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Day rates. How do they work?
Concerning a freelancer on a day rate. Day rate is based on 10 hour day.
If the freelancer completes the days task (creating and getting approval on a project) in 4-5 hours.
Is it right for the freelancer to get his full days rate? Or does it then break down into an hourly rate? -
25 Replies
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Freelance for…….
Shooting?
Editing?
Grfx?
PA?Depends on the agreement, and the parties involved.
What about a 1/2 day rate?Chris Tompkins
Video Atlanta LLC -
I work on a half day rate, and full day rate. I use this at my discression – not the clients. So if it’s a good client, and I work 5 hours, I may do it for 1/2 day. But if I work 3 hours, the client has to pay the 1/2 day. And if I work 6 hours, it’s a full day. Of course, if I work beyond a full day, and it’s up to 2 hours more, I will usually just throw that in as the day rate. IT’s important that YOU make this decision, and not your client. The minute you do a job that takes 3 hours, and you bil for a 1/2 day and your client says “hey, you only worked 3 hours, you owe me one hour” – that is a problem client. If you work 5 hours (no lunch), and you only bill them for 1/2 day, that shows that you are not trying to screw your client, and they usually love that. Same if you work an extra hour to complete the job at no additional billing. But in the same example, if you work 6 – 7 hours, that is a full day, and you bill for a full day. If they “nickel and dime you” because you are done 2 hours early, then they will always drive you crazy.
When you hire a low skilled painter to paint your home, they do not charge by the hour.
Bob Zelin
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Don’t forget as well the “opportunity cost”. Meaning, you took that gig and blocked out a day for it, and even if you only worked a half day on the project, it means you were unable to work for anybody else for a full day, either.
Billing on a day rate simplifies a lot of things. It means you’re going to bring every skill, every tool you own to bear on the project, in whatever proportions it takes to get the job done. If you try something else like a la carte pricing, separate rates for each function you do, then time-keeping for each separately, that’s madness.
I think what happened here is that somebody over-estimated the amount of work there was to do. Or, maybe you just ARE that darn good:-)
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I have a half-day and a full-day rate. If I quote a full day (5-10) but only work half (1-5) then I only bill for half, to do otherewise seems dishonest.
http://www.MediaCircus.TV
Media Production Services
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada -
It’s not for anything in particular, it’s just so I know the lay of the land concerning day rates.
Although I like the idea of always charging a full day rate when it only takes 4 hours, because, after all, they did block out my day for other clients who could’ve potentially paid/had work for the entire day.. but.. in reality.. I think charging for a half day seems moral.
what sucks is when you work 14 hours and they go “wow wow wow.. now your on a day rate here…” I guess 1 day is technically 24 hours?
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Rick writes –
what sucks is when you work 14 hours and they go “wow wow wow.. now your on a day rate here…” I guess 1 day is technically 24 hours?REPLY – if you have an employer or client that actually says that, this is what you do – you use every 4 letter word in the book at them, and then take a trash can, filled with todays old lunch, and throw it on them, and then walk out. When you work a 14 hour day, when you were booked for 8 – 10 hours, the client should go “wow, this guy really worked his ass off for me, instead of my usual lazy employees – I am going to hire him over and over again”. If in fact, they say “we expect a full 24 hours for your day rate”, then you spit on them, and post their name on Creative Cow, where we will plague them with harassing phone calls. I am sure you are exadurating about this, as with all the difficult clients I have ever dealt with, NO ONE expects anyone to work for 24 hours on a “day rate”.
bob Zelin
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[Rick Turners] “what sucks is when you work 14 hours and they go “wow wow wow.. now your on a day rate here…” I guess 1 day is technically 24 hours?”
Not a chance. A day rate is generally 10 hours in Post. Anything beyond that reverts to a predetermined hourly rate.
This is something that must be clear to the client prior to booking along with the hourly rate that kicks in at 10 hours.
As for taking a day rate for only 5 hours of work, if the client books you for a day, then you get paid for the day. I personally do not do half day rates because it’s not worth it. If they want to go “half day” then I just run it hourly.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media -
I cap it at 10 hours, anything over that is $100/hour extra, gives the client incentive to have a shorter day; I don’t work those 14 hour film crew days for a good reason.
http://www.MediaCircus.TV
Media Production Services
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada -
In the Star Trek “Mirror-Mirror” universe, Bob is actually Dale Carnegie… with a Van Dyke beard.:-)
His hyperbole aside, Bob is as usual correct; never ever let anybody rip you off like that.
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The thought that some here consider charging a day rate as dishonest or immoral is preposterous. We run a totally honest company with integrity. Yet we do not provide half-day rates. We inform our clients up front and they understand. Those who prefer not to hire us certainly have that right to go elsewhere. We don’t mislead anyone. Now of course if we have a long term client with a limited budget, we will work for a lower rate. They too understand that it’s not our usual policy, but we value their continued business.
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