Hi,I just graduated college a few months ago and i FINALLY have my my first real freelance client opportunity. The client wants to take some drawings he created and have me do them in CAD so he can use them as a cut out on a CNC machine.But I dont know what to charge for this project..I told him i charge 25 dollars an hour but he wants to know a full figure for the project.What should I say? Please help me i have to call him back today!!!! Thank you so much!

Do you know how to do what the client wants done?  Yes or No?How many drawings are we talking about?  One, three, five, more?How simple or complex are the drawings?Well if you low ball the job and do it well chances are you'll get some repeat business down the road.  Here is your chance to prove how good you really are.  The talking is over...time to produce.Did you try stating an hourly rate with a "not to exceed" cap?I'm assuming you have seen the drawings right?Take the easiest one and do it as quickly as you can then base your price on that.


John Connor2011-12-17 19:23:37

Okay I met with the guy today, and he showed me he has one drawing. He wants to create his own tattoo gun.  The drawings are pretty in depth and show lots of detail. He has everything measured to the last "T". He wants to take the cad drawing and 3d render that I create for him and use it for measuring cut-outs to use with a CNC lathe machine. 

This is my first real cllient opportunity so I dont know what to base my price on. Im charging 25 dollars per hour but i told him i would have to call him tomorrow with a project price. He wants to know specific project price. Can anyone tell me what they think I should tell him for a project price? Thank you so much for any help, I dont want to miss this opportunity, so please post. Thanks again.

By the way, thanks so far John, I appreciate your insight and questions.

You are experiencing what every person who starts a business of their own often has to come to terms with...pricing.  Not easy being your own boss is it?  Quote low and take too much time and your per hour rate ends up in the toilet.  Quote high and risk having the client say "no way".Do you feel confident enough to actually do the job?  Do you have the skills to take his drawing and give him something that can be used by a CNC machine?  Have you ever done anything similar to this?  If so, how long did it take you?  Can you make a comparison between that drawing and what this client has given you?