Poll: How much do you average per freelancing gig? • Hacker News Board

Re: Poll: How much do you average per freelancing gig?

#81

Post by theturtle32 » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 7:03 PM UTC

My freelance gigs tend to be as a subcontractor building out Film marketing websites and games. It generally involves a significant amount of interactivity either in Flash or HTML5/JS/CSS3, and since I know that Film marketing budgets are usually relatively robust, I feel no qualms starting my bids at about $8000 for 3 weeks worth of part-time work (nights and weekends). Usually the projects are more like 6 weeks, so I often charge around $12-14k, and my clients rarely counter.

Additionally, this is usually 80%-90% coding. The firm that hires me is usually responsible for all the design comps and photoshop files.

Re: Poll: How much do you average per freelancing gig?

#82

Post by zwieback » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 7:05 PM UTC

ChuckMcM wrote: post #52

My Dad is an engraver, he's good at it, he was complaining to me that he had more work than he could handle. I suggested he raise his price then. He responded with the typical "I couldn't in good conscience charge that for something that takes me only a few hours to do!" And then we had a long discussion about how the market sets the rate, not you, and if you hold your rate under market it will overwhelm you because…

He could charge extra for fast turnaround. If someone needs a job done quick they can pay a fixed or variable surcharge. That way your dad doesn't have to feel bad about charging more for the work itself.

Re: Poll: How much do you average per freelancing gig?

#83

Post by orenmazor » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 7:06 PM UTC

Loic wrote: post #18

Working in the chemical engineering area. Hard science + all the cool technologies you can read on HN => Fun + money. Usually a contract starts at $15k (2 weeks) and goes up to 2 months of work on average. I always advice people to go the hard science way if they like computer science, because there is a really big big lack of people being good at both. I should write about it.

absolutely. I've done a lot of work with automation of fabrication and testing instruments (fiberoptics) and the money's definitely good.

its also an amazing learning opportunity (and play. but never take close up photos of your phone. you'll become OCD about clean pretty fast)

Re: Poll: How much do you average per freelancing gig?

#84

Post by theturtle32 » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 7:09 PM UTC

Sargis wrote: post #29

How do you know your skills are good enough to take on a $XXXX project? I've never done freelance work, but I would love to start doing some work after school and earn a few bucks along the way.

For me, I know my ability to learn whatever I need to in order to complete the project. Most of the time, a client will approach me and say "Can you do x, y, and z for this project?" While I can do x and y just fine, I know full well that I haven't the slightest idea about z -- but I still say "yes." I then do a little bit of research on the topic and get back to them with an estimate. I then have a strong motivation to learn 'z' to be able to complete the project and get paid, and will also have gained a valuable skill that I'll be able to leverage in the future.

Re: Poll: How much do you average per freelancing gig?

#85

Post by alexg0 » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 7:10 PM UTC

jtregunna wrote: post #16

zackb wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do you go about doing estimation? When you are asked for a bid and have loose requirements what are some good practices for estimating?

Best way I've found is to start out on hourly gigs, until you have a sense of how long certain tasks take you. With experience, you get better at estimating your time. EDIT: Oh and when you start out, if you're estimating time, double it.

and then switch to next higher time unit (without changing the number)

Re: Poll: How much do you average per freelancing gig?

#86

Post by symptic » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 7:11 PM UTC

As a student, entrepreneur, and frequent payer of bills, I tend to take on small gigs under $200 whenever my time allows. This way I can get in and get out quickly, not have to devote too much mental energy to the client, and be able to block myself out from clients while I am working on my own project or studying.

For me this yields the highest dollar per minute spent working and allows for the least amount of stress. Because I work quickly and have accustomed myself to this system, most clients are pleasantly surprised when they receive a product on the same day the project was requested at a higher quality than most other designers they've worked with.

Re: Poll: How much do you average per freelancing gig?

#87

Post by jergason » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 7:12 PM UTC

dkersten wrote: post #21

Loic wrote: post #18

Working in the chemical engineering area. Hard science + all the cool technologies you can read on HN => Fun + money. Usually a contract starts at $15k (2 weeks) and goes up to 2 months of work on average. I always advice people to go the hard science way if they like computer science, because there is a really big big lack of people being good at both. I should write about it.

If you ever get a chance, please do, I'd be interested in hearing about it. I've thought about going into a hard science industry but never did anything about it because 1) I'm not really qualified in the science side, my skills/experience/qualifications are in computer science and 2) I don't really know how to get started.

There are opportunities to pick it up. I have worked in bioinformatics labs and have learned tons of biology and chemistry just through osmosis. Also, they always need more people that program well.

Re: Poll: How much do you average per freelancing gig?

#88

Post by trotsky » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 7:14 PM UTC

jarin wrote: post #41

jtregunna wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Best way I've found is to start out on hourly gigs, until you have a sense of how long certain tasks take you. With experience, you get better at estimating your time. EDIT: Oh and when you start out, if you're estimating time, double it.

And then add half again.

that's the secret, 3x.

Also, start out on hourly gigs - and then always stay with hourly gigs (time & materials). If you fixed price work you end up having to piss off clients with anal scope management (or you take a bath).

Re: Poll: How much do you average per freelancing gig?

#89

Post by blaisco » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 7:18 PM UTC

leon_ wrote: post #67

patio11 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One way: have you ever delivered something which someone would pay $X,000 for? If so, then you are good enough to deliver something someone would pay $X,000 for. I think many people get hung up on skill though. Clients pay for many, many things. Skill is only one of those things, and it doesn't dominate, either. Clients can also pay for: criticality of work urgency of work guaranteed availability hard-to-find experti…

I want to learn the arts of warm fuzzy feeling. Please elaborate :)

A good place to start would be this article: http://unixwiz.net/techtips/be-consultant.html

Re: Poll: How much do you average per freelancing gig?

#90

Post by trotsky » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 7:19 PM UTC

jerryblack wrote: post #43

I have looked at sites like odesk or elance and those just suck for US freelancers as they do not pay shit. No one can outbid some russian company charging $3 per hour. Where do you go to find projects?

From a network of people who work in real businesses who know what you do and that you want to book gigs (and subtly, that you'll take care of them in a meaningful way if they bring you work that you book)