Comments on: Discounts? On Freelance Work? http://www.thursdaybram.com/2008/04/30/discounts-on-freelance-work Creativity is business too. Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:40:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: thursday http://www.thursdaybram.com/2008/04/30/discounts-on-freelance-work/comment-page-1#comment-736 thursday Thu, 01 May 2008 17:50:13 +0000 http://www.thursdaybram.com/?p=356#comment-736 It entirely depends on the type of project. If it's just straight writing (think articles for magazines) I'm comfortable with a per word rate. For a marketing piece, like a brochure or a website, I will offer an hourly estimate and price, although I prefer setting a price for the whole project just so that clients don't dream up wild scenarios with hundreds of hours of work. I do agree with you that it's a fine line. I've quoted a lowball price more than once because I need the work more than I need to set a firm price. And even then a client will try to find a way to get a lower rate. Unfortunately, not every client is a dream to work with. It entirely depends on the type of project. If it’s just straight writing (think articles for magazines) I’m comfortable with a per word rate. For a marketing piece, like a brochure or a website, I will offer an hourly estimate and price, although I prefer setting a price for the whole project just so that clients don’t dream up wild scenarios with hundreds of hours of work.

I do agree with you that it’s a fine line. I’ve quoted a lowball price more than once because I need the work more than I need to set a firm price. And even then a client will try to find a way to get a lower rate. Unfortunately, not every client is a dream to work with.

]]> By: Joe Ferry http://www.thursdaybram.com/2008/04/30/discounts-on-freelance-work/comment-page-1#comment-735 Joe Ferry Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:04:08 +0000 http://www.thursdaybram.com/?p=356#comment-735 I'm curious about how you set your rates. Do you have a set for for certain project i.e. a tri-fold brochure, web site copy, newsletter, etc.? Or do you charge per hour? Many of my clients are small businesses that have to be convinced they need to do marketing and PR. As a result, if I charge too much they'll probably say no. If I charge too little, I screw myself. I tend to underprice the value of my work for the simple reason that I need to keep the cash flowing. I can't afford to lose a job because my price is too high. I know that is contrary to what a lot of the experts say, but that is the reality for me. I’m curious about how you set your rates. Do you have a set for for certain project i.e. a tri-fold brochure, web site copy, newsletter, etc.? Or do you charge per hour?
Many of my clients are small businesses that have to be convinced they need to do marketing and PR. As a result, if I charge too much they’ll probably say no. If I charge too little, I screw myself.
I tend to underprice the value of my work for the simple reason that I need to keep the cash flowing. I can’t afford to lose a job because my price is too high. I know that is contrary to what a lot of the experts say, but that is the reality for me.

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