Ah the dreaded fees page.
Not dreaded by customers, dreaded by business owners. How transparent to be online? Will you scare people away? Will you lose your bargaining edge? Will the competition undercut you?
I’ve decided it doesn’t matter.
While my prices are subject to change from time to time, in 2018 I charge $90 per hour for ghostwriting.
There. I’ve said it.
Why a flat hourly rate? Because that is the best way for both of us to get exactly what we want.
Project based fees are a gamble. You, the contracted, gamble that before we even start we can build a project scope that gives you exactly what you need and want for a price you can negotiate down. I, as the contractor, gamble that I can figure out what you want and need up front and bargain a price where I come out ahead. It isn’t usually spelled out that way, but that is what really happens.
That isn’t what is best for my clients. My new clients are often first time authors. We don’t yet know exactly what you’ll need. How much coaching? How much revising? How much will you want to take ownership of once you know you’re headed in the right direction? Or how much will you want me to take over once we know we work well together?
With an hourly based structure I can be responsive. I never have to say “Well, that wasn’t in the scope of work.” Or “the contract doesn’t include that so we’ll have to negotiate an addendum.” That isn’t the way to empower you to produce you very best result. I want the freedom to say “yes” to you when you want my support.
As part of my commitment to being responsive to my clients, I am happy to figure out monthly or quarterly billing caps so we don’t outstrip your budget. If requested I can and will provide monthly or weekly updates to the time spent so you always know where you stand. I will work with your needs so that we can both say ‘yes’ instead of ‘no’.
If that doesn’t sound like what you’re looking for in your ghostwriter and editor, then we already know we aren’t a good fit, don’t we?