Ask HN: How should I charge for a side project?

These projects can be a minefield if you’re not careful about scoping them out from the start. Almost every side project turns into 2X to 10X as much work as people estimate from the start. Don’t get locked in to a fixed bid for open ended work.

If possible, ask around your network for what people charge for freelancing rates. The answer varies wildly depending on skill level, frequency of freelancing work, and range of services offered. For app development, I personally know people charging $50/hr and others billing $200/hr for what I consider to be equivalent work.

Most freelancers will raise their rates until the clients decline contracts and then back off. If this is your first round, you’ll have to guess a bit and then re evaluate the contract later.

Finally, keep in mind that this will become a drag on your time and energy. Earning $10-20K on the side is great if you have idle time and extra energy, but if you find yourself too drained to do your day job well then you’ll need to evaluate the possible career impact. Don’t miss out on promotions or new job opportunities because you’re too distracted chasing small potatoes side projects. If money is the goal, you can probably do better by actively seeking a higher paying day job. On the other hand, I’ve gained valuable experience and networking from freelance work, so consider the intangible upsides as well.

I know it’s not the same but I make word clocks[1]. They are limited edition and (I think) high build quality. I’ve found one brand of high end word clocks. Mine are a different design but at least equal finished quality. I charge on par with those. I don’t sell a ton, but I don’t spend a ton of time. The time I do spend on selling works out to a high enough hourly rate that it’s worth it to me to give up other activities (ie opportunity cost).

1. Www.finewordclocks.com