Know-How Exchange : Career/Training

Thanks so much for your quick response. Being in marketing I have a good understanding of how things always change and everyone throws in their comments often last minute - relating it to the hourly rate does make much more sense..

I would definitely say hourly. I know I did a business card for a customer once and he couldn't make up his mind. The basic layout stayed the same but he would want his names all caps and then back, middle initial, then no middle initial, etc. I am not kidding 7 days later we still didn't have final approval but he insisted he needed it the next day. So even if it looks like a simple project, it could turn out to be a very picky customer who wants a million changes.

- Marti

Marti, Thanks for the example and response - I would have thought that project would be pretty straight forward!

Hmm...

Denise, I'd tend to go DAILY rates if you could, if you want to work on bigger projects.

My feeling is there's not much stratgeic marketing consulting that can be done in one hour, it often takes that long to get in a meet the client, let alone get to grips with their problem.

Of course if you are mainly doing smaller tasks like business card design then ignore my comment.

Perhaps with clients like Mr. Can'tMakeHisMindUp, you should produce what he asks for, but with a range of subtle deign options and variations up front, and make a recommendation as to which design you would pick if you were him.

That way he can mull over the choices on his time, not yours, and he will see you as more of a skilled, consultative partner than a "do this, nah, put it back again", implementer-type of person.

Hope that helps.

ChrisB

Very helpful, thanks Chris.

if you can demonstrate that you are an authority in certain fields, and your future clients will be those you have worked with in the past, people who know you and your ability, you might want to consider a certain rate for them as a "specialist" in that category.
On the other hand, if you want to grab new business and make your services available to new clients, think of an hourly rate that is acceptable in the business, but not above it.
Once you establish yourself, you can demand both hourly and daily rates that are similar to those that lawyers charge, at the end of the day all you have to give clients is your time and brain power...
I would look at certain projects and consider them to be worth charging by the project.
If those have a well define time period, why not.
Its like being on a board of directors, where you only have certain monthly meetings etc, you know in advance what you are facing.
But working as a consultant to a marketing department in a corporation could become an endless saga of running around with no limit on hours and schedules, those projects are charged by the hour for sure!

There will most likely be some people that I will work with in my previous field so this is helpful.Thank you.

Miguel, thanks for your response. potential expenses are a good point to cover.

Peg, thanks for your comments. alot of my initial business reach will be new clients - the day free as tool is a great idea.