Reasonable flat rate for a logo/brand
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- MHDC
I designed a logo for a client, just some freelance work.
It's more than just the mark... i designed a brand story for them. They're a startup and have high hopes for their business and concept. (i guess everyone does)
I'm not sure what to charge exactly...
was thinking of $1000-$1500Thoughts?
- capn_ron0
hmm, it is tough once you've finished the work. That sounds about right. I guess it should have been talked about first though.
- <dbloc
- was gonna say the same thing... you already did it for freemonospaced
- MHDC0
Yea... well it was one of those moments that the idea just came to me and it all made sense. They had nothing... I did have discussions with them about their overall needs and target audience.
I meet with them tonight and I'll present the concept. If they love it then fine... if they want a new idea or whatever then I'll just have to take it from there.
But the price sounds right?
- cannonball19780
Not enough info
- you aren't just making them a scalable picturecannonball1978
- detritus0
I was just about to post what I think ETM's written in the note above — I'm not sure what your relationship with these people is, but I'd be wary about showing final/full concepts up front if you've not discussed any kind of agreement yet.
If you can trust them, sure — elsewise, what's to stop them simply lifting your idea and doing it themselves?
- capn_ron0
The number sounds good to me. I just don't konw what they will do. If they are good people, they will accept it. If not, they can just say no and now you have a cool logo with no money.
I think you may want to work backwards and maybe build to that final logo. that way it looks like you can get that cash.
- ideaist0
You need:
1. A formal quote.
2. A formal contract.
3. A formal invoice.
- bulletfactory0
I realize it's a startup, so you can't very well charge 20k for a logo, but this feels very low to me.
I would go with the price you mentioned, but see if you can get some equity in the company as well. This way, if it totally takes off, you're set up to make some better scratch, not to mention, you'll be part of the company to consult on even wider branding initiatives.
If it tanks, then you still got your $1,000-$1,500.
- I agree. 3k sounds more reasonable and still a deal.Josev
- MHDC0
Three decision makers, and one is a very good friend of mine. I know they are on a tight deadline and also want me to design their website and application. They feel held up by several things and the brand story and logo will free them up. I just want to get them excited and keep the momentum moving quickly. I have a formal contract for them and will invoice them formally as well.
I wanted to really "wow" them with the concept so they could not also get excited to move the process along, but also trust me to take them through the rest of the process and deliverables.
I never work this way... but he is a friend and like I said... the idea just hit me and I believe in it.
- just be careful working for friends... also, working with the promise of 'more work in the future'bulletfactory
- I hear ya... All my work will be contracted and agreed upon, with safety nets in regards to scope creep and such.MHDC
- get the contract signed before the unveil. Say that you were so excited you already comped something for them (once signed).monNom
- capn_ron0
I think you are good with those numbers then. If it is a friend who understands what you do then you are golden.
- ETM0
@MHDC It sounds like you already have your mind made up.
- vaxorcist0
ask for ongoing biz relationship and/or some stake in the company... i.e. they can't pay an "agency rate" for your logo / identity / "brand story" design services which would cost a chunk from a "branding agency"... but they don't want a teenager or amateur either....
- vaxorcist0
NOTE When dealing with friends and/or startups, its INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT to make sure the chain of authority is somehow known before you show any creative... i.e. don't show stuff, hoping to "wow them" to an internal company guy who wanted to do this gig but was passed over for .. uh...YOU....
The other oddball thing about doing gigs like this, at a cut rate for friends, is that you may get more "can't you make that in another color, or bigger" shit, as the "aura" of a big firm doesn't wrap around your work preventing shit like this.... so you may try to get buy-in from the one person who matters, make sure you have buy-in, then show everyone else.... and make sure they're able to defend the work,etc... this can be more political than you think sometimes....
good luck, I'm hoping it isn't too political....
- cannonball19780
If you get a decent chunk of change, the longer you work on the project, the less they will want to cut and run with a different option. "Well, shit, I guess this is our logo."
- MHDC0
Well that went as not expected... been doing this for a long time. Client's loved the entire concept, story and execution. No changes whatsoever. Better yet, excited for next steps and more work.
Thanks for all your advice.
- ETM1
- doesnotexist0
charge as much as you can
- gramme1
I agree with everyone else about the importance of agreeing to a fee before doing a shred of work, and on having contracts.
All that aside, $1,500 for a logo is very low. If your work is any good, you should be charging upwards of 3x that amount just for a logo. Could be much more for an identity system.
Don't just think about time spent. Think about the value of what you've created for your client.
- bklyndroobeki0
Bump!
A very very small sized media partnership just hit me up to create their logo. I never know what to charge for ids.
- benfal0
I established a personal rate for myself. 50$/h
So if you did put like 20 hours of work on that branding, that mean 1,000$. If they are a startup and dont have millionz yet, thats reasonable i think. And 50$/h is ok for me for sideline work. If i were on my own freelancing from home, thats would be more like 75$/h
- $50 bucks in the fake french east coast? That's low man. Even for gigs in your spare time.VectorMasked
- its for very small clients in generalbenfal