How to price your freelance services in Algeria

Pricing is the question freelancers find hardest. Too low, and you work a lot for little while clients doubt your quality. Too high, and nobody orders. There is no single right price, but there are good methods. Here are three, and how to combine them.

Method 1: start from what you need to earn

Take the amount you want to earn per month, add your costs (internet, software, equipment, taxes and contributions), and divide by the number of hours you can really bill. Count realistically: a freelancer who works 40 hours a week rarely bills more than 25 of them, the rest goes to messages, revisions, learning and finding clients.

Example, with round figures: you want 100,000 DA per month, your costs are 20,000 DA, and you bill 100 hours a month. Your minimum is 1,200 DA per hour. A logo that takes you 8 hours should not cost less than about 9,600 DA.

This method gives you a floor, the price below which you lose money. It doesn't tell you what the client is ready to pay.

Method 2: look at the market

Look at what freelancers with a similar level and portfolio charge for the same service, on Tamam and elsewhere. Don't copy the cheapest. Place yourself according to what you offer: faster delivery, more revisions, a sector specialty, source files included.

Method 3: price the value

A landing page that brings a shop fifty orders a month is worth more than the hours it took. When your work has a measurable impact (sales, leads, time saved), you can price according to that impact. This works best once you have results to show.

Packages make the choice easier

Instead of one price, offer three levels:

• Basic: the essential, for clients with a small budget.
• Standard: what most clients need. Make it the obvious choice.
• Premium: more variations, faster delivery, source files, extra support.

Clients compare packages rather than comparing you with other freelancers, and many choose the middle one.

Write down what is included

• The exact deliverables and their format.
• The number of revisions. Additional revisions can be a paid extra.
• The delivery time, and a price for express delivery.
• What isn't included: printing, ad budgets, stock photos, hosting.

Count the platform fee

Platforms charge a commission on each order. On Tamam, the current percentage is shown in your earnings and on the freelancer guide page. Include it in your calculation so your net income matches your target.

When to raise your prices

• When your calendar is full several weeks ahead.
• When you move up a seller level and your reviews are consistently good.
• When you add a skill that makes your offer more complete.

Raise prices for new clients first, and give your regular clients notice. Most good clients prefer a reliable freelancer who charges a fair price to a cheap one they have to replace.

The figures in this article are examples to show the method, not market rates.