Re: Hourly Rates, Billing, etc.

How can one compete? Gee, Kim... You of all people ;-)

Easy! Offer a cheap crappy, free audio mix with the grade.

Too obvious?

It's a good question, though, with commodity software and hardware having become the norm. I have an in-house rate that can be either hourly for a short run, or flat with a time cap that is mutually agreed, but it does include a discount for volume, and a flexible approach to house calls depending on whose software is in use, whether it needs a dongle or not, or if I am bringing along hardware that is either to my, or the client's benefit. Then it is a combination of operator freelance rate and equipment rental.

We work in a feature-centric, or at least feature-distracted, arena. What is important to remember, and it's a time-proven axiom, is that customers, whether they are buying polyester blouses or color correction, always choose 'benefits' over what 'feature' (button, when pressed does some gee-whiz thing or not), might be on offer. When you set your price, is it justifiable from a benefit standpoint to your customer? Would you hire you? When you say $75 an hour, what does that get you? A 'done' project at the end of the day, or some free newbie screaming on the Cow that they're on a tight deadline and the timeline is mysteriously corrupt? Who would be benefiting in that case?

jPo

You mean "Old Ben"? Ben Kenobi?