I've been self-employed as a graphic designer for about a year now and I'm getting more and more inquiries. Some clients ask directly about my rates and I'm totally unsure what's realistic. I don't want to price myself out and scare away customers, but I also don't want to work for less than I'm worth.
That's a tough question, because honestly it really depends on a lot of things - your experience, the type of projects, the industry you work in. Generally speaking, I've picked up from friends that graphic designers charge between 45 and 100+ euros per hour, depending on how established they are. Some also do flat rates per project, which often works out better than hourly rates. The thing is: as someone relatively new to the business, you'll probably have to start at the lower end, but not so low that you're sabotaging yourself. I'd say 50-70 euros as a starting point is realistic, depending on how specialized you are. If you have a niche (like corporate design only or just social media graphics), you can charge more.
My tip: Check that out yourself - look at what other designers in your region with a similar level are charging. There are also sites like Kununu or LinkedIn where you can get some idea of that. And do the math: how much do you actually need per month to live, rent, insurance, taxes - everything factored in? Then divide that by your average working hours and you'll know where your absolute floor is. Don't go below that, no matter how much you like a request.
One other thing: don't just bluntly tell clients "70 euros an hour" - that sounds cheap. Calculate per project instead and explain roughly what's included (concept, revisions, final files). It makes a big psychological difference. And definitely don't be afraid to renegotiate when the first inquiries come in - if everyone's like "wow, she's so affordable," you went too low.
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