Meet your goals without blowing your budget . . . or, rates
How much do you charge? What's your hourly rate? Can you give me a cost on this project?
They're often the first questions that prospective clients ask.
Instead, first let's talk about your need, and the solution we can provide. Then we can work out a quote showing you what you're paying for. We'll e-mail it to you.
We don't like to quote over the phone. Look at it this way: You're not just paying for our time, you're paying for our experience and expertise with words, too. These are all valuable. Our rates are reasonable and competitive with other independent consultants in the IABC/Toronto Chapter. But we also understand that what's reasonable in the Greater Toronto Area may seem outrageous in Kenora, Kalamazoo, Kansas City, Katy or Canberra.
If you're on a budget, we'll try to accommodate it. Get in touch with us and tell us your needs and budget.
Creative Link Communications offers hourly, project and retainer-based billing; we prefer to work on a project or retainer basis. Why? It's a win-win for both of us. You know exactly how much you're going to pay (this helps you budget for your communication needs), and we know exactly how much we're going to make.
Hourly and daily rate plans
You can choose this option for one-time or limited needs. There is a four-hour minimum charge on hourly* rate contracts. Travel time (where applicable) is also billed on hourly contracts. Hours are billed in 15-minute increments.
Standard hourly rate
Writing, media relations, PR, project management, etc. $95 per hour
Subcontract rate $65 per hour
Editing rate
Copy editing, proofreading, structural editing, etc. $50 per hour
Production editing, desktop publishing $65 per hour
Daily rate $640 per day
*Discount available on hourly rates for non-profit organizations.
Word rates
Corporate/business/government rate $1.75 per word
Trade & consumer publication, non-proft organization rate $0.35 – 1.25 per word
Script writing (corporate videos, DVDs) $125 per script minute
Project rate plan
Your best choice for occasional but not ongoing needs. We'll will review your project and provide you with a quote that won't change unless you request changes outside the original scope of the project. Project fees generally are based on an hourly or word rate (depending on the nature of the project) and include built-in costs for associated services e.g., translation, graphic design, printing, etc.
Monthly retainer plans
If you have ongoing but varying needs, this option helps you budget and is your best choice. You pay a flat monthly fee; can save money compared to paying project fees; and receive a discounted hourly rate*. Please note, unused retainer fees are nonrefundable and unused retainer hours will not be carried forward. Extra hours over and above your monthly retainer plan will be billed monthly at $65 per hour (subcontract rate). Three-month minimum contract.
BASIC
10 hours of services available per month $900 per month (5% discount)
BRONZE
20 hours of services available per month $1710 per month (10% discount)
SILVER
40 hours of services available per month $3040 per month (20%)
AMORTIZED
For large projects, the total budget will be divided by 12 to arrive at a monthly retainer.
ON-CALL
You pay a negotiated fixed-amount, in advance retainer for having CLC services available as needed. In addition, you will be billed at the standard hourly rate or daily rate when services are performed.
*Based on business/corporate/government standard hourly rate of $95 per hour. Hourly rates lower for non-profit organizations.
