Daily rate? What is it, really? at DVinfo.net

Ben Winter · November 8th, 2010, 01:49 PM

Hi there,
I'm working on an edit for a company who has me on a daily rate. I'm new to this though, and not entirely sure what a daily rate entails. Is it the same as purchasing 10-hour blocks from me, no matter what day they're used? Or if I pick up the mouse for a moment to work on their project, the whole day counts? There's a lot of back and forth, small edits here and there that don't fill up a whole day's work and it's mostly a lot of waiting to hear back from them.

How should I be counting the days?

Adam Gold · November 8th, 2010, 02:04 PM

It can be anything you want, but it should have been negotiated and spelled out clearly up front before you started work. Sounds like you didn't do this, so you need to do so lickety-split so there are no misunderstandings down the road when they see your bill.

For me, there's a half day minimum, so the moment I power on the PC that's four hours. Anything more than four hours is a full day, and for that rate they get up to 12 hours.

But you need to decide what works for you.

Brian Drysdale · November 8th, 2010, 05:08 PM

If you're waiting on that day for them to make decisions, that counts as the day. Thinking and decision time is just as much a part of the working day as actually doing the cut.

Garrett Low · November 8th, 2010, 09:05 PM

I would work it as each day you have to work on their project is a day. Typically you should be able to give them a pretty good block of time working on their project. If you can complete your edit in half a day you still get paid for the full day. Think of it as if you had to travel to their office.

I agree that you need to have this spelled out clearly prior to starting the project but if you didn't I would have a talk with your client to have a clear understanding now.

Even if you are waiting for comments, in theory, the reason they are paying you a day rate is because it is cheaper by the hour than you regular hourly rate.

-Garrett

Ben Winter · November 9th, 2010, 11:11 PM

Thanks so much for the information. It's helped me spell out a deal I think is fair and with which they agree. Lots to learn....

November 8th, 2010, 01:49 PM	#1
Ben Winter Trustee Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,675 Images: 1	Daily rate? What is it, really? Hi there, I'm working on an edit for a company who has me on a daily rate. I'm new to this though, and not entirely sure what a daily rate entails. Is it the same as purchasing 10-hour blocks from me, no matter what day they're used? Or if I pick up the mouse for a moment to work on their project, the whole day counts? There's a lot of back and forth, small edits here and there that don't fill up a whole day's work and it's mostly a lot of waiting to hear back from them. How should I be counting the days? __________________ BenWinter.com

November 8th, 2010, 02:04 PM	#2
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	It can be anything you want, but it should have been negotiated and spelled out clearly up front before you started work. Sounds like you didn't do this, so you need to do so lickety-split so there are no misunderstandings down the road when they see your bill. For me, there's a half day minimum, so the moment I power on the PC that's four hours. Anything more than four hours is a full day, and for that rate they get up to 12 hours. But you need to decide what works for you. __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."

November 8th, 2010, 09:05 PM	#4
Garrett Low Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 1,774	I would work it as each day you have to work on their project is a day. Typically you should be able to give them a pretty good block of time working on their project. If you can complete your edit in half a day you still get paid for the full day. Think of it as if you had to travel to their office. I agree that you need to have this spelled out clearly prior to starting the project but if you didn't I would have a talk with your client to have a clear understanding now. Even if you are waiting for comments, in theory, the reason they are paying you a day rate is because it is cheaper by the hour than you regular hourly rate. -Garrett __________________ Garrett Low www.GLowMediaProductions.com

November 9th, 2010, 11:11 PM	#5
Ben Winter Trustee Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,675 Images: 1	Thanks so much for the information. It's helped me spell out a deal I think is fair and with which they agree. Lots to learn.... __________________ BenWinter.com

November 8th, 2010, 05:08 PM	#3
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,143	If you're waiting on that day for them to make decisions, that counts as the day. Thinking and decision time is just as much a part of the working day as actually doing the cut.