Last month I switched from hourly billing to project-based pricing for web design

I was freaking out about losing a $75 an hour gig I had for 2 years with a real estate agency here in ABQ. But after running the numbers on a few smaller brochure sites, I realized I was spending more time tracking hours than actually working. So I gave flat rates a shot for a coffee shop website last week a $600 project that should have taken me 10 hours tops. Turned out I finished it in 6 hours and they loved it. Has anyone else had better luck with project quotes over hourly for local clients?

3 comments

3 Comments

charlie1987d ago

lol yeah that's exactly what I found too @henry150. I was doing the same thing with a couple local bakeries here, quoting by the hour and then sweating bullets if I took a smoke break or had to look up a plugin for 20 minutes. Switched to flat rates like $450 for a basic 5 page site and suddenly I'm cranking them out in 4 or 5 hours without feeling guilty about the bathroom breaks. The best part is the clients don't nitpick your time anymore either because they just care about the price upfront. That coffee shop win you had is solid, once you see that $100 per hour you realize the old model was basically punishing you for being good at your job.

henry1507d ago

The hidden upside nobody mentions is how project pricing lets you pocket the bonus for being fast, whereas hourly actually punishes you for getting better at your job. That coffee shop site is basically proof you've been leaving money on the table.

jackson.max7d ago

Oh man I had the exact same panic when I switched over my landscaping clients to flat bids. What nobody talks about is how project based pricing actually forces you to get way more efficient because you're eating the cost if you drag your feet. That coffee shop site at $600 for 6 hours is $100 an hour which beats your old rate by a long shot. Plus you don't have to deal with clients watching the clock and questioning why a small change took 15 minutes.