Pricing Design Work & Creativity - Stop Charging Hourly

Confused about how to price creative services? Are you charging hourly versus value-based pricing? Is there a better way to determine what is fair to you and fair to the client? Watch this video and see how much money you are potentially leaving on the table by not pricing the client. Price the client and not the job.

In this archive classic cutdown, listen to Chris Do as he shares one important principle in how to price design services.

#pricing #design #services #logo #ValueBasedPricing

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[wendycervera]

I literally just sent this to a client. :) I always do project-based billing. For all of the reasons Chris points out in this video. I just had a client ask me today (after providing them an estimate for a design project) "how long will it take you? If it takes you less will you charge me less?" I stuck to my guns and reiterated: "I am sorry, I do not do hourly billing, I do project-based billing." They asked again. I then sent a nice response and said that this video explains why in a more concise way than I ever could. They wrote back, signed my estimate, and now I am starting the project!

[randallk]

I’m from India and a graphic artist and my rule has always been simple:

1. Good Work
2. Fast Work
3. Cheap Work

The customer can have any TWO of the above, on the understanding that they will not get the remaining option.
Fast + Cheap = Not Good
Cheap + Good = Not Fast
Good + Fast = Not Cheap

[elnorro]

This is like 3rd time I am watching this. Still golden. Chris gave me new perspective on how I run my business. He has amazing mentoring skills. I envy people who can work with him on daily basis.

[JohnBeatty]

This is the edited version of the video that pulled me in! Nice to re-visit it from time to time... and in a new cut! Nice! :)

[EdLrandom]

hourly is so weird, it's might be a good idea for repetitive tasks but not for design.

[tomp]

I’ve been a plumber for over 13 years and when I clean drains sometimes the customers aren’t happy with how fast I got the job done compared to the price charged, despite the fact that I run a camera before and after and run the largest cutter through the drain and ensure that all blockages are removed and flow is restored. I feel like I’m those situations, I am being punished for my experience and expertise when it comes to how quickly I assess situations and know exactly what tools are needed for the job and how to use them efficiently and optimally. Fortunately I work for a really awesome husband and wife who have explained something very similar like this to customers and helped them understand.

[AfroVersity]

Straight from the archives. Where it all started for me.

[TenoDaley]

Ah!The famous pricing video… never ceases to put a smile upon my face

[stevenjobs]

This guy explains just exactly how I feel dealing with complicated customers!

[SuperMalric]

I am currently attending college to finish out my degree in graphic design and just wanted to say that this video truly captivated me, I have watched the full video but brought this up in class as well. I recently had my first client for a website design and setup. I charged an hourly rate but after watching this video I truly see the value in charging a flat rate.

[ricachuuuu]

One of the classics that completely changed my perspective in charging my work. Esp when a client comes in for a logo

[depth.]

Love this short version of the a Futur classic. This kind of content is pure gold to people looking to update the way they price their projects and working lives.

[throwacnt]

This is exactly how it's done. I worked on animated commercials and I was in charge of all the 3D process. The offer was basically "I need X in Y time and it needs to meet these expectations." After that the question was "Can you match the goal, the time and the quality target and if so, how much do you charge for the final delivery?" Done, no questions about payment per hour etc. Asking hourly rate has to be one of the most awkward and ridiculous things in the industry. People still do it by the way, the vast majority. Almost no artist I know tracks their hours correctly and that method encourages "messy" work and even lies by both the one requesting the services and the artist.

[luciddgtldesignstudio]

I revisit this video as much as possible. This video has helped to create clarity in my messaging when these sort of discussions arise with potential client-partners.

[BackpackFilmer]

When you lock your keys in your car, you call the lockout guy, he shows up in 30 minutes, unlocks your car in 30 seconds, and hands you a bill anywhere between $50 and $250, especially if it's 3AM in the morning. It may seem frustrating and even absurd to pay this price for what seems like 30 seconds of labor. But we have to ask ourselves two questions here: One, were we really actually hoping he would struggle to take longer or were we wanting quick service so we can be on our way? Two, what would we truly have done if the problem were left solely to ourselves? Break a window?

[tritonh]

This type of meeting depends on what you bring to the table and what’s in your portfolio. Working fast and delivery amazing product worth a lot more to me. However, now it comes down to comparing all the designer I found that can also work fast and provide amazing work for less. Then the question become what makes you better than the other guy. This is where experience and portfolio comes into play.

[K_Moe]

One of the first videos that introduced me to Chris Do and the futur. Highly recommend checking out the full video

[charles]

So short yet so meaningful, i gotta watch it over and over again just to process one big thing that Mr. Chris said... Thanks TheFutur

[angelo_knf]

"Time is the most important thing I have" well said! Very useful video! 👍

[great]

This was a defining lesson for a lot of freelancers. I have a potential client who once, ask me to create a logo with "just letters" and FAST.
I hopped on a call and I told him what font and kerning to use. and Voila! Didn't even charge him and he never harassed me again