first freelance job ... advice please

[HelloMyNameIsHilda]

Hi all

I just took on my first freelancing job a while back and am about to do up my first invoice.

they took me on on a one day aweek basis to manage a certain technical project with view to reviewing in march how things were going. The CEO did say he'd value advice and consultancy on top of that

things changed shortly after I joined and that project wasn't there to be managed, but when I asked them if they still wanted me on board they said yes and that we'd review again in March.

so since then I've worked in an advisory capacity, reviewed reports, attended a few meetings, advised on technology proposals. I put them in touch with some of my contacts and generally kept an eye on things and gave benefit of my experience where I could. I've now come to invoice time and am not sure how to invoice as things changed since I started in that I wasn't operating in a defined one day a week doing well defined job capacity.

Do I just invoice for the number of days since we agreed I'd work for them (less a couple that I wasn't available) or what would you advise? for some reason I'm feeling a bit like I shouldn't as I wasn't doing what we'd agreed first up and so I wasn't always doing a 7.5 hour day per week...though that said, I've just spent about ten hours over the last weekend going over a report for them

I should say that I gave them a very good daily rate as it was my first freelance outing

advice?

(agreement was all verbal, nothing on paper)

Hi Hilda,

In my opinion, if they haven't raised it since your initial agreement, you should DEFINITELY invoice for that amount. Have you kept a time sheet? If not, do it next time.

Tally up the number of hours worked, divide it by eight (eight hours = 1 day, so the 10 hours this weekend is one and a half days). Though you mention 7.5 hours? So perhaps your days are shorter than usual. When you have your final number of days, round it up (ie don't invoice for 20 and a half days, invoice for 21).

Everyone else takes the mickey. I am honest, but this is how I do it. You will find you are STILL undercharging compared to the market rate, I bet you.

When review time comes up this month, that's when to talk to them about upping your rate. Explain that you wanted to give them a good rate as it was your first job for them, but that your normal rate is £XX (higher amount).

email them to say
"just sorting out my billing before the end of the tax year, as per our agreement, it is £9999. To whom should I address the invoice?"

make that number be the full whack day rate every day you were available

if they say 'here' are the details then bill
if the email says anything else be prepared to haggle
but DO IT ALL IN WRITING!

thanks both - advice much appreciated