Meshio.com - Latest Comments in Freelancer’s Rate Card

Re: Freelancer’s Rate Card

yowchuan — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:38:02 -0000

I know of many designers who complains about the endless iterations and the difficulty of getting the clients to put a full stop on the project. I was wondering if you can actually use a discounted model on projects whereby clients are rewarded with additional maintenance hours or other perks if a project is completed and signed off ahead of time.

Re: Freelancer’s Rate Card

Kaloth — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 21:56:06 -0000

Just stumbled across this article while doing some research and thought I'd be best to put in my experience as a graphic designer. Any client I have that demands/expects a per-job based method gets a 30% "client screwup" levvy placed on top of what I estimate to be the likely hourly time spent (say I estimate 6 hours at RM200/hr, I quote for RM1560)

While I'm sure many folk would scream for blood if they knew this, its a necessary part of my invoice (rolled into the job, not listed as an individual item of course!). As mentioned in the article, clients tend to exploit a professional if they know they don't have to pay any extra for extra work which is why I charge this on top of my 'actual' estimate. It is not always necessary as sometimes a client doesn't mess around, but on many jobs they do, and this levvy is in place to cover such events. It is simply a case of covering my ass (and its not like any client, ever, gives the full scope of the job ahead of time so its hard to make an accurate estimate).

My per-hour clients get charged a flat hourly rate, which is documented very closely (min 1 hr, after which 15 minute blocks, monitored with a timer on my desk), entered into a spreadsheet daily, and billed monthly. These clients I love, put more effort into their work, and frequently do small alterations for free, as I know they appreciate the work I do and we have trusting client/designer relationships.

For all new clients I offer the hourly rate at first, but only if they insist on a per-job invoicing will I fall back to that and let them take the extra fee on top.

Re: Freelancer’s Rate Card

Rajiv — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 10:45:41 -0000

well, as both a service provider and one in need of service from time to time, i find a lump sum amount much easier to work with.

First, it helps tremendously with budgeting a project. You can know upfront how much it'll cost.

2nd, it reduces suspsision, especially things like programming, how on earth can you be transparent with the time taken? who would know whether you spent 25 or 40 hours? Its easier when you work in the pressense of the client, but for most freelancers, you don't.

Just my 2cents.

Re: Freelancer’s Rate Card

omeg@kenny — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 04:32:33 -0000

normally those clients are not willing to pay more but expect better result...

Re: Freelancer’s Rate Card

ShadowFox — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 12:31:38 -0000

You forgot 1 more thing.

Make sure your clients are not Triads/gangsters.

AVOID like a disease!!!