Comments on: Finding that Sweet Spot When You’re Setting Your Hourly Rate http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/ Rebooting the workforce Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:02:08 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: WebWorkerDaily » Archive Setting Your Rates: Another Approach « http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-310316 WebWorkerDaily » Archive Setting Your Rates: Another Approach « Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:00:17 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-310316 [...] Mike Gunderloy No Comments We’ve given some advice for setting freelance hourly rates before, including a rough rule of thumb for those leaving more traditional employment (multiple your [...] [...] Mike Gunderloy No Comments We’ve given some advice for setting freelance hourly rates before, including a rough rule of thumb for those leaving more traditional employment (multiple your [...]

]]> By: Freelance Work & Contract Jobs: Free Portfolios : Outsourcing : Post Contract & Consulting Jobs : Find Consultants & Freelancers http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-295476 Freelance Work & Contract Jobs: Free Portfolios : Outsourcing : Post Contract & Consulting Jobs : Find Consultants & Freelancers Mon, 26 May 2008 03:45:54 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-295476 [...] Finding that Sweet Spot When You’re Setting Your Hourly Rate [...] [...] Finding that Sweet Spot When You’re Setting Your Hourly Rate [...]

]]> By: » Pricing and Positioning Your Rates Amongst Other Freelancers and Businesses - Blog for Freelancers and the Self-Employed http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-290658 » Pricing and Positioning Your Rates Amongst Other Freelancers and Businesses - Blog for Freelancers and the Self-Employed Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:02:05 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-290658 [...] Figure Out Your Rates - A Guide for Freelancers & Consultants How to Set Your Freelance Rates Finding that Sweet Spot When You’re Setting Your Hourly Rate How to Set Your Freelance Rates Freelance Writing Rates Based on Ability to Pay Calculating Your [...] [...] Figure Out Your Rates – A Guide for Freelancers & Consultants How to Set Your Freelance Rates Finding that Sweet Spot When You’re Setting Your Hourly Rate How to Set Your Freelance Rates Freelance Writing Rates Based on Ability to Pay Calculating Your [...]

]]> By: » How to Figure Out Your Rates - A Guide for Freelancers & ConsultantsAll Freelance Work Blog : Tips and Advice for Freelancers & Self Employed http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-290415 » How to Figure Out Your Rates - A Guide for Freelancers & ConsultantsAll Freelance Work Blog : Tips and Advice for Freelancers & Self Employed Tue, 01 Apr 2008 06:04:43 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-290415 [...] Finding that Sweet Spot When You’re Setting Your Hourly Rate [...] [...] Finding that Sweet Spot When You’re Setting Your Hourly Rate [...]

]]> By: Web Worker Daily » Blog Archive Try Twitter Instead of Mahalo for People-Powered Search « http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-147528 Web Worker Daily » Blog Archive Try Twitter Instead of Mahalo for People-Powered Search « Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:02:00 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-147528 [...] example, one of my friends needed some advice yesterday. He wanted to know how to set freelance consulting rates. Did he Google? Or Ask Metafilter? No, he used Twitter to do a people-powered search. He searched [...] [...] example, one of my friends needed some advice yesterday. He wanted to know how to set freelance consulting rates. Did he Google? Or Ask Metafilter? No, he used Twitter to do a people-powered search. He searched [...]

]]> By: Brad Naprixas http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-145206 Brad Naprixas Mon, 13 Aug 2007 03:21:32 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-145206 Wow, I've been looking all over for advice on this very topic. I'm still cutting my teeth at freelancing after several months, and your article really put things into perspective. I had been advised by a friend on insisting on a percentage advance for my own security, since I've already been ripped off once, but I was worried that I would scare off potential clients by asking for money up front. Both your article and the comments here have been a great help. Wow, I’ve been looking all over for advice on this very topic. I’m still cutting my teeth at freelancing after several months, and your article really put things into perspective. I had been advised by a friend on insisting on a percentage advance for my own security, since I’ve already been ripped off once, but I was worried that I would scare off potential clients by asking for money up front. Both your article and the comments here have been a great help.

]]> By: Morning Brew #56 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-140344 Morning Brew #56 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:04:00 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-140344 [...] Finding that Sweet Spot When You’re Setting Your Hourly Rate. [...] [...] Finding that Sweet Spot When You’re Setting Your Hourly Rate. [...]

]]> By: Fortuitous Oddity » Blog Archive » Billing boot camp http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-140131 Fortuitous Oddity » Blog Archive » Billing boot camp Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:53:35 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-140131 [...] Worker Daily talks about setting your hourly rate.  He highlights several things I’ve learned.  Those new to web work often want to [...] [...] Worker Daily talks about setting your hourly rate.  He highlights several things I’ve learned.  Those new to web work often want to [...]

]]> By: What are you worth Mr. Freelancer? : Smarfy http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-140016 What are you worth Mr. Freelancer? : Smarfy Tue, 07 Aug 2007 03:24:36 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-140016 [...] a great little tool on FreelanceSwitch.com that helps you calculate your hourly rate based on a bunch of factors. Apparently I’m supposed to charge about $40 an hour. Of course, [...] [...] a great little tool on FreelanceSwitch.com that helps you calculate your hourly rate based on a bunch of factors. Apparently I’m supposed to charge about $40 an hour. Of course, [...]

