[jack]

I know this subject has been done to death a bit, but having searched I haven't found a recent answer on here. So i'll ask.

Having recently moved city (to Glasgow) my missus is going to dip her feet into some graphic design freelancing, to keep the wolves from the door. As i'll be getting involved around my agency work, we've been discussing rates etc and having looked around, thought £25 – £35ph was reasonable. How does this sound to you guys? Bearing in mind its specifically graphic design, for print.

For example:

Identity 16hrs = £400 (£25) £560 (£35)

or Leaflet 7hrs = £175 (£25) or £245 (£35)

Been thinking a little different for literature: £25 per page = (24pg) £600 / (40pg) £1000 / (60pg) £1500

I was also thinking about building in an extra £100 to cover sourcing of Istock images/illys etc, rather than adding that later. Sound OK?

Also, on a related point, initially most of the work is going to come through a friend of a friend who runs a one-man-band marketing agency. He'll be using me to offer a design service to existing clients, so my question is, if he wants a cut, is that on?

For example, should he be asking for a finders fee, or just happy that I'm helping him have a design offer?

Cheers guys, any related feedback would be much appreciated!

[d*d]

Sounds about right for the hourly rate, asking for a cut (or an introductory fee as I've heard it called) is not uncommon - I've been asked if i'd be happy with a similar negotiation but they wanted me to brand myself under them so I didn't take it on. Try and negotiate out of it or offer a reduction for services to him in exchange for the contacts - once locked into a contract like that ,ay be tricky to get out

[jack]

Sound, cheers d*d. I'm obviously not keen on the idea of accepting any sort commission, unless I felt it was a particularly attractive job. But we'll see what he says.

[CharmingMan]

I would say your coming in to high there.

Can't imagine anyone employing someone on that basis for an extended period of time especially if their a one man act. These figures would have a heavy impact on their potential to earn from a job and would eat into the profits.

I would say between 15-20 would be more reasonable. If you can guarentee a high turnover of work this would still be quite profitable and would have thought the employer would be more comfortable with that arrangement.

[d*d]

Originally Posted by CharmingMan

I would say your coming in to high there.

Can't imagine anyone employing someone on that basis for an extended period of time especially if their a one man act. These figures would have a heavy impact on their potential to earn from a job and would eat into the profits.

Agency fees are easily twice that - I've been working (outside of london) with similar rates, yes I've lost jobs because to students and 14 year olds but am happier to be at the reassuringly expensive end of the market and allow myself the budget to properly do work rather than feel like a design production factory.

[CharmingMan]

I don't think that 15 to 20 is a crap hourly rate and would hardly equate it to student/14yr old rates.

Agencies could afford to do that in many cases but you will find that alot are reluctant to do so, especially when it's being done by someone remotely.

If I was going to pay someone 25 - 30ph they would have to have an immaculate portfolio and a proven history of results.

[d*d]

Originally Posted by CharmingMan

I don't think that 15 to 20 is a crap hourly rate and would hardly equate it to student/14yr old rates.

Agencies could afford to do that in many cases but you will find that alot are reluctant to do so, especially when it's being done by someone remotely.

If I was going to pay someone 25 - 30ph they would have to have an immaculate portfolio and a proven history of results.

Didn't mean to say that 15 -20 is a crappy rate, just trying to say that you should go in with a higher rate that you can come down from - I have done a few smaller jobs in the 15 - 20 per hour range because I liked the projects - it's better to have the flexibilty

[CharmingMan]

true

[CharmingMan]

I think the marketing guy defu=inately deserves a cut of the money, in many ways he is doing the more difficult part of the job, that it to say getting out and finding clients.

If you reward him for that an the relationship is more mutually beneficial then he will feel happier about it and will put more effort toward supplying you with decent work

[jack]

Well see what he says, its easier to negotiate down than up after all. At £15 an hour i'd be doing identities, including amends for £240. To me that does equate to what students charge their dads mates...

In our agency my time gets charged at £75ph, so I think £25-£35 for my time freelance seems reasonable.

[CharmingMan]

Id say it all depends on the frequency of the work.

If you were managing to do just 5 hours a day of this kind of work for £20ph.

You'd be taking home 26,000 a year. Pretty good for a student I recon. Pretty good by any standards.

On the other hand if the work is infrequent then it makes sense to inflate your fee to make up for the lack of time spent.

[jg9]

When I started freelancing In January I began with a £30 hourly rate. I got no work, agencies weren't willing to pay it. I now work at £20 per hour, which is quite a lot less than I originally planned.

I think until you start doing it you don't know what you can and can't charge.

[badaboom]

who’s buying/handling the print side?

If it’s your “friend who runs a one-man-band marketing agency” then don’t think he’s without a cut already.

[d*d]

In fact reading that again, it sounds like you'll be working 'through his agency' in which case he will be charging you at at a higher rate to his clients and charging project management - there should be no finders fee unless the client becomes yours

[emil]

I feel I'm so cheap... Sigh...

[d*d]

Originally Posted by emil

I feel I'm so cheap... Sigh...

Cheap and dirty

[Mitch]

Don't mug yourself.

£25-£35 is a totally acceptable rate if you can use your time efficiently and on brief.

Also always work in a contigency, if you quote the time beforehand that it will take, it will always go over. Living is expensive.

[emil]

Originally Posted by d*d

Cheap and dirty

You know the feeling, too?

[jack]

He apparently has alot of work to put our way, I'm speaking to him directly for the first time this evening, so i'll get more of and idea then.

I see definitely see your point though, although I would guess as his company is quite small their may not be such a regularity of work.

Originally Posted by CharmingMan

Id say it all depends on the frequency of the work.

If you were managing to do just 5 hours a day of this kind of work for £20ph.

You'd be taking home 26,000 a year. Pretty good for a student I recon. Pretty good by any standards.

On the other hand if the work is infrequent then it makes sense to inflate your fee to make up for the lack of time spent.

[jack]

Good question, and its the first one I was planning to ask. Although I'd imagine it will be me.

Originally Posted by badaboom

who’s buying/handling the print side?

If it’s your “friend who runs a one-man-band marketing agency” then don’t think he’s without a cut already.