Question: How do you price the layout for an engraving job?

[Daniel29]

I wonder how do you handle the pricing for a layout? In regards of cutting i bet most experienced engravers know how long they need to cut an animal, ornaments or what time it takes to inlay wires. Even if there might be variations in the time, for most engravers this might be at least a rule of thumb.

But when it comes to designing a layout it happens quiet fast that the process need a lot longer then expected. Supposed - of course - the customer want you to start from scratch and has no own ideas and does not provides some image material. Lets say you already have a red line in the design you want to elaborate more and you discover the idea does not work. You end up throwing everything in the thrash can and start again. What do you do then with all the hours of work that are wasted?

It would be nice to read some experiences.

 

[monk]

if u have an hourly rate (and u should), charge for the time. elsewise you'll be giving away yer time. if the layout is not desired, and you do it again, well-- yer time is a part of the overhead. early on, i began using a stopwatch. i timed EVERYTHING. i soon realized layout time was substantial. why give it away ? jmho

 

[sam]

I give a flat price for a completed job. If I'm faster with the design part then I make more per hour. If I've quoted a price and it takes me a lot longer for whatever reason, then I make less per hour. I don't know many, if any, customers that are comfortable with not knowing exactly how much the work is going to cost them, so I have never charged per hour. Just a flat fee for the completed work.

Early on you're going to lose your britches a few times but eventually you'll get to the point where you can estimate time fairly accurately as your design skills improve. But even then, we all get ourselves into those situations where we should have charged more. Just comes with the territory.

 

[Daniel29]

Thank you both for your answers!!

Sam, thats what i have expected how it works. Thank you, thats a good insight.

 

[Big-Un]

I also give a flat price, usually "not to exceed" and if I'm efficient and can justify it, I'll give a little back. That doesn't happen very often. When you have a definite budget for the work you get pretty good at estimating your time.