How much should I charge my client?

[skinnyboi]

Whatever you do don't undershoot it. Nothing worse than having some whiny person constantly harassing you for help and paying you next to nothing.

 

[toosmrtformyowngood]

I just want to update this thread and thank everyone for the advice given and give my advice after going thru this hopefully is any other developers run into this it may help them out.

Basically as far as it went with the client, I decided to do it by the book and charged them for the hours I worked. It ended up being pricey but still I worked the hours, Honest work deserves honest pay. I did cut them a deal though because they are a loyal client so I didn't charge the full price I usually charge per hour. I cut it down and gave them 30% or so off.

I billed them and they were a bit surprised but I relied on my client relation skills to explain why it was so much. (A lot of the advice given by the people who posted in this forum helped here too) In the end the client understood that I am running a business and that I work hard for them. So they are paying me in full.

My advice is simple but true.

As designers who freelance we are usually taken advantage of. Clients try to down play how hard we work and try to tell us how much we are worth. Ive seen this time and time again. Some will even try to make us feel bad for billing them!

All I can say is be stern. VERY stern. Clients cant expect us to work for free no more than they can give away their products for free. Dont let them play you. Practice good client relations and never loose your cool (I used to do this a lot as it can be frustrating as hell especially when bills have to get paid) Speak and explain your position, sometimes you have to explain exactly what you do even though they will not understand the tech shit. But just to make them understand that what we do isnt a walk in the park. In the end they will respect you more and give you the $ you deserve.

Also if your client was like mine expecting you to be on call 24-7 be 100% clear to them that you aren't getting paid to sit and wait for them to send you work, and that if they want that, they will have to pay you a contracted salary.

Thanks again for all the advice given people! Much appreciated.

 

[wizzardz01]

What if you get drunk for weekend and they call you? Ops...

 

[Danny1111]

Yeah - dealing with clients and boundaries can be hard - especially for really good clients -- because you have to keep the good ones for as long as possible.

I think a $60 an hour rate is fair for work 8 am - 6 pm .. Monday - Saturday .. your a business with bills to pay and taxes to look after.

To be available after those hours - then I think its fair to be charging slightly more.

In my case I tell all my clients 8 am - 6 pm you can expect email support with an answer within 30 minutes -- if I have to go somewhere where I can't access email - then I send out an email letting them know support will not be available during this time ... just so we all know where we stand ... I have never had any complaints this way .. as after a while they realize I'm always available.

Additionally I offer Skype as an option as well.

 

[toosmrtformyowngood]

What if you get drunk for weekend and they call you? Ops...

ROFL!! Ive actually had a client call me whilst drunk and in a night club a few years back.

If you are the drunk one, DONT ANSWER

If they are drunk, and the client happens to be hot and of your preference, ANSWER and ask if they would like to discuss "business" over another drink.

 

[toosmrtformyowngood]

Yeah - dealing with clients and boundaries can be hard - especially for really good clients -- because you have to keep the good ones for as long as possible.

I think a $60 an hour rate is fair for work 8 am - 6 pm .. Monday - Saturday .. your a business with bills to pay and taxes to look after.

To be available after those hours - then I think its fair to be charging slightly more.

In my case I tell all my clients 8 am - 6 pm you can expect email support with an answer within 30 minutes -- if I have to go somewhere where I can't access email - then I send out an email letting them know support will not be available during this time ... just so we all know where we stand ... I have never had any complaints this way .. as after a while they realize I'm always available.

Additionally I offer Skype as an option as well.

Of course! after hours, weekends and holidays are a definite charge more!

I offer skype too but some clients dont use it, so phone or face to face is best for me. I usually like dealing with clients face to face. but if they are out of town and I dont want to commute, phone or skype.

 

[MiLiTARYiV]

That was one of the problems when we discussed things. I usually charge around 70 an hour or so.. with an hour minimum. They are kind of unorganized and never really compile things for me they just randomly message me and expect me to be at home on the computer.. Even today on a saturday they are messaging me stuff while I was not home. The way they are it would be 70 after 70 after 70 at the end of the month they would owe quite a bit... When we originally discussed things they said they wouldn't be able to afford that (I think they probably could)..

$70 a HOUR? A little on the high side.
I charge $20-$30 hour. Most here rates are the same. Hell a doctor just makes about $70. I would lower your rates

Actually you should outsource the updating work. That would be perfect.

Some clients think once you build a website for them they own you for life..

 

[Oliverdjob]

I would charge around 250-400 a month. That seems fair to be on call

 

[Danny1111]

Depends what country your in - He is in Canada.

To call an Electrician to come to my house is $300 to get him to go into the Roof is $200 more = Total $500 then I have to pay for the work and parts.

So yeah $60 an hour for help with your Website that's driving Sales and Leads to your business is more than fair -- or there's always one more choice -- do it yourself.

 

[MiLiTARYiV]

or hire someone cheaper

 

[toosmrtformyowngood]

$70 a HOUR? A little on the high side.
I charge $20-$30 hour. Most here rates are the same. Hell a doctor just makes about $70. I would lower your rates

Actually you should outsource the updating work. That would be perfect.

Some clients think once you build a website for them they own you for life..

Well Ive been developing for about 10 years.. I went to school for it as well. There are plenty of people on this side of the boarder that charge 70 when they freelance, ive herd upwards of 100!!

But than at the same time it does discourage some potential clients that think about getting some kid, or outsourcing to india. But i will say this, 9 times out of 10 when they do that I get a call or email in 4 months or so asking if I can fix the broken site they have because they went the cheap and inexperienced route, then they have to pay even more then I would of charged..

I wouldn't trust any outsourcing with my clients sites. especially someone far away that isn't accountable. Maybe if it was my employee and I had my own design firm..

 

[toosmrtformyowngood]

I would charge around 250-400 a month. That seems fair to be on call

Usually the tab for them is between 400 and 600, but like i was getting at, clients keep pushing the envelope, give em a meter than they expect a kilometer.. Ask for more work than expect the same price..

I learned that flat rates dont always work. Unless its a proper salary you can live on and not have to have other clients and you work for them full time thats different. If a client is going to ask you to work half time or full time, gotta treat it as such and charge it as such.

We are web developers and designers, coders, webmasters and so on. The work we do aint cheap.

 

[MiLiTARYiV]

Well Ive been developing for about 10 years.. I went to school for it as well. There are plenty of people on this side of the boarder that charge 70 when they freelance, ive herd upwards of 100!!

But than at the same time it does discourage some potential clients that think about getting some kid, or outsourcing to india. But i will say this, 9 times out of 10 when they do that I get a call or email in 4 months or so asking if I can fix the broken site they have because they went the cheap and inexperienced route, then they have to pay even more then I would of charged..

I wouldn't trust any outsourcing with my clients sites. especially someone far away that isn't accountable. Maybe if it was my employee and I had my own design firm..

I somewhat agree what your saying but most people here well experienced and most do not charge that much. Most here charge $20-$30. I'm well experienced and I charge the same. Maybe its a Canada thing but $70 a hour to me for updating site seems a little high, but if you can get it, get it for sure