Two ways to price logo gigs - hourly vs flat rate. Which one works better?

I landed my first logo job 3 weeks ago for a local bakery in Denver. Charged $50 flat because that felt safe - took me 12 hours. Then a buddy said he always does $30 an hour for first timers. He would've made $360 on my job. I see the argument for hourly protecting your time, but flat rate feels easier for the client to say yes. Has anyone else debated this one and found a clear winner?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_laura14d ago

Flat rate only works if you know exactly what you're getting into. I learned that the hard way doing a logo for a coffee shop - quoted $75 thinking it would take 3 hours, ended up spending 8 because they wanted 11 revisions. Charging hourly from the start would've saved me so much resentment. For your next job, try a hybrid - give them a flat estimate based on 4-5 hours of work, then switch to hourly if they go over that. Lets the client feel safe but protects you when scope creep hits.

scott.alex14d ago

Used to be all about flat rates myself. Thought it was cleaner and easier for everyone involved. Then I did a few projects where I totally lowballed myself and ended up working for less than minimum wage. That bakery job you did at $50 for 12 hours, that stings just hearing about it. Hourly definitely changed my mind once I realized it's the only way to guarantee your work gets valued properly. Did you end up feeling okay about that $50 or were you kicking yourself after?

craig.parker14d ago

Kicking myself is an understatement. I remember standing in that bakery covered in flour, staring at the clock like it was a personal insult. That $50 basically paid for the gas to get there and a sad sandwich. At least the cake tasted good, right? But yeah, never again. Hourly is the only way to keep your sanity and your bank account from laughing at you.