Number of Revisions ...

[333cds]

:o

How do you set the number of revisions you will do for a clients project?

I.E. Business Card .. I designed 2 different BC's for someone exactly how they wanted, gave them a discount and all.. but they keep asking me to redo ish every other day, it would be like, sent them the copies, they say I love these, the next day, can you, will you blah blah... it has been 3 weeks of every other day .... its annoying

I didnt say how many revisions I would do so Im kinda stuck doing them...

How in the future can I say I will only do this many revisions for free...

[PrintDriver]

Contract.

[greyghost]

In my contract, I have a line that says "Two (2) initial designs for each ____ will be presented. Up to three revisions of any one (one) design are included in this package. Each proof after the initial three on any one (1) item is subject to an additional fee of $-- per proof, to cover the designer's time."

That stops it real quick. Stick to it. Don't do proof four out of the goodness of your heart.

[333cds]

Thanks much for your help..

In my contract, I have a line that says "Two (2) initial designs for each ____ will be presented. Up to three revisions of any one (one) design are included in this package. Each proof after the initial three on any one (1) item is subject to an additional fee of $-- per proof, to cover the designer's time."

That stops it real quick. Stick to it. Don't do proof four out of the goodness of your heart.

[(gra-ph!c-D'sig-nah)]

I do not have such a line in my contract so I thank you as well!

[greyghost]

As a side note? That additional fee is pretty steep. $20 ain't good 'nuff.

[morea]

As a side note? That additional fee is pretty steep.

it has to be. Otherwise you usually end up with clients who will call you for each change they notice instead of looking over the proof as a whole... that leaves you running in circles all day long with no time to handle other projects. Not fun!

[Six]

Grayghost gives good advice. I once had a simple project that was a one color job. The client had us do over 70 revisions! But we had no agreement before, and the client was (and still is) a jerk, although she delivered over a half mil a year to the shop at that time. We manage that client VERY carefully now to avoid this.

In addition we (now) give the client a creative brief, which feeds back what he has told us and our interpretation of that to be sure we are on the same page. That has often clarified issues that may have driven additional revisions.

However, we have had clients change objectives in mid-project and claim that is what they said the first time in spite of the CB. (Same one mentioned above, but her share of my business is a small fraction of what it was before, and I am proportionately less concerned about it.)

Use a CB and then specify what your costs will cover by way of the number of designs submitted and revisions. Clarify with them that any deviation may require additional charges. Put it in writing. Be sure you deliver what you agreed on, and your designs satisfy the CB, even though they may not "like it". Even then, you may have to decide how important this client is to you and decide how to handle the additional work, if they take issue with the policy and designs. (On the client mentioned above, it is now "take it or leave it and here is my bill". I will usually "work" with those who will work with me and find some compromise.)

The more upfront you are the fewer issues down the line. When changes or additional revisions are required be sure to let them know they are now "on the clock", and be prepared to explain why.

Six

[DesignerScott]

hourly. done.

[Sphinx]

We had a law firm that did exactly that. Kept making numerous changes and revisions to a simple business card. We charged them by the hour so who cares, right? Except it DOES get to be a drain on the creative process. You just want it done and gone. Bear with it and it will end itself. Just don't give them any hires proofs...they may take it and run...

[budafist]

*Nods

I relate to this...

[greyghost]

Just don't give them any hires proofs...they may take it and run...


Mind if I expand on this?
Proofs are delivered on a "proof" type letterhead that, at the bottom, has my logo and my contact information on it. Just because you give them a low res proof doesn't mean they will not try to take it to a printer and ask them if they can recreate that, citing the designer just isn't returning phone calls or fired them or something.

I had this happen a few months back. I DID fire the client, but the artwork I had proofed thus far was still MINE. Anyway - she tried to take it to a printer and have them recreate everything. That printer called me to find out what was going on. When I told them what had transpired, they refused to work with this lady either.

[Soccer37]

Something about a cancellation fee and a deposit in your contract would help in some of those cases. You can also add a line that all artwork, concepts (yadda, yadda) belongs to you until you are paid in full blah blah blah... That way if they did cancel your job and take it to be recreated you could sue them. Also, you should always charge for revisions, you will find the client to be much less picky if they know they are paying for you to put that extra space inbetween their initials. =) good luck!!!

[strangejuice]

I always put a concept deadline on things. I warn them that they need to think carefully and hard about what they want and the changes they want because there is a deadline on the concept- and after we go over that I will have to requote you a new price.

This always works quite well for me.

[daSnarf]

lots of good advice in this thread!

[Jackimalyn]

yes there is! i will be revising my contracts this evening!

[Silence04]

in the words of the great "Zartan"... 1 comp is all you should give to a client, if they want more tell them to find someone else!

LOL

[strangejuice]

Don't show any weakness. Don't have that OK I'll do it just for you attitude. Don't let them buy you a bottle of scotch- I have made that mistake twice. Don't let them become a "pal". Keep your contact professional and your emails brief.
My perfect client is one that is too scared to ask me to change something and apologises endlessly.

I may be giving you bad advice here... these are just things that work for me.

I tell you what though- to do good freelance business you have to surgically remove most of the fun that drew you into design in the first place.

[Sphinx]

Its hard enough just getting them to think we do something of value at all!

[LeftBrain Artist]

Don't let them buy you a bottle of scotch- I have made that mistake twice.

Did you wake up in a tub full of ice sans a kidney, or did you just wake up with a really sore po po?

Brandy is no better than scotch, believe you me.

[strangejuice]

Once you have accepted the bottle of scotch somehow everything thereafter becomes a mates rates or a freebie.

[BJMRGTIVR6]

great advice in this thread.