How I Price Design Projects as a Freelancer

1 minute read

A laptop with a dashboard design resting on a stone block

For my first two years as a freelancer I charged by the hour. The better I got, the less I earned for the same work. Switching to project pricing fixed that.

What goes into an estimate

  • Scope: pages, flows and components, written down and agreed.
  • Research: interviews and testing, always as their own line item.
  • Rounds of feedback: two are included; more are possible and priced.
  • Hand-off: design system, specs and a call with the developers.

Three options, not one

I send three versions of every proposal: essential, recommended and complete. Clients choose more confidently when they can compare, and most pick the middle one.

Talk about value

The conversation is not about how long the work takes, but about what it changes for the business: more sign-ups, fewer support tickets, a launch that happens on time.

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