Help with pricing?

[girl-ethereal.livejournal.com]

This is not a beware. It's actually an advice post. More to the point it's an opinion post. I put this up in my FA a little while ago and I'm still looking for imput. I was told this was a great community to come to for this sort of thing. So.   I want to start commissions. I'm working on a TOS with a friend (or going to be later today) so I know what I'm doing in that aspect, but the idea of pricing my work is still daunting. I got good advice from subversive-imaginati about how to go about pricing, and while I appreciate the advice, I don't think my skill level is worth as much as the calculations would say.  (That is, minimum wage x time you spend + expenses.)

So I'm not really looking for calculations per-sae. I'm more looking for opinion. What would YOU pay for my type of work? How much would  YOU say it's worth?   I know it's not very good, at least not nearly as good as the artists I watch, so please be honest. You won't be hurting my feelings. I really DO like critique and I know I have a long way to go before I'm awesomesauce at the craft.

So. How much would you pay for...

a sketch? http://www.furaffinity.net/view/4871161/   http://www.furaffinity.net/view/4834788/ (NSFW)

Lines? http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5221842/   http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5232131/  (NSFW)

a flat color? http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5078489/   http://www.furaffinity.net/view/4502787/ (A little old...I don't do flats much)

Full color? http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5401667 http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5013493/ (NSFW)    http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5224616

Apologies if this was rambling. I'm not very good at public posts like this. And Thank you in advance!

Apologies for not tagging. For some reason the "select tags" link isn't working.

Comments

[hamburger.livejournal.com]

Only mods can add tags in this community. I'll add them now.

[girl-ethereal.livejournal.com]

Oh thank you! ^_^

[marus-puppy.livejournal.com]

We aren't really a critique community, but your pricing is fine, imo. If you don't get any bites, it may not be that you're too expensive, but that you're not reaching a very wide audience that would be interested.

[girl-ethereal.livejournal.com]

Maybe. I haven't even really started doing commissions yet. I"m so back-and-forth over how much I should be charging that I really just...haven't set any prices as of yet. I guess my biggest fear is that I'll overcharge.

[marus-puppy.livejournal.com]

I hear you on that, but when you do open up, don't immediately assume that you're not getting any business because you're too expensive. That might not be the case at all, so if you lower your prices in response, then you'll be selling yourself short, which isn't fair to you.

Best of luck to you! And for what it's worth, I also agree with shukivengeance as far as a solid pricing goes. :)

[girl-ethereal.livejournal.com]

Most definitely. And thank you again. I really appreciate the imput, and you're right, I can always lower the prices if need be

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

Personally I'd pay $10 for a 1 char sketch, $15 for lines, $20 for flats and $30+ for full colour based on the examples you posted. Add more for complicated characters, backgrounds, multiple characters, etc.

[girl-ethereal.livejournal.com]

This is going to sound really stupid but I'm actually blown away that anyone thinks my work's worth more than 20 dollars. I think I have a very horribly critical view of what I do. Thank you muchly for your opinion. I'm writing it down as we speak and, basically, I'm going to be looking at what everyone says and then probably coming to compromise over the most popular answers.

[fenris-lorsrai.livejournal.com]

I'll agree with the prices here. assuming you don't need to make significant changes.

DO specify in TOS how many changes to the piece are allowed before you start changing for additional changes. This is to avoid only charging $10 for a sketch that someone demands 3 different total redraws of. Be VERY clear about that because otherwise you may end up sinking lots of time into a $10 sketch.

[girl-ethereal.livejournal.com]

Oooh yeah most definitely. I've read enough horror stories here that I refuse to leave that out of the tos lol.

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

Everyone is their own worst critic! I think if you charged less you'd be underselling yourself but getting commission clients in the first place can be difficult so perhaps running a special or an introductory discount for your first few could be an idea based on how many bites you get.

Before all of that though be sure to make up a ToS and make your will/wont draw policy very clear!

[girl-ethereal.livejournal.com]

I think that's a REALLY good idea to get the ball rolling. I'm only going to take around 3-4 commissions at a time (I know myself and if I don't do that I'll overload my brain and short circuit and nothing will get done) so maybe my first 3 or 4 rounds of commissions at half price and go from there.

[megamon-blue.livejournal.com]

Based on your examples, I'd pay about the same as shukivengeance mentioned.

[girl-ethereal.livejournal.com]

Writing it down as 2 for those prices. Thank you so much for your imput.

[raai.livejournal.com]

This is OT, but I am in love with your icon.

[megamon-blue.livejournal.com]

:D
I saw it used on the Customers_suck comm last night and had to have it. Its perdy. :P

[ocelotish]

I think the most important thing here is balancing how much you want to do with the dollar amounts. I think the price estimates here are probably good enough to get a general idea of where you want to be, but don't be afraid to raise or lower based on the amount of demand you want.

[girl-ethereal.livejournal.com]

Most definitely, that's a pretty good point to make. I liked the idea made earlier of an introductory sale.