Working for Free?
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- 51 Responses
- MakeUK0
In my experience it is going to be best for your business and this is what your running to charge for every task. This is education for your client and creates some respect for you and the industry as a whole. Saying that, there is a way to do it - professionally not emotionally don't send strong emails have a nice chat to the guy and explain honest communication can solve a lot of relationships. If you do one job for free he will expect more and if this guy is serious about his business he won't mind paying a professional to do the work - that's my advice anyway,
- must_dash0
It says it all that he can't go back to the person who did the card originally? did they want to be paid for it perhaps?
- MakeUK0
Yeah sometimes you gotta watch out for the signs - there's a lot of ass bag out there.
- Bargels0
I'd tell him, professionally, I don't work for free, no matter how small the job, and that you're sure he understands. After all, it is your career. All this 'overcharge him down the road' or 'let it go for the sake of future work' stuff doesn't seem like it will help build a good relationship with him for you.
- lukus_W0
He's trying to create a working relationship with you that works for him.
Lay down the rules now - any reasonable person will agree to paying. If he kicks up a stink, you can be assured you're better off without him.
Re. your response: less emotion, don't ask him questions, impart facts. Something along these lines might work:
You have to charge -> he employed you. Amount is small -> but needs to be accounted for. In future -> can arrange a regular monthly invoice (aggregating smaller items) if it makes him happy.
- formed0
#1 - it is kinda insulting to be asked to do anything to someone else's design, although we all do it at some point
#2 - time = money, period.
BUT - if he were a good client, then I'd not even ask. I bill clients for things that require maybe 30 min or more, but those are ongoing, long term clients (that don't "promise" future work).
That, and NO ONE has ever asked for a reduction on an invoice, besides one of my first big clients that ended up screwing me out of $9k (I did get 15k out of him, though). So that's a pretty big red flag in my book.
It's $35, for Christ's sake!! I'd be wary of him as a client going forward, make sure you get at least 50% up front, then percentages for work done.
Big point:
"Do you really want to charge me for such little work?"
"Well, moron, obviously I do or I wouldn't have sent you an invoice!"
Respect, has to happen on both sides or there will be problems.
- duckofrubber0
You work for free now, he'll expect it again and again...
- totallyMiguex
- I do free work all the time & never have I felt taken advantage of. Gotta have some trust.Lifeinvector
- pressplay0
In the clients head: "what the hell are them graphic designers doing the whole day anyway...doesn‘t look like work to me, looks like playing computer games... THEY should be charged for doing this... snippy little bastards"
- inhaler970
So what happened?
If he is a regular client, just charge it to another job, just make it clear that this one is a freebie.
On the hand don't do work for free ever. Once you start it won't stop. I know cause I've been there.
- M_C_P0
- i only wish this phrase would fit on my knuckles for a tattoo...applepirate
- utopian0
5...4...3...2...1...
- fyoucher10
Wow. $35 bucks? You must have 'some' kind of minimum, just for stupid shit like that. I would have charged at least $500, being this is a small client. It isn't worth your headache for $35 bucks, seriously. A client who is complaining about $35 and is probably more trouble than their worth.
- dMullins0
Your response is far too long and aggressive. Make your point that you are a professional and do not work for free, but don't come off like such an asshole. I'm with Projectile—if it's just a minor change, do it free, and overcharge next time to make up for it. Do you REALLY need to bleed him for $35 right now, or can it wait?
- TheeOtherJuan0
" In future -> can arrange a regular monthly invoice (aggregating smaller items) if it makes him happy. "
have to agree with lukus_W. You can create a monthly retainer for production work which includs a maximum of 'xxx" hours a month.
- BonSeff0
What fyoucher1 said.
Suck up the $35 and consider it a lesson learned.
moving forward just tell the client you are too busy to take on any more work from him. take the high road. consider yourself lucky you are only taking a $35 hit.
- story0
This one will be free as a goodwill. But I told him that normally I would charge 1hr minimum.
- TheeOtherJuan0
You did not learn anything we just told you.
- SteveJobs0
cool story
- acescence0
monetary is an adjective.. monetary reward or rewarded monetarily
/grammar nazi