Why does every new freelancer think $10 an hour is a good starting rate?

I keep seeing people in this group saying they quoted $8-12 an hour for graphic design work and I just don't get it. How are you supposed to build a business when you're barely covering your coffee and internet bill?

3 comments

3 Comments

alext5223h ago

Buddy of mine started doing logo work for $10 an hour back in 2020. Spent three months redoing everything five times because clients treated him like a cheap option. He finally doubled his rate and suddenly people actually respected his time. Go figure.

troyc1721h ago

Doubled my consulting fee a couple years back and suddenly clients stopped asking for free work and actually showed up to meetings on time.

anna71721h ago

Whoa, I'm not so sure about that one! I get that raising prices can filter out cheap clients, but sometimes $10 an hour is all a small business can afford when they're just starting out. A friend of mine runs a tiny bakery and she paid $15 an hour for her logo because that's what she could scrape together. The designer was patient and only did two revisions because they set clear boundaries from the start. I think it's more about how you manage the process than the price tag alone.