Just realized the 'always charge by the hour' advice from a mentor was wrong for me

A successful freelancer I know insisted I track every minute for a $75 per hour rate, but after a year I was burned out from the clock. I switched to flat project fees, and my income went up 30% because I stopped worrying about speed. Has anyone else found hourly billing just doesn't fit their work style?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_mary4d ago

That whole hourly thing messed with my head too, made me feel guilty for taking a coffee break. Honestly, it got to where I was scared to get better at my work because I'd finish faster and make less money. Switched to project rates and it was like a weight lifted, could actually think about the work itself. Figuring out the price is still the hard part though, I usually guess how long it'll take and then add a big chunk for the stress.

jackson.max4d ago

My last hourly client wanted a 15 minute breakdown for every task. I started timing bathroom trips. The switch to project pricing felt like getting out of jail. Now I just look at a job and ask what it's worth to me to not hate my life for a week. That number is usually my old hourly guess times three.

iris_barnes874d ago

My old boss used to say hourly billing kept things fair, but it just made me rush jobs. I read an article about how it punishes you for getting faster at your work. Charging by the project lets me focus on doing it right the first time, not watching the clock. How do you figure out what to charge for a whole project?