Freelance Design rates

[chris1982]

Hi all,

Just a little bit of help please if it is possible.

I have just been asked by my ex employer to do freelance Interior design for him and he asked what rate of pay i would want. I have never freelanced before and wondered what i should charge, i thought around £20 and hour is a basic rate as i am experienced and know the job that he wants me to do.

Any advice would be helpful and also any advice on what i need to do to set myself up as a freelancer?

Many thanks

[mr_fibuli]

Sounds about right. I don't know anything about interior design, but other freelance designers I've worked with are usually about £200 per day.

[Simpo Two]

Wait until he says 'About 30 minutes should be enough'...

[elster]

Simpo Two said:

Wait until he says 'About 30 minutes should be enough'...

Yeah go by a daily rate instead.

[Steamer]

chris1982 said:

... freelance Interior design...

Not exactly the same game - but for freelance showroom and exhibition stand design, visualisation and CAD Planning I charge £20 per hour rendering £25 per hour designing.

But they are regular clients that I contract for so they get a good price.

PS: thats midlands prices - not london.

[cronk-flakes]

I charge £25 p/hr for IT help, locally for a bit of extra cash. Would have thought interior design would demand more than that? I mean, if you actually know what you're doing!

[Steamer]

cronk-flakes said:

...I mean, if you actually know what you're doing!

Scattering cushions in todays economic climate can be a cut throat business!








I'm kiddin!

[groomi]

£20 per hour sounds in the right ballpark. If this is your first time freelancing, have you thought about how you're going to do the wor, ie. using the clients PC's, office etc. or workign from home - in which case you need PC, software etc.?

Not trying to put you off, just pointing out the other things to think about.

[chris1982]

Cheers guys, sounds like i am thinking around the right sort of price.

I have already got the software and hardware etc at home so that is not a problem, i will be including a cost into my invoices for extra over costs, paper, printing, and materials used etc.

I am midlands based and the work will be coming through the company i used to work for so i should have backup from my ex directors.

Ps. It is a lucrative business scattering cushions, and makes good money too!! lol, in all seriousness though i design living areas, kitchens, wardrobe systems, bathroom designs and any other items needed including some hotel work which will be coming up so if anyone has any work they need doing i charge around £20 and hour!! Lol

[Davi]

chris1982 said:

Cheers guys, sounds like i am thinking around the right sort of price.

I have already got the software and hardware etc at home so that is not a problem, i will be including a cost into my invoices for extra over costs, paper, printing, and materials used etc.

I am midlands based and the work will be coming through the company i used to work for so i should have backup from my ex directors.

Ps. It is a lucrative business scattering cushions, and makes good money too!! lol, in all seriousness though i design living areas, kitchens, wardrobe systems, bathroom designs and any other items needed including some hotel work which will be coming up so if anyone has any work they need doing i charge around £20 and hour!! Lol

fancy a go at an awkward kitchen?

bugger - meant to say the going rate is £20 a DAY before I asked that

[Steamer]

chris1982 said:

Cheers guys, sounds like i am thinking around the right sort of price.

I have already got the software and hardware etc at home so that is not a problem, i will be including a cost into my invoices for extra over costs, paper, printing, and materials used etc.

I am midlands based and the work will be coming through the company i used to work for so i should have backup from my ex directors.

Ps. It is a lucrative business scattering cushions, and makes good money too!! lol, in all seriousness though i design living areas, kitchens, wardrobe systems, bathroom designs and any other items needed including some hotel work which will be coming up so if anyone has any work they need doing i charge around £20 and hour!! Lol

All the best with it Chris.

It sounds like youve got things well enough sorted - one of the first things I did was get myself VAT registered, might be worth looking into if you haven't done it already.

Only pullin' your leg about the cushions

[lawrence567]

I do CAD design but i have no idea what you should be charging.
Go by a day rate or half day rate or something.
Google freelanec designers and go by that..

[groomi]

With regards to the hour/day rate charge issue, I usually charge a day rate for on-site work and an hourly rate for working from your own premisies.

Some clients want the flexibilty of just having a little input from you here and there, so refusing hourly rates can occasionally mean you lose out.

Oh, and for this advice to a potential competitor I expect any projects you can't handle to be passed in this direction...

[chris1982]

Thanks guys,

Really appreciate the help, i don't think i have to be VAT registered as i will be earning under £60k. I think that is right as I read that on the self assessment tax website as i was doing my research.

Thanks for the advice on the site work and the separate hourly rate, i think that is a good idea.

Cheers guys