c/bargaining-board

Read a report on the Freelancers Union site that opened my eyes

I used to think charging by the hour was fair for everyone. Then I saw a survey from the Freelancers Union that said freelancers who switch to flat project fees earn 30% more on average. Now I'm rethinking how I quote my editing work, especially for repeat clients in Austin. Has anyone here tried switching from hourly to flat fees and seen a real difference?

Heard a client say "your rate is too high" then hired a cheaper guy. That guy went under. Now they're back. Do you hold firm or raise it?

Couldn't believe a client actually paid my higher quote without blinking

A guy in Topeka asked me to refinish his office floors, so I threw out a number 30% over my normal rate just to test him, and he said yes on the spot. Has anyone else accidentally discovered they were undercharging for years because nobody ever pushed back?

Updated my rate sheet after a client in Denver told me my per-word pricing was too low for rush jobs.

I used to just charge $0.10 per word for everything but after three weeks of back to back overnight edits for $150 I shifted to a $0.20 base with a 1.5x rush multiplier and now I actually sleep through the night.

Debate: Do clients REALLY care about your portfolio or just your lowest rate?

I landed a $500 logo gig last week by showing a fancy PDF portfolio, but my buddy swears he closed a $3,000 contract just by being the cheapest guy on the call. Which side actually wins more bids, or is it all about the vibe you give off?

Why I stopped believing that charging by the hour is always fair for both sides

After a kitchen remodel in Austin last spring where I billed a client 60 hours but finished in 40 because I got faster as I went, I realized flat rate quotes actually reward me for being efficient instead of punishing me for it.

Lost a big client after they saw my rate sheet included a line item for 'admin fees'

I had a client in Austin totally balk at my contract last week because I added a 15% admin fee on top of my hourly rate for organizing their files. Has anyone else had to defend these kinds of line items without coming off like you're nickel-and-diming them?

Had a contractor laugh at my rate sheet in Nashville last week

I was pitching a kitchen remodel to a guy named Rick who builds custom cabinets. He pulled out my rate sheet, looked at it for maybe 5 seconds, and just started chuckling. He said "son, you're charging me for 3 hours of measuring that I can do in 20 minutes with a laser." That hit different because he wasn't trying to lowball me, he was actually showing me I was overcomplicating the process. Has anyone else had a client or contractor call them out on their own pricing in a way that actually helped?

Had a chat with my neighbor about how I charge for custom wood signs

My neighbor saw me working on a sign for a cafe and asked why I only charge $50 per hour. She said she bills $100 an hour for her graphic design work and I should too. It hit me that I've been basing my rate on what I think people will pay, not the value of the work. Has anyone else had a friend or family member make you realize you're lowballing yourself?

TIL that 73% of clients expect a discount just for asking - wild stat from a freelancer union survey

I was scrolling through the Freelancers Union site last night and saw this stat from their 2023 survey. 73% of clients straight up admit they'll ask for a lower rate even if they're happy with the quote. That blew my mind. So basically most of them are testing you. I've been caving way too easy. Now I'm thinking I should just say no to the first ask every time and see what happens. Has anyone else noticed a pattern with this?

Had a chat with a plumber who made me rethink my whole approach to quoting

Was at a networking thing last Tuesday and this older plumber named Dave told me he never gives a flat price over the phone. He always goes to look first, charges a small fee for the visit, and then quotes. Said it cuts down on fights and people backing out. I always just threw out numbers quick to get the yes. Now I am wondering if I have been leaving money on the table and making things harder on myself. Has anyone else tried charging for a consultation first?

Had a chat with a plumber that totally shifted my pricing mindset

I was complaining to this older plumber from Columbus about how hard it is to get someone to agree to my $75 rate for content writing. He looked at me and said 'you're not selling words, you're selling time they don't have to waste.' It hit different because he charges $125 an hour just to show up and diagnose a leak. So now I stopped leading with the price and started leading with the problem I solve. Has anyone else had a random conversation like that totally reframe how you pitch?

I wasted $600 on a retainer fee contract that meant nothing

Last spring I signed a 6 month retainer with a marketing guy in Phoenix for $100 a month. He promised unlimited revisions and fast turnaround. After 3 months I had sent 12 emails and got maybe 4 short replies. He kept saying "I'll get to it" but nothing changed. Anyone else get burned by a retainer that was basically just a promise?

I finally stopped giving my rates first in a negotiation

For years I'd tell a potential client my hourly rate right when they asked, then watch them try to bargain me down. A contractor I sub for in Charlotte finally pulled me aside and said 'stop being the first one to throw out a number.' Now I ask what their budget looks like first, and it's changed everything. Last month a client came to me with a $2,500 budget for two weekends of work, and I probably would have said $600 if I'd blurted my rate out first. Has anyone else found that letting the other side set the starting point works better for them?

Vent: A project manager in Phoenix said my rate sheet looked like a 'wish list'

She told me straight up that my flat project fee of $2,500 for a website redesign was just a number I pulled out of thin air, with no breakdown of what it covered. I was mad at first, but she was right. Now I list every single deliverable, like '5 page layouts' and '3 rounds of revisions', right next to the price. Has anyone else had a client call them out on pricing and actually been thankful for it later?

