Freelance

Freelance

When working by yourself it is generally more difficult to keep a steady income, but the flexibility can be very rewarding.

• Vertex #1 has a great article "Freelance 101 - Tips & Tricks on Freelancing" by Ben 'b1ll' Regimbal.
• Vertex #2 has another awesome article "Outsourcing Tips & Tricks" by Peter 'PeterK' Kojesta.
• Can you really be a freelancer? Polycount Forum thread
• Horror Freelance Stories Polycount Forum thread
• Tips for doing freelance work... Polycount Forum thread with great advice from working freelancers.
• How much to charge client? Polycount Forum thread with more great advice.

Questions for the Client

Get the information you need when you start a project.

1. Software (i.e. Maya 2012, 3DSMAX 2013)
2. Polycount (i.e. 1500 tris)
3. Texture count, sizes, and type (i.e. 3 512x512 textures, head+upper body+lower body, diff+norm+spec)
4. Sculpt required, or is Crazybump\nDo okay?
5. Target engine ( UDK, Unity, etc.)
6. Target screen resolution (in general but especially for mobile)
7. Player perspective (FPS, third person, top-down iso)
8. Timeframe (2wks, 4wks, ?)
9. Concept or reference given?
10. Sample asset provided? (art style, quality level, tech specs)
11. Complexity? (complex rig, animatable parts, per-pixel painting, etc. can increase the time needed)
12. Deliverables? (i.e. finished .MA file with texture flats in TGA format, plus layered PSDs)

Don't forget to use a contract!

Art Tests

See.

Freelancer advice:

Freelance Rates

• Info: going rate for 1,500 tri model+texture Polycount forum thread
• Freelance rates query Polycount forum thread has info about how to calculate your freelance rate.
• How much should I charge for freelance 3D modeling work? article on KatsBits.com with advice and sample rates.
• FreelanceSwitch Hourly Rate Calculator

The following numbers are averages, posted by Polycount members. All numbers are in USD unless stated otherwise.

Freelancer Type	US Day Rate	US Hourly	Overseas Day Rate	Overseas Hourly
Individual contractor	$300/day *	$37.50/hr *	$250 - 375/day	$31.25 - 47/hr
Low-end art studio	$350/day	$43.75/hr	$140 - 180/day	$17.50 - 22.50/hr
Average art studio	$500/day	$62.50/hr	$200/day	$25/hr
High-end art studio	$800/day **	$100/hr **	$300/day	$37.50/hr

<<Anchor(IndividualContractor)>>* Individual contractors in the US range from $275 - 500/day ($34.50 - 62.50/hr).<
> <<Anchor(HighEndArtStudio)>>** These rates are for rare high-end boutique studios.

Time Estimates

From the Polycount forum thread Info: going rate for 1,500 tri model+texture.

Legal & Taxes

• Freelancing - worth creating an LLC to protect yourself? Any disadvantages? Polycount Forum thread, info about taxes and liability.
• Is Incorporation Right for Your Business? A Primer for Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs IRS article (specific to USA).
• Freelancing Help USA Polycount Forum thread, info about taxes.
• Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines is an excellent resource for freelancers (and salarymen too). Pricing guidelines, legal info, copyright law, sample contracts, how to negotiate, and more. Highly recommended!
• Useful Legal Documents For Designers (PDF/DOC) free example contracts you can customize to your needs. Non-disclosure agreement, work for hire, illustration, web design, intellectual property, etc.

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