Comments on: First steps to graphic design pricing

By: David Airey

David Airey — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:27:22 +0000

Hello Paul,

I understand where you’re coming from when you say you loathe placing guide prcies on your site. Ultimately, I needed to show a minimum price, in order to prevent enquiries from those wanting logos for $50.

No need to apologise for the length of your comment. I hope you don’t steer towards the ‘is it better to earn something than nothing’ thought, because your clients should expect to compensate you fairly, and for the amount you believe you’re worth.

All the very best.

By: Paul Cartwright

Paul Cartwright — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:22:16 +0000

Hi David, I’ve just found your website and find your topics very reassuring and extremely helpful.
I’ve been working for over 16 years, as part of an in-house team, as part of a design consultancy team and for the last 4 years as my own boss.
I’ve found that my site (www.paulcartwrightbranding.co.uk), which I try to keep business-like, formal and as polished as possible, attracts a lot of traffic, but rarely does this traffic turn into emails/telephone calls. My client list is varied, but has a few high street names amongst it and I’m now beginning to wonder if the site is projecting a slightly unapproachable feel (for unapproachable, read ‘expensive’!)
The calls I do get are often from ’startup’ companies who ‘love the work that you do and want something just like project X that you’ve worked on’, but want a special reduced rate just because they don’t have the budget - they still want the quality, but for lower fees!
I’m loathed to put guide prices on my site as suddenly it turns from being a proud designer portfolio to more of a market place, but spending time working on quotes for people who ultimately have no budget is beginning to impact on my schedule and my head! So I’m interested in what other posters have said on this matter - perhaps it does sift out the less-serious clients.
Pricing is a mine field as there is so much competition and the dreadful ‘design competition’ sites to contend with. With design professionalism, training and experience in one hand and a mortgage payment due to be paid in the other, the bottom line figure is never an easy one to come to.
A written quote generally shows a flat fee, based on time, materials, expenses, stages of development and re-issue, the nature of the job and who the client is. It also outlines the design stages and what kind of format the presentation will be in (mounted visuals, pdfs etc.) and where it will be presented location-wise. Further development over and above the quoted stages is then conveyed to the client at an hourly rate.
Apologies if I’ve rambled and I fear that I may have mixed several topics, but even after many years, pricing is difficult - with an ever-looming thought of ‘is it better to earn something than nothing’ or to hang on to your principles and your self-worth and keep looking for that elusive client regardless of your bank balance.

Paul Cartwright’s last blog post…ROR Sitemap for http://www.paulcartwrightbranding.co.uk/

By: David Airey

David Airey — Tue, 20 May 2008 07:10:29 +0000

Andre,

I used both methods (flat rate and hourly). I normally quote a flat rate once I’ve received indepth project info, then any additional tasks / alterations can be charged hourly.

As for starting rates, it can depend on how strong your portfolio is, and how good your communication skills are. Where you are based globally also has a bearing.

By: Andre

Andre — Tue, 20 May 2008 03:07:08 +0000

hey i was wondering do you charge hourly rates or one flat charge, and if hourly, what would be the rate for a starting graphic designer.thanks :-)

By: David Airey

David Airey — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 07:50:28 +0000

Eddie, Theo,

You’re both very welcome. Glad to be of help.

By: theo

theo — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:58:24 +0000

Thanks much! A great article, quite informative indeed. Now I just need to figure out how to keep clients from stealing rough drafts and taking my ideas elsewhere for cheaper finishing.

By: eddie

eddie — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 06:52:23 +0000

Hi David.
pricing is always become a major problem for me everytime we meet the clients. your articles was very helping. It giving me a lot of knowledge and answering my questions.
Thanx a lot

By: David Airey

David Airey — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 10:39:55 +0000

Hi James,

In the past I under-valued my expertise. Only with experience did I learn what I should be charging. It’s certainly not easy.

By: SEO Lincolnshire

SEO Lincolnshire — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 10:30:26 +0000

Thanks for the post. I live in an area where people will pay the neighbours son, cause they have Photoshop. A lot of them don’t value the service and are willing to pay for things as cheap as possible.

From my experience, I may be targeting the wrong people, but they will learn some day, that you only get what you pay for. Building a website, brand and empire isn’t a one day job.

Rome wasn’t built in a while. Under estimating the planning that goes into a website results in failure. Most people think that their business is about them, its far from it. You must think of what “your clients want”. What is in it for them.

Think like that, is the site targeting their needs? Think about others and that is what is important.

SEO Lincolnshire’s last blog post..8 ways to back up your computer files

By: David Airey :: Graphic Designer

David Airey :: Graphic Designer — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 21:10:47 +0000

Hi Vivienne,

When a client treats you with respect is most certainly helps build a lasting relationship. Far too often, potential clients don’t appreciate the learning that’s needed for effective design work to be accomplished.

That’s kind of you to share your recent experience, and I can empathise with allowing a more favourable rate for those clients you enjoy working with. When someone truly values what you do, the end result is often much more worthwhile.