Not signed in (Sign In)
SkillShare - A place to discuss Web Standards and Web Design topics
Categories
Vanilla 1.1.5a is a product of Lussumo. More Information: Documentation, Community Support.
-
-
CommentAuthorbessington
- CommentTimeDec 18th 2005
hey all -
i'm just starting out with freelancing after only a few years web design experience - perviously as a designer for an e-commerce company. i may not freelance forever, but I have a few clients i am beginning to working with and am wondering if straight-up freelancing may be where i am heading. i have been devouring any freelance advice that i find from folks i admire along the way, especially to the likes of jason santa maria and cameron moll.
I would love any advice from freelance-savvy folks or any books / articles you would recommend. such things i would love advice on are: invoices and contracts, client do's and don'ts, rates, etc... in actuality i have only been permanent job-less for about a week. thanks everyone!
-bessington -
-
Well there isn't much I can help you but those are some Intresting articles. Thanks for the links.
-
I have a metric assload of articles on this kind of thing bookmarked on del.icio.us, conveniently it's down right now though.
-
Can you post them, when it's back online?
-
Okay, finally del.icio.us is back up (I've been in serious withdrawl). I've got 9 articles tagged with freelance, myself. Try taking a look at some of the related tags, I'm sure there's more of use on there as well.
(This one was stashed under "smallbiz" but may offer some good info as well.) -
Hi Nifkin ,thank for your info
-
-
CommentAuthorbessington
- CommentTimeDec 19th 2005
thanks for all the info - much appreciated. :)
-bessington -
-
Yeah, thanks! :)
-
Just curious.... how many of you require partial payment prior to begining a project? Any thoughts on this?
I've only gotten stiffed once; a small start-up that folded before the site was done; I got 50% of the payment but will probably never see the other 50%. Too much hassle to go to court over it. Anyone have good tricks to avoid this or to deminish the damage (other than stronger client screening)? -
Just to clarify,
1 metric assload = 9 or 10 ?
;-P -
"Anyone have good tricks to avoid this or to deminish the damage"
Well where I work, if there are any doubts about the relibability of a new client, we simply require them to give us a cheque for the full amount before releasing any of the final assets. -
In the past I have not required partial payment prior to beginning a project, but I think that is a mistake because it leaves me vulnerable. Going forward, I think I will require some payment up front for new clients.
I've read 50% up front, 50% at completion is acceptable for small jobs. 1/3 up front, 1/3 at the halfway point (or some other agreed upon milestone), and 1/3 at completion for larger jobs. -
re: 50% and 1/3rd payments
The Business Side of Creativity (which anyone even considering freelance work should buy immediately and read cover to cover) talks about payment structures and strategies in a great deal of detail. -
-
CommentAuthorbessington
- CommentTimeDec 21st 2005
ohhh.. will most definately be picking that book up - thanks! -
-
i require 50% up front, then i require the rest before i upload the product. i've been ripped off twice now. that was enough. i've also developed a legally-binding contract for each project.
-
anyone know any good links to some pre-made business forms that relate to webdesign? i've found a few, but none spefically related to webdesign. i'm looking for forms such as invoices, quotes and contracts. that sort of thing
-
There's a whole section of that sort of thing in the book I linked up above.
I might still have some old links stashed around here if you want to take a look around in there... -
With regard to invoicing... I just started using www.sidejobtrack.com; its amazing for project management and invoicing -- it is also FREE!
-
Definitely bill by milestone.
1/3rd deposit due upon signing the contract (and no post-consultative work happens until those two items have been received)
1/3rd deposit due upon final approval of design for production (no production work until this is received)
If it's a smaller site, i require the final 1/3rd upon delivery of the completed site (effectively upon approval of the completed site).
I will often leave 10% as a 30-day-guarantee; that is to say, collected 30 days after the site has gone live. I find that it helps give the client some additional confidence in going direct to the freelancer. -
- CommentAuthormediassassin
- CommentTimeJan 26th 2006
You should pick up the pricing guide for G.A.G (Graphic Artists Guild), They offer business forms, contracts and a tonne of different pricing models from illustration - to webdesign. I'm in Canada and it retails here for about 70.00 but its worth it - I haven't been low balled since I started referencing them. -
- CommentAuthorshaun.andrews
- CommentTimeMar 2nd 2006
mkuplens I love the idea of the 10% 30-day-guarantee...I'll be stealing that ;) -
Sitepoint has a lot of great stuff on generating leads and "bullet proof contracts".
1 to 24 of 24