How I Price My Freelance Projects

Pricing is one of the hardest parts of freelancing. After years of trial and error, here's the system I've developed.

The Problem with Hourly Rates

When I started freelancing, I charged by the hour. It seemed fair - you pay for the time I work. But hourly billing has fundamental problems:

• It punishes efficiency (faster work = less pay)
• Clients focus on hours, not results
• Scope creep becomes constant negotiation

Moving to Project-Based Pricing

Now I quote fixed prices for defined scopes. This requires more upfront work to understand requirements, but results in better outcomes for everyone.

My Pricing Framework

1. Discovery call - Understand the business goals
2. Scope document - Define exactly what's included
3. Value assessment - What's this worth to the client?
4. Quote presentation - Present options at different investment levels

The Three-Tier Approach

I always present three options:

• Essential - Core features only, fastest delivery
• Professional - Full scope with recommended features
• Premium - Everything plus extras (priority support, additional pages)

Most clients choose the middle option, which is exactly what I designed it for.

What About Revisions?

I include 2 rounds of revisions in every project. Additional revisions are billed at a day rate. This encourages clients to consolidate feedback and keeps projects moving.