"What's your hourly rate?" That's almost always the first question that I'm asked, but the answer can be misleading. One writer might charge $50 per hour but work very slowly and require lots of revisions, while another writer might charge $100 per hour, but complete the work in half the time and get it just right. In this case, the writer charging $100 per hour is the better deal.
I prefer to quote a project fee, rather than an hourly rate. Here are a few reasons why:
1. You are not always comparing apples to apples when comparing hourly rates (see above)
2. Clients are often uncomfortable if they know the meter is ticking. Everyone relaxes when they know exactly how much a project will cost.
3. Some of my best ideas come when I am off the clock -- walking and driving are prime times for good ideas. Quite honestly, I don't want to record and bill for every productive minute in my day.
4. You can't put together an accurate project estimate without asking a lot of questions and really understanding a project. Sometimes the scope of the project changes once a client starts answering questions, or roadblocks are identified. The estimating process can bring clarity to a job.
Project fees usually specify whether revisions are included. I typically include one round of revisions with my project fee. If additional revisions are required, then most writers will bill hourly. What's my hourly rate? Contact me to find out!
No comments:
Post a Comment