: Concept Design and Card Art freelancing prices I'm a beginning freelancer and I have a client that wants character concepts (napkin sketches) then finished card art. He also wants a 3D figure

@Hamaas979

After asking similar questions myself in the past, there is the general rule I like to subscribe to:


Your freelance work hourly rate should be double your day job hourly rate


Even if you've never worked in the industry before, starting jobs in the games industry are around 35K a year, depending on your skill level. Game Art doesn't pay very well compared to other industries with similar skill sets (film for example).

35K a year is almost per hour for a 40hr week. So even if you generously round it down, nobody should ever work freelance for less than an hour. If you do, you are doing an injustice to yourself and the industry as a whole.

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@Nimeshi706

THe best price is always "However much they are willing to pay."

Have you figured your overhead to calculate an hourly rate? It's doubtful that if you had, you'd come to /hr. See DA01's excellent answer here:
What price should I charge for design services?

Once you know your hourly rate, figure out how much time it's going to take to create what is needed. Then, add at least an hour (trust me, it'll always be at least one hour more than you think, especially when starting out freelancing).

And I echo TunaMaxx's answer about bidding high. Always better to lower a bid than try and raise it.

Another thing to consider... I don't know if or where you are currently employed, but if you were a full time artist/designer doing this same project, would you take such an employment position for /hr. If not, then why would you work any freelance for that rate.

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@Jessie844

Your pricing seems way, way to low. Even though I am not in the US (I live in one of the most expensive countries in the world), your estimate seems extremely low. I second @TunaMaxx .

Also bear in mind that not only are you in danger of "pricing yourself out of the game" (i.e. you cannot live off it), but you set their expectations for the entire business. If they at some later point get price estimates from others, it will seems like you say "this is quickly and easily done" and you will seem unprofessional. I understand your fear of scaring off the client, but make a solid contract with milestones, what is their job etc. They might negotiate you down from that, but at least you have set some expectations.

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@Lee3735518

The only advice I can give is what was given to me when I first started freelancing:


Start high. It's far easier to lower your rate on a project then it is to raise it.


As for what you're considering charging? It sounds far too low to me.

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