Hourly Rate
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- arthur0
Not to be trite, but I must add that my electrician and accountant work on a flat-fee basis as well. I haven't had the need for a lawyer.
- Mimio0
Good for you, I hope you stay in business. I'm just explaining how 99% of design studios/agencies calculate cost for their clients.
- ********0
yeah Mimio is right, just was different for me this time around
- combustible0
I currently charge $45 CDN per hour but when I give estimates, it's a flat fee that I provide the client with. What I do is roughly estimate how much time it usually takes me to do the type of work, the complexity of the project, etc. I add on transportation fees, courier charges, etc. to the project fee.
If I go over the estimated project fee, I will only charge the client if they are revisions/adjustments requested by them -- if it's my own timewasting, then that's my fault. I have yet to do a project where I've severely undercut myself, but I'm sure that some day there'll be one where I underestimate how long or how involving it will be.
Each project is addressed individually, so if there were to come a project that was going to be on-going or very involved, I'd probably discuss with the client charging them hourly.
I'm still new to all this... graduated last April, but from people I've talked to have said, it seems like I'm doing the right thing.
Oh and fifty50 suggested something worthwhile... the RGD Ontario handbook. Every year they do a survey and provide average hourly rates, etc. for various levels of designers.
- EuroTrash0
So far we have
(all values are in US$):mitee - $75 LA Calif.
idsgn - $35 Can
JazX - $35 Pittsburgh, PA
fifty50 - $52.5 Can
Monk - $75 Miami, FL
Combustible - $31.5 Can
- EuroTrash0
In addition if you don't charge hourly yoru clients will make you do changes until you turn blue. And your real hourly rate could end up being below minimum wage. The reason why I add 25% in the budget proposal, just to cover all costs. If I don't use all hours I don't charge them for it. But clients will always want me to use the extra time to do extra work. Yet in my experience, the hours designated easily are used up...there is never time left over, so the 25% rule works. Also if you don't charge by the hour how do you calculate your administrative work? You gotta charge them for that as well, as well as for client communication etc.
- ********0
lets not forget about all the factors on how i came up with my price. if i had a full time job and this was my outside freelance, worked from home and was starting out, then my fee would probably be around $50. and i always do flat fee based on how much work the job will take, based on hourly rate.
- Duane0
on estimated projects we clearly define terms, deliverables and rounds of revisions to cover our ass. usually works out fine.
- arseni0
I charge $45 \hour, but don't charge hourly :) I estimate the time it's gonna take me to complete a project, and tell a client the sum. If i underestimate,
it's basically my fault.If a client requests something that wasnt discussed before i told him the price, im gonna charge him additionally.
I've been doing freelance for only a year, so im still in the process of figuring out the best way to this whole stuff with money..
arseni
/San Francisco
- cyberthug0
exactly. do you have a office outside your home? do you live in a large city like NYC, DC, or NY? is this your full time stripper gig? how well endowed are your clients? keep in mind that you are going to get that ass taxed at tea time, so if you are charging $150 to turn tricks, u getting $17.50 after feedoing the hoes. me, i answer yes to all these questions, my rate is $975/hr.
- redFridge0
60 design
80 back endI have had a better experiences charging lump sum for a whole project.
- auricom0
lump sums always funk me....hourly is better. here in Mid VA, i charge about 55-60 depending.
yes this gives you a good idea and all but you should really seek out people in your area and expertise. i always take out 25% of each check, even if I know i'll end up not having to owe as much, just in case. i also work full-time in retail for benefits so that helps with the whole tax issue....somewhat.
- heavyarms0
"In addition if you don't charge hourly yoru clients will make you do changes until you
turn blue. And your real hourly rate could end up being below minimum wage."That's what I'm afraid of. I work fulltime and dont have time for any unexpected BS.
I'm pretty sure the standard in illustration is to charge per project and do it as fast as possible in order to possibly make the hourly rate come out very high.
It seems like everyone is still pretty divided on the subject
of hourly vs project rates.I'm not freelancing full time but I live in a pretty small area outside of the city and it seems really tough to quote small business people high hourly rates. Imagine in a hick voice: "$50 dollars an hour?!"
If I freelanced full time I'd have to get more contacts with
bigger companies in the city.I'm still interested to hear more of your rates.
- ********0
more than carver
- omana0
I'm in Milwaukee, which I consider a shitty place to be doing freelance, and I charge $50 per hour flat rate. Normally though, the client has a budget for the project and I propose something that fits the budget, and then complete it as quickly as possible.
This is for motion design and illustration . . .
- ********0
$60/hr in the atl
- jimeeboy510
"In addition if you don't charge hourly yoru clients will make you do changes until you
turn blue. And your real hourly rate could end up being below minimum wage."Thats why it is highly recommended to write up contracts. Read the GAG book for contracts and to get a general idea of common payment practices. OR check out AIGA's contract
www.aiga.org/resources/Content/1…... 4/6/documents/AIGA_contract.pdf
I charge $35/hr but have recently planned out flat rates for different projects to give out. I have discounts for small/new businesses so I don't scare them off with my rates as well.
- jimeeboy510
and dont forget about DSF (Digital Service Fees). Yup, I recently learned about this and if you don't know what it is, its a charge that you add (like the 25% on top that some of you spoke about) that covers CD-Rom media, FTP hosting for files, wear-and-tear on your CD-R burner, stuff like that. Anyone else know more about this?
- EuroTrash0
RATE LIST UPDATE
(all values are in US$):mitee - $75 LA, CA
idsgn - $35 Can
JazX - $35 Pittsburgh, PA
fifty50 - $52.5 Can
Monk - $75 Miami, FL
Combustible - $31.5 Can
arseni - $45 San Francisco, CA
redfridge - $60 Indianapolis
auricom - $55 Richmond, VA
omana - $50 Milwaukee
%ϗUake - $60 Atlanta, GA
jimeeboy51 - $35 USA
- evad0
depending on the company, i usually charge a start up company $50/hr. and a more established company $100/hr.
omaha, ne.