Hi All

 

i am new to this forum and relatively new to Freelance web designing. Can anyone suggest how to come up with rates to charge for web design? I don't want to charge per hour, I would rather charge a flat fee. Also, the latest project I have to work one is an online portfolio for a photographer. I have never done a portfolio website other than my own. Does anyone know how long it usually would take a build a basic portfolio site with WordPress?

 

thanks

Michael

Without sounding too harsh, these are all questions you should know the answers too before setting out as a freelancer and taking on clients.

 

This industry is very different to other industries, in that everybody has different rates, depending upon their situation. Some freelancers run out of their mums spare bedroom with a laptop and have zero overheads, whilst others have dedicated space, various machines, mortgages, children, insurances, LIFE, and everything else to pay for.

 

You need to sit down and work out how much you need to earn, and how much you want to own per week to enable you to price jobs without screwing yourself over.

Based on your experience and what you're saying, doesn't sound like you should be charging people anything at all...

 

No point thinking about charging money if you don't have much of a portfolio....

 

this industry works like this...

 

1. ) Do some cool work items (mostly personal to begin with)

2.) Share on places like deviantart, various galleries etc

3.) People automatically start coming to you for requests

4.) Charge them whatever you want...

 

I personally charge around £40 per hour, but most people prefer fixed projects and these can range from anything from £1000-£10,000. But your prices are only as good as what people are willing to pay...

To be able to charge on a per-project basis, you need to have a *very* good idea of exactly how many hours you will need to put into it and what your hourly rate needs to be to cover your outgoings (at a minimum).

 

Doing anything else is a way to get horribly burned and end up putting 100 hours into a project you agreed to do for £500.

I totally agree with others. You can follow this idea..

I totally agree with others. You can follow this idea..

 

Only I don't think you actually read anything others had said.

 

Having said that, I do agree with others.

what I would suggest is to get a part time job at the same time. that way you have a source of income even whilst you are starting out and clients are scarce

Without sounding too harsh, these are all questions you should know the answers too before setting out as a freelancer and taking on clients.

 

This industry is very different to other industries, in that everybody has different rates, depending upon their situation. Some freelancers run out of their mums spare bedroom with a laptop and have zero overheads, whilst others have dedicated space, various machines, mortgages, children, insurances, LIFE, and everything else to pay for.

 

You need to sit down and work out how much you need to earn, and how much you want to own per week to enable you to price jobs without screwing yourself over.

 

Couldn't have said it better myself!