Do you ever wonder if you’re paying the right price for outsourced creative services?
We hire a lot of writers, editors, and graphic designers. As managers of publications projects, we negotiate project costs with the client and pay subcontracting fees to creative professionals.
Our pricing practices reflect experience on both sides of the negotiation, as service providers and as contractors.
- Be candid about budget. “Do you have a budget for this project?” is one of the first questions we ask prospective clients. The answer tells us most of what we need to know about the product the client expects. Sometimes the budget is unrealistically low, and we need to bring expectations in line with economic reality. Or a client may say, “Tell me what you think it will cost.” Either response is fine. What’s important is that the discussion take place before work begins. With creative professionals, we ask for a cost estimate up front. Everyone understands that changes in the scope of work will result in additional charges, so we ask them to notify us if a cost overrun begins to look likely.
- Feel free to get another offer. Creative professionals who succeed in business expect to compete. If you can, get a second offer and share it. The people whose work you really want might figure out a way to match it.
- Think creatively about costs. You want an effective product, and so does the creative professional. Many roads can take you there. A multiproject contract merits at least a discussion of a volume discount. You can usually shave a little off the fee by paying promptly and get an even bigger break by paying a substantial amount up front. Give professionals a longer deadline, and they’ll probably give you a lower fee. If you need more ideas, ask the professionals how they would bring costs down.
- Set a ceiling on hours and materials. Check in frequently to ensure that work and costs are moving forward at the same rate. Plan for contingencies. Have options in mind for reducing the scale or scope of work if the budget is truly fixed. Take back some of the research tasks so the writer can concentrate on what he or she does best—writing. Let the graphic designer show you fewer options.
- Play fair. The most successful projects begin with agreement on terms and end with no unpleasant surprises. But it’s a big marketplace. Everyone who buys or sells creative services feels exploited from time to time. (See The Top 10 Lies told to Naive Artists and Designers. Assume that an experienced writer or designer, or a reputable client, knows the rules. If you’re dealing with a novice, you may need to explain them. They’re not complicated. And with the help of listservs and professional networking, word gets around. Why not play fair?
