My first logo job came down to charging by the hour or a flat fee

A friend in Boulder needed a logo for his new coffee truck, and I was stuck between asking for $25 an hour or a flat $200. I went with the flat fee because it felt less scary to say out loud. It took me about 12 hours total, so I basically worked for less than my target rate, but I got a solid piece for my portfolio. How do you decide which pricing method to lead with for a new client?

3 comments

3 Comments

ivan_price319d ago

Used to always push for hourly rates to protect myself. Seeing that flat fee got you a portfolio piece you're proud of really shifts the focus. Sometimes the long-term value beats the short-term math.

matthew_west19d ago

Portfolio pieces don't pay the bills though. You trained your client to expect cheap work and undervalued your own time. A clear hourly rate sets a professional standard from the start, so you're paid for every revision and extra idea they request. How do you avoid setting a low value precedent for future work?

adam18619d ago

It's a tricky balance for sure. Maybe the portfolio piece leads to better paid work later, even if the first job was cheap.