and $50 for Flash. :)
- brooke0
If I worked with hourly rates, it'd be something like $300/hr. But generally I charge by the project as a whole. Illustration is different than other types of design, I guess. Although I do design as well.
- ********0
brooke is right though, generally I just charge a total lump sum and do the work. recently I got a gig that was set to be 340 hours at $27/hr. OK so do the math it comes out to about $8250 or something. It will only probably take me about 2 weeks to do the actual flash programming and that's working off of their sad template. So, I could sit and say well I am paid something like $400/hr, etc. etc. It's all how you shake it with your agency or clients. :)
- Mimio0
If you charge an hourly rate and stick to it you'll never go wrong as you can always justify your costs. If you bid a job for a certain amount of hours and it only takes you half that you're obviously being dishonest with your clients. They won't appreciate that in the future, if you have one.
- ********0
It all depends on how you get your gig. If you are lining it up with an agency and they have a certain budget, then they might not give a f*ck how you sort things out. It's dog eat dog sometimes, so go with your feelings towards whom you are working with. IMO ;)
- fifty500
The RGD's Handbook on the Business of Graphic Design states that any junior designer can charge 75 dollars per hour, that's in Canadian funds.
- ********0
that's about $35 US per hour right?
- Monk0
$75 here also.
Location: Miami, FL
- heavyarms0
One reason I have always been charging hourly is because I am afraid they may become a pain and act like they are not completely satisfied with it or make a bunch of changes.
With hourly rates they get only the amount of work that they paid for. If they want more they have to pay for more hours.
I could be looking at this wrong. I think that is the reason many designers who have a set cost for the project tack on an extra 25% or something.
- nosaj0
Sure a junior designer can charge $75 a hour... but who's gonna pay? I'm not saying $75 and up isn't fair for a designer with lots of experience, but man for a junior freelancer.... that's nuts.
- arthur0
Hourly rates can make you look like an amateur. Charge on a per project basis with the scope of the project and your deliverables clearly defined in a contract. If the scope of the project changes, or if they come back with too many revisions, refer them to your contract and tack on additional fees.
If I charged by the hour, there's no way I could justify to my client that they have to pay me a huge hourly rate just because I work very quickly.
- t_rock0
It's really just a matter of getting your client to see the value of the work you will be providing.
We base it on a number of things:
our costs, what we expect to make as a salary, how many hours we put into a typical week, and then how long a project will take. We usually give a rate for the job, explaining to the client that it may take X hours or more, but they will pay the rate, not for the hours. If the changes or demands on the project increase, we inform the client the price will too.
- Mimio0
Almost all agencies work on a per hour basis, it's the standard and its far from amateur. Flat fees don't work in the service industry. Ask any electrician, lawyer or accoutant. If you can't justify your cost you will never be able to sustain a higher rate. Those days are long over kids.
- arthur0
disagree
- brooke0
x 2.