Comments on: The design pricing formula

By: Dean Taylor

Dean Taylor — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 06:59:06 +0000

Good read.

I do set packages for logo design, any amount of revisions over the package then I would upgrade the package, if it is only 1-2 revisions over the agreed package then I would advise them and charge them at an hourly rate or a set price per revision. depends on the circumstances.

Stationery design, set price, if it goes over the allowed amount of revisions then I charge an hourly rate the the extra work.

Websites, set price. You know what you will pay and what you will get. If it goes over.. a little I don’t worry. But if I find my self working many many hours over the time allowed then I would have to charge more, at an hourly rate.

By: David Airey

David Airey — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:57:40 +0000

That’s a great point, Marc. I agree. It is important to show the full price, plus any discounts offered on your invoice. You don’t want to give the impression that a discounted rate comes as standard.

By: Marc

Marc — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:31:55 +0000

Here’s one – do you guys invoice and show a “Friends rate” as a discount or just invoice the lower rate?

I think it’s important people understand the discount or it isn’t going to get noticed at all (or appreciated).

By: David Airey

David Airey — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:17:20 +0000

I once bought a CD with around 1,000 fonts, but most of them were useless, so nowadays I normally choose to buy small bundles at a time, and I've listed some excellent type foundries here. You should be factoring the cost of typefaces into what your charge your clients.

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:08:48 +0000

Thanks David, good point with creating the outlines, I usually do that, but mainly because as you say it is easier for the client to work with etc…

Sorry for going on about this topic with the fonts, but it’s something I hadn’t thought about and still have no answer for….

What did you do for your fonts? Did you buy seperate fonts at hundreds of pounds each time? or buy a reputable library?

Juts reiterating what I mentioned before, “Is there a good font library that you can recommend I buy which would include a good varied range of GOOD fonts? For example would the Font Folio 11 from Adobe which includes more than 2,300 fonts for around £2,900 be a good starter pack or what?”

“I mean it can’t be possible that everytime I want to buy a new font it costs me 300 euros! I would have spent nearly 1000 euros and only have 3 fonts? Even for me, to choose a font to use for my company name, i’ll have to pay this amount? is that the way it goes?”

I hope you (or someone) can clear this up for me.

Thanking you hugely in advance!

By: David Airey

David Airey — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:49:46 +0000

Pre-installed font usage guidelines can be ambiguous, so it’s best to only use fonts where the terms of use are clearly defined. It’s pretty much a given that you can’t supply anyone with actual font files unless you’ve purchased rights for more than one license. Where identity design is concerned, ensure you supply type as outlines. That not only helps when it comes to client usage, but also where redistribution regulations concerned.

When supplying an InDesign file or PDF for print, you need to be sure you have permission to embed fonts within the file. That should be stated within the terms of use. Otherwise, you should create outlines for text.

By: Ian

Ian — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:35:55 +0000

Thank you Lee Newham AND David for your excellent advice and views on my questions that I had left on a different post.

I have more questions, but I think this post is more relevant for my queries :-) Sorry for taking up space before on the wrong post.

SO, I have been working in the design industry for a few years, but always within a company, therefore I was unaware of the cost of fonts and so on, as they were always just there. Maybe a little lazy and naive on my part.

Now I’m faced with the challenge of starting my own personal business, I am a little confused as to what I should do regarding the subject of buying fonts, as all these details are new to me.

Is there a good font library that someone can recommend I buy which would include a good varied range of GOOD fonts? For example would the Font Folio 11 from Adobe which includes more than 2,300 fonts for around £2,900 be a good starter pack or what?

I mean it can’t be possible that everytime I want to buy a new font it costs me 300 euros! I would have spent nearly 1000 euros and only have 3 fonts? Even for me, to choose a font to use for my company name, i’ll have to pay this amount? is that the way it goes? or am I just being stupid?

Also, I am guessing that once you buy Photoshop and other such programs that the fonts included in them are safe to use for commercial use?

I feel that I should know all these details already, but well, I don’t! :-) And I’m just trying to itemise my costs the best I can before I know what help I need in terms of funds.

Any advice or opinions will be extremely welcome!

By: Sukanya Taylor

Sukanya Taylor — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:19:09 +0000

Great post. I share it with my readers on my blog, hope you don’t mind.

By: Mitchell Ward

Mitchell Ward — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:10:22 +0000

I’ve only just started checking out design blogs and found your site. Lately I’ve been struggling with where “I” fit into the grand scheme of things, regarding my services and pricing. A breath of fresh air, for me.

cheers
Mitchell

By: David Airey

David Airey — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:01:17 +0000

You should tell them before any exploratory meeting that it isn’t free. In fact, you should be factoring a meeting into the cost of the project. Just say you were doing them a favour at first, but that you can’t afford to work for free. Your boss doesn’t, so why should you?