Originally posted by Caryn True, but what if it's $40 (exchange rates) and there is no budget for extras? Would that be a smart way to run a business?
With all due respect, failing to budget for extras isn't a particularly smart way to run a business either.
If a client really can't/won't stretch to another $20(US)/$35(AUS)/£13/€19 to cover the costs associated with getting a 'complete and professional' job done, then either they need to rethink the purpose of the investment they make in their identity/website/etc... or they get friendly with the often inferior quality associated with low-cost/no-cost materials - or, as a final option, they simply go without.
There are certain costs associated with doing a professional design job that are often impossible to side-step (legally).
The sooner clients realise this, then the sooner hard-working (and woefully undersold) designers can stop busting their humps for the sake of $100 'all-in' websites.
If that's your lot, then it is an unfortunate truth that you will be forced to piece together jobs using what are often second-rate (and in many cases illegal*) materials.
(* in the case of 'look-alike' rip-off fonts.)
Many clients need to open their eyes and understand the amount of effort and detail that goes into a professional service and what that is likely to cost them.
Many designers need to open their eyes too.
As the saying goes - If you pay peanuts...
Are you happy having that kind of relationship with your clients?
N.B.
I'm not advocating fleecing clients, just wishfully thinking out loud that worthy designers wouldn't bind their careers to companies/clients unwilling or unable to pay a fair rate for a fair job.
Forgive me if this sounded like a diatribe. It wasn't meant to be, honest. It's late, my eyes and head both ache and my tired and waning vocab is unable to mold my opinion on this subject into something more constructive in tone.
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