Comments on: First steps to graphic design pricing http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/ David is a graphic designer passionate about brand identity. Here's his portfolio and a wonderful community of 100K+ designers subscribed to his blog. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:16:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Victoria http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/comment-page-3/#comment-151279 Victoria Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:59:59 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/#comment-151279 I love creating identities for small businesses and start-ups. When potential clients ask me for a quote I usually tell them what my hourly rate is. That is enough to satisfy their curiosity and set up a meeting to determine their needs and what the overall cost of the project will be. I've found that this works best for me in establishing their trust as well as getting my foot in the door. Otherwise, I think too much anxiety builds up inside the customer about the cost of the project. I love creating identities for small businesses and start-ups. When potential clients ask me for a quote I usually tell them what my hourly rate is. That is enough to satisfy their curiosity and set up a meeting to determine their needs and what the overall cost of the project will be. I’ve found that this works best for me in establishing their trust as well as getting my foot in the door. Otherwise, I think too much anxiety builds up inside the customer about the cost of the project.

]]> By: Nick Hudson http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/comment-page-3/#comment-147300 Nick Hudson Fri, 20 May 2011 19:12:54 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/#comment-147300 Oh, and of course there are market surveys that'll help me (that I also need to just sit down and look at) and I need to tighten up my overall business plan. Oh, and of course there are market surveys that’ll help me (that I also need to just sit down and look at) and I need to tighten up my overall business plan.

]]> By: Nick Hudson http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/comment-page-3/#comment-147298 Nick Hudson Fri, 20 May 2011 19:10:55 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/#comment-147298 Hey David, Thanks a lot for this article! I'm at the (very) starting point of my career as a web designer/graphic designer, and I'm now at a stage where I'm meeting a lot of people who are asking me how much I charge to, say, design a website for them. That's definitely a sign for me to start creating a pricing structure, and it's something that I'm struggling with right now. I'm almost tempted to throw an arbitrary price out, but I know that's not the way to go. Anyway, thanks again — just need to give this pricing thing a bit more thought, figure out what my dollar/time ratio is and just test some numbers. Hey David,

Thanks a lot for this article! I’m at the (very) starting point of my career as a web designer/graphic designer, and I’m now at a stage where I’m meeting a lot of people who are asking me how much I charge to, say, design a website for them. That’s definitely a sign for me to start creating a pricing structure, and it’s something that I’m struggling with right now. I’m almost tempted to throw an arbitrary price out, but I know that’s not the way to go. Anyway, thanks again — just need to give this pricing thing a bit more thought, figure out what my dollar/time ratio is and just test some numbers.

]]> By: David Airey http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/comment-page-2/#comment-128750 David Airey Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:08:41 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/#comment-128750 Hi Teresa, thanks very much for letting me know about the broken link. I've just fixed it. If you haven't already read this three-part series of mine, <a href="http://www.davidairey.com/how-designers-charge-their-clients-part-1/" title="how designers charge their clients" rel="nofollow">how 20 designers charge their clients</a> might prove useful. Hi Teresa, thanks very much for letting me know about the broken link. I’ve just fixed it. If you haven’t already read this three-part series of mine, how 20 designers charge their clients might prove useful.

]]> By: Teresa Fritzler http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/comment-page-2/#comment-128739 Teresa Fritzler Mon, 19 Apr 2010 23:25:26 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/#comment-128739 Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines isn't a functioning link on this page. I'd really like to find an online source for pricing. Thanks. Teresa Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines isn’t a functioning link on this page. I’d really like to find an online source for pricing. Thanks. Teresa

]]> By: Ray Leigh http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/comment-page-2/#comment-127585 Ray Leigh Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:21:21 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/#comment-127585 Hi David. Disapointed to report that one of our Swedish designers seems to be attempting a copy of your site! I just came across this ad on the side of my gmail that you sent to me! You love your customers Get them to love you back. Get a real graphic designer. lovebydesign.se Hi David.
Disapointed to report that one of our Swedish designers seems to be attempting a copy of your site!

I just came across this ad on the side of my gmail that you sent to me!

You love your customers
Get them to love you back. Get a real graphic designer.
lovebydesign.se

]]> By: David Airey http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/comment-page-2/#comment-127575 David Airey Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:37:15 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/#comment-127575 Very well, thanks, Ray. You can <a href="http://www.logodesignlovebook.com" title="Logo Design Love: A Guide to Creating Iconic Brand Identities" rel="nofollow">pick up a copy here</a>. Jonathan, your client clearly doesn't see the value in what you're doing, and believes design is a commodity to be sold as cheaply as possible. If you ever think you're underselling yourself, it's probably because you are. Remember, as the seller of a service, you can always negotiate the price down, but never up. Very well, thanks, Ray.

You can pick up a copy here.

Jonathan, your client clearly doesn’t see the value in what you’re doing, and believes design is a commodity to be sold as cheaply as possible. If you ever think you’re underselling yourself, it’s probably because you are.

