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I finally compared an hourly rate vs a flat fee for a 3 month project
Honestly, I used to always charge by the hour for everything. But then I took on this branding job for a local bakery in Austin and tracked 47 hours across 6 weeks. Tbh, the flat fee I quoted ended up being $300 more than what my hourly rate would've paid me for the same work. Ngl, it hurt to realize I left money on the table. Has anyone else switched back and forth between these two pricing styles?
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haydenhayes2d ago
Yeah but does a flat fee actually protect you that well from scope creep? I've seen plenty of clients treat a flat fee like an all you can eat buffet and just keep piling on requests. The bakery I quoted ended up asking for three extra rounds of revisions that I didn't charge for because I felt bad. Honestly I think flat fees protect you more in theory than in practice unless you write a real strict contract. What's your experience been with clients respecting the original scope when you go flat rate?
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henry1501d ago
Your "all you can eat buffet" line hit a little too close to home. I once had a client who treated a flat fee like a season pass to an amusement park and kept asking for new "rides" after the project was done. Now I just add a clause that says any extras cost extra, and I try to stick to it even when I feel bad.
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