hockley91

I'd like to know how many projects a year you all handle to make it through the year?

I'm trying to move into this area and leave the architecural practice and do 3D full time for a living. I'm at this halfway point where my clients are growing and the projects are getting more.

What's a healthy amount of work for one person a year? That will also help in me determining how much to charge so I can make a living doing this?

So far this year, I've finished one major project. I'm working on a fee for my next project and I'm just trying to figure this stuff out....

Thanks!

Hockley91

Dibbers

I do between 50 and 80! I know this is allot, but I've been building up a client base for quite some time. If you are just starting out and you get 12 in a year I guess you're doing well. It takes time, and don't expect to earn a decent living straight away.

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hockley91

Thanks!

Last year I had 3 big animations and some good still renderings for work. I had over 12 projects, but most of them were low fee's, which I've been adjusting in order to make a living. I still have my day job which is an architect, but I'm hoping to get out of it this year and pursue this full time.

So far this year, I am rapidly catching up with how much I made last year, so that's a good sign. I've increased my fees dramatically, I was really cheap last year....

hockley91

Does anyone mind posting how much they charge per hour, or how much a typical exterior rendering or interior rendering cost? Everyone talks about it on the board, and I know standard of living is an issue, but there seems to be that no posts show exactly how much they charge? Is it a taboo subject to just blurt it out?

A friend of mine in town who also does 3D work, doesn't divulge that info also.

Any thoughts on this?

Brian Cassil

This was a subject in a loooong thread about 18 months ago I think. It did stir up some controversy. I know that Jeff was going to do a poll on that very subject but he may have abondoned it for the reasons you're speculating.

I however have absolutely no problem divulging such info and wish others would so we could generate some sort of basis for what is to be expected in this profession.

The freelance work I do (which is only every now and then, I have a full time job with a firm) is based on $75.00 per hour. There is another guy in town who I know charges more than that. I probably shouldn't divulge exactly how much that is since it's really not my buisness.

As you stated it depends a LOT on the area you are doing work in. Typical hourly fees in New York are at least double my fee I'm sure.

To be fair, if your going to ask others this question you should be ready to say what you are charging as well.

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hockley91

Fair is fair and I will gladly do so.

My hourly rate is $50.00 per hour. I live in San Antonio, Texas.

My typical charge for an exterior rendering has been around the $1,400.00 range on average.

I've done some animations also, and I've charged more on those. Since the modeling time is the same usually, I've added around $500.00 for rendering time for a 30 second animation. I've also worked with the client to 40 seconds for the same fee.

I didn't want to divulge at first, unless other people were willing. I hope there are more posts regarding this issue. I'd really like to see what is appropriate, so we are charging a fair rate that benefits us and the client.

Thanks for you input!

mbr

That's really cheap, depending on the quality of your work. I bill by the hour for animations, so they go up exponentially. It's never a 'small, added on fee', but something that has to be decided from the beginning. I'd guess that a simple animation would be twice the cost of a single still, at least.
Someplaces have the resources to do it for 'free', but I do not have a large render farm, and I don't charge $200 per hour.

Don't sell yourself short.

Tony

I don't mind posting this type of information, I think it can help if we try to stabilize our rates in an area. I work primarily out of Houston and the surrounding area.

My hourly rates are also $50.00 if I do the work by the hour. This is usually the case.

If I have to give a hard number on a project, I will up that to $75.00 when I figure a project to cover a certain amount of changes by the client and to cover my butt incase I miss something.

I really don't know what other people charge in my area because it is difficult to get people to be honest about what they charge.

I would rather compete on quality of work, and delivery schedules rather than rock bottom pricing. Which is not good for anyone.

Perhaps more people in Texas would be willing to share? If my rates are below the average in my area, I sure as hell would like to know that so I can make an adjustment.

Tony

3dp

working back from next december (holiday time i basically go abroad for 2 weeks then it's christmas
this year has started very well.....3 2 min animations to dvd with 2 more b4 easter and a variety of still image commissions domestic swimming pool to a school for circus
long may it continue
like dibbers it takes time (in my case maybe 5 years of word of mouth) so i can now outsource some work if i can find people who can meet my standards of modelling....too many youngsters basically cannot read drwgs even if they basically trace over them

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Dibbers

This hourly rate thing can be missleading, especially to the clients. You could charge the same rate as the next guy, but you complete jobs twice as fast, so the client ends up paying half for yours. Also if you and that next guy only have 2 jobs a year, he earns double your salary!

The hourly rate needs to relate with the typical charge for the finished job.

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www.idenby.co.uk