Remember, as the seller of a service, you can always negotiate the price down, but never up.

]]> By: Ray Leigh http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/comment-page-2/#comment-127574 Ray Leigh Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:04:44 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/#comment-127574 How's the book going David? How’s the book going David?

]]> By: Ray Leigh http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/comment-page-2/#comment-127573 Ray Leigh Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:03:02 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/#comment-127573 I just re-read some of the comments, and very constructive too. Leslie mentioned soneone who had said when I didnt see your prices I didn't think that i could afford it! And that is exactly how it should be. If they are afraid to ask then you haven't missed much. I'm a believer in attempting tpo ake the pitch interesting enough to make contact and DISCUSS what is required, Then, you can justify your charges. Its bot about too expensive or cheap its about putting value, care , thought and benefits for your punter. Not about artistic ego1 I just re-read some of the comments, and very constructive too. Leslie mentioned soneone who had said when I didnt see your prices I didn’t think that i could afford it! And that is exactly how it should be.
If they are afraid to ask then you haven’t missed much.

I’m a believer in attempting tpo ake the pitch interesting enough to make contact and DISCUSS what is required, Then, you can justify your charges.

Its bot about too expensive or cheap its about putting value, care , thought and benefits for your punter. Not about artistic ego1

]]> By: Ray Leigh http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/comment-page-2/#comment-127570 Ray Leigh Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:13:57 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/first-steps-to-graphic-design-pricing/#comment-127570 Firatly you will not be losing the business. Secondly at the rates your client is suggesting there is nothing valuable in the business. Ask yourself are you being approached because you are cheap or because you produce winning campaigns! Nothing of value can be produced in the turn around times your client has suggested. If I may suggest take them through the creative process. When something fabulous is produced and it looks simple often punters have no idea how much thought goes into it all. I know David well remembers the Picasso retort when asked why he charged thousands for something that cost only 50 dollars in materials. Pablo whipped out 50 dollars and said, "here you do it"! They obviously have a very high regard for your work and it meets the objectives otherwise they would have hired the 1000 a month novice themselves. If people don't understand why things cost (not how much you charge) then walk them throught it! I'll bet your client hasn't the feintest idea how php or joomla works. But this warning you MUST heed; if you lower your charges you will be forever stuck with them. Its easy to do things cheaply. How much did your computor cost? How much did you pay for CS4 Photoshop? How much is yor rent, social costs, heat, light and all the other overheads? How long did you study? How much did it cost? Now I don't want the answers but you do. My company can't do anything for less than 120 dollars an hour! Thats not bragging but a reality. We invest around 25k per annum in new equipment etc Just that is 500 a week! 12 dollars an hour! Now I dont know how much you invest but you should point this out to yor client. Doing things without profit means that you go out of business much much quicker. Don't lower your charges but increase them by 10% and then give justification! Punters always want things for cheap. If they dont see the value then you haven't done your job correctly when you pitched it. You are there to advise. To tell them what they need. Not to be dictated to. Take care my friend. Let me know if this works for you. David thank you again. Ask them how long it takes to produce their medicines. Why they cost so much. Firatly you will not be losing the business. Secondly at the rates your client is suggesting there is nothing valuable in the business.
Ask yourself are you being approached because you are cheap or because you produce winning campaigns!
Nothing of value can be produced in the turn around times your client has suggested.

If I may suggest take them through the creative process. When something fabulous is produced and it looks simple often punters have no idea how much thought goes into it all.
I know David well remembers the Picasso retort when asked why he charged thousands for something that cost only 50 dollars in materials. Pablo whipped out 50 dollars and said, “here you do it”!

They obviously have a very high regard for your work and it meets the objectives otherwise they would have hired the 1000 a month novice themselves.

If people don’t understand why things cost (not how much you charge) then walk them throught it!

I’ll bet your client hasn’t the feintest idea how php or joomla works.

But this warning you MUST heed; if you lower your charges you will be forever stuck with them. Its easy to do things cheaply.

How much did your computor cost? How much did you pay for CS4 Photoshop? How much is yor rent, social costs, heat, light and all the other overheads?

How long did you study? How much did it cost? Now I don’t want the answers but you do.

My company can’t do anything for less than 120 dollars an hour! Thats not bragging but a reality.

We invest around 25k per annum in new equipment etc Just that is 500 a week!
12 dollars an hour! Now I dont know how much you invest but you should point this out to yor client.

Doing things without profit means that you go out of business much much quicker.

Don’t lower your charges but increase them by 10% and then give justification!

Punters always want things for cheap. If they dont see the value then you haven’t done your job correctly when you pitched it.

You are there to advise. To tell them what they need. Not to be dictated to.

Take care my friend. Let me know if this works for you.

David thank you again.

Ask them how long it takes to produce their medicines. Why they cost so much.

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