What to charge for a logo design

[Markie87]

I am a recent college graduate and I was just approached for my first paying freelance job. I was asked to create a logo for a new specialty beer for a local brewery. I suggested $25/hour or a flat rate that fit their marketing budget. They now came back to me offering $40 flat, which I think is too little. What is a professional way to ask for a larger fee, and what should i charge?

[bradmiller]

My "standard" quote for a logo is 20 hours.

Don't do it for $40. If you need the experience, do it pro Bono. You should give a written quote for what it is worth. Maybe you could allow delayed payment or work for trade (beer).

[zyuriy]

Honestly, just do it. You need the experience and it will help you build your portfolio. The more developed your portfolio becomes, the more you can charge, and the easier it is to get picked up by a firm (if that's your goal).

Once you've got experience and some kind of client list, you can start charging a more realistic rate (Typically $50-$100/hr, depends on skill/experience).

[Norrie]

$40 plus payment in beer sounds good to me if you don't have experience. Once you've got experience and good work to show in your book, charge for at least 20 hours at an hourly rate. The more complex the client, the longer the process. Get a comprehensive brief. If you don't, you may miss the mark and it will take longer than what it should have, having to go back and present new concepts.

[Aibrean]

$40 is too little for a logo. It's a BRAND. It doesn't matter if you have experience or not. You are producing a brand. They are going to use it.

[zyuriy]

ORIGINAL: Aibrean

$40 is too little for a logo. It's a BRAND. It doesn't matter if you have experience or not. You are producing a brand. They are going to use it.

I disagree. If he has no experience to back the brand, they might as well design it themselves.

[test62]

You should go ahead and do it for the experience.

[icu]

$40 is too little for a logo. It's a BRAND. It doesn't matter if you have experience or not. You are producing a brand. They are going to use it.

A logo is not a brand. Only a very small part of a brand.

[cantdecode]

Make it precise and do some enhancement so that they don't have to complain about how much it cost. You did your best.

[farined]

Ok, I am new to posting messages, but not to the forum. I agree with Aibrean; $40 Dollars is very low. No wonder, so many designers complain about not getting any respect. Those businesses will keep bouncing from Designer to Designer, and while they do that they'll have their logo, website, business cards, strategy... done at 40 Dollars a pop. So, you should stress on your ability to develop something that is creative, and that is where the value is.