What to charge for restaurant menu design?

I've been asked to design a menu for a local restaurant and I need to know what to charge. I've thought about letting him pay in gift certificates since he's just starting out, but again, how much is fair? I figure it will take me about 5 hours to complete with occational updates.





Thanks!

What to charge for restaurant menu design?
Are you in-charge of the "printers" also? or just the design. In your 5 hours does that include more then one design, each one is a different charge, it progresses from simple to exotic. My base charge is 75.00 an hour, that starts from the first word spoken about the designs (the request). Give your customer a price range up-front, that way you won't be wasting your time on unnecessary work. If you are the one that takes the final to print you add 33% to the print charge if it's a laminated menu, if it's a menu that goes into a slip fold menu cover then you add the 33% to the slip folds also.
Reply:I did this 10 years ago, and the going rate was $20-$25 an hour.





I also designed my own, and it is a fun job. I'd like to get back into it since I HATE typos on a menu.
Reply:I'm assuming, since you asked your question here, that you have 'never' done this before, and that you have 'some' education in design, but are not yet a 'professional'. You WILL BE a PROFESSIONAL after you do this, and that can make an 'amazing difference' in your life, but only if two things happen ... you design an 'amazing menu' and the restaurant owner 'loves it' ...


My first question is 'what' are you working with? I take it that this restuarant has an 'older' menu to 'look at' and that your 'design work' is just to 'make it look and work better' ... but do you have to 'design' a 'whole new look' or does the owner have an 'idea' that is 'set in stone'?


Second, when you say 'design' are you saying that you are going to be 'in charge' of a whole new 'look' or that you are only going to be 'assembling' parts that have been used in previous menus? HOW will you 'draw' these designs ... either your own or 'making copies'?


Third ... how much money do you think you would 'charge' a person for 'about five hours of your time'? Let me tell you that your '5 hour estimate' is WRONG ... and you need to 'double that' at the very least. My husband is a 'computer professional' who 'designs websites' and he ALWAYS 'triples' the time he 'thinks' a job will take, when he's giving his 'estimate of cost' because if he has trouble, it may take that long, but if he 'comes in at his 'original estimate' of time, he'll look VERY GOOD when the next job comes down the line.


Then comes the 'scut work' ... which is all of the many 'words and numbers that you'll have to 'factor in' to the finished menu. REMEMBER THAT YOU WILL NEED TO GO OVER IT TO BE SURE EVERYTHING IS SPELLED CORRECTLY, and that there are no 'errors' in the numbers ... which means not just 'once' using a computer program, but at LEAST 4 separate times.


I actually like your idea of accepting 'gift certificates' because you'll then have 'many gifts' that you can give, or you can use them yourself if you enjoy eating at this restaurant ... but the 'amounts' on those gift certificates will be considered 'real money' to the IRS (or the tax people in your country, county, city, area), and you'll have to 'pay taxes' on the total amount ... whether you think that is 'right' or not.


Next, you'll need to 'know' what other restaurants 'pay' to have their own menus 'designed' in your area, especially the restaurants that are 'similar' in PRICE PAID.


Then ... You will NOT get a 'good price' for 'menu design' from most restaurants because they usually have them either done by the 'parent corporation' that owns them (if it's a large 'chain') or by the owners ...


I think that it would probably be 'best' if you 'undercut' yourself a bit because this is your FIRST design. If you would 'like to make' at least $25 an hour doing work like this, then charge your 'first customer' no more than $20 an hour ... and if you can 'lower' your price a bit more comfortably, then make it more like $15 an hour. Present this 'estimated cost' with your 'over-inflated time estimate' and tell him that it is 'just an estimate' and that you will 'try to get it in for a lot less money and in a lot faster time' ... and then do that ...


And my 'last bit of advice' is that you 'dress as a professional' when you are doing this 'work' even if the ownere of the restaurant is your brother and he sees you in your 'sweats' more often ... in fact, it's when it's a situation like that that it is MOST IMPORTANT for you to 'dress and act like a professional' if that is what you truly want to become. Yes, this is TRUE even if you are a teenager, and are just 'playing' with this ... because what you do NOW will 'reflect' on the type of 'professional' you are going to be no matter what it is you'll be doing in the future. GOOD LUCK!

fresh flower