Pricing your Desktop Publishing Services
Learn how to set the right price for design and production services, raise your rates, and discuss pricing options with your desktop publishing clients. Explore the pros and cons of hourly vs. project rates, collecting bills, late fees, and flexible fee schedules.
Poll:Do you charge too little for your services?
• I'm afraid to raise my rates and lose clients.
• Probably, but it's so hard for me to do pricing.
• My rates are fair and competitive.
View Poll Results
Poll:Do you charge too little for your services?
• I'm afraid to raise my rates and lose clients.
• Probably, but it's so hard for me to do pricing.
• My rates are fair and competitive.
View Poll Results
How to Not Get Paid for Your Desktop Publishing Time and Talents
If you're in the business of graphic design or desktop publishing you expect to get paid for your time and talents. However, some designers don't get paid or get paid much less than they deserve and it's nobody's fault but their own. Avoid these pitfalls of non-payment.
If you're in the business of graphic design or desktop publishing you expect to get paid for your time and talents. However, some designers don't get paid or get paid much less than they deserve and it's nobody's fault but their own. Avoid these pitfalls of non-payment.
RFP
If you receive an RFP do you know what you're getting? In some ways, it's sort of like an RSVP except that forgetting to RSVP is mostly a lapse in etiquette while ignorning an RFP can cost you money and business.
If you receive an RFP do you know what you're getting? In some ways, it's sort of like an RSVP except that forgetting to RSVP is mostly a lapse in etiquette while ignorning an RFP can cost you money and business.
Pricing and Estimating - How to Set Hourly and Flat Fees
Use these steps to develop a realistic hourly rate and then learn how to use an hourly rate to develop project or flat fees for desktop publishing.
Use these steps to develop a realistic hourly rate and then learn how to use an hourly rate to develop project or flat fees for desktop publishing.
Get a Deposit
Learn why a deposit is important and how it benefits you and the customer.
Learn why a deposit is important and how it benefits you and the customer.
Include a Kill Fee in Your Contract
Don't be stung when a project falls through.
Don't be stung when a project falls through.
Spec Work vs. Pro Bono
One is usually a no-no but the other can be a good thing when done wisely.
One is usually a no-no but the other can be a good thing when done wisely.
A few words about working on spec
A customer wants to "see what you can do" before actually committing to purchasing the work. Should you? Bob Schmidt has advice and 5 tips for doing spec work at Provider Marketing Group.
A customer wants to "see what you can do" before actually committing to purchasing the work. Should you? Bob Schmidt has advice and 5 tips for doing spec work at Provider Marketing Group.
Calculating the Cost to Meet
Figure out just how much it costs to go out and meet with clients and prospects. Brenner Books.
Figure out just how much it costs to go out and meet with clients and prospects. Brenner Books.
Competition from Canada
What are desktop publishers and graphic designers charging for their services in Canada compared to the US? Robert C. Brenner takes a look.
What are desktop publishers and graphic designers charging for their services in Canada compared to the US? Robert C. Brenner takes a look.
Cost & Overhead Analyzer Spreadsheet
Brenner Books has instructions on how to make your own spreadsheet to aid in tracking and controlling your business costs. Useful for setting your rates too.
Brenner Books has instructions on how to make your own spreadsheet to aid in tracking and controlling your business costs. Useful for setting your rates too.
Desktop Services Pricing
Overview of how Robert C. Brenner developed and conducted pricing surveys and some desktop publishing specific results from 1995-1998.
Overview of how Robert C. Brenner developed and conducted pricing surveys and some desktop publishing specific results from 1995-1998.
How Do Your Rate?
At About Graphic Design guest author Neil Tortorella describes one method of calculating a realistic hourly rate.
At About Graphic Design guest author Neil Tortorella describes one method of calculating a realistic hourly rate.
How Much Should I Charge?
Writing for Creative Latitude, Jeff Fisher says that before asking the question about what to charge there are many other questions you need to answer. He also provides a list of resources with pricing information.
Writing for Creative Latitude, Jeff Fisher says that before asking the question about what to charge there are many other questions you need to answer. He also provides a list of resources with pricing information.
How to set rates
How ad agencies, attorneys, and others set rates can help you figure out how to set your own. From the Geek's Guide to Internet Business Success by Bob Schmidt.
How ad agencies, attorneys, and others set rates can help you figure out how to set your own. From the Geek's Guide to Internet Business Success by Bob Schmidt.
How to Successfully Raise Your Rates
Advice from Robert C. Brenner, includes different approaches you can take when you need to increase your pricing.
Advice from Robert C. Brenner, includes different approaches you can take when you need to increase your pricing.
Job Pricing
Aimed at setting wages within a company, you may gain a bit of insight on "paying yourself" as well at Auxillium West.
Aimed at setting wages within a company, you may gain a bit of insight on "paying yourself" as well at Auxillium West.
MacDesign Billing Software
Estimating, invoicing, and billing system especially for designers, desktop publishers. Demo download available (Mac only)from Desktop Graphic Services.
Estimating, invoicing, and billing system especially for designers, desktop publishers. Demo download available (Mac only)from Desktop Graphic Services.
Population Density and Prices
Robert C. Brenner looks at how population affects desktop publishing prices. There's also a Comparison of Pricing in Large and Small Cities.
Robert C. Brenner looks at how population affects desktop publishing prices. There's also a Comparison of Pricing in Large and Small Cities.
Pricing Color Proofs
How much should you be charging for providing color proofs to clients? Find out here at Brenner Books.
How much should you be charging for providing color proofs to clients? Find out here at Brenner Books.
Pricing your computer crafts
If you are creating crafts from your computer, Eystad Desktop Publishing has tips on making a profit from your artwork.
If you are creating crafts from your computer, Eystad Desktop Publishing has tips on making a profit from your artwork.
Pricing
Questions to ask/answer and essential advice on setting prices from business owner Judy Vorfeld.
Questions to ask/answer and essential advice on setting prices from business owner Judy Vorfeld.
Setting Your Hourly Rates
All Freelance Work article includes formulas for arriving at what you'll charge.
All Freelance Work article includes formulas for arriving at what you'll charge.
What Real People Charge
These tables show what people are actually charging for Graphic Design, Desktop Publishing, and Web Design in the US and Canada. From Brenner Books.
These tables show what people are actually charging for Graphic Design, Desktop Publishing, and Web Design in the US and Canada. From Brenner Books.