Idea of price

B

blue_angelica

New Member
Hi everyone,

I have been asked to produce 3 A3 watercolour/sketchy artist's impressions for a business idea (visitor attraction), following the production of three rough photo montage mock-ups (which I will also use as the basis of the illustrations). The issue I have is that this is for a colleague/friend so I don't want to go too high but also I don't want to spend my free time on a project that isn't priced fairly (I also work full time). I haven't really done much freelance work during my career, so I have little idea what to charge. I have 11 1/2 years experience as a in-house graphic designer at a visitor attraction and also a degree in illustration.

Many thanks for your help and advice!
 
How long is a piece of string?

Its length could determine price – a longer piece could cost more than a shorter piece for example. However, the length of this piece of string could be irrelevant, and in fact, it's value to the client is what determines it's value. Pricing really is a tough job, even harder when it's for a friend. There are so many factors that it's hard to just give a price or recommendation. As an idea of rates, most designers I know charge around £35 - £50 per day. That's £280 – £450 a day. Freelancers and artists, I don't know, the few I do know often work within a specific set budget.

In this situation, you have two main options:

1. Ask them what their budget is for the work and decide if it's worthwhile. If it's too low, tell them and negotiate a fee that works for you taking into account the time spent and your skills to produce it. If they can't raise the price, can you churn the work out quickly enough for it to still be worthwhile and for the work to still look good? If not, either the budget is raised, the workload is reduced, or you just don't take it on.

Chances are they will expect you to come up with a cost though, so…

2. What is the work worth to them? Presumably, you need to do a good job since these impressions will be used to fund or get the go ahead on a project that could make them some nice money. In that case, value-based pricing is a better option. Value-based pricing is why websites for big brands and organisations costs tens of thousands of pounds. Essentially because these organisations stand to make hundreds of thousands of pounds from it. So, what does the client (and they are a client, not a friend) stand to gain from this venture?

Essentially I'd quote this as if you were quoting a client you've just met. Go in with an offer and let them decide if it's too high. They've come to you because you have specific skills they need to move their business forwards, not just because they need 5 minutes of your time to lug a wardrobe up some stairs. It's for a business, so quote for a business.

You could perhaps negotiate a smaller fee and a larger fee if the business idea goes ahead but this is borderline spec-work. Essentially you'd only get paid the full amount IF the client gets paid and I wouldn't really recommend anyone who values their profession and skills follow this practice.
 
I find pricing a job one of the hardest things I have to do and especially if it involves friends or people I know.

I regularly have to cost jobs from the vaguest of briefs and I literally have to make a figure up.
I even tell the client this.

My advice would be to work something out you're comfortable with and stick to it.
You may think as an in-houser that £35 - £50 per hour is daylight robbery but you can't bill all the hours you put into a job and you have to factor this.

Thing is, this may turn out to be a continuing job so "doing someone a favour" might be something you'll come to regret as it's difficult and awkward to raise your price at a later date.

You might be new to freelancing but 11-1/2 years experience means you're no noob.
Their project is for a visitor attraction and you work for a visitor attraction.
In my book that makes you a specialist.

In my opinion £35 - £50 per hour is a fair rate and some would consider it a bit low but you can be confident that you're not being greedy at that.
If it's a flat fee, come up with something you're comfortable with.

Put it in an e-mail and hit send. (GULP!)

If you get the job then AWESOME! Congratulations! :D

If not then they're probably not the kind of client you want.
 
Yes, always tricky. Often best to go in a bit high at first, then you can drop it a bit if you want, but make it worth your while.
Don't worry that it's a friend, this is business. Turn it round the other way - think what would they charge YOU if you wanted them to do
something for you?

£300 ish sounds about right for a decent job, these things always take longer than you think no matter how 'sketchy' they want it.
 
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