Freelancer angst!!

[dazzer21]

I've had a freelancer cover me for a week. We agreed a rate of £20 per hour based upon work done - ie time spent goes on the job sheet, that's what's chargeable. In all roughly three full days work happened in that time - I've received an invoice for a full 5 days at the hourly rate. Closer inspection of the original order sent states 'daily rate of £20 per hour'. I don't see that as every day at the full amount - do you? Surely, you either charge by the hour or by the day.

If I'm asked how long a job is going to take in its single entitity, I'd say eg 3 hours, state my HOURLY rate, go away and spend 3 hours on it, charge for 3 hours work and I'm ready for the next job.

If I'm asked how much it will cost for a full day's residence, I'll state my DAILY rate, be there for the day doing whatever may be required to be done and at the end of the day, charge for the whole day and I'm ready for the next job.

Does anyone on here really charge a DAILY rate by the HOUR? Does anyone expect to do 10 minutes' work at the start of the day and 10 minutes' work at the end of the day and expect to be paid for 8 hours? Would ANY employer even CONSIDER taking on a freelancer on a daily rate basis in the full knowledge that there is probably not to going to be a full days work every day during the course of a whole week?

 

[waiwai]

that is just silly.

it is normally based on a "per job" basis... and no you don't pay someone 8 hours for working 20 minutes in the day... damn... if that happened i'd be richer than oprah...

 

[primalman]

Closer inspection of the original order sent states 'daily rate of £20 per hour'. I don't see that as every day at the full amount - do you? Surely, you either charge by the hour or by the day.

It's all about the documentation. If it says daily rate with $x per hour, you pay it. The contract is important. It should have stated "$x per billable hour of work."

When I have been the fill in guy, it was known that I was to be paid for all the time I was present, minus lunch break. When I was a contract helper at the same place, it was based on the billable time I spent working. But in both instances, it was either put down on paper, or verbally [I knew them very well].

Put it in writing. This freelancer can rightfully ask for his 8 hour daily rate if it is written that way, the way it sounds to me. Now, fair or not to you is debatable, but it is written. Chalk it up to experience.

 

[ChicoWeb]

Some photographers I work with do daily rates. Just gotta keep em bisy for 8 hours

 

[THX1139]

I've had a freelancer cover me for a week. We agreed a rate of £20 per hour based upon work done - ie time spent goes on the job sheet, that's what's chargeable. In all roughly three full days work happened in that time - I've received an invoice for a full 5 days at the hourly rate. Closer inspection of the original order sent states 'daily rate of £20 per hour'. I don't see that as every day at the full amount - do you? Surely, you either charge by the hour or by the day.

If I'm asked how long a job is going to take in its single entitity, I'd say eg 3 hours, state my HOURLY rate, go away and spend 3 hours on it, charge for 3 hours work and I'm ready for the next job.

If I'm asked how much it will cost for a full day's residence, I'll state my DAILY rate, be there for the day doing whatever may be required to be done and at the end of the day, charge for the whole day and I'm ready for the next job.

Does anyone on here really charge a DAILY rate by the HOUR? Does anyone expect to do 10 minutes' work at the start of the day and 10 minutes' work at the end of the day and expect to be paid for 8 hours? Would ANY employer even CONSIDER taking on a freelancer on a daily rate basis in the full knowledge that there is probably not to going to be a full days work every day during the course of a whole week?

I charge by the day or the project- period. What if I went to a job and they wound up needing me for only a couple hours but I couldn't leave? I did an animation sequence on one job and had to wait around 3 hours to get it signed off or critted for revision. If I were getting paid by the hour, I would have gotten screwed.

If I get hired for a full day but finish within a half, then I'll bill for the half if they are a good client. However, remember that you are selling your availability. If you knew that you only had a half day of work ahead of time, then you could have sold the remaining part of the day.

 

[THX1139]

Some photographers I work with do daily rates. Just gotta keep em bisy for 8 hours

Really? Maybe for catalog work...

All of the photographers I know and work with charge by the shot but it's computed by how long it will take. For example, if it's a product shot for an ad layout, they figure it will take a half day. If it's an annual report with X amount of shots, they will figure out how many days it will take. Just because you book them for a full day doesn't mean that you can get them to take extra shots if you finish early. Most photographers add in their contracts that the day rate is based on so many shots. If you make them go over they will bill additional per shot. Just because you book them for the day doesn't give you have the right to use them carte blanche unless it's spelled out in the contract. As a matter of fact, most photographers call people (who expect them to deliver photography beyond what is stated in the contract) "clients from hell." Sure, one or two additional shots is one thing, but expecting them to hang with you after they have finished their work is rather indulgent on your part. Do you burn through a lot of photographers? Do you actually find things for them to do once they finish?

 

[dazzer21]

I charge by the day or the project- period.

If you were going to be charging by the day, you would clearly state you DAILY rate, yes? Similarly, if by the project, then you'd quote your hourly rate.

As a client reading your order, what would the reaction be if it read:
'...at a daily rate of' (and then in BOLD) '£20 per hour'

I see that as intentionally misleading as there is no such thing as a DAILY HOURLY rate - the crossover doesn't exist...

If someone were to quote me a DAY rate (of say 8 hours = £160) and there was 10 hours of chargeable work on that day, THEN I'd say that they can charge me their hourly rate for the extra 2 hours - bringing it to £200.

 

[THX1139]

If you were going to be charging by the day, you would clearly state you DAILY rate, yes? Similarly, if by the project, then you'd quote your hourly rate.

As a client reading your order, what would the reaction be if it read:
'...at a daily rate of' (and then in BOLD) '£20 per hour'

I see that as intentionally misleading as there is no such thing as a DAILY HOURLY rate - the crossover doesn't exist...

If someone were to quote me a DAY rate (of say 8 hours = £160) and there was 10 hours of chargeable work on that day, THEN I'd say that they can charge me their hourly rate for the extra 2 hours - bringing it to £200.

The short answer is yes! The longer answer is....

If I were charging by the day, I would also include how many hours and what the additional hourly charge would be if we go over-time. Just because I charge a day rate doesn't mean that I'll work 24 hours. On average, a day rate is based on 8-10 hours, but like I said in my post, I would figure out what needed done and decide if it should be done on a day rate or by the project. I RARELY charge hourly and don't even talk about hourly unless there is a clause for going over the 8-10 hours. If the project is going to take more than a day or two, I prefer to charge a flat project fee, then manage my own hours and where I work. Day rates are best for photographers or the type of service that they can get in an out with something specific to do. A production person who may be helping temporarily on a large project should charge hourly and keep track of their tasks and hours. A project orientated person would be on their own and be in control of their own hours unless the project changes or goes over budget due to client requests. If I'm on a day rate, I stay until I'm no longer needed. If it goes over 10 hours, I bill them additional time unless they are a good client. If someone books me for a whole day and tries to send me home after 3 hours, I'll still charge them a full day unless there are amazing circumstances. If my day rate is $300 and they try to pay me for only 3 hours, I tell them that my hourly rate is $100. Of course, this all depends on my relationship with them and what kind of work they need me for. I hate clients that try to get you for a cheaper day rate then undercut it by trying to send you home early- telling you that they now want to pay you per hour based on the day rate. Eh, no... it doesn't work that way.

hope this helps.