I'm just starting out doing graphic design work and I have no idea what rate to set. Should I charge based on my experience level, the client's budget, or industry standards? I don't want to undersell myself but also need to stay competitive.
What's your actual experience level - are we talking total beginner or do you have a portfolio from school or past work? For starting out, most folks charge somewhere in the $25-50/hour range depending on location and quality, but honestly the better approach is to price by project, not hourly. Figure out what the work's worth (research what similar designers charge for similar deliverables), add a buffer for your learning curve, and quote that. You'll avoid getting locked into underpriced hourly work and clients respect fixed quotes more anyway - they know what they're paying upfront rather than watching the meter run.
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