freelance Qs
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- Meeklo0
I actually work with an agency where they pay me hourly, and if I have to work on site, I charge my time commuting to and from their office. (no breaks or lunch) I have never ever considered to do this, but the owner actually asked for it, and I was like... sweet!
- katekelly0
how do you all bill clients for freelance? hourly? per project?
i know this question has come up lately...
- they bill meraskolnikov
- you can do both, depends on the projectjimbojones
- they bill you rasko? your designers you mean?Meeklo
- boobs0
In this internet day and age, when someone can more easily work from home, they have to pay extra for you to get there. Mileage (cost of car expense) + time.
If somebody wants to see me live and in person, as opposed to me working away in the comfort of my home office, they certainly have to pay for the privilege.
Remember too, that people will only pay you what you have the nerve to ask for. You'll be miles ahead if you grow some balls and ask for what you want, rather than trying to imagine what they'll stand for and only ask for that.
Stick up for yourself.
- version31
if a project can be determined beforehand, i bill a project cost with half up front, half upon completion (before turning over tangibles or making live)
if experimentation, i explain day, week, and monthly rates, these rates are higher more often than not than project costs as there is more development taking place due to the increase in client communication
minimum hourly rates to prevent wasting your time, if they know it will cost x amount of dollars to swap an image or change some text, and they feel it is high "for that little thing" this helps put them in a position of consolidating there wants/needs from you in a more concise and project based manner
- jimbojones0
while boobs has a point, I have yet to meet a client who wouldn't laugh at that. big deal, I incorporate the costs into my rates.
- i_monk0
Well... she's disputing my invoiced hours vs the hours on the time sheet, so evidently she doesn't think they should pay for the time I was there, just the time I had stuff to do.
The difference is minuscule but it's lame.
- i_monk0
^ So for future reference, how do you calculate a day rate?
- I work out how much I want to earn in day and charge that.jamble
- Sounds glib but I mean it seriously, it is a rate for a day. Only you know what you wantjamble
- hrly x 10doesnotexist
- katekelly0
cool, thanks guys. i'm still wrestlin' with doing projects for friends...and them paying up.
so i'm trying to establish some guidelines up-front
- never
work
for friends*jimbojones - *at least those outside the biz, helping out fellow designers is ok, as they know how things workjimbojones
- i'm QUICKLY learning this.katekelly
- oh yes.... very vital..hektor911
- Never work for FAMILY either.i_monk
- never
- Meeklo0
I charge usually hourly for small projects (or day rate too) (under 3k usually)
if the project is larger than that, and it requires me to sub contract other freelancers, then is usually per project. (In my head I'm always calculating in hours though)It helps to track all your hours, because in the future you will be asked to do a project and If you are like me, you will have no clue on how to calculate hours, so by looking at previous similar projects you can have an idea on your hours.
- Cptn_Uncanny0
#2:
Charge based on how much respect you have for them, and if you think they'll rip you off.
i.e. If you think they'll rip you off and will play dishonest, round up and don't subtract breaks, and pad your hours. So when they stiff you on one of your payments later you didn't loose too much... hopefully. (Last in-house-client I had was really sleazy, so I didn't subtract breaks & padded. When they stiffed me on my last invoice I didn't loose money because of this and don't have to bother with pursuing the mater legally... So that's sort of a good pattern to follow... then again, don't work with dishonest people.)If you like them, and they're honest, then you be honest and charge respectfully (subtract breaks, charge just for the work you did, give them cuts, etc...). If you have a client that you like, you do want to keep that relation going. Throw in favors, etc, BUT make sure they realize that you are doing them favors and they don't take that for granted. What you do/how-you-work at the beginning will establish that relationship permanently (if you work cheep they'll expect you to stay cheep).
You really have to go on a client-by-client basis. Not all clients turn out to be nice, so you have to look for warning signs...
...ten cents. :]
- johndiggity0
day rate= $ hourly rate x estimated hours in a day
i'd assume 10 hours in day, possibly more if they are specifically asking for your day rate. they are usually assuming that you are assuming 8 hours. hence, they'd rather just pay for 8 hours and then have you for 10–12, which is why they want a day rate and not an hourly.
also when listing freelance, i'd put in under "contracts" and be selective about what contracts you list. anything under 3 weeks i would cut out. good editing is big on a resume.
- i_monk0
Thanks
They didn't ask for a day rate at the time, but next time I'm going on-site I'll use a day rate.
- vespa0
Re charging as soon as you step out of the door:
-- if it takes me 15 minutes to ride my bike to work, I won't charge.
-- if they are asking me to take a train from London to Paris at 5.00 AM, which requires me to be out of the door at 4.30 AM, I will charge. Those are precious sleeping hours that I can never get back!
- gramme0
Right on Meeklo, I'm exactly the same way.
- gramme0
It's not so bad when clients become friends, in fact I think it's pretty natural especially if you work with a particular client for a long time. But the versa is a nightmare each and every time, guaranteed.
- raskolnikov0
you make your timesheets fit for all the time you are there and bill for that, minus breaks.
- round up/down to the nearest 15 mins on each project.raskolnikov
- fyoucher10
If I were you, this is what I'd be doing...
1. Don't use a resume, use a website or info packet. If you're bidding on jobs, include a little about yo-self in your proposal. Using a resume is pretty much saying you're willing to work at the same hourly rate as a full-time worker but w/o the benefits. Can't remember the last I used a resume.
2. Begin charging as soon as you step out of your door to get to their place. Stop charging as soon as you step out of their door or aren't working on something that they're paying for (i.e. breaks). Don't forget: you're charging by the hour, not by the minute.
3. i_can
- raskolnikov0
there's no way on hell you can "Begin charging as soon as you step out of your door" for freelancing at an agency, which is what I gather he is doing.
- fair play if you can get away with that shit thoughraskolnikov
- you can, you should, and i have.johndiggity
- You should be.fyoucher1
- and the design agencies you work for are ok with this?raskolnikov
- I can see it, but I wouldn't tell them that. (not that you would)CyBrain
- TResudek0
1. List freelancing as one item and include some of the clients or sectors you've done work for.
2. Charge only for actual work. Set your rate to cover your travel and meetings and phone calls. Only add in "meetings" if the client is going overboard and you want to make a point.