10
votes
Accepted
How do I tell a client that I'm working fewer hours because they pay me much worse than my other clients?
Simple, either raise their pricing or drop the client. It's business. There's little point in working even a few hours for less money than you could earn with another client. Businesses typically do ...
- 17.4k
9
votes
Accepted
Should I discuss hourly rate before doing job or just do the work and let the client see the rate in the invoice?
Always discuss payment before work begins. ALWAYS. (You should have a contract detailing scope and payment)
If you fail to do this it is inevitable that you will end up doing work the client doesn't ...
- 17.4k
9
votes
Should I charge for idle services as a freelancer?
I do contract work and also charge by the hour. What I charge for is my time to complete the job given the tools that I have, and if that includes waiting on a file to up load then so be it, it gets ...
- 333
8
votes
Should I accept a low hourly rate while in between contracts?
Don't do it.
Clearly they don't value your work, a 60% discount is what you ask for haggling in a North African marketplace, not development work with a freelancer. And keep in mind that although ...
- 1,629
7
votes
Accepted
How to justify an increase of your daily rate
I don't feel the need to justify anything - my rates are my rates. If a client doesn't like them, they can hire someone else. I don't need to explain my fee calculations to clients, only what I'll ...
- 17.4k
7
votes
I built a tool to automate work, should I ask a raise?
If I create a tool which makes it easier to complete my work, and complete it much faster than before, the client does not need to know about it. (Provided you aren't under a work-for-hire agreement). ...
- 17.4k
7
votes
Client wants free and half-rate meetings
I think you know the answer to this, but may be a bit apprehensive about losing the client if you fail to attend these meetings. That's always a possibility.
It's your business. Your pricing and what ...
- 17.4k
6
votes
Accepted
How to enter freelance websites with high rates since the beginning
I understand your problem. What helped me to develop a profile is the following:
Make clear from the beginning your prices and years of experience. Don't justify it, there are always jobs/projects ...
- 388
6
votes
Raise price of hourly rate for existing client
Every one of us has come to this point. In my case, at some point when I got "too many" clients, I started filtering them on those keep working and those that simply take my time.
I sent circular ...
- 14.4k
6
votes
How do I tell a client that I'm working fewer hours because they pay me much worse than my other clients?
In 5 years of working with this client, your skill level has probably increased: you definitely do the same job faster than 5 years (and even a year) ago and most likely you do your job better. This (...
- 301
6
votes
To expand business or increase rates?
To get right to it, you want more cash. One of the simplest ways to do that is to just raise your rates, like you mentioned. The biggest problem when doing this is, naturally, the fear that your ...
- 391
5
votes
Should I accept a low hourly rate while in between contracts?
If someone would ask me a 60% discount off my hourly rate it would be offensive to my worker's dignity. I would not even keep up a telephone conversation with someone like that.
I would consider a 5%...
- 2,084
5
votes
Accepted
Increasing hourly rate for an old client
Here's what I did, and you can tweak it as you need it.
I sent out a letter (using postal mail, even for my local clients), explaining that the rates have increased for new clients, and my current ...
- 6,903
4
votes
Client misled me on workload, and now I'm hosed
This is why many businesses charge hourly rates, because clients fail with understanding how long something takes most of the time.
Most people don't understand the technical requirements, and so ...
- 151
4
votes
How to justify an increase of your daily rate
Naturally, one may always raise rates - even though one risks being replaced or just generally souring the client relationship.
A 60-80% increase could be viewed as extortion by the client unless ...
- 3,887
4
votes
How to enter freelance websites with high rates since the beginning
The short answer is 'yes', you can start with a higher rate. People who participate in the race to the bottom form a separate layer - you don't start there and then work your way to the top. By ...
- 631
4
votes
I built a tool to automate work, should I ask a raise?
This is tricky.
Don't ask for a raise, you are in a contract and building a tool doesn't dissolve that. You were hired to solve a problem, and that includes all the logistics of seeing the originally ...
- 141
4
votes
Computer troubleshooting service; change pay rate for more difficult problems?
Like any direct service/repair business you charge a standard hourly rate.
Most services of this nature do not vary rates based upon what the problem may be. They charge $xx per hour. If the problem ...
- 17.4k
4
votes
Accepted
Change in rate for onsite work
As a freelancer, I am free to work when and where I want. When onsite I am expected to be present during certain hours on certain days. I am also unable to take phone calls or deal with other ...
- 1,760
4
votes
Is it reasonable for a fixed contract cost to a client to be based on the average salary of the role from the Stack Overflow Developer Survey?
So as the developer survey states the average salary of an iOS developer, you definitely need to charge little more. Let's suppose a developer earns 100% for a two-month job, so you need to charge 120%...
- 517
3
votes
Accepted
Is it ethical to offer free services in a paid community while still measuring one's capacity to offer the service in the first place?
I see no ethical issue here, you are guaging your abilities and offering a great deal at the same time.
However, I would limit the amount of free work you do. Maybe offer the first x hours free for ...
- 1,030
3
votes
"Work faster and I'll pay you higher,"?
One thing to remember when you're a freelancer: You work for yourself, not for your clients. You are offering your clients services. If you feel your rate is too low, you raise your rate. ...
- 470
3
votes
Accepted
"Work faster and I'll pay you higher,"?
"Will clients still want to work with you even if you increase your
rates, based from your experience?"
Some will, some will not. But if you never change your price, how will you know? As a rule of ...
- 1,760
3
votes
Accepted
Should I charge my clients for software fees?
The cost of doing business should be calculated as your overhead when figuring out your rates.
The tools you need to complete your work should never be directly invoiced to clients.
If you hire ...
- 17.4k
3
votes
Refudnable payment for new freelancer
If it quacks like a duck, walks like a duck, it's probably a duck... In this case, a scam.
First clue should be them asking YOU to pay THEM for YOU to work.
Second clue is the horrendous grammar ...
- 6,903
3
votes
Advice when pitching a day rate to maximize billable time
My day rate is considerably more than merely 8 x hourly rate.
Day rate means I can't take calls, answer emails, etc. and am exclusive to that client for that day.
Being entirely exclusive to one ...
- 17.4k
2
votes
How to get over the discomfort of asking for money?
Don't feel bad. It's your job. They know that. There's a few ways you can make it less awkward for yourself.
1) Send an e-mail update on the website (if the client is paying in installments) and say "...
- 467
2
votes
Daily freelance rate for previous full-time/permanent employer
nice job on getting this organised! Freelancing for your previous employer is a great way to get started.
I've done a lot of IT contracting in the UK and £400 sounds fairly normal. You can also get ...
- 631
2
votes
Should I discuss hourly rate before doing job or just do the work and let the client see the rate in the invoice?
The hourly rate must be discussed prior to sending an invoice.
Whether to have different rates for different types of work, is your business decision.
Personally, I have never had varying rates ...
- 3,887
2
votes
How to work faster without earning less?
You'll never get ahead with hourly based pricing.. you should use Value-based pricing
With hourly pricing, you penalize yourself the better you get at your job.
Fire your hourly rate.
More detail (...
- 17.4k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible