Charging for Scrapbooking

[kimmiller]

Ladies, I have a question about charging for scrapbooking for someone else. My SIL asked me last summer to make a scrapbook for my nephew for his graduation. It was one of the first times I did any scrapbooking and I thought it would peak my interest in this area. I have been making cards for years and I love it. I have spent too many to count hours working on this project over the last ten months and now my SIL wants to know what she owes me for the project. The finished book will probably have 40+ individual pages and has been a LOT of work!! I just wondered if you ladies could help me with a fair price for this project!!

Thanks in advance for your advice!

[michelel]

Since it is for family, I would probably charge her an amount that covered any items you had to buy for the scrapbook and then maybe a small amount to cover your time.

[triplef]

I am very interested in what others have to say about this also. I have done 3 complete albums for others who have all been family. I basically let them pay me what they thought it was worth to them. The amount they paid me basically covered my expenses. Now, I have a person interested that is not family and I would like to be proactive and organized and have a price schedule all figured out.

The formula I have always heard is 3 times the amount of your supplies. I went back to some of my layouts and came up with an average cost of $2.00 as the cost of supplies. Three times that amount would be 6.00 per 12x12 layout. I am not sure if this is a reasonable and fair cost.

For those that have done this, do you have different price levels? i.e. basic or simple design and then a separate cost for more elaborate or detailed designs?

As for pictures, do you ask for them on a CD? If you do get the pictures on the CD, how does your client communicate to you which pictures go with which layout?


Can anyone share specifics about the consultation process, setting up the layouts with the client, etc.?


Thanks so much for bringing up this subject.

Barb

[allidee]

I think 3x the cost of supplies is fair for a basic no frills page. But if you start doing techniques that are time consuming you need to really look at what your time is worth per hour. Do you work outside the home? If you do, you already have a dollar value of what your time is worth. Now you need to adjust it to the level of enjoyment you are going to have by working your craft. I tend to charge less for things I enjoy doing andif the person I am working for is giving me free reign to create from my own ideas, and more if I am dealing with a control freak who should be doing the pages herself. ;)

Probably not much help with an actual dollar amount, but some food for thought none-the-less.

[triplef]

allidee,
Do you give the client an estimate before the project is started? If you charge different clients different amounts you must not have a set price schedule?? I am wondering how you start the process of setting the price with your client if you do not have a set price?
Thanks for your patient answering of my questions

Barb

[Kkrenn]

I have just had a similar situation just come up. A lady wants me to help her create her pages. I gave her a quote of $20 an hour for my time and experience. She is to provide all materials. I realize that this may seem a bit high but for my area it isn't. I am an SU demo and I told her that she would receive a discount of 15% on my hourly fee if she purchased $150 in product.

I hope this helps and I truly hope that you have fun!

[triplef]

That is an interesting angle to tie it into SU for sales. (I am a demo also). Does anyone else have any other input on this subject. I live in rural midwest so that $20 an hour fee is quite steep for my area.
Barb

[kimmiller]

I think $20 a page is steep too, but I have a friend that told me that she knows of a person who charges $25 a page. I was thinking about $10 a page. Some of my pages a very involved while some pages are rather simple - due to the fact that they were pages that were for certificates or awards. It was a lot of work and I purchased a great deal of papers and embellishments including a leather album (SU! of course )! I am thinking approximately $400. for the total project. My SIL threw this figure out and it was actually what I was thinking it was worth but too afraid to say that amount of money to her. She wants me to be honest but it isn't always easy with family. I want to be fair but I also want it to be fair for myself too.

Thanks for those who have responded! Keep sending you thoughts - please!!

[lgulotta]

Bumping to get more input...

[kimmiller]

Thanks! I was going to do that!!

Have a great day!

[ckv]

I have done scrapbook pages for family before and each time I have never charge anything (even for supplies). I made scrapbook pages for my DH's friend and my c0-worker and never charged them either (even for supplies). I think going back, I still would not charge family. But for the co-worker and DH's friends, I should have at least charged for supplies.
As to your charge, it would depend on how much you spend on the pages. But you should have a set price for each page and if it gets elaborate...charge more. I'm sorry that I could not get you an amount but if it helps....there are scrapbook classes here that I've seen where you make a page (come with supplies for $5 a page). And that's just a simple page. I really think it's how good your pages are, if it's really nice it should be definitely worth ALOT more. Have you seen the other lady sold her work on ebay that go for $400-$900???

[triplef]

Thanks, cvk, for your input. I am going to try to post a link to this over in scrapbooking to see if anyone has any more advice for us.

I appreciate those who are trying to keep this alive to get more input.

Barb

[michelel]

Quote:

Thanks, cvk, for your input. I am going to try to post a link to this over in scrapbooking to see if anyone has any more advice for us.

I appreciate those who are trying to keep this alive to get more input.

Barb

Could you tell me where this is?

Thanks

[Laurie FW]

My 18 year old neighbor charges $10 an hour to complete scrapbooks for people (Yes, she is really good and they pay for all the supplies!) She has made albums for at least 3 different people I know. She is now a new CM consultant, too!

[kimmiller]

If you go the the Scrapbook Area there is another thread like this one!

[michelel]

Quote:

If you go the the Scrapbook Area there is another thread like this one!

Blame it on the day or something but I am sorry I don't see the scrapbook area. Please help me.

[michelel]

Sorry - I just found it. Thanks.

[lutheran]

A magnetic sign on a car at the grocery store caught my eye -- very timely for this topic. Take a look:

www.rememberingwhen.biz

Mary Beth
sorry -- don't knwow how to write it as a link!

[Kkrenn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimmiller

I think $20 a page is steep too, but I have a friend that told me that she knows of a person who charges $25 a page. I was thinking about $10 a page. Some of my pages a very involved while some pages are rather simple - due to the fact that they were pages that were for certificates or awards. It was a lot of work and I purchased a great deal of papers and embellishments including a leather album (SU! of course )! I am thinking approximately $400. for the total project. My SIL threw this figure out and it was actually what I was thinking it was worth but too afraid to say that amount of money to her. She wants me to be honest but it isn't always easy with family. I want to be fair but I also want it to be fair for myself too.

Thanks for those who have responded! Keep sending you thoughts - please!!

I charge $20 an hour not per page. Just wanted to clarify! :mrgreen:

[jubee]

i've made one scrapbook for someone else and I charged her $10.00 per page. I guess she didn't think that it was too steep because she has asked me to make another one.

[triplef]

Thanks, Mary Beth, for that link. It had some great ideas!

Barb

[kimmiller]

Sorry, Kathy! I should read more carefully! But I do think the tie to SU! purchases is a great idea! Would have never thought of that on my own!

How long do you think you spend working on a page. I think that I could easily spend about 45 minutes to an hour on a page - from conception to finished page. But I am very new at this scrapbooking stuff. To be honest - I took on this project thinking it would spark a new element to my love of stamping. I have been making cards for years and really love it. But I just didn't get the "bug" and this will probably be my last scrapbooking project. I think I did a nice job on the album and I just want to be fair in my pricing.

It is family and I always make that part of the decision. I am beginning to think that $10 a page is a fair price.

Mary Beth, thanks for sharing that web! I looked at it and it really helped! I am going to look through that web page some more!

Thanks ladies for sharing! Keep the thoughts coming! You all are great!

[scrapfancy]

I have a friend who does this for several people and charges $10 and page and they buy the supplies. One person is very concern over type of paper so she shows her different pages. I think alot of people have the same idea on this issue.