I’ll quote a job however a client wants, but generally, I bill by the hour. It’s just an honest value that the client can appreciate. If I work less than estimated, I bill less.
The other way to go is a flat rate per project. Many firms bill this way and argue that they are charging for the value a job has for a client. If I spend three hours on a logo, I bill three hours…even if you use the logo for the next fifty years and your entire brand is shaped by it. I’ll let you know if this is ever a real problem. My time is valuable as well.
But I want I know what I’m going to pay!
Clients don’t want to give you a blank check and I’m not looking for that. When I estimate the job, that is the number we aim for. With a by-the-hour estimate, the client has the benefit of seeing where that money is going. I don’t pull a number out of the air or size up a client’s budget. We’re pretty good at knowing how long a project deserves.
Also, I know how to stay on budget…keep our hours down. I can total our hours at any point and let the client know where we are.
So why bill by the hour?
- It’s honest and up front.
- It’s flexible. If a client needs more, we just tell them how long it will take.
- We don’t have to get totally caught up in what’s in the scope of the project…we have a set amount.
- I like to show my work.
- Everyone understands what they are paying for.
If I crank out the next Pepsi logo in three hours, I’ll be proud and not upset that I didn’t soak PepsiCo for all they’re worth. Yes, years of experience count, but I bill by the hour.
