Freelance Fees
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- UCLABUM
Anyone have a reasonable idea how much I should charge for graphic and web design projects in California as a freelancer? 1-2 Yrs experience. :D
- ********0
as much as you can get negro
- ericPowell0
where in cali?
web?
print?
just design?
dev too?
flash?
- UCLABUM0
In LA, for web and print, no flash, no programming.
- UCLABUM0
LOL
- blastofv0
It's all about the client and their budget (and your talent, and your ability to sell it). You'll know if they have cash or not, and if they do, charge them competitive professional rates. Look at the AIGA salary survey for a ROUGH idea at freelancer rates, but don't charge any less than $75 an hour for print design work.
Oh, and find out how much your (realistic) competition charges.
- ericPowell0
i'd also say don't go under $60/hr for web design in la area....
blastofv has great advice ----
- blastofv0
One more thing— it's real important starting out that you set a pricing standard for yourself and your work. If you start out on the cheap, you'll get stuck working on the cheap for a long time.
Ask for what's fair, and then negotiate down if necessary.
Good luck man.
- UCLABUM0
Thanks man. I don't want to end up doing pizza doorhangers, so your advice is well taken!
- shellie0
my rates vary depending on the client. im able to keep constantly busy and put in about 40+ hours for different firms.
i can charge 35-70 depending on the client and the work. averaged out in the end i could make somewhere inbetween those two numbers for 40 hours or more a week.
i always say, rates vary depending on type of work. when you want to stay busy, its stupid to price yourself out of a job if youre not doing anything else. staying busy is the key. even if you end up working for 30 bucks an hour 40 hours a week or more, thats more than you'd ever get with 1-2 years experience in LA. unless you were a design god, you'd be considered a JR making 40k or less. 30 bucks an hour is like 57-58k.
like, if you get in with creative circle or something, its better to tell them a range you'd accept working for. that way you dont miss out.
the whole point of all that is, for your experience dont be too proud to take 30 bucks an hour unless you have the portfolio to make you worth more. otherwise people will look at you funny and say thanks but no thanks and you might get 1 job a month.
my2cents
- jimeeboy510
I think shellie hit it right on the donkeys ass! There are so many other factors t consider...client's company size? is it established or start up? If you are going to get a ton of projects from them, then don't scare them away, be fair. What I do sometimes is that I ask them to do me a favor and refer me to all their friends if I go on the low side. I think in most cases, thinking long term (how to get the most bang for your work) is better then making quick money now and slow money later.
- johndiggity0
My suggestion:
get a hold of all the staffing firms in the area, ie Aquent, The Creative Group... and find out where they're sending people. DON'T SIGN UP WITH THEM. Call up the places and tell them you'd be willing to work for 80% of what they pay the staffing companies. I used to freelance for the companies around DC and made about $35 hr for print design. I got an full time agency gig soon after, and left 8 months later. Now, it's not outrageous to ask for $100/hr after I left that shit and got a handle on how it works. You'd be surprised how much those companies pay the staffing places, and how much they hold out from you.
- 67nj0
I think shellie is right...
lots of very good suggestions to keep in mind bro..
- shellie0
another note:
so far my strategy has worked well. i dont feel like im being taken even though im not charging as much as some people might. but, i have a feeling theyre twiddling their thumbs a lot of the time.i've pretty much doubled my yearly wage doing it that way since i become a freelancer. not on purpose, but it's kind of worked out that way. dont be too greedy... and you'll make more than you expect.
and dont forget SAVE YOUR MONEY FOR TAXES.
- 67nj0
you are my hero [shellie]:
i went wrong the opposite way by lowering a lot my wages because i wasn't sure i could find clients...now i'm struggleling to raise my fees...PS: becoming a freelancer wasnt a free choice for me, but that's another story and this thread it's not mine...