If you need some plumbing done on your office, you can just find a plumber who works in your area and ask him to tackle the problem. Sure, there are some pieces of plumbing work that can require more than average skill, but most days, you don’t have to negotiate a rate to bring in your preferred plumber. He cites a price and you pay it.
Working with creative professionals, such as website designers or marketing copy writers is a different matter. Website designs vary a lot more than new plumbing joints. Not only do you have to find the best creative to work on your project, you have to negotiate a fair fee. While a good plumber may be able to handle almost any repair in a few hours, different pieces of copy can require a wide variety of times to research and write. Here are a few tips that can make the process go a little smoother.
1. Be willing to pay what the project is worth
Getting a good deal on a creative project is one thing, but it’s an entirely different matter if you try to get a professional to work for less than they need to pay their families. Driving the price down too far may leave you with a final project that isn’t what you’d hoped for.
If you can get quotes from a couple of different professionals, you can get an idea of what a project is really worth to complete. If you feel the prices you’re seeing are too high, it may be a good idea to cut back the scope of the project.
2. Go beyond money when you negotiate
It’s easy to focus on price when you’re trying to get a project completed, but there are other factors worth considering. For instance, while a creative professional may not be willing to budge on price, asking her to speed up the project may be possible.
You can negotiate just about any part of a creative project, although not all creative professionals are in a position to negotiate on time or scope of projects. As long as you handle the matter politely, though, there’s no harm in asking.
3. Get it in writing
While handling negotiations in person can help you get a better feel for what is and isn’t possible, you may find that many creative professionals are more comfortable working through email. There are some benefits for both sides — after all, it’s easier to avoid confusion about costs if they’re all in writing — but even if you’re handling a negotiation in person or over the phone, it’s crucial to get the terms of your agreement written down as quickly as possible.
It’s generally not a question of something going wrong with the project. Instead, it’s a matter of making sure that everyone is on the same page throughout your project.
Image by Flickr user Nick in exsilio
Google+Web.com is now offering forums designed to support small businesses in cities throughout the US. Learn more about these forums here: http://Businessforum.web.com/
Tags: contract, creative professional, negotiation
Posted in small business | No Comments »
