I gave a client a flat rate for a project instead of my hourly and it backfired

A regular client in Phoenix asked for a website update that sounded simple, so I quoted $500 as a flat fee. It ended up needing a full plugin rebuild and took me almost 20 hours to finish. I basically made half my normal rate. I learned to always scope the exact work before naming a price, even for people I know. How do you guys handle pricing for projects that might have hidden problems?

4 comments

4 Comments

sam_cooper1mo ago

Flat rates are a gamble without a clear limit. Did you think about adding a clause for work beyond the initial scope? That saved me from a similar mess last year.

kevin_williams1mo ago

My first flat rate project went 40 hours over budget. I used to think flexibility was key, but that experience proved a clear scope clause is basic protection. It turns a gamble into a real agreement.

the_thomas1mo ago

Too much paperwork kills trust, doesn't it?

adam1867d ago

I read somewhere that trust is built in small moments, not in piles of forms, @sam_cooper.