Add up all your expenses running costs everything, doctors, car, car repairs, insurance, gas be lose with this one, food, holidays everything for the year, divide that number by 365

That will give you an idea what your living costs are per day, divide that number buy 28 per month working days, and again by 7 for your working hour number per day
If you charge that final number per hour you are breaking even. Generally speaking if you double that you will be ok. Not greedy but also not rich.

Congrats on your first paying offer, hope all goes well.

This is a question that really doesn't have an stock answer. Personally, I wouldn't even start my car for a gig that only paid $20/hour but, after forty years in the business, I have the experience and the equipment and have earned the right to charge more. You have to start somewhere, but don't just give it away! Don't start too low, it's always easy to negotiate down, but not so easy to negotiate up. If $20/hour will make you happy, then go for it.

I agree with John, experience and quality entitles you charge what you want, and if the demand is there you will get it.

Don’t ever go through an agent, work directly with the client. While working on a set a while back the client was having a chat with me about another upcoming project and during the discussion I realized my agent had just ripped me for 300k. the next morning my agent called me for an urgent meeting and was shouting at me because he looked bad..???? to be recognized as a honest straight up entrepreneur will bring you more work than most other things.

In your expenses you need to add equipment that you want to add to your arsenal, every year I add new stuff and get rid of outdated stuff only because I have planed and budgeted for them. if it’s not part of your strategy it won’t just happen.

in addition to all the very good advice given above, i'd also work out a business plan / strategy.... yeah, i know they sound like crappy buzz words from some shonky business manual, but they really do help.

you need to know where you're going, and plan on how you're going to get there.

it's all well and good getting a camera, pc, then drumming up some business, like a wedding or two, or landing a corporate job - it'll give you a nice warm fuzzy feeling that you're 'in business' - but it's not much use unless you're already looking for the next job, talking to friends relatives, local business and generally networking with EVERYONE you know about the services you can offer.

you need to plan ahead for equipment too - the more work you get the more likely you are to be needing specialized equipment, or upgrading that which you started out with and such new equipment MUST be paying for itself because in this business we can spend till the cows come home.....

> "You might find this article helpful in answering your question."

That is an "eye opening" article. We often don't think of all the expenses we incur that should be covered by what we charge.

~jr

I would agree with the above in that it depends on your experience, equipment, area you live in etc...but $20/hr sounds very low to me.
When I first moved to my area (Las Cruces, New Mexico/El Paso,Texas, USA) 7 years ago, I got so desperate I went down to $40/hr to shoot (from $55/hr) and $30/hr for editing (from $40).
On two big jobs I had bid on I contacted them later to try to find out why I was not accepted (again, desperate).
I was told my bid was kicked out because it was too low (they were looking for the median fees).
Long story short I now stay busy (enough) basing bids on $85/hr to shoot (up to 2 cams) and $65/hr to edit and I haven't had any "OMG are you crazy??!!!" kind of reactions.

I think getting your business up and running and a good reputation is the first step.
If you never got paid before $20/hour is more than you got before.
Do the first job for that price. Tell the customer this is a once off special deal
Get the customer to love your work and recommend you.
Then move your way up as demand grows.
Even if you take a loss - or end up "net-ing" $2/hour for a first job why not.
It would be better if you got more - but if this is something you will keep on doing ..
I think it is an investment.

Allen

Lots of good information, and a great article at the top.

You have to start somewhere. If you lack experience, $20 an hour may be fine. If / when you realize you are booking every job that calls, you aren't charging enough. Raise your prices. Another tip I've heard if you're starting low is to raise your prices after every 8 jobs or something like that. Commanding higher prices isn't going to fall into your lap because you do better work though; at some point you or a co-worker will need to market your services. The more you charge the more select your clientele will be.

For us, we charge different rates for shooting than for post. Others charge the same amount no matter what they're doing.

Hope the responses here have been helpful; congratulations and good luck!

David

<edit>
In reading this I was reminded of the great studio musician Tommy Tedesco. He used to say there were four reasons to take a job:
for money
for fun
for experience
for connections

Sometimes the jobs you take that don't pay, or don't pay much, can be the most fulfilling and memorable.

I charge (NZ$) $50 per hour including sales tax for private/personal clients, and $75 per hour PLUS sales tax for business/for-profit clients.

geoff

Hey, sorry it took so long to get back. Thanks guys.. seems like that is a little low. Hopefully I will be able to get some work soon here in Vegas. If anyone has anything or knows anyone here I should contact.. that'd be great. I ain't no pro, but I now I can do good work.


Again, thanks a million for the help. Very insightful,


J