How much to charge for press/PR work?

[Scootergrrrl]

I've been asked by a colleague of DHs to do some press work for a new business his wife is setting up. It would involve press releases to papers/media in various different parts of the country, follow ups and some strategy planning for maximising coverage etc. I can do all that easily but I have no idea what to charge! I can't spend full days doing it as I've got three children but equally I don't want to undersell myself. What about travelling time for meetings with her, and printing costs if I print the releases myself? Should I charge a flat project rate or what?
Please help - its making my brain hurt.

I don't think its a probablem not to working full days - I think from my expereince of people freelancing peeople understand a number of full days through -and the nature of what you are talking about it would be spread out anyway - and then expenses - eg milage and printing costs on top.
Is there a daily rate you would feel happy with - 300 spring to mind - but it depends - I personaly would include in the time some allowence for a number of meetings
If you look on people per hour they have - rather low - price for freelancers -that might give a feel

Agree an hourly rate upfront e.g. £50/hour.

Agree the exact brief with your client.

Provide an estimate for the number of hours you think it will take you to meet the requirements of the brief. Itemise the estimate e.g. 7h to write press release (including three sets of revisions - essential to agree on number of drafts), 7h to sell in and follow up etc, 3h travelling time.
Include a separate column in the estimate for costs paper, travel costs. Allow for more than you actually think it will cost but reconcile it at the end i.e. only charge them for what it actually cost and provide copies of recipts with your invoices.

Once you start the work and they start asking you to do more than is in the brief (which they will!) immediately point out (in the nicest possible way) that you are going beyond the agreed brief and that you will need to revise the estimate. Otherwise you will have the piss taken out of you intentaionlly or otherwise, because people who don't work like this tend not to understand that what they are paying for is your time and 'time is money'. Hope that helps. I have learnt all this the hard way, if I come across a bit harsh!

Sorry missed out the bit about working the full day - this is why I think an hourly rate is probably better.