How Much Should a Freelance Fashion Designer Charge?
Whilst I could write a whole book on the subject of money and what to charge as a freelance fashion & textiles designer, here is one tip when you are overthinking how much to charge in your freelance design business…
The biggest impact to your freelance business is the price you charge for your services. Unless you want to become a studio and start to employ staff or outsource contractors then you have a finite number of hours to deliver your service to clients, so the more niche and specific your business is, the higher you can charge for your services. If you are turning more than 50% of proposals into paying clients it’s time to look at your pricing and your motivation. Review all your recent business, how much of your motivation was inspiration (doing it because the brief inspired you and you wanted to), how much rationalisation (because you felt you should keep the money rolling in, even when you weren’t creatively fulfilled), and how much was desperation (taking more work from that awful client that pays late because you thought you needed to)?
High intention, low attachment
My last ever freelance design job was for an international retailer. Whilst I wouldn’t have minded the freelance project it wasn’t very interesting to me; stale print trends that didn’t inspire my creativity. Rather than turn it down I created a proposal that was around four times the going rate at the time. I was pretty sure it would be rejected. This is called high intention (I would do the work to the best of my ability and on time), but low attachment (I didn’t really care if I landed the work). The client accepted my proposal and I delivered a great job and happily delivered on time knowing I’d been paid well. But I knew it was time to start finding work that inspired me.
What is an acceptable rate for a freelance designer?
Some freelance fashion and textile designers think the limit on what they can charge has to do with their self worth. First of all, this is crazy, since you are a human being and your worth is priceless! The value that your client sees in the service you offer is the rate of the service. More importantly, pricing is simply more to do with how much you are willing to ask for. You’ll almost never be paid more than you asked for, regardless of how much or how little you happen to believe either you or your services are worth. Plus, if your client is offering to increase your rates, I invite you to see this as a huge red flag that you are undercharging across your business and you really need to increase your prices.
Try this exercise.
Choose one freelance proposal that you don’t mind losing. If you don’t have one pending, make one up for the purpose of this exercise. Create a proposal so ‘out there’ that you would love it if it landed in your lap but you weren’t bothered if it didn’t. Notice your energy in your body around this. Most freelance fashion and textiles designers I have worked with have a number in their head that can be accessed with a little coaching. If you aren’t sure what to charge for something, play the ‘higher/lower’ game.
Choose any number to start with and ask yourself “is it [insert number]”
The three only acceptable answers are ‘higher’, ‘lower’ or ‘that’s it!”
Keep going until you’ve determined the perfect price for you.
Mindset
Begin to say ‘no’ to things you don’t want by asking for more money. What’s good about this is that you never have to worry about getting it wrong. If it’s too much, the marketplace will tell you by not giving you as much business as you want; if it’s too little, you’ll know because you will be busy and can start to increase your prices from therein. Remember, not every client is for you. You are insanely talented and you have years of experience, value and wisdom and therefore you want to work with clients that need and value that expertise.
