How to Know What to Charge as a Freelance Writer

If you are a freelance writer, you're the boss. You get to be in charge of what you write and when and how you work and for whom. One of the most common questions asked by freelance writers is in regards to what to charge. We've all been there before; you interview for a job and things are going great. You're a perfect fit for the gig and it's something you can really see yourself enjoy doing. Then the potential client asks you what you will charge. What do you say? If you bid too high, you might lose the project. But if you bid too low, you're selling yourself short and can end up doing too much work for too little pay. Here are some things you need to know about what to charge as a freelance writer:

• Determine if you will charge by the word or by the hour. Sometimes the client will determine this for you and in some cases, it will be a "per project" fee. Either way, it's important to know how many hours you estimate it will take you to complete a project to ensure you're getting paid enough for it.

• Remember that rates are determined by the market. Freelancers have little control over what they get paid. However, you can learn to make the most of what little control you do have.

• Calculate what your "per hour" pay would be for the project and base your rates on how much you need to make per hour.

As you plan and choose your projects, you should always keep hourly figures in your head. For example, if you've budgeted that you need to make $30 per hour to get by, then you will want to be sure that any project you accept is paying at least that much. Taking on an article project that pays $10 per article when each one takes you over an hour to write is not going to help you reach your goals.

This will also help you to determine which publications to pursue and help you if you are marketing your services to businesses and companies. This hourly rate concept will help you know who to approach so that you don't waste your time or theirs. This will also help you know which projects to accept and how long you should take on each one.

Ultimately, determining rates is a personal decision that we must each make on an individual basis. However, knowing more about what the industry standards are can help you make a smart decision that works for you and your clients. The good news is that there are many tools available today to help you calculate what to charge and to help you know what average going rates are in the industry.

Here are some resources to help you learn what the industry standards are for writing pay:

Copywriting FAQ- Charges

Putting a Price on Your Capabilities: How to Set Your Fees as a Freelance Writer

What to Pay a Writer