Name: KValas
City: Bethesda
State: MD
Comment:
I appreciate all of the information on your blog. As a new designer it helps me tremendously. My question is how do you bill friends? I struggle to charge my friends when I do work for them but I spend a lot of time working on their projects. How do you handle that situation? Thank you.
Vicente Responds:
I would deal with friends very cautiously, the best thing you can do is have a contract from the beginning; this way there are no questions. Discussing money with friends can be awkward, so if you have someone in your office that can handle this part of the contract they should. If not make sure that you are completely upfront from the start, if you wait too long you will be in trouble…
Do any of you have any tips for working with friends?
#1 by Allison M on June 14, 2011 - 3:45 am
I think this young business owner is astute about friends. Difficult, because most want something for almost nothing. Like designer pricing and not pay you design fees. I agree with Vincente, perhaps a loose contract with “Friends and Family” pricing. Give your friends price break but you are a professional and deserve to get paid for your knowledge and experience. A good friend understands, the acquaintance may not.
#2 by Linda on June 14, 2011 - 4:44 pm
Great advice from Vicente! Follow it.
You must, must, must have the money conversation before you toss out the first idea. Learn to say this line when your friends approach you with a new project: “oh how exciting, I’d love to help, do you think your budget will accommodate my design fee?” no pauses, no stops for a breath. If you were a plastic surgeon you might give your friends a token discount on Botox, but never a free surgical procedure.
#3 by Brillante on June 14, 2011 - 5:29 pm
Absolutely agree…I received so many useless gifts in the beginning!
#4 by Margaret on June 19, 2011 - 6:30 pm
My apartment has an opening in the exterior wall in which to place an air conditioner. When not in use there’s a metal cover that screws onto the opening. It was painted the same colour as the wall in a flat paint. Some of the paint flaked off when I removed the cover. Should I repaint it or do something else with it?
#5 by Gary Nelling on June 20, 2011 - 6:44 pm
Vicente – I recently helped a musician friend find a house to purchase, identified architectural improvements and then picked paint colors, finishes and furniture. He is such an eager student of design, as I am of music, that it has been a marvelous experience. But in general, I would be cautious of working for friends who might expect to get services for lower fees or commissions. People tend not to fully respect services received at deep discounts.
Margaret – Do you remove and replace the air-conditioner seasonally? A metal cover will probably continue to flake paint if it is not proper flashed from the outside and protected from condensation by insulation against temperature differences from outside to inside. – Gary
#6 by Danny Taylor on June 28, 2011 - 6:16 pm
You are right to have suggest a contract or at the least have the terms spelled out up front. This is always best with friends or any client. Good luck with the friends.