how much should i charge for printing off flyers and business cards for my neighbor? she insists on paying me.

Question

she bought the paper and card stock, but i had to design and write the entire thing. i didn't think it was a big deal. she keeps going on and on about how much she appreciates them and how good they look. she insists she needs to pay me something, and keeps asking me how much money she can give me. i have only printed 100 business cards so far, and 50 flyers, so it's not like a great deal. she said there may be more depending on how well her business takes off. i thought about maybe just telling her she could go in half for a new ink cartridge for my printer, just to apease her. what do you all suggest?

Answer 1

Two methods, one is to spend time determining EXACTLY how much money went into the production of the flyers and cards; another method is to determine what your time is worth and how much time was devoted to the project. If you want to be generous, charge minimum wage. Remember to report any and all earnings to the Internal Revenue Service on a Schedule C or as a "gift" on IRS Form 1040. Your actual choice may be best determined by a professional income tax preparer. Or contact the IRS for more information.

You could be on your way to a home based publishing career. She obviously does not want to feel indebted to you nor does she take your time and effort for granted. Now, respect yourself as much as she does and remember to give her a receipt.

A receipt may be hand written. It MUST include the reason for payment, the date the money was received, the name of the person who received the money, and the name of the person who paid the money, and the amount received written or spelled out and in numeric form (similar to checks). You should make a copy for both parties so that the content agrees.

If you feel guilty about accepting it, you can always invite her over for cake and coffee using the proceeds. You'll both feel better about future visits once the formality is over with.

Answer 2

$20 to pay you back for the ink...

and in the future, if you do more printing for her, maybe charge per sheet of business cards...like a buck a page or something? so it's not too much but it'll make her feel better about paying you back for your services.

Answer 3

10 cents per copy on the flyers, 20 cents if color and $10 per 100 on the business cards

Answer 4

Make her pay you in some way that will strengthen your relationship rather than being a business transaction. For example, suggest that your family and hers have dinner at their place together, or something small like that.

Answer 5

Nothing at all. Point out the fact that 20 pages would require minimal effort on your part, would take mere minutes to complete, and cost almost nothing.

Answer 6

a good testimonial or reference is worth its weight in gold. Have her write something up that you can use to land other design projects. Tell her that you would appreciate it if she told her friends and family about your work so that it leads to other paying projects.

Answer 7

If she insists, just cahrge her the amount of the ink cartridge. When people insist with me, that's what I do. Just don't do it for that amount if she just so happens to recommend others. Sometimes that's what happens.

Answer 8

if you don't really want to get the money; asking her to donate the money she tries to give it to you, like $20 or $50. this is the both win situation.