I do have a general fee schedule for my own eyes that I refer to when coming up with quotes. If a client needs something in writing, I prepare a proposal outlining the deliverables and associated costs.

Paula, you don't take off for weekends. LOL I'd like to think there's some birthday magic – thank you for the image and the perspective. 🙂

Fair point, Eileen. If they had to physically download it, then they know your rates. I would hope that eliminates the tire kickers, but you never know.

Susan, I think that's why I've not posted them, either. Like today – I had a call from a client asking for some insight into what I'd charge to ghostwrite a book. I could give her ballparks, but until I talk to her boss about his needs (and hear how he communicates), I can't give an estimate. I've had book projects that sailed flawlessly and I've had ones that sank like stones. Depends on the person, their direction, their own sense of clarity of the project, and how easy they can communicate that to me.

The tough thing about setting fees (and part of the reason I don't post a fee schedule) is that even when doing similar projects for two different clients, the time differential can be significant depending on the client personalities and how they work. One client might be able to articulate himself in a 30 minutes phone chat and be happy with my first draft, while others might email mountains of information to sift through and require multiple revisions.

Although the number of revisions is spelled out in my statement of work, answering dozens of emails and explaining why an extra round of revisions will cost more takes extra time. I'm happy to work with clients who need a little extra hand-holding (assuming they're respectful and pleasant to work with) but that comes at a premium so I'd quote them a higher fee to account for that time. That is why a one-size-fits-all approach to fees (even very similar projects) doesn't work for me.

Of course that's easy for me to say when 98% of my work is for periodicals who set the rates. (That said, I push the ones offering a price range to start me at the top, or darn near it.)

I don't make a habit of taking my birthday off – none of my family is in the same town, so it's not like we have get togethers for weekday birthdays anyway. But I like to think that perhaps a little birthday magic gives anything you're working on that special something extra.

Sorry I can't offer insight on this topic, but I sure did want to wish you a belated happy birthday!

Glad to hear it was what you wanted!

Devon, that's more in line with how I see it. Maybe because my projects are all over the place I find it hard to land on a range even. Perhaps it's different with each area – Eileen, you being in copywriting, perhaps that in itself has more structure around which to wrap a fee schedule.