Graphic Design - Determining Freelance Rate
 

I have been approached by a few local businesspeople about doing newsletters for them and I am uncertain about how much to charge. (I am only preparing the finished product -- no printing, etc.) I currently work at a school and have never freelanced before. I know some people have a flat rate, others an hourly rate, and yet others have tiered rates depending on the organization. I would really appreciate any feedback.

I would suggest finding someone who does this already and asking them how much they charge to get a idea. You dont want to go too high, but you dont want to go low either.

I know when I started doing my Interior Design on the side, I wasnt sure how much to charge. I ended up talking to one of my professors at the college I went to and asked her, she does it on the side. It depended for me if I was just giving someone ideas or drawing up designs or actually out there putting a room together. I usually just charge by the hour and materials.

Ask around to people or professors to get a idea how much your time is worth. I mean if it takes a hour or several hours you need to know how much each hour is worth.

I know someone who did writing for our Akron Beacon Journal and they would get about 200 a article, but I dont know if that is acurate now or what.

Very cool! A few questions to ask you:
 

1) Where do you live?
2) How many years of experience do you have in design?
3) Do you have any formal design training?

Lastly, know that this is taxable income and you will be expected to report these earnings to the IRS.

Re: Very cool! A few questions to ask you:
 

What she's saying is "Get paid in cold hard cash"!

-Rudey