Reader Question: How much should I charge?
I have to write quote for a client who wants me to convert a photoshop file into a Joomla Template. The job is pretty straight forward, and I am confident I can do it in a couple of days tops. But I've never done a job like this commercially before. I usually do all the design work and charge depending on the project.
Could you give me an idea of how much would be the standard for a job like this?
My Thoughts:
Deciding what to charge can be very difficult. After all, you need to come up with a price that is both reasonable for you but also something your client will be willing to pay, and this can vary from person to person or region to region. Some things I like to think about when I'm determining a price:
- Do I want to do the job?
If it's not something I'm particularly interested in, I'll charge more. Or if it's something I'd really like to learn more about or get more experience with, I'll charge less. - How long do I think it will take (realistically)?
Estimating job times is an art more than a science, and when you're working with a new client this can be even more challenging - as you don't know how picky or demanding they will be. But it's always a good idea to know how long you're willing to commit to a project. Then, even if you're quoting an hourly rate, you can have a total figure in your mind (a la, "I'll make $1000 from this job). Also, unless you're working for someone with really deep pockets, they won't want to sign you on for an unlimited amount of time at an hourly rate, no matter how low it is. - What is the minimum I'm willing to accept for this job?
I always start negotiations by asking for more than my minimum, but knowing what's the lowest I'm willing to go makes it a lot easier to negotiate. For example, if I know that I can't accept less than $20 per hour for a job, and they offer $30, I'll accept immediately.
The bottom line is that 90% of the time, you'll have to propose a number - whether it's a flat fee or an hourly rate, and then negotiate from there. In fact, even in the situations I've been in where the hiring manager knew how much they wanted to spend, they still expected me to start the bidding. It can be annoying (especially when they answer "oh, hmmm, well, gee, we were only allocated $800 for this project" after I've bid $1200).
More Resources for Setting Prices
How do you decide how much to charge?
Do you have a flat fee you charge for jobs like this? Or do you adjust your fees based on other criteria? If you have suggestions, you can post them in the comments here or reply to his message in the forum.
Comments
That’s funny, because I’ve never had to haggle over a bid. I’ve had people “opt out” of things, like an extra flash graphic or something. But most people assume my price is my price.
Sometimes a month or so after we do the rest of the design tho, they find the money to do the “extra” that they had wanted to begin with.
Or I find a way to work with their budget up front.
I think a 1000 bucks is reasonable for a website.