How much to charge?

[LordLee]

Hi all.

Just need some advice of freelance rates.

I have a permanent role in a company as an Image Studio Manager and have good retouching experience.

I've recently been offered some freelance retouching work for an independent fashion website. Quite frankly i have no idea how much i should charge an hour or per image. Any suggestions.

The work could be anything from general tidy up (smartening the clothes) to detailed work.

[Stormy]

I would think somewhere between $15 to $30 an hour would be good; Depending on the amount and difficulty of work of course.

[LordLee]

Really? That's roughly £9 to £19 an hour in sterling. Just seems a little short. Buy hey... i guess i need to get some detail on the work first.

[twopoint0]

LordLee-
What would your employer charge? What has the web site paid in the past? My guess is the figures will be about 3X what Stormy suggested.

[ftp-Jeff]

Yeah 10 quid an hour for smudging.... 100 quid an hour for retouching

[Stormy]

Well then my former employer was under paying me! lol I guess it depends on where you live as well. I would get paid more if I lived in California or New York. In North Carolina we get paid less because the cost of living is less.

[twopoint0]

Stormy- He may have been underpaying you or not. He would have to "mark up" your wage by what, 2-4 times in order to make a decent profit?
Freelancers can charge less than brick and mortar stores. There is so much less overhead.
You have to find a balance, but you do have to value your time. Besides, if you work remotely, it shouldn't matter where you live!

[Stormy]

Thats true, I see what you are talking about. I know I should have made more. I was making $9.50 an hour when I left; I could get the same job in California starting at $20 an hour.

[Nanls]

Freelancers in California are charging min $65 per hour and up, depending on the industry. If you go through a staffing agency like Aquent who charges their clients $65 per hour, you will only get $40 per hour for working for them.

Hope this helps.

[Stormy]

wow, yeah it is way different in North Carolina. I guess there is a much larger demand for it other places. I am sure some parts of NC there is more, it does all depend on where you live.

[aartist]

I always charge the going rate locally or what I think they will pay, whichever is larger.