A client in Denver asked me point-blank what my 'dream rate' was

I was giving my usual range for a branding project, and he just said 'No, what number would make you excited to start this tomorrow?' I mean, I threw out a figure 20% higher than my normal top end, and he agreed without blinking. Has anyone else had a client basically give you permission to charge more?

A client in Denver told me my price was too low and it threw me off

I was giving a quote for a big pine removal last fall, and when I said $2,800, the guy just looked at me and said, 'You're not charging enough for that risk, man.' He explained he'd had a bad experience with a cheaper crew before. How do you handle it when a client basically tells you to raise your own rates?

A potential hire told me my contract was too vague on revisions, and it saved a project.

I was hiring a copy editor for a big website job. I sent over my standard contract, and she came back with notes before she'd even sign. She pointed to the line about 'reasonable revisions' and said, 'What does reasonable mean to you? Two rounds? Three? Does it include a full rewrite if the first draft is off?' I had never defined it, I just assumed we'd figure it out. That feedback made me rewrite my whole contract template. Now I specify two rounds of revisions included in the base rate, with any extra rounds billed at $75 per hour. It felt awkward at first to be so specific, but it stopped a huge fight with a different client last month when they kept asking for 'just one more little change.' Has anyone else had a client or even another freelancer call out a weak spot in your terms?

I finally asked for a project rate instead of hourly and it went sideways

Last week, a regular client in Chicago asked me to design a new logo and some social posts. I usually charge $50 an hour, but this time I quoted a flat $800 for the whole job. They agreed right away, which felt great. The problem was they kept adding 'just one more little thing' every day for a week. I ended up doing almost double the work I planned for. Now I'm stuck with the same pay and way more hours. How do you guys write your contracts to stop this from happening?

Vent: Lost a whole day's pay because I didn't ask for a deposit upfront

I had a call with a potential client last Tuesday about a small website update job. We agreed on a flat rate of $300 and a two-day turnaround. I was feeling good about the quick win and just sent over the contract. They signed it, so I jumped right in and got the work done that same afternoon. The next morning, I sent the finished work and the invoice. Radio silence. I followed up after three days, and they said their budget had 'shifted' and they couldn't pay right now. It's been over a week, and I'm out that $300 and the four hours I spent. In my experience, a simple 50% deposit before starting work would have at least covered my time. Now I'm stuck with work I can't even use for my portfolio because it's for their specific brand. Has anyone else had a client ghost after delivery, and what's your rule for deposits on smaller jobs?

Pro tip: I stopped giving a flat fee for staging consultations after one client asked me to do their whole house for free.

I used to just say 'my consultation is $200' and show up. Then last month, a couple in the Elmwood area asked for a quote, I gave it, and after two hours of walking through their place they said 'so this advice is part of the $200, right?' and expected me to keep coming back. Now I write a simple contract before I even step in the door that says the fee covers one visit and a written plan, and any extra time is a new agreement. Has anyone else had to get this specific to stop scope creep?

A client offered me a flat fee for a big project and I tried something new

They wanted a full website redesign for a set $2,000, which would have been way too low for the hours. Instead of just saying no, I broke down the price into parts like homepage, contact form, and blog setup. I sent them a list with my hourly rate next to each part and asked which ones they really needed right now. They picked three items, which came to $1,500, and agreed to add the rest later. It turned a bad deal into a good starting point. Has anyone else split up a project like this to make the price talk easier?

Looking back at my first contract from 2018 feels like reading a different language now.

Back then, I was just happy to get a client and my 'contract' was basically a short email saying I'd do the work for $500. I didn't mention revisions, kill fees, or what would happen if they paid late. Fast forward to this year, and my standard agreement is a solid three pages. The big change came after a project in 2021 where a client kept asking for 'one more tiny thing' for two extra months with no extra pay. That was the push I needed. I spent a weekend building a real template with clear sections on scope, payment terms, and intellectual property. Now, having that document ready makes the rate talk way easier because everything is laid out. Has anyone else had a single bad experience that finally made you get serious about contracts?

Rant: People keep giving 'budget' numbers before they even know the project scope

I swear, this happens at least once a week. A potential client will email me and the very first thing they ask is 'What's your rate?' or 'What's your budget for this?' before they've told me a single detail about what they actually need. Last Thursday, someone from a startup in Austin said 'Our budget is $500' for what turned out to be a full website rebuild with custom features. It's a total waste of time for everyone! They lock themselves into a number that has no connection to the real work, and then get upset when my quote is higher. I've learned to shut that down fast. Now my first reply is always asking for a project brief or a quick call to understand the goals. How do you guys handle these 'budget first' conversations without scaring them off?

I used to think a handshake deal was enough for a local job

After a neighbor in my building asked for 'just a few more changes' that took a full weekend, I started using a simple one page contract for everything over $500. Has anyone else had a small job blow up like that?