Instigator Blog - Latest Comments in How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

Fort Worth Texas — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:04:42 -0000

As a person that connects people with jobs in Fort Worth, Texas, I agree that pricing effectively is very important.

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

Jobs for Felons — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:56:58 -0000

We agree that pricing a freelance job can be challenging and these are all great points. As a successful freelance writer, I find it especially true that it is important to get money upfront on freelance projects. Typically, I request 50% upfront and then full payment when done. Thanks for posting this!

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

Benjamin Yoskovitz — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:26:09 -0000

Thank you for stopping by and commenting, always appreciated.

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

admin — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:38:18 -0000

Determining the best reasonable price of our freelance projects is very important. It should consider not only the profit that we can have, but also the feedback of our clients. We should also consider the satisfaction that they can have in relation to our prices as considerations. Really helpful post. Thanks.

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

hariwara — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:48:07 -0000

Wow, it's valuable information, thanks man....

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

sami — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 03:22:26 -0000

excellent post,all freelancers must read this,all the things are covered beautifully

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

Mary Ann — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:43:24 -0000

Being able to receive more does not mean you should overcharge your customer. It is just a nice way to receive a better payment than usual which will allow you also to do a better job. Try giving higher quote only if you feel your potential client is willing to pay more.

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

Benjamin Yoskovitz — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:39:23 -0000

Susan - While I appreciate your dilemma I don't think anyone can answer you clearly. There are just too many variables involved that you have not described - your expertise, the client, location, time sensitivity, etc.

I generally prefer fixed-price projects, but even that is difficult, if the workload isn't clearly defined. Sorry that I can't be more help!

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

susan — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:57:47 -0000

BTW this is purely freelancing and i would spend like 6 hrs /day.working for 14 days total.
HELP ME!!!

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

susan — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:54:00 -0000

Hi,
I've been going through lots of sites,trying to decide what to charge for my work.I have this project for 14 days time,and requires me to design lots of(20 to 30)flash banners.not only desigh but also structure the whole presentation,add ads and other stuff between,making it a total of 4-5 hrs presentation.Now the question is should i charge hourly or as contract.and how much.I would greatly appreciate it if anyone can help me here.PLEASE send me reply to my mail ASP.
Thanks a lot in advance.

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

louis r bucalo — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 06:42:59 -0000

Had some bad experience with freelancers. I only use companies. They might be more epensive but usually they worth their money.

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

Data Entry Services — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:21:40 -0000

Have to agree with Eugene. The world economy thing is tough. It will work out in the end but we're the time period that has to figure it out. Competing with India and China that have a different economy and perhaps different labor laws is not an even playing field. There is some loss of quality and control though and that may be how we can level the field.

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

patent assistance worldwide — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:18:16 -0000

I agree with your post. The biggest problem I think is that there are so many people freelancing that have no idea what they are doing. They offer to do jobs at low prices and this cause the price level to sink. Best example is webdesign.

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

Eugene Chuang Garg — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:34:28 -0000

Its very difficult to price free lance work because there are so many low cost providers from India and they work for 5 bucks an hour. Quality is commonly not as good as the higher prices providers from the US and Europe.

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

Ann Cummings, Portsmouth NH — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 07:12:11 -0000

Ah, the question many of us have struggled with, and still struggle with. Thanks for that list of questions to ask ourselves, and for the other tips you shared. In particular, I like the adding a buffer suggestion - one that I hadn't given thought to as yet.

Thanks again.

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

Ben Yoskovitz — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 10:17:19 -0000

@Stefanie: That's good. You run the risk because a commitment isn't really a commitment until the money is in the bank, but if it's working for you then keep doing it. Even if you get burned once in awhile, being flexible certainly can work to your advantage.

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

Stefanie — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:31:21 -0000

Great list. On the occasion that I find myself doing freelance work, I definitely try to follow a very similar set of rules for myself. The only place where I really deviate is that I will negotiate on price if they actually commit to the future work. Without commitment, though, there's no discount. I also make it very clear that the discount applies only to that set of projects and I've never had a problem raising the price for single projects in the future.

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

Marc Klein — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 23:47:26 -0000

Great review. I also do freelancing and it works great for me.

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

J.C. Carvill — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:11:45 -0000

Too make things more even, Additional perspectives from client angle would make this article more complete, because at any work, troubles do come from both side.

Understanding between both parties and willingness to cooperate in order to get a win-win solution is absolute.

J.C. Carvill
Email: support@cosmosing.com
URL: http://www.cosmosing.com/je...

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

Ben Yoskovitz — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:36:10 -0000

@ceasor: Hhhm...that's a good idea. I've been on the client side too and it's tough.

Let me mull that over and see what I come up with.

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

ceasor — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 23:24:04 -0000

I like you article. Could you write something from the client's side? I'm currently in a horrible position where the development company did not finish my project because they mismanaged their money. I paid 50% upfront (I will never ever do that again. The money will go into an escrow account and be released when milestones are accomplished.) and an additional 15% two months in. Long story short, the owner is trying to bail, not show up to arbitration, and is pretty much unresponsive. Any suggestions?

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

Jacob Aldridge — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 23:42:44 -0000

@ Ben -

You certainly can charge more, although I would agree with you that performance bonuses are more likely. It depends on how strategic your support for the client is - if you're just completing their well defined brief, it would be more difficult to vary from an hourly rate / fixed price.

However, if you work with the client to plan the project AND you spend the time building a business case with the client that shows how much profit they will make if the work is properly implemented, then you will be in a position to charge higher rates for more profitable clients. If your work helps make one client $20,000 and another client $50,000 - even if it's takes you the same amount of time - then you're delivering different amounts of value to the client and can charge accordingly.

This advice may apply more in other industries, but the general principle stands. And remember, a client that cares more about what you charge than they do about what you can do for them is not the sort of client you want.

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

Ben Yoskovitz — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 09:42:18 -0000

Jay - I would invoice them ASAP and try to get what you can out of them.

Good luck!

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

Jay — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 21:30:02 -0000

Ben--
There was no specific negotiation with the client except for an hourly pay and a deadline. I've been contacting the client from time to time, and the status remains the same: on hold indefinitely. I'm afraid that your biggest fear is in fact about to happen to me.

Thanks for your input.

Re: How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

Ben Yoskovitz — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 20:48:44 -0000

@Jay: It depends. Did you negotiate something specific with the client?

My preference is to ALWAYS get paid as QUICKLY as possible. It seems like a reasonable step to call the client, explain your position (the project's on hold, who knows when it will start) and that you'd like to be paid for the work done to-date. If the project starts up again, you can keep working on it, etc. etc. -> but you want to be paid.

My biggest fear in your situation is that the project dies, the client disappears and you're screwed.