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01/14/2007 12:46:23 AM · #1 |
My girlfriend babysits for a gallery owner, and a couple times a month she has me come and photograph exibits and events for her website and other stuff, and sometimes I make fliers and brochures for her. This past week she decided that her website was horrible, and wanted me to redo it. My girlfriend and I are sort of friends with them now, and I am wondering if this should get in the way when billing them. My initial reaction was to charge $1000 because I usually charge them $75 an hour, and the website took me 15 hours to build. Minus 200 or so for the whole "friend" thing. The old website(which was absoutely horrible and a 5 year old could have done a better job) had costed them over 3000 dollars because he charged 75 an hour aswell, but it took him 36 hours. My girlfriend keeps telling me that I need to be a better man charge less, but Im thinking a third is enough. Plus I help out ALOT with the babysitting, and driving around and stuff, so I dont think that I should go too easy on them.
what do you think?
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01/14/2007 12:50:11 AM · #2 |
I gave up on websites... got boring and tiresome... but I wouldn't touch a site for under $150 an hour. This was up until about 2 years ago.
Edit: seems she's getting a good deal from you for the price you just said. But, do keep a good record of when and what you are doing to the site to show her if questions are asked.
Message edited by author 2007-01-14 00:51:58.
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01/14/2007 12:51:11 AM · #3 |
Are they expecting to be billed for this? Did you initially tell them that this was going to cost them?
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01/14/2007 12:53:23 AM · #4 |
Charge Regular price... if there any discount thats your goodwill. Business is Business... everyone needs to make something.. and seems like you are 'helping out ALOT' already...
But final choice is always yours...
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01/14/2007 01:03:02 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by briantammy:
Are they expecting to be billed for this? Did you initially tell them that this was going to cost them? |
I know I really should go through the whole "this is what its going to cost you" before hand. But she always gives me projects and is like "I need them done now" and with school and all, I dont really have time to make out anything stating the cost, but she never complains, or even says anything about the price
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01/14/2007 01:39:04 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by fallingretina:
Originally posted by briantammy:
Are they expecting to be billed for this? Did you initially tell them that this was going to cost them? |
I know I really should go through the whole "this is what its going to cost you" before hand. But she always gives me projects and is like "I need them done now" and with school and all, I dont really have time to make out anything stating the cost, but she never complains, or even says anything about the price |
a simple "do you realize the time this will take and that it might cost quite a bit?" could go a long way toward easing the stress on you later.
Message edited by author 2007-01-14 01:39:22.
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02/02/2007 12:46:27 AM · #7 |
Just remember that at the end of the day, you have skills that have a dollar value on them.
Business and friendships are to be kept seperate.
A general rule of thumb that I work with both in photography and in my other business dealings, is that you charge as much as you can get.
By this I mean that Johnny the corner store operater should pay less than a large corporation.
HOpe this helps. |
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02/02/2007 02:24:21 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by fallingretina:
I know I really should go through the whole "this is what its going to cost you" before hand. But she always gives me projects and is like "I need them done now" and with school and all, I dont really have time to make out anything stating the cost, but she never complains, or even says anything about the price |
Then it is quite likely you could just bill her $1,000 or more and she may not even question it and if she does, then take that opportunity to explain your fees. |
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02/02/2007 06:24:17 AM · #9 |
| and charge an annual fee for maintaining the site. |
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02/02/2007 08:05:28 AM · #10 |
It's very hard to deal with friends. Sometimes it works out as "I scratch your back, you scratch mine." In otherwords, perks. You can agree to do certains things for no charge if you'd like to get something in return. But write up a tech requirements outline, what you will do, what you won't, and how much it will cost, how much maintenance will cost, etc. That way there shouldn't be any surprises.
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02/10/2007 11:14:23 PM · #11 |
As a rule, I don't do business anymore with family or friends. It is too messy, and the potential for problems is greatly increased. Plus, they don't respect your privacy as much and call you at inconvenient times. The ONLY way I would do it, is charge them the same price and give them the same services as any other client. Because if you discount theirs, someone else will find out and also want theirs discounted because they know your cousins paper boy or something......
Message edited by author 2007-02-10 23:34:19. |
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02/10/2007 11:32:49 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by doug61853:
Because if you discount theirs, someone else will find out and also want their discounted because the know your cousins paper boy or something...... |
LOL, ain't that the truth, no matter if you're a photographer, web designer, mechanic or dentist.
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02/11/2007 01:30:20 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Originally posted by doug61853:
Because if you discount theirs, someone else will find out and also want their discounted because the know your cousins paper boy or something...... |
LOL, ain't that the truth, no matter if you're a photographer, web designer, mechanic or dentist. |
That's precisely why when people ask if I build websites, I tell them I am a Dentist. And if they happen to need a dentist as well, I will give them a discount, but after the work is done they usually never ask me again, nor do they recommend me to friends & family. ;-) |
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