What to charge?

[MysticWench]

I have the possibility of another small business website for a Christmas tree farm. Now I"m faced with "what DO I charge?"

Honestly, I'm fine with around $10/hour with $25 minimum. Biker thinks I shouldn't short myself. I'm still learning and building a portfolio, so I don't feel like I should charge a lot - and this is just a mom-and-pop business, so if I quote too high, then they won't go for it. Ideally, I really just want to handle small websites for little local businesses.

So how do you decide what you are worth?

[Maverick]

I've always paid a flat rate for the design, and surprisingly - not very much, but it's all relative right?

Complexity has a lot to do with it of course.

[MysticWench]

What's a ball park figure that you pay? I don't see much complexity in these sites - mostly people who want to get their name out there.

[Tartemis]

At $10/hour you're basically saying your skills are minimum wage. If you are going into a business, you need to factor in costs like your equipment, sick days, vacation, etc., just like a "real job" - only you pay yourself, kwim?

Flat rate design works well, actually, especially if you say that programming, certain graphic design, etc., is at an hourly rate.

[Maverick]

Good advice! If it's a friend and a one pager - how about $50? Or . . . if it's just informational and multiple pages (like mine is), how about $xx per page? Tarot's right, don't sell yourself too cheap.

[Tartemis]

Scarlet got on me a few months back about undercharging, and she was right. Sometimes, its totally wrapped up in self-esteem

Now, I charge $35-$50 hour depending on the client and scope of project. I also work up flat-rate estimates

[MysticWench]

I'm trying to find that balance between what I'm worth and what will people pay? Does no good if I say $50 a page and they think it's too much. If I were in NoVa, it would be different - but I"m here in Green Acres / Mayberry.

[Tartemis]

I've tried that excuse before, too

I know you're trying to build a business, but don't undervalue yourself or people won't take you seriously.

Take the rate you want to charge, go look up what a web person makes on salary.com in your area and then go for the average cost.

[Carmine]

Tart - your low end is still too low end

MW - most people are willing to pay good money for someone who knows what they're doing, and fairly decent money for someone who has a smaller portfolio if the work shown is quality. The web designer I use charges between 65-85 when he freelances and 125 when he's working under his business name.

all the freelancers i know adjust their rates by the size of the project, the personality of their client contact and how financially stable the company appears to be.

if you want to test what their budget might accept, you could quote a spread: I believe this project will take me 6 - 9 hours resulting in costs of $300 - $450. This quote includes time for the creation of three web pages (one home and two supporting pages) as well as two rounds of client requested revisions.

[MysticWench]

I think I'll go more with the flat rate of X, which includes x pages, and x revisions. That may go over better in this area.

And then I don't have to keep my time - too many years of billing in .1 hours.

I haven't heard from this woman, so this may never come to be. But at least I'll be ready for the next person.

I tried using the salary estimator, it throws in Charlotte, which is hours away, but is a mini-DC when it comes to money.

For comparison - as a paralegal, I'd be lucky to get $12/hour in my county - I commuted 4 counties away to make $16 + some benefits - and if I went to Charlotte area, $20-25 + full benefits easily.

But I like living with cows, horses, and farmland!