What fee rates should public relations consultants charge?

If there’s one key question for freelance PR consultants, both newbies and veterans alike, it’s this one. Of course, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and over the years we've addressed many aspects of this complex question here on the blog.

Did you miss a few? That’s OK – to give you a one-stop resource, we’ve compiled this roundup of our top posts on the topic of setting rates and structuring fees for maximum profit (hope you find it useful):

• Why are consultants’ fees so high? – When setting rates, be sure to take into account the factors outlined in this article.
• Setting Rates: A Field Guide – What should you charge? More to the point: Why aren’t you charging more?
• Advice on Setting Fees – What are some of the most common mistakes consultants make when setting their fees? Kellye Crane and Jenny Schmitt (@Cloudspark on Twitter) share them in this video.

Avoiding Potential Pitfalls

• To Free, or Not to Free – Is it worse to work for free than to not work at all? This post outlines why I say yes, it is.
• The Most Important Word for You to Know – Scope creep will cost you money, enthusiasm, and (it often feels like) your sanity. Here’s how to avoid it.
• Foolproof Formula for Handling Brain Pickers – Part fun and part truth, we boil it down to an actual formula.

Beyond the Hourly Rate

• Cost, Price, and Value – There is a Difference – Solo PR Pro strives to bring you new ideas and information on alternative practices for your reference. This post covers value pricing, which is focused on outcomes.
• Pondering Pay for Performance – A compilation of the wisdom of the Solo PR community on the subject of performance-based bonuses and fees.

Do you have any burning questions we haven’t covered yet? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll respond here or in a future post!