I recently had a writer friend ask me for help deciding what to charge a potential client for some freelance work—a tricky subject, indeed. On the one hand you don’t want to inflate the cost and drive away a customer, but on the other you want to be sure you’re compensated for your hard work. I admitted to my friend that the rate sheet on this site (click here to see it) was built using the rate sheet of another writer whose website I cannot recall right now. Basically I looked at her prices, experiences and what services she offered and tailored it to my abilities and skill set. In the end, I believe my rate sheet to be more than fair.
When deciding what to charge a client, whatever your experience level, always remember these key points:
>>Include the cost of your workspace in your rate. Whether you work at home, in a co-working environment or are using the free WiFi at your local coffee shop or public library, there’s a cost involved for you—electricity, travel, internet access, etc.
>>Your time is worth compensation. Don’t be fooled by the “you’ll gain valuable experience” schpiel you’re bound to hear along your freelancing journey. Any time spent writing copy for someone else is time away from your own creative projects, family or another client.
>>It’s OK to negotiate sometimes. Be willing to adjust your rates for a project if you feel the situation calls for it. This is more of a “go with your gut” point, but every freelancer should be familiar with basic negotiating skills.
>>Get it in writing. This should be a no-brainer, but always have a written contract signed by you and the client that lays out the terms of the assignment and payment. This will make your life infinitely easier in the long run; it’s like insurance. Have a standard contract ready in case your client doesn’t.
>>Don’t feel the need to take every job. You’ll be tempted because you want the experience or the by-line, and you’ll especially want the paycheck, but you must be realistic with the amount of time you have in a day to accommodate your workload. You still need to eat, sleep and just have some peace at some point in your day.
Can you think of any other piece of advice for new freelance writers?
xoxo,
Raquel Ivelisse