Freelance Project Rate
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- jeffkab
I was recently approached with a freelance job for a company in the action sports industry looking for some work, specifically environment design (tradeshow booth graphics), a catalogue and a media kit for a convention coming up in a few weeks.
I am currently an in-house designer and haven't played around too much with freelance rates, especially with jobs that include a variety of projects and mediums. I've been poking around the internet and I was hoping I could get some help/opinions/information from you guys.
How do I vary my rate with each individual job, such as environment design, catalogue and media kits? Is there a better route to go as to just charge a single total for the full project, hourly, specific rates for specific mediums, etc?
Thanks!
- horton0
i'd cover yourself and set 1 hourly rate for all projects... "action sports" industries tend to expect designers to be falling over themselves for the work and you'll probably be working hard for a mediocre $/hr, but you'll at least be able to cover all the time you put in.
- make sure they send you all the swag upfront for getting a feel for the product********
- make sure they send you all the swag upfront for getting a feel for the product
- jeffkab0
Yeah, I'm already prepared for a little downgrade on pay just because it is the industry I'm in.
- kerus0
mmmmm shwag...
- jeffkab0
No free gear for this one. They only run news, contest updates, sponsor and vendor news, etc.
- damn, keep forgetting about these damn comment boxes
jeffkab - malakye?madirish
- close, but no cigar. it's something along the lines of twsnow.com and snowboard-mag.com with frequent updates on the snow industry.jeffkab
- no way you are doing the freeskiier work going on right now...madirish
- wait a minute....
if you are doing work for a mag that is redesigning their website i am going to die laughing.. :)madirish - no site redesigns for me. especially for a mag.jeffkab
- damn, keep forgetting about these damn comment boxes
- visualplane_0
Hourly rate depends on your level of work, location, client and sometimes your experience or who you know.
- scrap_paper0
Figuring out your hourly and break even rates is extremely important. At no time should any project get down to with 1.3x your break even rate unless it is a labour of love or your getting some serious perks.
This is a handy calculator that helps get a rough idea of what your looking at. http://freelanceswitch.com/rates…
Once you figure out what your rate is (this will be different then freelancing for a studio) estimate how much time the project should take, add about 30% contingency and then float the estimate to your client.
*note: this is an ESTIMATE not a QUOTE. Quote is set in stone and Estimate is subject to change.
A friend of mine gave me a great quote to work by: "If the client does not balk at your initial estimate you have under charged them".
There is a a great book called "the business side of creativity" and "the business side of graphic design" that you should pick up (can't remember the authors name right now). They really helped me get a grip on things.
- oh yeah I almost forgot that you have to compare all this stuff against what the market will bear. If it can't handle your costs, find another market :-)scrap_paper
- Fightingforart0
ask for weed