]]> By: JTPRATT's Blogging Mistakes http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-139557 JTPRATT's Blogging Mistakes Mon, 06 Aug 2007 18:42:19 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-139557 I agree that low rates attract nuisance customers that nag, want re-work for free, and take their sweeeet time in paying an invoice. You'll deal with fewer of those people with a higher bill rate. I agree that low rates attract nuisance customers that nag, want re-work for free, and take their sweeeet time in paying an invoice. You’ll deal with fewer of those people with a higher bill rate.

]]> By: Johnny http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-138345 Johnny Sun, 05 Aug 2007 06:06:07 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-138345 Great and useful article! Just wanted to comment another thing, a thing about billing. I almost always inform my clients that when a project is confirmed and where going for it, that they will be billed 40-60% in advance. Thats just our way of doing it. And they except it, as long as you keep an honest and professional relationship to your clients. This is, a way to guarantee some income on the project in case something goes wrong. Example for us, clients get to slow on delivering, or actually just drops out. Clients that have payed in advance stays more active since they already have payed for project startup. Its also to finance some of the project. For us, expensive equipment rentals. Its better to secure those rental bills getting payed than getting the risk of having to pay it from you own money, and Then something goes wrong. Just something I recommend for freelancers. Great and useful article!

Just wanted to comment another thing, a thing about billing. I almost always inform my clients that when a project is confirmed and where going for it, that they will be billed 40-60% in advance. Thats just our way of doing it. And they except it, as long as you keep an honest and professional relationship to your clients.

This is, a way to guarantee some income on the project in case something goes wrong. Example for us, clients get to slow on delivering, or actually just drops out. Clients that have payed in advance stays more active since they already have payed for project startup. Its also to finance some of the project. For us, expensive equipment rentals. Its better to secure those rental bills getting payed than getting the risk of having to pay it from you own money, and Then something goes wrong.

Just something I recommend for freelancers.

]]> By: Quick Links: Setting Hourly Rates Discussed on Web Worker Daily | eversmall http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-138074 Quick Links: Setting Hourly Rates Discussed on Web Worker Daily | eversmall Sat, 04 Aug 2007 22:36:03 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-138074 [...] Finding that Sweet Spot When You’re Setting Your Hourly Rate [...] [...] Finding that Sweet Spot When You’re Setting Your Hourly Rate [...]

]]> By: Brian Tanaka http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-137254 Brian Tanaka Fri, 03 Aug 2007 23:50:16 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-137254 I think the calculation of rates is especially tricky for new folks. Nice to see another great guide to how to do it. Your point about not setting rates too low in the beginning is a good one. There's an old saying about that too, you may have heard: "The good aren't cheap, and the cheap aren't good." ;-) Funny, but at the same time, people do have that notion internalized, so if you set absurdly low rates in the beginning, people will consciously or unconsciously wonder if you're worth hiring at all. Thanks for the article. I think the calculation of rates is especially tricky for new folks. Nice to see another great guide to how to do it. Your point about not setting rates too low in the beginning is a good one. There’s an old saying about that too, you may have heard: “The good aren’t cheap, and the cheap aren’t good.” ;-) Funny, but at the same time, people do have that notion internalized, so if you set absurdly low rates in the beginning, people will consciously or unconsciously wonder if you’re worth hiring at all. Thanks for the article.

]]> By: Lasse Rintakumpu http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-137253 Lasse Rintakumpu Fri, 03 Aug 2007 23:48:58 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-137253 It's not only those extra expenses. You also have to take into account that not every hour you spend working is actual billable work. I've made a handy Excel (or actually Calc) table for web workers with which you can calculate your hourly rate by changing different variables. Think I post a link to the file here -- I just have to translate it into English first. It’s not only those extra expenses. You also have to take into account that not every hour you spend working is actual billable work.

I’ve made a handy Excel (or actually Calc) table for web workers with which you can calculate your hourly rate by changing different variables.

Think I post a link to the file here — I just have to translate it into English first.

]]> By: ben http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-137197 ben Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:31:32 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-137197 Another take on this very issue (with apologies in advance for the shameless self-promotion): <a href="http://www.henick.net/vignettes/billrates.php" rel="nofollow">The cost of doing business: an explanation of bill rates</a> Another take on this very issue (with apologies in advance for the shameless self-promotion):

The cost of doing business: an explanation of bill rates

]]> By: Stay At Home Dad, Geek Style http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-137069 Stay At Home Dad, Geek Style Fri, 03 Aug 2007 19:51:47 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/08/03/setting-your-hourly-rates/#comment-137069 I agree with you about multiplying your rate. I think it is fair, and generally, when you work for a good wage, work gets completed efficiently, because you don't have to slow your work flow down to make sure you accumulate enough hours to pay your bills. I charge $X per hour, and then offer 10-25% off that rate when clients pre-pay for 10 hours. This keeps me working, keeps the bank account happy, and ensures that clients don't go looking around for a cheaper provider. Not right away, anyway. ;) DevDad I agree with you about multiplying your rate. I think it is fair, and generally, when you work for a good wage, work gets completed efficiently, because you don’t have to slow your work flow down to make sure you accumulate enough hours to pay your bills.

I charge $X per hour, and then offer 10-25% off that rate when clients pre-pay for 10 hours. This keeps me working, keeps the bank account happy, and ensures that clients don’t go looking around for a cheaper provider. Not right away, anyway. ;)

DevDad

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