(3) Know your Numbers
Set your “rate” per hour: one that covers your time, materials and the entire operation, saving a percentage for earnings. When you find this number, you can present the figure with confidence to any client. It’s not about improvising, it’s about knowing your rate per hour, and estimating based on that. Charge based on what the entire operation costs, because otherwise that cost will come out of your profit.
Don’t say “I’m going to charge you more, or I’m cheaper” – you should charge by the hours required for your services, and define what that service will be at the first and second meeting. Because what usually happens is that you hire for a particular deliverable, for example a logo, and then you introduce additional applications to that design – business cards, flyers, etc. – that were not stipulated, and again, that will come out of your profit.
If they say “I have someone who can make it cheaper for me,” under no circumstances, do you speak badly about the competition. You should not base the handling of your prices on what another designer does, since it corresponds to other cost structures, which are not yours.
You offer a service of which you are an expert; However, you have to justify that value. The goal is for the client to understand the value of the service; If they understand the value, they won’t think about the price.
(4) Contract in Writing
The following questions serve as a starting point when drafting the agreement, and help to anticipate disagreements along the way, as well as protect your time and efforts. However, these are not all the questions to ask, and you should not feel threatened by a client who does not want to hire you in writing. If that is the case, you are dealing with an unprofessional client that will surely bring you problems during the course of the project:
· What are the services that are going to be offered?
· What are the services that are left out of the hiring?
· What is the purpose of the hiring?
· What will be the duration?
· What are the project deliverables?
· What are the phases of the project?
· How many product / service reviews will there be?
· What are the client’s rights when hiring you?
· What are your rights as a creative?
