How to charge for workbook designs?

[creative1]

A maybe-new client wants a series of up to 40 training manuals/workbooks re-designed and branded. I have no idea how to charge - by the hour? By the page? An hourly rate for the initial 'branding' and then a per-page for bringing everything together? The manuals are anywhere from 20-120 pages each.

Also - and I know there must be designers who specialize in this, but they called me - the manuals have to be updated fairly regularly and I don't want to be involved after the initial design. I work in InDesign, but it almost feels like these should be in Word so the client can do the updates?

Help!! Any feedback welcome!

Thanks,
Gin

[vxbda]

If you don't want to be involved in the project afterwards and they need you to be, then you may want to consider passing on the project.

For pricing this out, if it were me, I might give an ESTIMATE based on how many hours it might take me and make it clear that it is an estimate and not a quote. Then bill by the hour.

I have also heard of giving estimates by the page and that is certainly an option. If all the pages of the workbooks are fairly similar this might be a good way to go. Price out the branding separate and then a cost per page for the insides.

[steve2112]

I would price either by estimated hour or by project. I like the idea of per project better as it lets you play with the times so you know you have plenty to work with. Why wouldn't you want to update them regularly? I mean if you are not into it to much charge a very high price for updates and if they take it then hey good for you. You can send them my email and i will do it.

steve