Loading…
10
I charged by the hour for years, then switched to fixed project rates last quarter
I always thought hourly was safe, you know, you get paid for every minute. But last quarter I took on two similar website builds, one at $75 an hour and one for a flat $3,500. The flat rate project forced me to plan everything upfront, set clear limits, and actually made me more efficient because I wasn't watching the clock. The hourly job dragged on for almost 90 hours with constant small changes from the client, and I felt guilty every time I billed. With the fixed price, I finished in 45 focused hours, the client was happy with the set scope, and I made way more per hour of my actual time. The difference was having a solid contract that listed exactly what was included. Has anyone else made this switch and found a good way to estimate those project prices without undercutting yourself?
2 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In2 Comments
skyler_white6mo ago
Oh man, same here. I switched to fixed rates for logo and brand packages last year. The key for me was taking my old hourly rate, guessing how long a project should take, and then doubling that number to cover the inevitable revisions and client emails. My first few flat fee projects paid way better than my old hourly grind.
3
the_simon6mo ago
Yeah, that "doubling" trick @skyler_white mentioned is so key. I started adding a specific line item in my flat fee just for "project management" which covers all those check-in calls and emails. It stops clients from feeling nickle and dimed for every quick question.
5