Can we talk about the 30% cut freelancing platforms take from ABQ clients?

I just found out that some of those big freelancing sites take a 30% cut from local clients here in Albuquerque. I was working through one of them for a graphic design job and the client told me they paid $300 for what I got $210. That $90 difference blew my mind. I checked their fee structure again and yep, it's buried in the terms. Small businesses in the Duke City are already tight on cash, and losing almost a third to a platform hurts. I switched to direct invoicing last month and my regular clients actually prefer it. Has anyone else found a better way to get hired locally without giving up a chunk like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

luna26114h ago

30% is standard for those platforms, they're not a charity. You're paying for the convenience of not having to hunt down clients yourself or deal with payment disputes. If $90 is breaking a business then they probably shouldn't be outsourcing graphic design in the first place. Direct invoicing works for people who already have a client base, but not everyone has that luxury.

nathan_kim10h ago

Respectfully @luna261, I think you're overlooking the long game here. A 30% cut adds up fast - on a $300 logo that's $90 gone, and after a few projects the platform has made more off you than you have from the client. That's not just convenience, that's a serious loss for small designers trying to build a real business.

paige_bell8110h ago

Eh, I dunno, $90 seems pretty fair for not getting stiffed on a payment.