BootStrap

The commonest question that freelance graphic and web designers ask which also is also nearly impossible to answer.

How much should I charge for Design?

A lot of facts are involved when it comes to this, not many would nearly be able to cover all of them. Take into account when deciding how and what you charge the client for.

Sure, these are only tips that works for me, might just work out for you. But in real, freelance designers / coders would need to think carefully before developing their pricing model which is most suited to their need.

Experience

A designer’s experience and what he has to offer surely is one of the many factors. Clearly, an art director with 31 years experience is capable of earning a higher fee than a freelance designer. And a complete brand identity devised by a recognized design firm, who need to pay for overheads and staff, will cost a good deal rather than a logo designed by a self-employed graphic designer.

Type of work

Many designers will charge different rates for different type of work they carry out. Whether it’s a part of the same job for the same client.

Creative versus rent-paying?

The designs that cross the limits of creativity are seldom to get paid the best. Designers, nearly all the time know that a dull corporate brochure will pay a lot more than an award winning flash website.

Web and interactive design

Interactive projects which include either Flash or any other type of multimedia is always high-priced than basic HTML page design / development. But the conceptual stages of the design process may well take up the most part of the costs, it’s rarely ever simple & quick to conceive a project.

The client

A well good portion depends on the client as well. The value of the project is not only dependent on what the designer has put into it, but what it would get the client matters a lot. Often, this relies on how much the client is willing to spend. Few designers would taper their fees based on this fact that a client with a bigger office space will pay more than a client with a smaller business. Practicing this has been on a very low-level for quite some time now, but it is still being implemented.

Loss-leaders, pro bono, free pitching

The topic is usually in dissension. A lot of the designers will in fact turn away from contributing for free in pitching for work, while others would believe that it is a part of the process. Loss-leaders can also be known as a disputative area. Most of them debate that it is very essential to pitch in with blue fees for a first job with a new client, as that is without doubt the most beneficial way of drawing in the new potential client.

Others would argue that once you go cheap with a client’s job, he shall continue to expect the same margin of fees that would never give the designer’s profession the value it deserves.  The disputation here is whether or not designers should be able to out discounts.

Location

This is one of the very simple and agreed with fact. It has always been the case that a designer can earn more and maintain better and higher paying clients in larger cities.

Print and other extras

Usually what happens is that a designer will add on extra cost for the external services that he will carry or manage for their clients. For example a print designer will add 5%-8% to the printing job’s cost. What he actually should have done was to bring it to the table with the client that the external services would be charge, or he can make it visible in a small print. I’ve seen some heated arguments in the design forums on the very same topic, things do intend to get out of hand in these discussions.

It’s important to estimate for and pass on the costs of other expenses, e.g. photography, stock images, travel, etc. Designers will bill these costs in different ways, but they all have to be paid for somehow.

Formulas, hourly rates or flat fees?

At the end of the day, it often comes down to experience. Even the most carefully planned out job can quickly go over budget, which shouldn’t have been. At the same time, a job that was expected to last a week, can sometimes be completed in a few hours. All these factors need to be considered and taken care of, one cannot let a single one slide, resulting from unethical billing to working more than you got paid for.

A freelance designer should think carefully before billing their clients. Coming up with a proper pricing model will really sort things out for them.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 28th, 2010 at 6:20 am

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