Freelance Designers - how much to charge?

[Stylist]

I am wondering if anyone can help me out. I just got offered this position as designer of a new clothing line. I hav'nt gone through the contracting process yet although i am intrested in knowing how a designer is paid. Does anyone have a idea of how this works or know where i can go to find more info? please help...

 

[Acid]

it COMPLETELY depends what type of brand its for

 

[Lena]

not sure i understand your question..what do you mean 'how is payed'?
its either a flat fee , a monthly fee or a percentage, avoid being payed by % its too tricky and you'll never be able to control your fees

best advice: take their offer to your lawyer

good luck

 

[softgrey]

i don't understand...wouldn't it be a full-time job...so wouldn't it be a salary?...

 

[Stylist]

I;m not too sure exactly, alot of my friends tell me that it;s better to take a percentage, although how much of a percentage should i be expecting? Should i even be getting paid in the meantime? This is a brand new label, and it;s difficult for me right now to sort out how much i am really going to benefit from it.

 

[softgrey]

i think you need to set a day rate...and figure out about how many days you will be devoting to the client each month...and then charge them that...

how will you get a percentage...how will you know how much has been sold?...that all sounds very risky...but maybe you want the experience...it's hard to say without more details...

 

[Lena]

hence its better to ask for a 'basic' monthly fee or like softgrey said approach this in a 'by hour' basis, just say no to percentages...

depending on the company/product it could be anything strating from 2% for established mass production deals

 

[SCBlondie]

I remember seeing Vera Wang on Oprah saying she made $20 million a year... or maybe her company made $20 million...

 

[pinkmonkey]

If they're a new brand and they don't have much money, then commission can be quite common. If all they are offering is a percentage, ask them for an advance on that, plus expenses, for travel, materials etc.

You might want to draw up a contract stating all this and get it looked over by a lawyer.

As for pay - it really depends. When I started out as a designer I was so badly paid I was working in bars at night to make ends meet. Thats not uncommon, even in the designer end of the trade - I've friends who worked in Milan for people like Tods' and Prada and their pay was dreadful. You have to stick at it for quite a few years and have proven success in order to make the big bucks.

 

[Stylist]

The truth of the matter is from my stand point of view, i feel like if i am creating the line, i am entitled to a part of everything that is sold and more. Although i am unsure of the exact process that a designer would have to go through. what is the exact job description of a designer? Design, cut and sew? Also, what is the difference between being the creative director?

 

[softgrey]

it seems as thought you have very little experience or understanding of this industry...in which case you are really rather fortunate to have the opportunity to do any of this...so i wouldn't get too greedy right away...

what pinkmonkey says about working hard and paying your dues is really rather accurate...just look around...you'll see that the overnight successes...actually worked hard for years to get where they are...

good luck...

 

[clay]

Originally posted by softgrey@Oct 20 2004, 06:29 AM
it seems as thought you have very little experience or understanding of this industry...in which case you are really rather fortunate to have the opportunity to do any of this...so i wouldn't get too greedy right away...

what pinkmonkey says about working hard and paying your dues is really rather accurate...just look around...you'll see that the overnight successes...actually worked hard for years to get where they are...

good luck...

[snapback]402481[/snapback]​

I agree, you sound like this is your first job. If it is, there is no way the pople that hired you are going to give you a fair shake. Get annual salary or get paid by the hour + expenses incured for them. If for any reason they do not fulfill their part of the bargain like having your paycheck on time, returning your expenses, holding back or changing commision agreement, get the hell out.

You probably will not even be able to get a contract. This company sounds like one of a billon out there, that are small start ups and the owners will not want to give you any real money until they see some. Also after that they take advantage of your needing a job and screw you around more and wave the money and opportunity carrot in your face. Do not fall for it!!!

Look at this job as a learning experience. Get wahtever you can paywise and get more than that
in learning the process of doing business as a designer. How to deal with sales, factors, supply people, foriegn factories, how to source things you need, how to meet a deadline, how to overcome obsticles like not having a computer or a work table, working long hours.

It is more important that you learn how to think as a designer, than getting paid. The pay will
come. Get the experience and let it fuel you to your next job or opportunity. Or learn how this company does business and do the same on your own using the connections and resources you made with them.

But assistants $25,000-$45,000 depending on company
Associats, $30,000- $75,000 depending on the company.
Designer, $45,000-$120,000 DOC
Senior designer $50,000-$120,000 DOC
Design Director or VP of design $90,000-------up, up and away
This is just from my knowledge , nothing official

 

[nobita]

Designing for hire - how much to charge?

A friend of mine has been asked to design a collection in association with the fashion college where she works, to be presented at a fairly prestigious event. She's paid a rudimentary salary for her teaching at the college, but clearly designing a collection costs money - and because it's done partly to provide publicity for her school, the school will be paying her for the collection.

What she doesn't really know - having been here-to entirely independent - and what I am hoping someone here may be able to help determine, is how much she should ask for? If she were working for a private company and was asked to design a collection for a prestigious event, how much would she be likely to be paid?

Any input anxiously awaited and gratefully accepted.

 

[Ceptuouse]

welcome to tFS

The average income for a Fashion Designer would be around £22,000 or $40,263 but I guess your friend would have to minus her estimate of the cost of making the collection...

hope that helps

 

[Lena]

anything between 4-6.000 euros would be reasonable for a one-off, college event collection..

will her collection be distributed to the general public?
if so, she could ask for loyalties on orders, no more than 3-5% on the wholesale price

 

[daniellat]

i actually am in the interviewing process of having a job as a designer. well, its more of a free lance job, bc, the desig departmen of this little company isnt really established jet, since it is a little family business, they do like wedding and quinceañera gowns and dont even have a designer, they copy them from catalogs and stuff. so instead of having any job for summer i decided to try something there. im still at fashion school, and came back to my parents for the summer.but i dont know how much to charge for my designs. how do you rate that? i mean high end designer have experience and fame and big sales..but im just starting in the business, what should i do?

 

[decadentdiamond]

How to determine freelancing costs?

I've been freelancing since I graduated last year and also interning in between to build up my CV and hopefully lead me to designing full-time.

However, there is another freelancing opportunity that has come up and it sounds really great and I want to make sure I know exactly how much to charge when I go for the interview as I think they expect me to know, rather then them tell me how much they are willing to pay. Either way, it doesn't matter, I just want to know for myself.

It is hard to determine from what I currently do as I have a set amount that I get each month, I also have a really great relationship with my boss and its all very flexible.

So with this other place, I think they want to work by price per design, rather than hourly which is what I am most used to. I haven't a clue because I am unsure how detailed the designs need to be, therefore unsure how long it'll take to do.

Any advice appreciated!

 

[BetteT]

Merged with the existing thread about freelance designer's rates ... since I assume you mean for a designer ... not a stylist, photographer, makeup artist, et al. who are also freelancers. Maybe some of this info will help.

 

[decadentdiamond]

Thank you BetteT, some of it has helped!