Freelance Writing Rates: When to Charge Additional Fees
September 16, 2009 by Deb Ng
Filed under Fair Pay, Freelance Writing Business
Before you send your client an independent contractor’s agreement or freelance writing contract, make sure to make it’s clear there are circumstances where you may have to tack additional fees to your original quote. While you want to be reasonable, you also want to make sure you’re adequately compensated for your work. Additional work requires additional pay. Here are some situations requiring a rate adjustment:
- Rush Jobs - If you’re expected to turn in a job overnight or quicker than normal, it’s appropriate to add a rush fee. This is especially necessary if you’ll have to backburner another project or work well past business hours. Before agreeing to a rush project make sure your client knows there will be an increase in your rate. Most freelancers charge 20% to 50% extra for a rush project.
- Change of Focus - Occasionally a project will shift focus. If this happens and it leads to extensive re-writes, you’re well within your rights to re-negotiate your original quote.
- Cancellation or Kill Fees: Your contract should have an entry for cancellations fees. If your client changes his mind after you schedule or start a project, you can charge a cancellation fee to make up for the loss of income.
- Expenses: If the project requires travel, including mileage and meals, you can bill these back to your client. You can also charge for any (reasonable) supplies necessary to complete your project. For example, if you’re doing an investigative piece on big store chains hiring sweat shop labor, and you need to buy items from those chains to prove your point, you should bill them back to the client. The client may ask to keep purchased items after the project is complete.
- Additional Research: If the client is requiring you to do additional research or interview extra sources, you’ll want to gently remind him that extra work means extra money.
Writers shouldn’t have to eat it every time a client changes his mind or there are considerable expenses. It’s acceptable to add additional fees if needed. Be sure your client knows this in advance and it’s written into your contract so he doesn’t balk when he receives your invoice.
Do you adjust your rates as needed? What are some of the circumstances leading to adding additional fees?
Unless mileage, meals or other expenseses are excessive, I find that clients prefer simplified pricing. So I just provide a project price without breaking out line items — in most instances.
Another suggestion: If offering a discount, include that as a line item. That way client is reminded of a break that might not always continue.
Good points! As freelancers, we need to realize the value of our time even if there is not a product.
I think many clients are cognizant of extra demands that they might occasionally place on you, especially if you already have a business relationship with them. In my experience, they are willing to increase compensation for jobs that need to be done quickly, or are outside the scope of what they normally ask for.
Clients are just as invested in maintaining good relations with writers who provide them with quality work as we are with accommodating the requests of great clients. Don’t be afraid to communicate with clients regarding the logistics of a particular project – they are business people just like we are.