When A Freelancer Should Bill The Client

Posted on 08. Jul, 2010 by Nile Flores in Freelance

A lot of people these days who are freelancers also have blogs that contain helpful articles. It is not uncommon that a freelancer might end up talking to readers via email or some other medium about solving some issue about a blog.

The problem is that some of this is taken for granted. Of course, there are cases where previous clients ask about a bug from a design that came up, but for new clients, what is acceptable to be considered a freebie? Should a freelancer spend their time solving a site issue for free if it was not their coding or design error, even if the client is new?

Here are my thoughts.

If a person wants you to help them fix their site to fix another designer or developer’s code, you probably should be charging them for your time, even if you might be a new freelancer with a minimum hourly flat rate wage. If people truly need their site fixed right, they will pay for it. It is ridiculous to ask you to do something for free because you might never hear back from them again.

It is not an act of faith to do something for another person with hope they may ask you to design for them a whole site later on. As much as you might like to think everyone is good, you cannot be that way. Regardless of how long you have been freelancing, you risk not getting the job when you do these extra freebies.

If you are still not paying your bills, you really have no business offering services for free.

I have talked to a lot of freelancers who have said that they are struggling. However, when I ask them how they conduct business, they offer a lot of extra freebies.

The problem is that living is not cheap. If you have a child, or have a few children, or are married, you have to think logically. You need to pay the bills. The only time you can be frivolous with your time is when you are making enough money to feed yourself, pay your bills, and put a little money in the bank to save for later use.

When Should You Charge:

When you physically have to drive to a consultation. (Gas and time.)
If you are providing phone support outside a web design contract. If so, you need to make sure the caller is aware that they will be billed.
If you are fixing another’s code.
When you are asked to do extra services outside the original contract.

Some people are quick to point out that giving freebies to a regular client is great, but it is not. A lot of times, that client will ask a little bit more each time. It is about protecting yourself in the end.

If you have been a freelancer for many years, what other suggestions do you have for other freelancers who are needing advice on what you should charge?

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10 Comments

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08. Jul, 2010

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Create Your First Website

09. Jul, 2010

Well I can see both sides of the story here.

But I do agree that if you fix someones site, you should charge for it.

I read an article on Freelanceswitch recently, which said that if something goes wrong in a project because of you, then what should you do. One option was to give a discount or give freebies.

Kindest,
Nabeel

Kat Durrant

09. Jul, 2010

I think there’s two sides to this story. For me, I would rather keep a long term customer happy by making small changes – specifically if it takes less than 10 mins (especially if they had paid a lot for your services) and keep them returning to me when they need larger changes which I can charge them for. That’s simply how you keep customers coming back to you year after year.

Regarding new customers, that long term trust has not yet been made yet, I find adding a small monthly maintenance fee (billing for 2 hours of changes a month) will usually keep clients happy, then if they don’t use that time they have a block when they do need changes and every one is happy.

Rama

09. Jul, 2010

I think some of the points are a little out-of-touch.

If you don’t offer some “fixes”, etc. for free, others will, and more importantly, they will get the business when a project comes along.

Do small things for clients and they will keep returning to you. Doing a small thing for a prospective client (and really “wow” them), will probably get you work.

Nile

09. Jul, 2010

@Nabeel – You should fix your own mistakes… always. Taking responsibility for your work is key to building trust with clients regardless if they might be little mad… they may stay with you because you were honest and still believe in you.

@Kat – Your time is money. Those 10 minutes here and there do build up. It is fine if you are well established, but if you are finding your changes adding up after some time, perhaps you should be putting in a flat rate per hour fee that is minimal. (My flat rate is $20 for example. It does not pertain to any mistakes on my part as those are my responsibility. However, additions or changes are charged.)

You already built that trust with long term clients. They should be comfortable with you and not expect free work. Now if you have a bug come up in your design, that would be an exception. However, new stuff to add… you might want to think about it.

You can always offer affiliate incentives later on. I have finally been able to offer that with my own clients. They earn 20% of the design purchase they refer.

I have had clients come back since the beginning when I was still learning b2 (what WordPress was forked off of)…and above all both graphic and web design. I write this from the years of learning from both bad and good experiences freelancing.

@Rama – After over 8 years freelancing, I cannot agree with you that anything I have shared is out of touch. If you are doing freebies, stop. You need to eat, pay rent… you need to live. You should be building your trust with clients before offering freebies. Never offer freebies until you are comfortable in your freelance career financially to do so.

It is your project that should wow your customers and you should make your design/ work stand out. Freebies will not be necessary if your design tells it all for you. I never said your own fixes should not be free. You have to take responsibility for your mistakes. However… you do not have to do freebies on others’ mistakes.

Clipping Path

11. Jul, 2010

wow! awesome post! thanks a lot for sharing

Berrido

09. Sep, 2010

I cannot agree more with this post. A client who gets a lot of freebies will expect more and more…

Getting used to give freebies entails the risk of becoming “the one who works for free” amongst clients.

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10. Sep, 2010

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Nathan powell

02. Mar, 2011

I have a long term client who I meet up with about once every two months to discuss projects, I’d feel awful if I had to charge him for these meetings. Silly I know.