-
surver/design charges
We’re getting busier on the sign side of the business, which is great. Although we’re finding its taking up loads of time and as a small company, time is valuable.
speaking with a sales rep the other month they commented that some companies have started charging for site surveys and initial designs.
Sounds very good, paid for our time and effort. Will filter out ‘time wasters’.
Does anybody here do something similar? Or is it really a case of swings and roundabouts?
-
5 Replies
-
Sounds like a good idea to me.
I already charge for putting forward a design – and as you say – this helps to filer out the time wasters.
But many a time I have been asked to come and meet with someone on site to quote a shop sign for example. On some occasions I have suspected from the tone of the enquiry that this is going to be a waste of time and have often wondered how I could route out these time wasters – so yes I do think we should charge for a site survey.
-
Hi David
If it is a small job we tend to do an initial quote over the internet/telephone etc (stating subject to survey).
Then if the client is still interested we will follow up with a site visit if necessary, this helps weed out some of the time wasters, as you have already established that they are prepared to spend a figure approaching your initial quote.Nothing more frustrating than going out spending an hour or two of your time and quoting say £2K and them saying thought would only be about £500.00 etc. Definitely best to pre-qualify your clients as the Americans say.
For larger jobs we will just go out and do a quote/survey for which we do not make a charge as we look at it as its kind of risk vs reward, not the right phrase maybe but am sure you get the idea. Bigger rewards justify spending the time and as long as you get a decent percentage of the jobs you quote on then its not an issue.
Exception to the above is if they require a written report etc for which will make a charge as we view that as a separate service.
One thing to add is that we find we have to do site visits a lot less now with having tools such as google streetview and being able to request information and images by e-mail.
Be interested in how others approach it.
Ian.
-
I forgot about designs, we always charge for designs/artwork, one thing that seems to work is to quote an all-in price, ie allowing for artwork, then tell client that if they want artwork they need to pay a deposit of X, where X is what you want to cover your artwork whether they go ahead or not.
Ian
-
This is our stumbling block. As we’ve not done much signage, we’ve not the experience to give a ball park price over the phone or internet.
And fall into the trap of site survey, quick design, quote. Then be told they have a budget that won’t cover installation.
We might look at making a charge to cover time and effort, designs, regardless if they go ahead or not.
-
Just ask what the estimated budget they have for signage is. Don’t go designing £2k if all they have is £200…and don’t accept “oh, not too much, I don’t know “ …toss it back. Is it £50, £500 or £5000? Not known anybody to fail to give an indication…everybody has an idea.
I’ve just wasted my time on a potentially good job (one of these risk/reward ones) as the client has decided my proposal including fully scaled designs superimposed with several colours, fonts, window designs and construction methods “wasn’t comprehensive enough“ despite their entire brief being ‘not green and make it classy’. Sometimes you really have the wonder. 👿
I too am sick of having MY ideas flogged round for a better price. (Of course they can do it cheaper…they didn’t just spend the last hour with your sorry ass sitting next to them custom designing a whole identity!) No, I didn’t print it out or email it…he photographed my screen “to show his business partner “ and it made it onto his flipping’ Facebook page and at the doorsteps of several other sign makers. (They actually told me)
Right now going through another one…thought the price was pre-agreed but alas no. So been designing for a few weeks on and off and all proofed and had the threat of “having to go elsewhere“ if the price isn’t good tossed back at me.
There is a word to describe these people…customers.
That said. I have been offered payment for doing surveys and designs recently by several companies that value my time as much as their time. I tend not to separate artwork in signage work only in the printed products such as flyers, posters and banners.
Dave
Log in to reply.