Customer Reviews

Graphic Designer's Guide to Pricing, Estimating & Budgeting Revised Edition

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The title doesn't really describe this book. Two of the 14 chapters pertain to pricing and estimates, but don't expect a GAG PEG-style list of suggested numbers. In fact, actual fees are seldom mentioned.

This book mostly covers the business of graphic design, from hiring to self promo to client relations. If you're getting the Creative Business newsletter, you're already getting this information. If not, this is a practical guide. Williams is experienced, and her advice makes good sense. Her writing style is casual, and the book is a quick read.

Of all the books in my business/design library, I think this one has proven to be the most valuable. While I am not quite to the point where I can reasonably charge some of the prices that Theo recommends, I still feel like this book is a great resource for much of the business of design. If anything, I think this book does a good job of building confidence in pricing and business as a whole. The writing style is very smooth and easy to follow, and her personal accounts help tie in real-world experiences to justify her recommendations.
Theo Williams also does a pretty good job of covering a broader sense of project management and client relations, though not in too great of detail (which is okay, as that is not the point of the book). The end of the book provides us with some rough business forms (invoices, estimates, etc.) which I also found greatly helpful.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a better grasp on how to go about figuring out prices for design projects.

I have been operating a freelance graphic-design business on a casual basis for over 10 year and have just recently decided to take it to a more professional level. I purchased this book because I thought it would help me streamline my billing system and teach me something I didn't already know. Unfortunately, I found that this book was much more chatty than informative and that the information was a bit too vague. It would have also helped if the forms at the back of the book were more fully discussed in the book itself.

While I found it interesting and somewhat insightful to read about the author's opinions and experience (which is credible), I did not feel that I gained much new insight from the book. Another book that I found more pragmatic and useful was Cameron Foote's "The Business Side of Creativity". Even though that book covers all aspects of running a graphic design business, it also includes a section on billing with advice that is both practical and concrete (including how to deal with clients who are price-sensitive in an assertive manner). While this book may help someone who is completely new at billing clients for graphic-design services, I personally gained more from Foote's book than this one.

This is an excellent book for Graphic Designers starting a business. Los of helpful information and tips and things to consider. It is an easy read. Overall excellent book. I've bought several books starting my business and this one was the best.

In straight-forward, witty and very business-wise language, Theo Stephan Williams lays it all on the line for anyone in or thinking of getting in the design business. She explains exactly how to negotiate, what to say and how to actually make a profit. While all other books dance around the subject of money, she just lays it on the table, giving hourly rates and project break-downs and without having to feel bad justifying prices that will keep you in business, I finally realize that it is a right to make a profit out of what we do.
For ten years I've been operating exactly like the kinds of people Theo knows inside out - thinking that breaking even is good enough, afraid to raise prices for fear of losing work. All that gets, she explains, is a huge, unprofitable client base, all making demands and not paying a good price for the services they receive. Theo provides clear, logical, sensible and highly convincing arguments to turn your business around and make a real success of it, as she has done of hers.
Read it and join the ranks of enlightened designers and design firms who actually make great money out of doing great work.

Theo's writing style is lively and at times, entertaining. The multimedia section is starting to show its age, but this is still a very worthwhile read.

Freelance Graphic Designers, or those considering it, get this one. It is excellent. I have read it 3 times and still learning from it. It is Good advice. She's a nice lady. I want to meet her. This helps you in negotiating and deciding on a price, and not letting the client take advantage of you, and invoicing.

The author is a woman, btw. I think it is cool that a woman can have such a hugely successful business.

This book is an excellent comprehensive guide for any person who is either considering becoming a freelance graphic designer, starting a design studio or setting up a full-service design firm. It outlines, in a detailed and easy-to-follow way, all the key elements one must consider, such as fixed costs, budget management and establishing rates. Theo Williams, the author, employs a fresh and user-friendly approach in every business concept she presents. This book is the bible I'm using to set up my business. Someone took my copy, so I ordered another right away! I don't know what I'd do without it!

I found this book a very useful inside info for all freshmen who are still considering going on the market themselves or for those who are expanding business of design into full service with organizing all the basic non-creative processes. Nice plain and practical explanations. For seniors in the business its almost like when we pool out our own old photo album and some memories come back to us ...

I have this book for several years. I bought it in 2001, and each time I have used this book as a guide to find answers for my question. The information is very well organized, and the answers is clear.My advertisement artwork was stolen and reproduced by national publication in 30,000 copies without my permission. I was looking for the graphic designer contract which secure my Copyrights.I found my answer in the book on pages 172-175.The form of the contract which help you to run your business professional and secure your Copyrights. I have read hundreds of contracts, but contract which put together and written by Theo Stephan Williams is excellent copy to use.